Episode 5: Think Before You Leap.
Everyone squeezed into the board room adjacent the lobby directly facing the library. Beside the library was another office with a silver plate on the upper part of the door, the inscription HEAD OF CHAMBERS was boldly written.
The boardroom had glazing fittings, which made it possible to see its occupiers and notice everything happening outside.
Beads of sweat broke out on Victor’s head as he announced the news to everyone: Veronica, Naomi, Blessing, John, Nathaniel the accountant, Precious the office assistant and Tolani spread through the seats. Pin silence except for the air conditioning and Victor’s voice.
There was no electricity he continued, Uche had just brought Junior from their neighbour’s house around 20:45 that Saturday. She only noticed he was not inside when Frank came in at 21:20 and that was how the search for Junior began.
But how did Junior fall into the well? Veronica queried.
The well was open.
And Junior threw himself inside?
Didn’t he scream or something? She queried more.
Can I read the text again? She asked
Victor passed his mobile phone to her, with squinting eyes she read the contents carefully to everyone. Tolani hoped for a typo; he almost died or something. The lad was certainly dead she said to herself and wondered how long it takes a person to drown.
I was suppose to disburse his loan on Friday but told him to wait till Monday, Nathaniel added with a tinge of regret.
That’s not the issue now, Veronica said, trying to placate him.
Maybe he should have used it for the hospital bills.
The office provided health insurance.
He has not updated it since he got married, Nathaniel retorted.
Lawyers also make mistakes, Naomi thought to herself as she wondered how he didn’t update his information. I’ll develop my interest in Real Estate, Family and Probate Matters she thought.
The doorbell chimes, Precious makes her way to the reception area with the skos skos sound of her shoes against the black marble flooring. She opens the door to Mrs. Kolawole a middle aged woman, with grey curly hair spiking through her dense black hair.
Victor suddenly recalls that he’s to prep her for the KOLAWOLE’s trial coming up in two weeks.
Then it dawned on Tolani that every other person bore English names except for her. Mr. Johnson carefully paired both of them, the Birmingham University and University of Cape Town Graduates.
Blessing ushered Mrs. Kolawole into the boardroom while everyone dispersed, Veronica and Tolani make their way upstairs through the boardroom exit leading to the meeting rooms and stairway.
Whose office is that she asked pointing to the HEAD OF CHAMBERS?
Oh!
Oh is that the person’s name ? she almost said out loud
Victor Odaro greets Mrs Kolawole, then introduces Naomi Etimi as his supporting counsel.
She sizes up Naomi.
Is she married? She asked
No ma’am.
I don’t want to bother her ears with my marital woes she smiled as she warmed up to Naomi.
She noticed her white dentition, against the sharp contrast of her dark skin. A stoutly middle aged woman with a free spirited demeanour.
So long you’re comfortable with me, I’m totally fine. I’m Naomi Etimi she announced.
Are you related to the Senator Boyo Etimi
He’s my father she said.
Oh really!
Victor liked the camaraderie between the women, he motions to the meeting room flanking the boardroom on the left. Mrs. Bankole was with her diaries. In fact she always came with her marital memoirs which had all incidences documented since her first daughter, Modupe left for the university.
Tolani felt awkward as she settled into her chair. She peeps at Naomi’s table which had the Kotone Energy file. She peeps around again and made her way to the cabinet, searching through the files and retrieving Frank Odogwu’s.
She scanned through his file revealing his LLB certificate from Lagos State University dated 2008, Called to Bar certificate dated 2009, Membership with Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. He’s a member she muttered to herself. She swept through the loan applications, then she googles his name and a copious flush of articles and poems popped up.
Hey, have you started with the legal opinion on the Diamond-Access Merger, Veronica quizzed, as she popped in.
Oh I just finished endorsing the file. Tolani lied.
As soon as I round up on the Rhapsody legal opinion I will begin.
Veronica looks at her, then makes her way to the cabinet. I don’t know what Precious is looking for in these cabinets she nagged as she walks out.
She noticed it’s almost 14:00. Her phones distracts her. She peers into the screen, Aisha Caller ID is on.
Ay, whatsapp up?
Been a while, sorry to badger in. I have a serious problem.
Ehn!
It’s Bravo, I asked him to make 40 brand tee-shirts with some of my art works for my upcoming exhibition, guess what the dude did?
I don’t know, that’s why you called in abi?
The son of a gun tweaked it for his personal boot, made a copious number without the promo date and the event behind the tee shirts and reproduced my art posts on instagram on the tee shirts. He made them without my consent and bad as it is, he’s selling them and also using Innate Expressions as his business.
Haba. Have you trademarked Innate Expressions?
I paid him for the tee-shirts T-Girl
That’s not the issue
I thought you said I have copyrights over my works.
I’m not disputing that. I remember we talked about trademarking Innate Expressions at your sister’s wedding?
I haven’t even registered it with CAC.
So what legal ownership do you have aside from the copyright on your works. You’re running a business that isn’t registered?!
But I placed them at the Chrome Gallery and I sell using my website and instagram handle.
I didn’t know you own Chrome Gallery Tolani teased.
What about my website? Is it not sufficient proof that I own an art business.
Your online business is not registered my dear. So we have to register your business name and then trademark Innate Expressions as your business name’s brand product.
Bravo stole my work! I feel so cheated!
№1 lesson on Entrepreneurship 101.