Chapter 2 The Gift

Occasionally, he would glance at her and smile.

About two hours later, he woke her. She alighted at her usual spot. In her bid to get home on time, she forgot her handbag on the floor of the car where she tossed it. He had to call her back to collect it. After collecting the bag, she thanked him for the ride again, bid him farewell and this time she waited and watched him as he drove away before leaving. What a nice guy, fun to be with and rarely gets annoyed she thought about him as she walked the short distance to where she would board a taxi to her home. As she trekked towards where she would board a taxi, a sharp pain pierced her breast side.

She stopped briefly to allow the pain to dissipate and then continued trekking. It must have been due to the excessive task she undertook that day she thought. She récollected having such pains a few months earlier and she had recollected working tediously within that period.

"I need a good rest and I really need a car," she said inwardly. She also felt the daily trek to and from work increased the pains she felt most times.

Two weeks later, the bank's manager sent an office assistant to her requesting that she see him whenever she was less busy. Fortunately, her workload was light so she instantly stood up to go and see him.

"You asked to see me sir," she said when she walked into his office.

'Yes, I did. Please sit down," he responded.

Imogen sat down apprehensively. She wondered why he called her. As different thoughts ran through her mind, he spoke.

"Hard work and diligence to duty always pay," he said.

Imogen nodded in agreement. He opened his drawer, brought a nylon bag out and handed it over to her.

She cautiously collected and wondered why she was been given the package and what might be in it.

"A gift for you from an appreciative customer."

"A gift! For doing what sir?"

She did not open the nylon to view its content.

"Remember about a fortnight ago when our server was down, we had much transaction failures and you ate a cold lunch."

"Yes sir."

"Well, the man you met in my office was the person you assisted in remitting the foreign exchange. He had to travel that night, which was why he could not wait for you to sort out the problem the next day. He came back yesterday. He called me this morning and asked me to come by his office to pick that up for you," he said as he pointed at the nylon bag she held.

"Sir, he didn't have to do that. I was only performing my duty. I would have done the same for anyone."

"Well, not everyone would see it that way, but he did, and he appreciates it. However, I can return the gift to him if you feel it is not necessary," the manager said jokingly.

"That would not be a nice way to thank someone for a good gesture," she said and immediately opened the nylon to view its content.

"What! A brand new phone for doing my job. An Apple iphone for that matter. This is way beyond my two months salary sir."

"Do you still feel like returning it?"

"No way sir," Imogen said beaming with joy as she opened the carton to admire the phone.

"That will be all," the manager said.Imogen stood up to leave.

"Please thank him very much for me sir. On the other hand, I would be very happy if I could personally thank him sir," Ireti said.

The manager then gave Mr Felix phone number to her and she left his office. Imogen decided that she would call him after close of work to thank him.

The phone gift was the topic of discussion between staffers in the bank all day.

Ireti approached the car park smiling. She looked around but could not find Asher's car. She decided to use the opportunity to call Mr Felix. She took her phone and dialed his number. It rang the first time but he did not pick it. She became apprehensive and dialed it again. Maybe he was not used to picking strange numbers she thought as the phone rang again. The phone rang through the second time, still it was not picked. She decided that she would call once more when she got home and if he did not pick her call, she would not bother again. As she placed her phone in her handbag, her phone rang. She saw that he was the one calling back

"Hello," his voice sounded, deeply over the phone.

"Hello sir. Good evening sir. This is Miss Hall calling from Chase Bank.

"Good evening. How may I help you Miss Hall," he answered.

Imogen was initially baffled at his reaction and then she recollected that he would know her as Imogen not Miss Hall.

"I am calling to thank you for the gift you sent to me sir," she said.

"Oh! The woman that saved the day. I am very sorry. I recollect the manager called you Imogen. I didn't know you are the same person as Miss Hall. Very sorry," he said apologetically.

"No problem sir. I am very grateful for the phone sir."

"Oh, it's nothing. I am glad you like it, Miss Hall."

"Please call me Imogen sir," she said to interrupt him. later," he said and hung up abruptly.

"Okay Imogen. I am in a meeting now. I will call you

What a nice man, she thought as she put her phone back in her handbag to wait for Asher. She took the box out of the nylon and read the information on the pack. As she did that, Asher drove in. she quickly put the phone back in the nylon and watched him as he conveniently parked the car. She immediately approached the passenger's side, opened the door and got in.