THE INSIGHT - CHAPTER 9

  CHAPTER 9


"Are you sure that's all?"

Kunle made a stop and turned around just to meet the scorching gaze of Feyi. He tried looking elsewhere but his eyes kept meeting hers.

"Uhmm......Yes.... Ma" he stuttered

 She sighed, then playfully picked up a pen lying on her desk.

"Well, i don't think so" she paused, expecting Kunle to talk then she continued when the latter was just feeding his eyes on the lifeless objects in the room. "Your facial expression says otherwise"

Kunle was still in the same spot looking around.

Feyi pressed her lips against each other and gave him a long look with a lustful thought going through her mind.

"This guy is really handsome. Look at his broad chest. Dad could really be funny. How in this world will such a guy be around me without falling for him"

She scoffed and rolled her chair. Kunle too was having a thought simultaneously. "What exactly is she expecting me to say. This awkward silence is killing and she won't take her eyes off me"


"I really don't have any other thing to say Ma. Can i leave now?" he finally uttered.

"What do you think of me Kunle? How exactly do you see me? I need an honest answer"

Kunle cleared his throat. He wouldn't want to jeopardize his source of living by 'being honest'.

"Well, i think you are okay Ma" he managed to say


She got up and went around the table to meet him. Kunle moved 2 steps back to give her space.

"I don't need an angel to tell me you just told a lie"

Kunle couldn't take it anymore. He was still embittered about Joke's retrenchment and if there's a better time to express his mind, it's now.

"You really want to know what i think of you?" he blotted out "Well, i think you are arrogant, pompous, bossy, inconsiderate, selfish, unapproachable and dominating. Everyone in this office thinks of you this way. Joke and Frank did have a fling but they broke up long time ago. You didn't even bother gathering the facts before going ahead to sack Joke. She's the breadwinner of her family. She's got her parents and siblings to cater for. She's all they have and now you've taken their source of livelihood away. Of course, i don't expect you to understand since you know nothing about struggling to have a good life" he paused, then he continued, not even minding Feyi's expression. He didn't even take a look at her face. He just wanted the words out and done without thinking of the consequences. "Apart from being so insensitive, you are also ungrateful. Just on Friday, i offered to take you home at the expense of something so dear to me and just as expected, the almighty Feyi Martins couldn't even appreciate by saying a common 'Thank You'. It's....It's....it's...." he put his hand on his forehead looking for the correct word that will fit in the gap "......rude and inappropriate, it's so out of courtesy.......Ma"

 Kunle definitely didn't expect those words to come out all at once. He was too angry to caution himself. He stopped and looked down, expecting Feyi to walk him out of her office and maybe call him back to get his sack letter.

Feyi was speechless.

"Hmmmmmm" she sighed, not knowing exactly how to feel. Nobody in this world, not even her parents has talked to her in such a way before.

The whole room was in decorum for few seconds. Feyi walked back to her chair and sat.

"You can leave now" was all she could say after having a lot of mixed thoughts.

Kunle bowed and walked out of her office only to meet Naomi, Frank, Joke and some other members of the staff at the door. They've been eavesdropping all along. Naomi would have been the initiator.

"Shhhhhhhh" Naomi hushed, when Kunle was about talking. She beckoned to him and the others to follow her to 'a safe place for gossip'. They all followed her.

"Dude, i never knew you had such courage in you" Frank uttered

"Ah! Mr Kunle! That was fantastic. I wish i recorded it so when I'm telling people, they will believe me" Naomi said, with her hands akimbo.

"Hmmmmm. But Kunle, that was too risky. What if she sacks you too. I won't be able to live with myself for also putting you in the same mess" said Joke calmly

"You must live with yourself o. Mr Kunle has cleared the part for us. I know she will have a rethink after what Mr Kunle said" one of the other staff said.


Naomi sighted Feyi and tapped Kunle. Everyone dispersed immediately and faked doing something or the other. Feyi walked admist them with her leather bag nd walked out of the building without saying a word. All eyes were on her as she walked. They gathered back immediately she closed the door behind her.

"i said it!  She's going to sack Kunle" Joke uttered moodily, with her hands akimbo.

"Don't let's jump into conclusions yet" Frank replied calmly as he patted Kunle on the back. He knew how he must be feeling.

"Abeg, let's jump into it o. After all, you are supposed to be in this situation, not Mr Kunle" Naomi blotted out. Although, she feels sorry for Kunle, she still felt it's not his place to do it since Joke is involved. Nobody replied, they all left one by one leaving Kunle and Frank. Even Naomi left to her desk, she has enough stories for gist already.

"I can't afford to lose this job man" Kunle finally uttered "I know how much i suffered to get it". He scratched his head like it was going to come off. Frank patted him on the back and walked away.


It seemed like the day was taking forever to end for Kunle. He couldn't even concentrate on work, knowing it could as well be his last day there. Feyi didn't come back to the office and Kunle couldn't help but wonder why.

"Maybe she went to report me to her Dad" he thought.

The time clocked 4pm and Kunle got up to start packing his belongings into his briefcase. He entered his car, and was about to start the ignition when his phone beeped. He checked the sender of the message and saw it was Feyi. He immediately left his car key dangling and opened the message.


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It was some minutes past 6 when Kunle drove into an exclusive relaxation center located in the most expensive place in the city. Many people were seen having fun, going up and down and some were having a pool party at the swimming pool area. The place smelled money and Kunle couldn't help but wonder why there are a lot of


People there on the first day of the week.

"well, most of them are their own bosses, or better still they have their parents as bosses" he thought, then looked around the restaurant in search of Feyi. She was seated across the bar with a pack of juice and a glass cup on the table. Kunle walked up to her, not knowing exactly how he should feel.

"Good evening Ma" he bowed

Feyi motioned him to have his seat.

"I saw your text message telling me to meet you here ma" he said immediately he sat down. He tried looking around maybe he'd find a letter dangling.

"Yes Kunle, i called you here for something quite important....." her face was expressionless. She took a sip out of her juice. "and I'm just gonna go straight to the point"

Kunle's heart missed a bit and he readjusted himself on the quite comfortable chair.

"In all my years on earth, I've never been spoken to, the way you spoke to me this morning and to be sincere, you spoke out of proportion" she paused. Kunle blinked repeatedly, he usually does that when he's so nervous. His head has been down all along

"But i really appreciate you expressing your mind"

Kunle looked up suddenly.

"and as for Joke, she will get her job back. I think i might have misjudged and blown things out of proportion"

Kunle couldn't say a word. She hasn't mentioned anything about his fate.

"and don't worry, you are not gonna lose your job" she smiled for the first time that night.

Kunle's face lit up and he heaved a sigh of relief. He can't wait to tell Joke about the good news. She has been so worried sick all day.

"Thank you so much Ma. I really appreciate it" he smiled and Feyi smiled back.

"She's not that bad after all. She just needed a check" he thought as he looked up to her face. His eyes remained glued on hers and both of them looked straight into each other's eyes. The magnet between them was pulling them closer and closer and closer till their lips met and they shared a very passionate kiss not minding the fact that they are in a public place. Kunle's ringtone of Nathaniel Bassey's Onishe iyanu brought both of them back to their senses. He checked the dialer's name and saw it was Dayo. His conscience pricked him immediately. He felt too guilty to pick the call so he left it ringing. He picked his car keys and excused himself.

© Toluwanimi Odeniyi