Chapter 3: Office Tori and Limits

I waka go back my desk, change the reimbursement amount, carry form reach accounts again.

As I dey waka, people for office dey look me like say I get wahala. I fit hear gist for corner, "Dayo don go beg again."

"Aunty Rose, abeg, just reimburse me according to ₦7,000 per night for hotel and ₦1,500 per day for food."

My voice dey beg, but my mind dey boil.

Rose just look my form, fling am back. She no even blink. "No fit reimburse."

"But I don already agree to company rule. Why now?"

She adjust her scarf, eyes glued to the form like e dey pain her.

"Receipt amount no match reimbursement amount."

I wan laugh, but my throat dry. This one na mathematics of suffering.

"No wahala. Receipt higher than reimbursement. Just process am according to company policy. National invoice regulation dey allow am."

My mouth dey dry as I dey explain. Na so dem go finish person for office, small small.

"Country fit allow am, but oga no allow. He say the amount must match exactly."

She tap table with her biro, as if e dey pain her to see me.

My vex rise. My patience don finish—na only goat fit chop insult and still dey smile.

I dey try reason, but my body dey shake. "Aunty Rose, I never collect reimbursement for almost one year. I don use over ₦800,000 for company, now I dey beg for just ₦650,000, follow all these nonsense rules. Abeg, help me process am."

My voice crack small, but she no send.

"Manager Dayo, na oga requirement be this. If he sign, I go reimburse you anytime."

She just dey look me with eye wey no get soul. E be like say she dey enjoy my wahala.

See as she just bone face, I no get choice, I waka go meet oga again.

My leg dey heavy as I reach his door.

"Oga, accounts say receipt amount too high. Dem need your signature to process am."

He see say the form don reduce by over ₦150,000, he just smile.

His smile na the kind wey never reach eyes, that secret joy when you win awoof.

"Dayo, you suppose know say big company no dey run by personal favour—na rules dey guide am. Take this one as lesson wey you pay for. Normally, company no dey allow this, but I go do exception for you, just this once."

Oga sign am sharp sharp, biro scratching like lizard for zinc roof.

With signature, I rush go accounts.

The secretary look me with one kain eye as I pass, like say I dey thief.

Accountant just fling the form back again.

"No fit reimburse."

If dem no pay me this month, I fit sleep for office. Hunger no dey hear company rule.