Hi readers! When nanny left my office in Ikeja, to go ‘dispose’ of the holy water and the incense as Joe had  ordered her, Joe said that he, Tayo and I should have a short meeting about how much I would be involved in Seb’s company. I felt like a school girl on her first day in school, especially with Joe, my eldest brother, in the room, and seemingly in charge. I thanked both of them and said that I was all ears.

“Now,” said Joe, “we’re believing God that your time here will be so successful that when Seb returns, he’d be glad that he asked you to come help out in his absence. The reality on ground is that the company has become cash-strapped  because the Chief Accountant and someone else have connived to withdraw money recklessly.

I wouldn’t say the money found its way into their pockets since there’s no evidence to that effect, but it disappeared into thin air. One doesn’t want to make accusations that would displease the Lord. Everyone to his/her conscience. Sis, you’re to oversee what’s spent as from now on. Not one kobo should be dispensed without your knowledge, and you have to be convinced that that kobo needs to be spent. Are you okay with that?”

“Bro., thanks so much. That’s fine by me. But if the company is cash-strapped, what money would I be preventing from being spent?  Are we moving on to another account?  The one for running the company is depleted, isn’t it? Seb told me there are other accounts, but he hadn’t signed blank cheques for those.”

“Blank cheques! That’s the height of folly. I wonder how an experienced lawyer and businessman like Seb would do such a thing? Isn’t that shooting ones’ self in the foot? When Tayo told me, I went all open-mouth. That’s not the Seb 1 used to know.”

“I was surprised myself, Joe, when he told me,” I said. “But I suppose with his mysterious illness, the poor guy couldn’t think straight. If he had discussed it with Tayo, she would have advised him not to do it.”

“He did ask my advice, and I did ask him to go ahead. I admit I was wrong. I thought that with ‘trustworthy’ Coco, who’s virtually a part of the business, so to say, there would be no room for money developing wings.

I thought she would be able to keep to ensure that the accountant played straight. He’s an efficient guy, but, he’s yet to learn not to regard company money his own. If someone can keep an eagle eye on him, things would be okay. He’s needed here.”

“Okay o; if you say so!” I said. “What money will be used in running the company in Seb’s absence? Didn’t you say that an overdraft had to be got to pay August salaries and other expenses. September salaries are still pending.”

“All that has been cleared, sis. Thanks to Tayo who has lent the company some millions to clear the overdraft, settle salaries, etc. and have money in the bank with which to run the company. Supplies have been got for the factories so that production can start again.”

“Oh, well done, Tayo dear. That’s very kind of you. You’ll get your money back when Seb returns, I’m sure.”

“Actually, it’s Seb’s money. Several years ago, he invested heavily in CLAWS, and his dividends have been piling up. It’s half of them that I have ploughed into this company. It was a good thing that he told me to set it aside for him.

If he had collected, then this company would have folded up immediately. It was in such a bad shape until I made that money available. The accountant and Coco think it’s a loan from me, though. Now, you don’t go telling them otherwise.”

“I won’t do that, Tayo,” I protested. “I don’t have diarrhoea of the mouth. I’m quite discreet.”

“Praise God for that, sis,” said Seb. “On the desk over there are the books. You’ll need to go over them in order to get acquainted with incomes and expenditures. There’s also the staff list and weekly petty cash. Take your time poring over them, and if you need anything explained to you, don’t hesitate to ask the accountant or the admin manager who, I understand is our dear Coco. Any questions?”

“Not that I can think of right now.”

“A word of caution, Treena dear,” said Tayo. “Don’t waste your time asking why they bought this and that, or spent money in such and such a way. Put all that behind you when you come across some doubtful and frivolous spending.

The future is what you’ve come here for. Concentrate on that. The company must not be allowed to sink. It must start making profit again. Before Joe and I leave, we’ll call all the heads of department and talk to them. They have to be warned seriously about dereliction of duty which seem to be rampant here now.”

“Couldn’t Coco check that?”

“She could, but since you’re here, why don’t you show some interest in that? That would make accord you some power. Coco’s been in charge of that for so long, that, understandably, some members of staff, especially the older ones who were here before she joined, would want to undermine her authority. They dare not try that with you, particularly those you employed while you were here.”

“Ah, lest I forget; there’s Chuks at the gate who want the free lunch I initiated, re-introduced. What do you think of that? Is there money for that? He said that it helped him to save money, and it used to be the only proper meals he had on week days. I felt quite touched.”

“Hm, I respect elderly people o, Treena dear,” said Tayo, “but when their demands are as insatiable as Mr. Chuks’, I get irritated. He’s nice, hardworking and reliable, but he has this habit of ‘I want some more!’ of Oliver Twist.

Free lunch was possible during those early days when there weren’t many workers here, and business was booming. But with poor sales and increased staff later, Coco had to axe it on my recommendation. After all, it wasn’t included among their benefits and it isn’t mentioned in their letter of appointment.

When staff wanted salary increase, which the company couldn’t accommodate along with free lunch, Seb and Coco consulted me, and I advised that lunch should be axed and salaries increased. From my own experience, very few workers think that free lunch is a big deal. Many would rather have increased earnings.”

“From the books, I could see that the lunch they buy from the staff canteen here is heavily subsidized,” observed Joe. “Isn’t the man satisfied with that? As a founding staff member, he should be concerned about poor business.   I think Seb’s generous enough with these his workers.”

“Don’t mind Papa Chuks, jare,” said Tayo. “Treena, do you know that he and his family have been occupying one of the Boys’ Quarters in my house in Aguda for the past eight years, free of charge?”

“I didn’t know that. That’s very kind of you Did he approach you for accommodation or you just offered it free to him?”

“It’s like this. I asked him to get me a guard for that place, when the tenant there who was owing me four years rent agreed finally to leave.   He said he would do it as an evening job, while a friend of his would do the day shift. This worked well.

When I got a new tenant who had his own guard, both of them had to stop work. Next thing I knew, Papa Chuks came to tell me that his landlord had ejected him and his family, etc, and could they manage in the two bedroom self-contained which was one of the two boys’ quarters there for a while. I said okay. One excuse led to the other and he’s firmly planted there.”

“That was very foxy of him, wasn’t it?”

“Maybe, but it worked out fine for Tayo,” said Joe, “because the man and his family are like care-takers there, cleaning and keeping an eye on the place; especially in between tenants. You know it’s a flooded area, so, there’s a high turnover of tenants.

With Papa Chuks and his family installed there, Tayo doesn’t need to go looking for a guard when a tenant leaves. If he brings up the issue of free lunch again, tell him that it would be looked into when business improves, by the grace of God.”

I nodded and was going to ask another question when Coco breezed in.

“Ah, uncle Joe!” she squealed in delight, going to hug my brother. “What a pleasure to see you here in our humble office. How’s everybody?”

“Fine, sister Coco. You’re looking so youthful. We’re still waiting for you to come rejoin the church. You were a useful founding member. You can’t just walk away like that. Don’t you care about the brethren?”

“I do. I do. It’s work and the distance of going all the way from Isolo to er, where’s the church moved to now?”

“See?  You’ve even lost track of our location. We’re on our own premises, in Lekki Phase 2. God has been faithful. We miss your fellowship with us. You should, at least, come on a visit,”

“Will try. Tayo, I throw salute. Treena, thanks for coming. I hope you like your office.”

“I’m sure she does, Coco,” said Tayo, smoothly. “We were just discussing how very useful you will be in helping Treena do her work here. The turn around we’re envisaging can only be successful if you two ladies cooperate.”

“That goes without question,” I responded swiftly. “Coco, I’ll rely on you to show me the ropes. You’re the only one here I can rely on.” There was a pause, and then she nodded. I looked over at Joe and Tayo. They looked relieved.

“Let’s bow our heads, shut our eyes and commit this into God’s hand,” said Joe busily, and he began to pray. When we opened our eyes I saw that nanny had quietly slipped back into the room. I sneaked a look round and I saw water glistening in various parts of the room. I smiled. She had her way with the holy water after all.

Tara.

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