"What do you say to that, pertaining to that pitch Isma'il?" Mr. Benson asked.
Isma'il's eyes never left Meryl's which made her so uncomfortable but she feigned ignorance. It was so obvious that he had his thoughts in other places instead of listening to the pitch Meryl was presenting.
"Mr. Banjo? Mr. Banjo?" The manager's voice boomed out.
"Yes, yes, yes. I'm so sorry. I was so lost in thoughts." Isma'il had to regretfully pull his gaze away. "Where were we again?"

As soon as the meeting was over, Meryl was out of the door, she heard footsteps racing towards her and she knew definitely who that would be.
"He couldn't take his eyes off you." Dupe was breathing heavily, hands placed on her knees as she bent slightly after trying desperately to catch up with Meryl.
"Who?" Meryl asked.
"Mr. Banjo of course. Why do you always act naive? Who do you think I'm talking about."
"I don't know."
"He seems really transfixed at the sight of you. It was obvious to everyone at the meeting."
"I don't know him."
Just then, Ivan and Isma'il were coming along their path. Isma'il seems engrossed in whatever Ivan was telling him. As soon as he saw Meryl, he stopped Ivan with his speech, excused himself as he started going towards Meryl.
"Oh, here he comes." breathed Modupe as a hand suddenly went up her mouth trying to muffle her excitement.
"Who?" Meryl's eyes popped out. She swirled round at once and saw him with his familiar smirk plastered on his face. "Dear God!" Her heart pounded furiously that one could hear it beat. She found her legs suddenly racing to the elevator. Both Ivan and Modupe watched as Isma'il raced after her.
"Looks like some horror movie playing right here." Dupe twitched both brows of hers, one of her hands landed on her chest to steady her gruesome fear.
"Doesn't seem so to me."
"Don't you see it Ivan? the girl is obviously running away from the monster." Dupe exclaimed, raising both hands of hers. They were talking as if they were in a cinema watching a movie.
"No, I don't think so. I think she's running away from haunting memories." He corrected.
"But she said she doesn't know him."
"Does it look like it?" Ivan gave a calm look as he returned the way he had come.

****

Meryl felt scared to her bones as she tapped away on the buttons in the elevator and silently prayed that it would close up quickly. The door began to close but it was too slow that she silently muttered a curse, a hand delved in between the mouth of the elevators. Meryl gasped as her heart frantically lurched forward. Isma'il pushed himself inside eyeing her in such a way.
"Must the world see us play? I just wanted to ignite our acquittance."
Her heart tugged on against her ribs cage, she watched him also trying to catch his breath. He didn't make any attempt to touch her.
"Can't we just say our "hi" peacefully?" He asked finally.
She didn't reply him, she watched as he finally decided to walk towards her. " Do not come close to me." She warned sternly.
"Why? I don't bite Meryl. Do you hate me that much?"
She pressed on another button and the elevator opened. Just as she was about leaving, he grabbed her arm.
"You haven't said hi, Meryl." He said to her.
She yanked her hand away from his grip, cursed him as she walked out.
"Well, I could as well accept that." He laughed at himself.

*****

The three friends met again in Joshua's house. Joshua who had arrived home quite early had already prepared dinner.
"You're home early?" Dupe was surprised as she watched him cooking.
"Yeah. Where are Ivan and Modupe?" He looked behind her as she walked into the kitchen to meet him.
"They are in the sitting room." She paused. "I feel so hungry."
"Twill be served soon." He smiled back at her as her stomach grumbled.
"While you're at it, want to hear what happened at work?"
"I've forgotten that you're the one and only reporter." Josh joked.
"Of course, I have a PhD for journalism, can't you see it? It's not one of those boring news you hear out there." She laughed back.
"So tell me about it, reporter Modupe?" He mumbled drowned by Meryl's laughter that eminated from the parlor.
"Oh, I love that tittle." She giggled.
"You should have been a reporter." He shot a finger at her.
"Forget about that. Should we get on with the news?"
"So, what's with the news?"
She rested her back close to the door to be sure no one was entering the kitchen.
"There is this new director at our place of work. God! He's so down to earth, you should see him, dressed in the Americana style. He kept staring at Meryl but Meryl said she doesn't know him. Can you imagine? Ivan has an inkling that they both share history."
"A new director? Isn't that Mr. Fred?"
"That's our manager. He brought in our new director."
"Oh, I see." He paused, turning over to look at her. "Are you trying to make me jealous?"
"You don't know what I'm talking about. He even chased her?"
"And she doesn't know him?" He laughed. "That's nonsense, Modupe."
"Oh, you don't believe me. Why don't you ask Meryl yourself?" She was obviously pained that Joshua didn't believe her.
"Aren't you going to help?" He called after her while she walked out.
"Call Meryl!" She yelled back angered by what he had said.
"Really?" He laughed back holding his stomach.
Ivan walked into the kitchen opening the fridge to get a chilled bottle water. "What did you say to Dupe?"
"I don't know Ivan. She got piped off cause she said something about a new director at your place of work. I thought she liked him."
"Like him?" Ivan looked back at Josh. "Her lot for such likes."