Chapter 3: Supplier Wahala and Sade’s Frustration

I never even settle for Admin when Product Manager, Sade, come complain.

Her face strong, her voice low. She hold folder tight, like say she wan use am break person head.

“Musa don change all the suppliers for our main product materials.”

I actually know already.

My phone don dey hot for two days. Even the old suppliers dey send me text, dey beg, dey cry.

Few days before, suppliers call me. Musa dey force them drop price by 20% and give am 10% chop money, or no deal.

One of them, Ikenna, even send voice note, 'Manager, abeg, tell new oga make e pity, na small boys dey my workshop.'

The suppliers nearly cry.

Voice dey shake. Some talk say na dem dey pay children school fees, others talk say dem go close shop if this kain thing continue.

“Manager Ifedike, you know our cost na. We dey export go Europe—the quality standard dey high. Our profit na just 10%. We no fit do am.”

Some even swear for Musa for phone. E reach like that.

I no fit help them; na just to watch as Musa cancel their orders.

My hand short. Even if I talk, who go listen? Oga no dey look my side again. I just dey pray make dem no call police for office one day.

Na so he waka go Aba go find small small workshops.

E even boast for canteen, say, 'Na for Aba you dey see sharp deal, forget this Lagos story.'

True, their price cheap. Cheap well well. Sade dey bite finger for corner, dey calculate risk.

I tell Sade, “At least cost don drop, our product go dey more competitive. No be better thing?”

I try dey play devil's advocate, just to lighten her mood.

“But quality no dey sure! I go meet oga, he just talk say as long as e dey work, na the 10% savings dey important.”

She dey vex. Her eye red, voice dey high small. E show say she wan resign but she dey hold herself.

Sade force smile, but her hand dey tremble as she hold the folder. She sigh, voice crack, then waka. She drag foot as she dey go, like person wey carry invisible load. I just dey look her back, dey reason how company life dey change.

As I dey look am, I just dey happy say Musa wahala never reach my side.

For now, at least. But e dey my mind say no department dey safe for this office.