Forbidden Passion: 12

The talk with Mrs Danlami weighed her down more than she wanted but before she could get drowned in her thoughts, Ben appeared in the corridor just as she stepped outside their boss’s office. Alongside him was Bimbo, the chef. There used to be another cook but she resigned two months ago to go and join her family living in one of the Middle East countries. Since then, Madam Freda had been looking for a perfect replacement and was yet to find any before her whole plan to move back home surfaced.

“Yas baby!” 

Bimbo beamed at her. Yasmin smiled at both her colleagues as they approached her. Former colleagues She corrected herself. She’d not only resigned but in a few months, Chop and Drink would no longer exist.

“You look good o.” Bimbo said as she scrutinised her. Ben agreed before adding. 

“Your skin always glows. And the shade of your skin ehn, I don’t know where to place it. Is it fair or dark?”

“I thought I was the only one that noticed.” Bimbo chipped in. Yasmin laughed.

“It’s because of the dark gown. Dark colours and any shade of brown make my skin pop out. Thanks. How are you guys doing?”

“Fine o.” “We thank God”

Bimbo and Ben replied respectively.

“You’ve heard about the eatery?” Bimbo asked. 

“Yes, madam told me about it when I informed her that I was here to resign.”

“Resign?” Ben and Bimbo chorused.

“You don get job be that?” Ben asked.

“E no matter sef. Even if she no get, in a few months, Chop and Drink go close.”

They continued their discussion as they all walked back to the entrance leading to where customers were seated.

“How’s Lisa na, my oyibo wife?” Ben asked. 

Both Yasmin and Bimbo burst into laughter but it was Bimbo that replied before Yasmin could.

“You no dey respect yourself, Ben. Lisa no dey your class o. She’s high maintenance.”

“Did I ask you?” Ben fired back. “Allow the one I asked to reply na.”

“She’s fine.” 

Yasmin said, trying to conceal the amusement in her voice. She remembered her first day at the eatery. Lisa had followed her to the eatery to meet Mrs Danlami. She was the one who helped her secure the job through a friend who was related to the owner of the restaurant. Ben had tried hitting on indirectly but Lisa who understood so well what he was playing at, turned him down politely. But that had not stopped him from asking after her or giving her specially prepared food to give to her friend.

As the conversation continued, Yasmin let her eyes roam the room. There were just two customers left. Her eyes lingered on the customer at the other end of the room. He wore a blue and orange Adire shirt and a blue face cap. It was as if he felt her eyes on him Because he chose that moment to look up at her.

“That oga asked after you o. The one that helped you during the accident.”  

Embarrassed that she had been caught by the man and her colleague, she looked away briefly and turned to slightly face Ben. 

“Really? So it’s him Lisa was talking about. I’ve not been able to thank him.”

“I think you should go and thank him. He’s still looking at you.” Ben whispered and Bimbo agreed.

She looked up to find him still staring as Ben stated. I can't avoid this she thought as she walked up to him.

“Good afternoon sir.” 

Wearing a small smile as she said it. She caught a fleeting look of surprise, amusement and something else she couldn’t quite place, on his face.

“Good afternoon ma.” 

He chuckled but Yasmin ignored the remark and went on to thank him and apologised for not having done that all this while.

“Really, It’s nothing. I believe I was there at that moment to help you.” 

Yasmin nodded her head and thanked him once more. She was about to turn back to leave when he stopped her.

“Are you done for today? I notice you are not dressed for work.” 

Yasmin wondered why he was asking but she replied, leaving out the part that she no longer work there.

“Yes, I’m about leaving sir.”

“I’m too. I could drop you off.” 

Yasmin looked from him to his plate. There was still some food left in it. It was like he realised she was about to turn down his offer because he quickly added 

“I’m already full and was about to leave before you came.”

“I don’t want to be a bother, sir.”

“No, it’s fine.”

He said as he waved Ben over to the table and paid for his meal. Yasmin racked her brain for a perfect excuse to give him so that she'd not join him but came up with nothing.

“I don’t bite Yasmin.” 

He assured her with a smile after noticing she was still hesitant about him dropping her off.

“Alright, thank you, sir.” 

She said her byes to Both and Bimbo before she walked out of the eatery, ignoring the mischievous grin on the faces of her former co-workers. Closely behind her was the man she least expected was her good Samaritan. Her first impression of him was so bad that she had always tried to avoid waiting on him, whenever he came to the restaurant.

...to be continued.