A week later, Aderemi sat in an uncluttered, airy office space, clutching a file like it might save him. The job interview had not gone well. "We'll get back to you," the man across the desk said-corporate code for please forget we ever met. Aderemi stood, thanked him, and turned-Straight into Ifediba. Literally.
Files flew. Papers scattered like startled birds. "You again?!" she exclaimed.
"Me again," he said, bending to pick up papers. "I swear I don't follow women, especially aggressive ones." She snatched a document from his hand. "Watch where you're going!" "You walked into me."
"You exist in my path!" "That feels personal."
She looked down at the papers in her hand and froze. "Wait… this is my folder."
He paused. "Your folder?" She flipped through it quickly, eyes narrowing. "You're interviewing here?" "Yes." She laughed.
Not amused laughter. Mocking laughter.
"Oh, this is rich." He straightened. "What?"
She leaned in. "My uncle owns this firm."
Aderemi sighed. "Of course he does."
She smiled wickedly. "You're not getting that job." He met her gaze, unfazed. "That's unfortunate." "For you." "For me," he agreed. "But not surprising." She hesitated. "You're… not begging?" He shrugged. "I'm allergic." That annoyed her more than anything else.