Chapter 1 Introduction

Imogen sat at her desk for over four hours, attending to one file after another. She only got up occasionally to photocopy a document from a Xerox copier that stood by the wall in the staff section of the banking hall. The day was unusually hectic for her. The bank's network server did not perform optimally the previous day, which resulted in many complaints of foreign currency transfer failures, and she had to spend all day rectifying them. The lunch she sent the messenger to buy for her lay on her desk unattended to.

Also, The plastic bottle of soft drink had become warm as she tried to rectify the complaints.

Finally, she was able to clear her desk and then relaxed to eat her meal. She took hold of the soft drink, the bottle felt warm as she thought it would be. She unscrewed the cover, inserted the straw that accompanied it, sipped a bit and she felt like spitting it out because it tasted ordinary. She took a bite from the mince pie and ate.

As she cleared her desk for the day, another complaint was brought to her desk.

"Tell the person to come back tomorrow. I am through for the day," she said when her colleague dropped it on her table.

"Manager said it is urgent. He wants you to sort it out quickly because it belongs to Mr Felix."

"I don't care if it belongs to The President, I am tired. I did not eat lunch so I could sort all these backlogs, now I am through; you want me to sort this one

"So the boss said. Moreover, is that not what we are paid to do here?"

"Yes, to work and not to overlabour ourselves while doing so. It's over five p.m., officially, the bank is closed. This is overtime and I don't recall been paid for that," Imogen said.

"Go and tell that to him yourself, message delivered," her colleague said, smiled at her scornfully, adjusted his tie, turned and left her.

She annoyingly stood up, picked the document from her table and went to the manager's office. She walked in and met him chatting with a middle-aged man. She greeted the man and spoke to the manager.

"Sir, I have been on this issue of currency exchange all day. I just managed to clear my desk and ate a cold lunch. Can't it wait until tomorrow sir? I am exhausted," she said.

The manager glanced at his visitor. The visitor's eye gesture made the manager to understand that he wanted it sorted out immediately.

"Imogen, it is very urgent," the manager replied.

"All right sir," Imogen said and grudgingly walked away with the paper

A few minutes later, she came back to the office.

"I have done it sir;" she said and handed the document to the manager.

"Well done Imogen" he said.

The visitor who initially had a stern face suddenly had a cheerful countenance. Imogen left the office and went back to her desk.

"I am very grateful manager. Now I can travel with a rest assured mind," Mr Felix said.

He stood up, shook the manager and left the office with a promise to see him when he arrived.

Imogen finally left the bank at about six p.m. that day and went outside the bank to wait for Asher.

However, she saw his car already parked in the compound and she approached it. He sat inside the car listening to music from the car stereo. She and Asher had been dating for over a year. He usually picked and dropped her at a convenient bus stop on his way home.

Asher was nice to a fault. He never complains. He would patiently sit and wait for her. In addition, whenever he comes late to pick her, he would apologize repeatedly and sometimes offer to take her to dinner on their way home.

Asher worked at a bank also located on the same street as hers and it was usual for him to pick hersy to and from work every day since she did not haves car of her own. At that moment, she recollected how she met Asher.

'He came to the bank to pertorm an inter bark transaction. She also had a number of transactions to finish and she was not willing to carry it over to the following day, so she stayed late to finish.

Fortunately, for her as she was rounding up, she complained aloud to no one in particular about how difficult it would be to get home on time. The bank was officially closed and only a few staff and customers who were been privately attended to were left. Fortunately for her, Asher was also in the bank and he overheard. As she stood outside the bank, waiting for a taxi, a black Toyota corolla parked right in front of her. She tilted her head sideways to look at the occupant and see if she could recognize him but could not. He wound down the glass, leaned over towards her and spoke.

"I heard you complain about difficulty in transporting yourself home in the bank. I can help get you to a convenient location. By the way, I am Asher and I work at bank down the road," he said

When Imogen heard the complaint she made in the bank, she relaxed, her countenance changed favourably and she moved closer.

"I didn't notice you in the bank."

"I didn't as well, until you complained about transporting yourself home," Asher replied.

When he said that, Imogen instantly relaxed her guard.

Asher unlocked the door for her; she opened it, stepped in and sat down. He wound the glass up and smiled.

"I am Asher, Asher Banks," he said to introduce himself again.

"Imogen Hall," she replied curtly.

"Imogen. Hmm! I am pleased to meet you,

"Asher said as he engaged the gear and veered onto the road.

As he drove along, they chatted on issues concerning the banking industry. After a while, he asked where it would be convenient for her to alight and she told him. Fortunately for her, he happened to leave in the same area. Her home was a little detour from his route. He then offered to pick and drop her at a designated spot to and from work every day. Naturally, they became good friends and eventually lovers.

She tapped the windscreen lightly, waved and smiled. He quickly sat up from his reclining position. She opened the door and got in; he readjusted his chair and sat properly. She sat heavily on the chair and threw her handbag carelessly on the floor of the car.

"What's eating you?" He asked.

"I have been very busy all day"

"That is the banking industry for you. We are always busy

"Can you believe I spent the whole day sorting currency transfer failures; I didn't even have the time to eat my lunch."

"Well, we all thought the advent of computers would make the banking job easier. We have found out the hard way. Staring at the screen alone has made most people resort to the use of medicated glasses, backaches from sitting for long, headaches from complaints by customers and so on."

"Wow! How I wish I could sleep and wake up every day lazing around eating and watching movies; Imogen said.

"You would as well get bored doing that. Moreover, how would you put food on your table? Asher asked.

"That is where a rich prince charming would solve the puzzle," Imogen replied.

"A rich prince charming, indeed. In this present time, it is very difficult to lean so much on anyone.

Even the wives of very rich men still work or engage in one business or the other," Asher said as he engaged the gear and reversed the car.

"You win. You always seem to have an answer for everything. Please, I am tired, I just want to get home, take a nice bath and sleep."

"Well, you have all the traffic in the world to sleep through in this city before you get home: You know that someday, we might start cooking in the traffic," he answered her as she adjusted her chair all on in silence.

the way backwards and relaxed while Asher drove on in silence.