“Since I came, I noticed you are busy with the magazine, don’t you work?”

I asked.

“I’m searching for a job. I’ve sent out CV but I don’t get luck. The last place I went last month, I was told they will get back to me but I haven’t heard anything”

 He replied.

“I know I’m suppose to mind my business but I just felt I should talk to you…”

“There is no problem” he replied.

“Why don’t you join Marvin to repair cars instead of wasting your time reading magazines that doesn’t put anything in your pocket at the end of the day” I said.

Hmm, he sighed.

“I understand it’s embarrassing being seen working at a mechanic shop but it is better to overlook jesters cus they won’t put food on our table” I said.

“I will try” he said.

He didn’t seem as impossible as Marvin described as I was about to leave he called back my attention

“Can’t you help me? I mean can you help me submit my CV in your workplace? He asked.”

“I work at MacAirways…”

“Wow” he gasped.

“You work for Mac Kieran, the African multi billionaire and award winning scientist” Raymond asked with a face filled with excitement as he had read about him

“It is very hard to fix someone,

Of course they employ people who went to school abroad and children of our bosses…”

“which you must be one of them”

 He said.

“Well I’m not a wealthy man’s child but I actually schooled abroad”

I said not wishing to lie and not wishing to tell him my life story.

“So you mean you can’t help?”

He asked.

Then I thought to myself

“What if I employ him in one of my brands? The pay may not be that big but it’s still better than what a mechanic earns”

I thought.

I picked his magazine, brought out a pen from my breast pocket and wrote my house address on the back of the magazine

“Well we can’t discuss here. Pay me a visit so we sit and discuss so I will know how to help you” I said.

“I’m Nora and you are ray right? I asked.

“Yes, Raymond”

He said with a nod.

“Nice to meet you”

I stretched out my hand for a shake.

He shook my hand with a wry smile.

“I’m a very busy woman and you will see me at home only on weekends. Maybe your magazine is not so useless after all”

I said giving him my brightest of smile

I nodded and walked back to Marvin

Who had finished checking up my car and was working on another car.

“I will transfer money to your account, I said and got into my car”

“Ok madam”

Marvin said.

“I’ve told your friend to be helping you. I will also find a way to help him get a decent job”

 I said.

your hand is blessed, you are a nice woman oh”

Marvin replied.

“I should not help him or what?”

 I asked.

“I did not say anything oh but someone willing to play with leopard tail, might lose a hand or a head”

Marvin said.

“What’s that supposed to mean”

 I asked feeling insulted.

“No offence madam, it’s proverb I not a cause for a fight oh…”

I hissed and drove out of the mechanic shop.

On weekend Raymond visited, I didn’t expect the visit as my friends had told me they were coming over and I was preparing my house for them.

Never less, I welcome Raymond warmly and served him orange juice with one slice of pizza.

“Nice house you got” Raymond complimented.

Thanks. This is a gold mine, I replied.

You mean you built this and you live all alone? Raymond asked.

“Yes. I’m a hustler and this is the reward of my hardwork. The cars out there, they are all mine” I bragged.

“What about your parent?” Raymond asked.

I only have a godfather.

“I mean your biological parents” Raymond said.

“I’m a orphan from childhood, I don’t know my dad and my mum died when I was six. Hardwork and determination brought me this far” I replied.

I smiled as Raymond scanned me with his eyes, I know that story sounds like something that would only happen in Hollywood.

“I told you I work at MacAirways but that’s not all, I have three brands; boutique, clinic and a ware house”

 I explained.

“Wow, you are such a rich lady and not even inherited wealth. Ambitious ladies like you are very rare. Ladies of nowadays just want to depend on men”

Raymond said.

“That’s true sha. Being a hustler saves women from unnecessary insults from men”

I replied with a smirk.

“So you want to tell me you are single?”

Raymond asked.

“Well I had a white boyfriend. We didn’t break-up, we just lost contact. He was my university lover at America and after I graduated from University in Boston and came back to Nigeria we lost contact”

I said.

“So that means you are single?”

 Raymond repeated his question.

“Yes. Anywhere enough of talking about me. Let’s talk about you. Like I told you, I can’t fix you at MacAirways because it is beyond my Power. But I can fix you as a staff in one of my brands, the pay is not much but is cool and manageable until you find a better job”

 I replied.

“I’m interested please. I studied accounting”

Raymond said impatiently.

Perfect…

I was cut short by my friends giggling into the house.

“Nora baby”

 Jeremy said with a grin.

Bella walked to me and dropped on my lap while Lucy went straight to the upholster and jumped on it and Jeremy went to the freezer.

“I guess you are having visitors, I should be on my way”

Raymond said.

“Ok. Remember to be here 7am in the dot. I will take you to my warehouse to fix you where you will work. Anytime later than 7am and you won’t find me at home I’m a busy woman”

 I said.

Ok ma, Raymond replied.

See you tomorrow, I said.

Raymond nodded, gave a bow to my friends and exited my house.