Business deal with his ex? No way!
Nifemi and Laolu Babajide are married with two children, John and Serena, 4 and 2 year old respectively. Nifemi is a seasoned legal practitioner and Laolu is an investment banker who left his work and began a joint business called NILA (NIfemi and LAolu) Group with his wife.
There was a deal introduced to Laolu by his ex, Bisi who worked with Lamatex Ventures and it was a huge amount of money. Nifemi saw the document in her husbandís drawer at work but kept calm and did not say a word but her mood changed towards him.
The next morning, she woke up earlier, had breakfast before he did and was off to work ìAhn! Ahn! babes, no good morning kiss? No hug? Nothing? What is wrong?î he asked as he gently pulled her back but Nifemi wasnít in the mood for a conversation but managed to respond ìI am sure you are aware we have a meeting with Jefferson & Co. by 11am and another by 3pm?î ìBabes, I know, itís just 8am, remember we are going to the same officeÖwhy are you acting up? What have I done?î Laolu asked. ìI need to be somewhere before heading back to the office for the meetingÖbyeî she said, completely ignoring Laoluís question as she took her bag and left the house.
Laolu was at work by 9:30am. By 10:59, all the people involved in the meeting were seated by the round table and just as he was about to apologise for his wifeís absence, she walked in, apologised for coming late, briefly perused through to find another empty seat because the only one available was by her husband and ëunfortunatelyí for her, there was no other one so she went and sat down by her husband.
When her husband was done with his opening remarks, he introduced his wife and asked her to preside over the meeting. ìThank you Mr Laoluî she said and continued. She didnít need anyone to know her husband was upsetting her at this time so she kept everything professional but Laolu wouldnít let her be. He was deliberately trying to get her attention without others knowing. So while she was speaking, he would use his toe to touch hers under the table and she would move, he tried holding her hand under the table and she removed it, put it on the table and began using them for gestures so Laolu could no longer have access to her hand. Not showing any form of being distracted, she finished her speech and the other people also shared their views and in 15 minutes, the meeting was done. They all exchanged pleasantries and one after the other, they began to leave the office. The guests were escorted to their cars by Laolu and Nifemi and as they walked back to the office, Laolu asked her ìSo can we talk now?î Nifemi certainly wasnít in a mood for talking so she went straight to her own office, she didnít want anyone to know at work that something was wrong but since Laolu was in front of her office, she managed to respond, communicating with Laolu through her eyes ensuring he got the message that he was being a bother ìYes, when we get home.î So Laolu smiled and responded ìSee you by 3pm for our next meetingî.
By 2:50 Laolu walked into the room where the meeting was to hold and observed that the names of each participant in the meeting was on the table and this time, his name was far apart from where Nifemi was to sit. So he smiled and shook his head and said to himself ìOh my wife! Such a drama Queen!î He had no plans to change the sitting arrangement. So he went to his own seat and in 2 minutes, his wife walked in, sat on her seat and focused on the documents she had with her. She was pretending to be focused. He husband will look at her, nod his head and smile. He had his own documents with him so he focused on the documents. They were both in the room alone and didnít communicate with each other. Not like Laolu couldnít start a conversation but he did not want to upset her so he let her be. Few minutes later, other people meant to be in the meeting walked in one after the other and by 3:05pm, the meeting started.
Again, Laolu welcomed everyone to the meeting but this time when he was done, the head of the two delegations that came spoke after Laolu. When he was done, Laolu requested that his wife should give the closing remarks.
ìWe will like to thank you for considering us for this project. We do not take it for granted. There are organisations like Lamatex Ventures and the rest but you have found us worthy so we appreciate you.î When she said ìLamatex Venturesî, she looked sternly at Laolu then continued her speech. Immediately she gave Laolu that look, he put two and two together and concluded that Nifemi had seen the document sent to his office by his ex girlfirend.
ìThank you so much and see you soonî Nifemi said as she and Laolu escorted the last person leaving. He did not want to postpone the conversation so as they both made their way back to their offices, he quickly held Nifemiís hand knowing well she would not want to create a scene for the staff to see, so she easily allowed him hold her hand and he held it until they almost got to her office and as she was about to attempt to let go of his grip, Laolu sarcastically said, ìNo dearÖ my office, remember we have that crucial ëbusinessí to talk about.î There were about 4 people on their desks, she had vowed never to create a scene at work so as Laolu opened the door of his own office, took a bow and waved his hand as if to mean ìyou can go in Maî, she looked at him with that look that could only mean ìyou better thank your God we are in the office environmentî and she went into his office. Laolu quickly locked the door behind him, closed his window blinds stood right in front of his wife who by this time was seated and crossed her legs, looking at him like ìso what do you have to say to defend yourselfî kind of look.
ìBabesî, he began while sitting by the side of his table close to her legs, ìYou obviously have seen Lamatex Ventures document in my drawer so we do not need to go over the reason you are acting like this towards me. I was going to tell you, I just needed the deal to be sealed. If I wanted to hide it from you, I wonít put the document where you saw it. You have access to all my cabinets here so I have nothing to hide. I know that is it because it is Bisiís company involved in this is why you are acting this way. I apologise, I am truly sorry, I was still going to speak to you about it. If you want it cancelled now, I can call her, put it on speaker and tell her the deal is over. Please, this is a business deal. Bisi is married remember? Come on now Nifeî
ìEpistle not necessary, just apologiseÖyou should have told me Laolu, you should haveî she said. So Laolu went on his knees and held her hands, ìMy Empress, the owner of my heart, my sugar potato, my missing rib, the one who has the only key to my soul, the spare key has not been created, my efficient business partnerÖI am sorrrrryyyyyyy!!!î he said. ìClownÖI have heard you. Need to get to my desk, there is much to do.î She said and he responded ìAhn! Ahn!.. No hug? How do I know we have made up?î he asked ìLaolu, you know we are in an office environment, behave yourselfî she said ìBehave myself? When with my WIFE? In OUR company? Please ooî he teased. ìSilly manî she said after hugging him briefly ìAhn Ahn Nifemi, the hug was too briefî he teased. ìBye Laolu, I have deadlines to meetî she said and went to her office.
Marriage intact, communication improved upon, everyone is doing fine at NILA Group!