LIKE FINE WINE 2

 

LIKE FINE WINE 2

Thoko quickly ran through her targets for the week as she swung in her chair, everything had gone just as planned and she was proud of herself. Her diary was soon filling up as the year was coming to a close, what a successful year it had been, she was almost finishing her master’s degree too and she was very proud of herself. There was a chance that if all went well she could join her mother by mid July the following year. After school, nothing seemed to have made her want to stay in Zambia for another day but her visa was denied on multiple tries, she changed her mind and finally got a job as she begun furthering her education. Her mother  was a nurse working as a caregiver taking care of elderly people, she had been gone for 11years but Thoko had visited a couple of times. Thoko's dad was available whenever she needed him but it was the relationship with her step mother which was a struggle.

“who is calling” Thoko thought as she grabbed her phone from her desk.

It was Friday and exactly three days after she met Elisha. She couldn’t remember availing her phone number to him but he was calling. The true caller app identified him

“the birthday boy” Thoko answered enthusiastically.

“Oh.. you have one of those apps”

“Or I just have your number” Thoko interrupted

Elisha posed for a moment and Thoko had a good laugh.

“well you almost got me there” he sighed.

“Don’t worry, yes I have one of those apps… how are you?” she asked.

Swinging in his office chair Elisha  laid back at the sound of Thoko’s soothing voice.

“I am fine… I just wanted to be sure you ladies are coming tonight”

To be fairly honest, Thoko was not going to go. However, she did not want to disappoint Enesie who really wanted to go and Elisha calling also hyped her up.

“Yes… about that”

“Please don’t tell me you’re not coming”

“No, I will be there.. I mean we will be there” Thoko said as her eyes registered an uninvited guest in her office.

“Great, I am equally just leaving the office” he said.

“not yet myself but soon. It’s 8pm right?”

“Yes 8pm” he said.

There was an awkward silence as Thoko stared at Enesie after she hang up. Enesie seemed amused at the phone call.  

“We are already calling each other huh?”

Thoko was about to explain herself but Enesie quickly cut in and stated she was just joking.

“actually he just got my number from .. well.. you know what? I forgot to ask where he got my number from”

“Never mind, men have their ways when they are interested in a lady. See, this is exactly why i refuse to settle for less Thoko. When a man wants a woman he will go above and beyond buy why should Stan make me feel like I am desperate for his love?”

“Are we doing this again Enesie?”

“Thoko, Stan has not called in two days…”

“Exactly… two days and not two years.. girl people are busy. Talking of which have you concluded the budget you guys?”

Enesie rolled her eyes tiredly.

“Awe Enesie.. you guys need to be serious.. this proposal has to leave by Monday. You are delaying my work. We need this deal to be signed otherwise this organisation won’t survive” Thoko whined.

Thoko was head of marketing and research while Enesie was head accountant at BM signs, an organization dealing with printing and branding. The organization was working with many companies to secure them billboards and signage for advertising of their brand. While Thoko wrote proposes and strategic plans to gain clients, The finance departments work often involved Thoko and Enesie not seeing eye to eye on a lot of issues but they had a great friendship. The finance department made budgets to accommodate Thokos vision but they often frustrated her efforts as they downsized most of her forecasted costs.

“Do you know numbers are tiring?”

“Ah no my friend, I swear if that budget is not done we are not going for this party” Thoko sternly emphasized

“I think we are almost there Mr Mumba was just checking through” Enesie said in reference to her manager, the manager of finance department.

Thoko closed her diary and begun packing up.

“So about the party… what are you wearing?”

“Madam go and see if your department is finalizing the budget today, we will discuss the party later”

“Thoko! You act like the onus is on me, you know our manager likes to take his time”

“and time is what I do not have, I am trying to secure our jobs. We might be going anytime soon. We have no clients pitching us”

Enesie sighed heavily “you know, with this economy nobody is safe. Everyone is suffering”

“I know right but you don’t know suffering yet. Wait until we are tossed to the streets” Thoko said