Chapter 5: Hustle, Go-Slow, and Office Palava

When I wake the next day, bed don empty. My phone show new WhatsApp request, then message drop. I rub my eye, see say na early morning. House help don sweep everywhere. For my head, na only hunger I dey feel, but duty first.

Ye: [Company get emergency. Call me if you need anything.]

I sigh. These days, to see client wey get sense na rare thing. Before I fit reply, my bestie call. As I pick, na shout she shout:

"Amaka! Where you dey since? You no know say you get meeting with Hanhai today?" "If you mess this one up, I go finish you!" Her voice loud, I quick lower phone volume before house people come think say I get wahala for Lagos.

I rub my ear, check time—na ten o'clock already. I jump up. Chai, my side hustle drain me, I forget my main work. I blame go-slow, but na my own sleep cause am. My alarm clock dey ring sotay, I no hear. Sleep just carry me go where I no know.

After school, me and my bestie start ad company together. The Hanhai contract na our biggest, five million. My bestie remind me tire:

"Amaka, if we land this deal, na abroad straight, enjoyment go follow." She dey dream of London, I dey dream of dollar. We get big dream, but hustle dey hard.

The Hanhai contract na her life. I rush go office, still late by three minutes. Receptionist block me:

"Sorry, your time pass. Come book another one." She dey chew gum, eye me like say I be thief. I just dey beg, but she no gree.

My bestie dey vex: "You better get better reason. Wetin you do yesterday?" Her hand dey waist, eyebrow don raise, she fit break bottle for my head.

I stammer: "I... get part-time job." I scratch my head, dey look ground, no fit talk truth.

She hiss: "Which part-time pass five million?" She dey look me up and down like say I dey craze.

E no too important, just small forty million. I talk am for mind, but my mouth zip. If I talk, she go faint.

Lift open, one group waka come out, one fine, cold-face guy dey front, authority just dey follow am. E wear native, carry briefcase, two bouncers dey follow like mosquito.

My bestie sharp, drag me, rush go meet am, smile dey her face: "Chairman Okoye, I be Ngozi from Starlight Ad. Abeg check our proposal—na correct deal." She dey speak English like radio presenter, but sweat dey her forehead.

Nnamdi Okoye no even look her side. Him assistant stop her: "Sorry, abeg reschedule. Chairman Okoye busy." E talk like robot. I fit see say dem no send us.

My phone vibrate.

Ye: [I go reach house in twenty minutes. Wetin you wan chop?] I wan type 'indomie', but wahala too much.