Chapter 3 Three

Good morning Ma," I greeted my new boss as I walked into her office. I was happy standing in front of her. I had heard a lot about her and working directly under her would definitely make me proud of myself. In the firm, before you are sent to this branch, right under this woman, you should know exactly what you are doing. So, I was indeed genuinely delighted that I was sent down here.

"Morning Ms. Maduka" she responded to my greeting. Didn't even peel her eyes off what she was doing for a second. Mrs Victoria looked bright and beautiful.

An absolute legend. Her purple lipstick added an elegant glow to her face. I know that I couldn't see her black dress fully from the way she was sitting. Yet, I knew that I'd love it if I did.

A woman who had never failed any case. Even men in this line of profession hear her name and get scared of losing any case to her. She's that good. Some of them even go as far as thinking that she bribes the judges with something.

I stood still in front of her and waited for her to say something as she flipped through the pages of the book on her table for a few more seconds before slowly raising her head to look at me. Her lashes danced beautifully

"Sit, please" she requested, gesturing with her hand. I immediately took my seat in front of her desk and waited for her to continue. "Here" she said, pushing a file towards me. "Your first client" she pointed out.

I took the file and began to flip it open while she continued talking "and you'll be meeting up with him today as a meeting has already been set up for you"

"No problem Ma. I am so, so happy to be here" I told her

She smiled brilliantly before responding "the feeling is mutual I must say. You are an intelligent one to keep"

I couldn't stop smiling. I could never be prouder.

Till I left her office, I listened to everything she said with keen interest. I could definitely call this woman my idol. The new case was something that had to do with shares acquisition, properties and stuff.

When she was done prepping me with all the information she thought I needed, I left her office to mine to get ready for my first client and my first meeting too.

"This is an important client" she'd added and I affirmed with a nod just before I left her office.

Well, of course, I wasn't planning on messing it up.

~~~

"Madam, your client is here," my secretary informed me on the office telephone.

"Please let him in" I told her and continued my journey through the file I was shuffling. A knock came at the door shortly after the call.

"Come in" I said just before the door to my office gradually cracked open.

"Welcome sir, please have a seat" I offered, eyes still buried in the file on my table and a hand gesture toward the seat in front of me.

"Welcome Mr..." then I stopped and froze when I saw who my client was. I instantly forgot the rest of the words and just stupidly gawked for a long stupid seconds.

His hair didn't look messy like I last saw him. Instead, it was styled so perfectly without a single hair out of line. It somehow made the color of his eye more evident and his jawline sharper. Now I know why they took so much time to style models–so that their jawline looked sharp.

His scent filled my entire office as he walked in. Something so much stronger and more expensive pepper or garlic...

His evident scent of Sandalwood and mint filled my nostrils making it almost impossible for me to breathe. I didn't know sandalwood smelled that good. And his minty smell made me immediately think of mint ice cream–my favorite ice cream flavor.

I hummed at the back of my throat at the thought and fought this annoying flushed smile playing on my face.

With his expensive, well tailored suit he looked like a god. I mean whoever sewed his suit must have been in love with him, because they fitted him like he was born in them.

The ocean blue material highlighted the dips and curves of every single muscle, like waves of water I wanted to drown in. He wore a brown leather wrist watch that matched his pair of shoes. If not that I was blessed with a good memory, I would have doubted he was still the same guy I met in my apartment over the weekend. How were they so different?

The government or whoever should ban handsome men– like the one in my office from wearing suits. It makes them look like gods instead of men just like the one in front of me. I mean it should be considered a crime to nature.

It was bad and good enough...

No.

I meant it was hot enough that he was incredibly handsome.

Under the daylight his pearl blue eyes shone brightly as he observed me with so much scrutiny for a few seconds with one hand in his pocket, dousing the small flame in my chest. It was like he was making sure that I was still me.

He didn't look surprised to see that I was his lawyer. He looked impressed.

I watched him stroll closer to my desk and sit down. He looked delighted to see me because he didn't hide this intriguing smile on his face.

I opened my mouth to speak but closed it right back because I didn't know where to start or how to start. I had forgotten what I was going to say actually.

But what am I doing? This is my first client since my promotion and I'm just sitting here and ogling him. "Stop, Bili. Stop". I rolled my eyes and tried to focus.

I let out a sigh and readjusted my sitting position to a straighter one then forced my eyes away from him to the file in my hand. I was going to look for his name (since I'd forgotten it in the first place).

"Welcome Mr. Robert Edward. I..." I began and stopped when he started talking, making me slowly shut my mouth.

"You look even more beautiful in that seat. God damn!" he exhaled and I mouthed a thank you in my head but said nothing in real life. He examined me like he was willing to eat me for brunch if I'd let him.

"So," I said when he didn't speak for seconds. Except he still didn't let me continue before he started talking again.

"Shit! I should have introduced myself a lot earlier" he huffed. More to himself than to me and brushed the sides of his jawline. I didn't care about that. It wasn't any of my business though except that the whole room started becoming too crowded and hot all of a sudden.

I moved my hips multiple times in my seat trying to loosen up but it somehow wasn't working as I envisioned.

"Do you need to use the bathroom?" He asked.

"No." I replied with all feisty.

"You keep moving in your seat" he stated.

"And it's all because of you" I yelled in my head.

His gaze slowly traveled to me "Bili, you look so beautiful" he said in a whisper though loud enough that I heard him. He let out a groan and tightened his eyes as he made a fist. I watched his Adam's apple dance up and down as he swallowed.

I was going to ask him if he was fine but gave that thought away when his eyes flashed open. I don't know if it was amusement or yearning that lingered in his smile as those eyes of his studied me.

" I love what you did with your hair," he added, wearing a satisfied smile.

I could have sworn that the whole world stopped moving for a second. My cheeks heated up. I would have been in so much trouble if it wasn't for my skin color. In times like this, I was always grateful for that.

I let out a frustrating sigh and adjusted my sitting position again for the one millionth time. I had plans to at least try to be formal.

I ignored his comment about my hair and cleared my throat lightly.

"It's actually Kambili. I mean if you are going to go with my first name, then you should at least get it right" my voice was calm but a bit shaky. Except there was a way he said "Bili" that made me guilty of wanting to hear more of it from him.

He said nothing else except to widen his smile a little. There was this delectation in his eyes that I couldn't quite fathom. He just placed his right hand on the arm of the chair to support his head while his fingers formed an arch from his nose to his lower jaw.

"So, shall we?" I raised a brow and immediately brought my eyes from him down to the file on my desk. When he didn't respond but chuckle, I took that as a yes and began to talk.

"I've read the full description of your suit in the file but I'll need more details" I informed him. "As to why your company wants your shares from GREEN BANK back" I explained and waited for him to go further into details.

He straightened the nape of his suit and cleared his throat.

"Firstly, just so that we are clear. I'm not actually Robert Edward" he began.

I was beginning to get furious. If he was not, then who was he?

I looked from him to the door, unable to break eye contact while I waited for him to explain who the hell he was and why he was in my office. Hell, my secretary even called him my client. How did she not know he wasn't?