Honey Library

WHAT HAPPENED TO TASHA? 🌵 06
They had dinner in silence. The usual chatter that filled the air during meals was absent tonight. Tasha picked at her food, occasionally glancing at Vera, who, though quiet, kept her eyes on her plate.

Vera noticed the tension but didn’t press Tasha further. She knew her friend well enough to understand when she needed space. The soft clinking of cutlery against porcelain seemed to echo in the otherwise quiet room.

Finally, after a while, Vera broke the silence.

"Tasha," she began, her voice low, "I know you're going through something, but you don’t have to do it alone."

Tasha didn’t look up.
"I know," she muttered. "But I don’t want anyone to pity me, Vera."

Vera sighed. "No one’s trying to pity you, Tasha. We all just want to help. You’re pushing people away, and I’m worried about you."

Tasha set her fork down, finally meeting Vera’s gaze. "I’m fine, Vera. Just tired, that’s all."

Vera wasn’t convinced. "You’ve been saying that for months now since I came here but it doesn’t look like you’re fine. And you know you don’t have to pretend with me."

Tasha's expression softened slightly, but she didn’t respond. Instead, she stood up and started clearing the table, her movements deliberate and mechanical. Vera didn’t push any further. She knew Tasha wasn’t ready to open up.

As Tasha washed the dishes, Vera quietly retreated to the living room, her mind still full of unanswered questions, but she knew better than to force her to talk when she wasn’t ready. She could only hope that one day, Tasha would let her in again.
*******************************************
It was the weekend, and after much persuasion from Vera, Tasha finally agreed to take a break from work and go out to have some fun. Vera had convinced her that a spa day would help her unwind, and Tasha, though reluctant at first, agreed.

They arrived at the spa, the soothing scent of lavender and eucalyptus filling the air as they walked through the doors. The soft hum of calming music and the gentle murmur of conversations created a serene atmosphere that immediately began to work its magic on Tasha.

As they checked in, the receptionist smiled warmly at them, handing them towels and directing them to their respective areas. Tasha was a little uneasy at first but allowed herself to be led to the relaxation room. Vera was excited, talking about all the treatments she’d be getting, but Tasha just nodded, her mind elsewhere.

Soon, a well-dressed man appeared at the entrance, offering a polite smile.

"Good afternoon, Ma'am," he greeted, his eyes lingering on her a moment longer than necessary. "I’ll be taking care of you today."

Tasha glanced up, her eyes cool and distant, instantly noting the man’s admiration of her. She couldn’t help but notice the way his gaze lingered on her, and though she didn’t like to be the center of attention, she had grown used to it. What she didn’t like was the way he was looking at her now, as if she were an object for his admiration.

He seemed to notice her unease, but he remained confident. "I’ll make sure you're relaxed and comfortable."

Tasha’s voice was icy when she responded. "I’d prefer a female attendant, please."

The man’s smile faltered for just a moment, but he quickly regained his composure. "I assure you, Ma'am, I’m more than qualified to assist you today. You don’t need to worry about a thing."

Tasha's expression hardened. "I said I want a female. Is that so hard to understand?"

His demeanor shifted slightly, but he insisted, "It really is no trouble at all, and I promise you won’t regret it. I’ve been working here for years, and I know exactly how to—"

Tasha cut him off, her tone sharp and unyielding. "I don’t care how long you’ve been working here. I don’t want you to touch me, and I won’t repeat myself."

Her coldness was clear, and there was a definite edge to her words. The man, clearly taken aback by her response, hesitated for a moment, clearly unsure how to proceed. He opened his mouth to argue, but Tasha’s glare was enough to silence him. Finally, with a forced smile, he nodded.

"Of course, Ma'am. I’ll make sure a female attendant is assigned to you."

Tasha gave a curt nod in return, her gaze already returning to the book she had picked up earlier. She wasn’t interested in any more conversation. The man left, looking somewhat disgruntled, but Tasha didn’t care. Vera, who had been watching the exchange from a distance, raised an eyebrow.

"Tasha, you didn’t have to be so harsh," she said, though her tone was understanding.

Tasha didn’t look up from the book. "I don’t like being treated like I’m some kind of prize to be won over, Vera. People like him need to learn boundaries."

Vera sighed but didn’t argue. She knew better than to push Tasha when she was in this mood. The silence between them stretched on, but it wasn’t uncomfortable.

A few minutes later, a female attendant came in and introduced herself. Tasha nodded, her demeanor softening slightly as she stood up to follow her.

Tasha followed the female attendant into her treatment room, and for a moment, the peaceful atmosphere of the spa seemed to settle over her. The attendant was gentle and professional, making small talk as she prepared the treatment. Tasha, still in her quiet, guarded mood, didn’t engage much, simply nodding and offering brief responses.

Meanwhile, Vera was in another room with the same man who had initially tried to attend to Tasha. It was clear that the man was still intrigued by Tasha, though, as he couldn't help but glance over at her, even while attending to Vera. Every few moments, his eyes would flick in her direction, as if he couldn’t stop admiring her beauty.

Tasha, however, wasn’t oblivious to his stares. She could feel his gaze from the other side of the room, and it began to irritate her. She was there to relax, not to be ogled.

After enduring a few more lingering glances, she finally couldn’t hold back any longer. She turned her head slightly toward the male attendant who was still working with Vera, and her voice rang out, cold and unbothered.

"Focus on what you’re doing and mind your business," she said, her tone sharp and commanding.

The man froze for a second, caught off guard by the coldness in her voice. His cheeks flushed slightly as he quickly looked away, finally realizing that his attention was unwanted. He tried to mask his embarrassment with a forced smile and focused back on Vera, doing his best to maintain a professional demeanor.

Vera, who had been in the middle of a conversation with him, raised an eyebrow at the interaction. She didn’t say anything, but the situation was clear: Tasha wasn’t the type of woman who would tolerate being objectified, even passively. She respected Tasha’s boundary and didn’t comment further, though she couldn’t help but smile to herself a little at how quickly the man had been put in his place.

For the rest of the session, Tasha remained quiet, her focus back on relaxing. The female attendant, sensing the shift in atmosphere, continued her work in silence, understanding that Tasha preferred peace and space. The male attendant, on the other hand, kept his attention firmly on Vera, and though he still stole the occasional glance at Tasha, he made sure to keep his distance.

By the time the treatments were over, the calmness of the spa had worked its magic on Tasha. While she was still as guarded as ever, the irritation from earlier seemed to have dissipated. She had been left alone, and that was exactly what she wanted.

Vera, however, had an amused look on her face as she walked out of her treatment room and met Tasha by the entrance.

"You really know how to handle people," Vera remarked, her smile wide.

Tasha simply gave her a small, almost imperceptible smile in response
"Let's go," Tasha said, her tone returning to its usual quiet calm as she stood up.

Vera, still chuckling, nodded and followed her out of the spa, both women heading back to their car, ready to continue their weekend of relaxation.
*********************
They arrived at the poolside, the air warm and inviting. The sparkling water gleamed under the afternoon sun, with a few people leisurely swimming and relaxing by the edge of the pool. The atmosphere was peaceful, a perfect escape from their busy lives.

Vera, ever the energetic one, quickly changed into her swimsuit and then turned to Tasha, who was still standing by the pool, surveying the water as if deep in thought.

"Come on, Tasha," Vera urged, giving her an encouraging smile. "The water's great! You should come in."

Tasha, however, wasn’t moved. She adjusted her sunglasses and took a sip from the cold glass of juice in her hand. "I'll pass," she said calmly, her eyes still focused on her phone. "I’ll just watch you swim."

Vera raised an eyebrow and let out an exaggerated sigh. "What a joy killer," she muttered, though it was said in a teasing tone. She wasn't about to let Tasha ruin her fun, so without waiting for another word, she dived into the pool, sending up a small splash of water.

Tasha, still leaning against the pool's edge, casually glanced up for a moment as Vera swam a few laps. She went back to scrolling through her phone, her fingers flicking through messages and emails, occasionally sipping from her drink. Despite her reserved nature, there was a certain contentment in the moment, the calmness of the pool and the warm sun offering a brief respite from the pressures of work and life.

Vera, on the other hand, was in her element. She swam effortlessly, enjoying the freedom of being in the water, her laughter echoing as she splashed around. She would occasionally glance over at Tasha, who still hadn’t joined her in the water, but she didn’t push her any further.

Tasha remained perched by the edge, feeling the soothing warmth of the sun on her skin. She didn’t mind watching Vera enjoy herself; she was content being the observer for once. It wasn’t that she didn’t like swimming—it was just that, in that moment, she preferred the quiet of the poolside, her thoughts undisturbed as she scrolled through her phone, mentally keeping herself distant from anything that could bring unnecessary attention.

Every now and then, Vera would stop her laps to wave at Tasha, joking around as she splashed water in her direction, but Tasha only gave her a small, half-smile in return. She didn’t seem interested in joining the playfulness. Instead, her mind was somewhere else—always somewhere else.
*************
Tasha was engrossed in her phone, her attention solely on the screen as Vera swam with joy, enjoying the pool. The water splashed around her as she moved with ease, but Tasha remained still, her glass of juice in hand. It was quiet for a few moments until suddenly, someone splashed water directly onto Tasha.

She looked up in irritation, her eyes narrowing at the person who had disrupted her peace.

A man, with a wide grin, stood by the poolside. "Hi, beautiful. Would you like to join me in the pool?" he asked, his smile eager.

Tasha’s face twisted with d!sgust. She was already ann0yed, and his suggestion did nothing to help. She didn't respond, choosing instead to stand up from her seat and move a few feet away, seeking solace in a new spot. Her phone still in hand, she went back to scrolling through it, trying to ignore him.

However, she noticed someone sit opposite her, but she didn’t look up. The man’s voice reached her ears again.

"Hi, pretty."

Tasha remained silent, her gaze fixed on her phone, determined not to engage.

"What are you doing here? Not swimming?" he asked.

No response.

The man, feeling emboldened, reached out and touched her hand in an attempt to get her attention. That was a mistake. The moment their eyes met, Tasha’s cold, hard gaze froze him in place. He shivered, instinctively pulling his hand back, and for the first time, realized that he might have crossed a line.

For a brief second, he stood there, frozen, unsure of what to do next. There was no trace of warmth in Tasha’s expression, just ice—a wall that made it clear she wasn’t interested. His earlier bravado melted away, replaced by an awkwardness he wasn’t used to.

Tasha didn’t waste another second. Without saying a word, she turned her attention back to her phone, as though the man had never existed.

The man lingered for a moment, standing there like an idi0t, before finally retreating. He glanced back once, but Tasha didn’t even acknowledge his departure.
****************
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WHAT HAPPENED TO TASHA?🌵05
Richard adjusted his tie as he approached the receptionist at Bridestone Accounting Firm.

"Good afternoon," he said, offering a small smile.

"Good afternoon, sir. How may I help you?" the receptionist replied politely.

"I'm here to see Ms. Tasha Williams," Richard said.

"Do you have any appointment with her?"

"I'm an external auditor for Soltex Limited," he explained. "Just tell her that — she’ll understand."

"Okay, please hold on," the receptionist said, reaching for the phone.

She quickly dialed Tasha’s extension. After a few rings, Tasha picked up.

"Good afternoon, Ms. Williams. There's a man here to see you. He says he's an external auditor for Soltex Limited."

Tasha paused briefly, her brow slightly furrowed. Has it not been reassigned yet? she thought to herself.

"Send him in," she said eventually.

The receptionist dropped the call and smiled up at Richard.

"You can go in, sir. Her office is the third door on your left."

"Thank you," Richard said with a nod, straightening his tie again before making his way towards Tasha’s office.********************
Richard arrived at Tasha’s office and knocked lightly on the door.

"Come in," came her voice, firm but distracted. She didn’t look up from her computer screen.

Richard stepped in. "Good afternoon," he greeted politely.

"Afternoon. Kindly sit," Tasha said, gesturing vaguely towards the seat across from her without sparing him a glance.

Richard sat, a bit unsure, watching as she remained glued to her system, her fingers tapping away at the keyboard. Her focus was intense, almost like he wasn’t even there.

The silence stretched uncomfortably. About a minute passed before Richard cleared his throat to get her attention.

Finally, Tasha looked up, her eyes meeting his. Richard found himself staring, his mouth slightly open in surprise — not because she smiled or welcomed him warmly, but because her expression was blank and unwelcoming.

"Sorry, I kept you waiting," she said curtly.

"Uhnm... yeah," Richard muttered, gathering himself. "I'm Richard Adedayo, the external auditor concerning Soltex Limited."

Tasha sat upright, her gaze sharpening as she studied him.

"Richard?" she asked, her tone flat. "The same Richard who's been calling me nonstop? Bugging my phones with endless calls, harass!ng me to check emails?"

There was no warmth in her voice. If anything, her irritation was barely concealed.

Richard opened his mouth to respond, but Tasha didn’t give him the chance.

"You won't be working with me," she said sharply. "The Soltex Limited audit has been reassigned to someone else. I suggest you check with the front desk or send a mail to the firm's general inquiry."

Her words were final, leaving no room for negotiation.

Richard shifted in his seat, clearly unsettled by her bluntness.

"Why?" he asked carefully, trying not to sound confrontational.

Tasha leaned back slightly, her arms crossing loosely over her chest.

"I can't work with someone who's impatient," she said plainly, her voice clipped. "People like you can make life unbearable. I don’t tolerate unnecessary pressure."

Richard blinked, taken aback by her directness.

"I wasn’t trying to pressure you," he said, keeping his tone even. "I was only trying to make sure we could start working on it early enough. I thought it was urgent."

Tasha gave a tight smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

"Whether urgent or not, there’s a process," she said coolly. "Calling repeatedly won’t speed it up. It only creates unnecessary tension."

Richard swallowed his next words, sensing it would be pointless to argue. He rubbed his palms against his trousers awkwardly, unsure if he should say anything more.

Tasha returned her attention to her computer, clearly dismissing him without saying it outright.

After a few seconds of uncomfortable silence, she spoke again without looking at him.

"You'll be contacted by whoever it has been reassigned to. You can liaise with them going forward."

Her tone left no room for further discussion.

Richard slowly rose to his feet, his eyes lingering on Tasha for a moment.
He hesitated, then said quietly, his voice calm but carrying a slight edge,

"You know, for someone so beautiful, you carry so much coldness around you. I don’t know what life has thrown your way, and honestly, it’s none of my business... but sometimes, it wouldn’t hürt to just breathe. Not everyone is out to make your life harder. Some of us are just trying to do our jobs."

Tasha’s fingers paused over her keyboard, her head tilting slightly as if she was about to look up — but before she could, Richard was already walking out of her office, the door clicking softly shut behind him.

Tasha stared at the closed door for a long moment, her face unreadable, before silently returning her attention to her system.
*******************
Tasha closed for the day and headed home. When she got in, she sat down in the living room, feeling exhausted. She kicked off her shoes and let out a deep sigh. Vera, who had been in the kitchen, strolled in.

"Looks like someone is tired," Vera said.

"Yeah," Tasha responded, slumping further into the couch.

"How was work today? Stressful, right?"

"Yeah, and ann0ying as well."

"What happened?"

"Nothing."

"Come on, tell me, Tasha. What happened?" Vera pressed, standing in front of her.

"Nothing, Vera," Tasha said, trying to stand up, but Vera pulled her back down.

"Vera!"

"You’re not leaving until you tell me. You rarely gossip about your work. Come on, Tasha... please."

"Okay, fine. I’ll tell you."

Vera squealed, excited for the details.

"Won't the food burn?" Tasha said, raising an eyebrow.

"Forget the food."

"Hmmm... just don’t burn the house down."

"Tasha!"

"Okay, okay! I was busy working on a financial statement, you know, trying to balance it and locate the error that made it incomplete, when someone walked into my office."

"Who? A fine, tall man, right?"

Tasha shot her a glare.

"Sorry!"

"He’s an external auditor. We’re supposed to be working together on a company’s financial statement, but I just made sure it was reassigned to someone else. Not me."

"Ahnn... why?"

"I don't want to work with him."

Vera tilted her head, studying Tasha closely. "Why not? What’s wrong with him?"

Tasha ran a hand through her hair, clearly irritated. "He’s impatient. He kept calling me non-stop, bombarding me with emails, asking if I had seen this or done that. I was trying to focus, and he just couldn’t give me a break. People like him can make life unbearable."

Vera raised an eyebrow. "So, because he was calling you non-stop, that’s why you decided not to work with him?"

"Yeah," Tasha responded firmly, crossing her arms.

Vera shook her head. "He was only trying to get his work done, Tasha."

Tasha's voice grew sharp. "See, Vera, I don't like that guy. I don’t like his guts."

Vera sighed, clearly frustrated. "Tasha!"

Tasha leaned forward, her tone heated. "He made one uselëss comment about me before he left my office. He should have waited for my response before making assumptions about me."

"Was it about you being cold?" Vera asked, eyeing her with a pointed look. "Then he’s right, Tasha. You are cold sometimes. And, let’s be honest, you can be rüde as well."

"Tasha," Vera repeated, her voice softer now, but still filled with concern. "You shut people out, and you ignore them. What happened to you? You were never like this."

Tasha stood silent, looking away.

Vera took a step closer, her gaze softening. "I know you only allow me here because we’re family and maybe best friends, but that doesn’t mean you don't act like that towards me. Sometimes, I feel like I’m walking on eggshells around you. I just had to tolerate it because of the bond we share, but it’s becoming harder, Tasha. Why are you like this? What happened?"

Tasha’s shoulders tensed, and she finally spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. "Vera, it's nothing"

Vera placed a hand on Tasha's shoulder gently. "You don’t have to talk about it now, but you can’t keep pushing everyone away. You’re only hürting yourself in the process."

Tasha's eyes flickered with a mix of emotions, but she said nothing. She turned towards the window again, her face hardening.

Vera stepped back, letting the silence stretch between them, but her words hung in the air, leaving Tasha with more to think about than she cared to admit.
" I will be in my room" Tasha said, picking up her bag then walked away.

Vera sighed.
She was never like this, all of a sudden, she started acting strange, weird, cold and rüde.
What happened to her? She thought.
********************
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WHAT HAPPENED TO TASHA? 🌵 04
Richard?

She didn’t know any Richard. Not personally, at least.

Still, she kept her voice steady.

"Tell him I'm not available for personal visits during work hours," she said crisply.
"If it’s a business matter, he can send an email to my official address."

"Alright, ma'am," Sandra replied quickly.

Tasha dropped the receiver and returned to her computer screen without a second thought, dismissing the interruption from her mind............
Five minutes later, an email notification popped up on her system.

Subject: Request for Brief Meeting
From: Richard Adedayo (Guest)

Curious but not particularly interested, she opened it.

> Good Afternoon, Ms. Tasha,

I apologize for the unannounced visit.

I recently joined your firm’s external audit team, temporarily attached to Soltex Limited’s audit, and was hoping to have a quick chat regarding some documents.

Kindly let me know a convenient time today.

Regards,
Richard Adedayo

Tasha exhaled slowly.

So it was work-related after all.

Still, she wasn’t pleased with how informal he had gone about it — coming to Reception instead of following proper internal channels.

She responded simply:

> Reply:
Good Afternoon.

Kindly send the documents by email. I will review and revert.

Regards,
Tasha.

She sent it and went right back to reviewing the Soltex Limited balance sheet.
***********
The rest of the afternoon moved along in the same manner — her screen filled with spreadsheets and audit reports, her pen moving swiftly across paper.

When closing hour approached, Tasha packed her files neatly into her bag.

As she walked through the hallway, few colleagues around waved politely.
She gave a small nod in return but didn't stop to chat

Once outside the building, she slipped into her car that was parked outside, ready to pick Vera up as they agreed.
She drove off.

She got to her office, Vera was waiting outside for her.
" Finally, someone is here"

" I apologize for being some minutes late"

" Tasha "

" So madam. As agreed, you are the one driving" Tasha said handling her the car keys.

"How was work?" Vera asked Tasha as they settled in.

" Same old"

"God save that your boring firm," Vera joked as she drove off.

Tasha smiled faintly but said nothing.
Vera drove off ..*********....
The traffic that evening was already building up like an añgry mob.
Vera groaned as she maneuvered the car into one of the endless lanes of crawling vehicles.

"God abeg," Vera muttered under her breath, tapping the steering impatiently.
"Why is everywhere blocked like this?"

Tasha, sitting quietly beside her, kept her gaze on the road ahead, unbothered.

"Relax. Getting añgry won’t move the cars," Tasha said dryly, scrolling through her phone.

"Easy for you to say, Miss Ice Queen," Vera teased. "You don't even blink in traffic."

Tasha smirked slightly.
"I already planned for it. Mentally prepared myself to suffer."

"Ah! Mentally prepared ke? You’re not serious," Vera said, shaking her head.

A loud honk came from a keke napep squeezing into their lane.
Vera h!ssed and wound down her window halfway.

"Oga, easy na!" she shouted. "You wan jam me abi?"

The keke driver only laughed and sped ahead, slipping between two cars like a mischievous mosquito.

"See this one o," Vera continued grumbling, winding her window back up.
"Lagos will not kil! me because of one yeye mechanic wahala."

Tasha chuckled under her breath.

"Better save your energy for more important battles," she said.

"Like what?" Vera asked, genuinely curious.

"Like waking up early tomorrow if you don’t want to trek," Tasha replied, flashing a quick side glance at her.

Vera burst out laughing.

"You never forget that one abi? Ehn now! I will wake up, ma," she said mockingly. "God forbid trekking under this Nigeria hot sun."

The car crept forward slowly, meter by meter.

Vera switched on the radio to distract herself from the frustration.

A funny radio talk show was playing, and soon, both girls found themselves laughing at the ridiculous call-ins.

By the time they neared their estate gate, the tension had melted a bit.

The two cousins were back to teasing and laughing like best friends.

As Vera turned into their street, she sighed in relief.

"Home, sweet home."

"At last," Tasha said, stretching her legs slightly.

They pulled up into the compound, and Tasha jumped out immediately, eager to drop her bag and shower.

Vera called after her, "Don’t sleep yet o! We need to plan our weekend gist!"

Tasha only waved a hand lazily without answering.

Typical Tasha.

She was home, yes.
But she wasn’t ready to start talking about any plans — at least, not until she had eaten, showered, and maybe, maybe found the strength to entertain Vera's endless wahala..
********************
Tasha threw her bag carelessly on the bed, kicked off her shoes, and sat heavily on the edge of her mattress.
She reached for her phone, intending to scroll through her messages lazily, when it began to vibrate violently in her hand.

An unknown number.

She frowned.

She hates picking unknown numbers.
She stared at the screen as it rang. Once. Twice. Three times.

It stopped.

She sighed in relief.

But before she could toss the phone aside, it started ringing again.
Same number.
She h!ssed and tossed the phone on the bed.

The phone vibrated again. And again. And again.

Like the caller had made it their life mission to call her to glory

"God, who is this nuisance?" she muttered under her breath.

At the eighth call, she snatched the phone and answered it, pressing it to her ear without saying a word.

She wasn’t about to make life easy for whoever it was.

"Hello? Hi," a male voice said, cheerful and unnecessarily lively.

Tasha said nothing, her face as stiff as stone.

"Hello? Tasha William?" the voice repeated, almost nervously.

She finally spoke, her voice sharp and unimpressed.
"Who are you?"

"Oh, sorry! I'm Richard. From the external audit team attached to Soltex Limited."

Tasha leaned back slightly, irritation flashing across her eyes.
"So?" she said coldly. "And how exactly is that my concern?"

There was a brief awkward pause from his end.

"Uh... I sent you an email regarding some documents I need. You haven't responded yet," Richard said, still trying to sound polite.

Tasha let out a dry, mocking chuckle.
"And you couldn’t be patient like a normal human being? You think calling me like you're my long-lost brother will make me work faster?"

"Ah no, it's not like that—" he stammered.

She cut him off without pity.

"This is business. Not friendship. Next time, learn to wait for responses instead of acting like you have my house address."

Silence.

Richard was obviously stunned, but Tasha didn’t care.

She wasn't in the mood for fāke niceness.

"Anything else?" she added icily.

"Uh... no, nothing else. Sorry for disturbing you."

She ended the call without saying another word and tossed her phone face down on the bed.

"Rubb!sh," she muttered.
**********************
The week continued to drag on for Tasha Williams. The usual early mornings, endless meetings, and cold, mechanical interactions filled her days. She had mastered the art of being indifferent to everyone around her, a skill that kept her at the top of her game but left her utterly disconnected from the world outside of spreadsheets and audit reports.

Her colleagues had long since learned not to try too hard with her, not to push her for anything beyond what was strictly necessary. Her reputation preceded her — cold, calculating, and brutally efficient. There was no space for warmth or friendship in Tasha’s world.

That afternoon, as Tasha sat in a meeting with a group of senior partners, her phone buzzed quietly in her pocket. It wasn’t an emergency, but she still excused herself from the conversation, tapping her phone to check the message.

It was from Vera.

“Babe, are you still working late again? I miss you. Let’s grab dinner after work! Love, V.”

Tasha’s fingers hovered over the keys as she considered responding. Her gaze drifted to the conference room table, where everyone was still deep in discussion. Without much thought, she typed back quickly:
“Can’t. Busy. Later.”

She slid the phone back into her bag and returned her attention to the meeting. Her mind was elsewhere, but her eyes remained fixed on the charts on the screen in front of her. ...............
The evening came quickly, and as Tasha made her way to her car, the weight of the day pressed heavily on her shoulders. She climbed into her car and sat there for a moment, hands gripping the wheel tightly. She hadn’t spoken to anyone all day aside from the necessary work-related conversations. No small talk, no pleasantries. Just business.

She needed to get home.

Traffic was merciless, as usual, the slow crawl of cars amplifying her impatience.

Her phone buzzed, vibrating on the passenger seat. It was a call from the unknown number.

Who is this one calling me again?

She glanced at the caller ID before reluctantly answering. “Yes?”

“Tasha Williams?” The voice was rich and confident.

“Yes, who is this?” Her tone was clipped, still irritated that the same person had the nerve to contact her so persistently.

“It’s Richard again. From the audit team. You know, Soltex Limited. I just wanted to follow up on the email I sent — have you had time to look over the numbers yet?”

Tasha clenched her jaw, her grip tightening on the steering wheel. This again? What did he think she was, a machine that ran on deadlines alone?

“You really can’t seem to take a hint, can you?” she said, her voice icy, dripping with annoyance. “I told you I would get to it. Stop calling me. Just stick to the emails and stop calling me like we are family "

She ended the call without waiting for a response, throwing the phone back onto the passenger seat.

As the traffic finally cleared, she drove towards home.

She arrived home, parking her car in the driveway. Her apartment was quiet and still, just as it always was.

As Tasha entered the living room, she saw Vera sitting on the couch, scrolling through her phone. She barely acknowledged Vera as she dropped her bag by the door.

“Hey, babe. How was your day?” Vera asked, looking up with a smile that always seemed to light up the room.

“Same as always,” Tasha replied flatly, her voice cool. “Busy.”

Vera chuckled, the sound genuine and easy. “I can tell. You look like you could use a break. How about dinner?”

Tasha shook her head, her lips tight. “I’m not hungry.” she said, heading to her room

Vera paused, studying her. “Okay. If you’re sure.” There was a moment of silence, but Vera didn’t push it. She simply stood and walked over to the kitchen, preparing something simple for herself.
*************************
Tasha entered the office, heading straight to her boss office without hesitation. She knocked once before stepping in.

“Good morning, Mr. Adeyemishe said briefly, her tone respectful but distant.

He looked up from his desk, momentarily surprised by her directness. "Good morning, Tasha. What’s on your mind?"

Tasha stood still for a moment, her posture perfect, her gaze steady. "I won't be able to work on the external audit for Soltex Limited," she said succinctly.

Mr. Adeyemi frowned slightly, clearly puzzled. "And why is that?"

"I believe it should be reassigned," she replied with a cool professionalism that gave nothing away. "I can’t handle it."

He studied her for a beat, trying to gauge whether there was more to it. But her expression remained unreadable, her tone as cold as usual.

"Alright," he said after a pause, sensing there was no point in pushing further. "I’ll assign it to someone else."

Tasha gave a small nod of acknowledgment and turned on her heel, exiting his office without another word. She had made her point, and the matter was settled.

Enough of unnecessary calls from Richard, disturbing her life with calls.
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COINED FROM OWIE OYINDAMOLA DECK.
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