Chidinma arrived in December with a new laptop bag and the kind of excitement Temi recognised immediately.
“I'm so happy to be here,” she said during introductions.
Temi smiled.
“Welcome.”
By Wednesday, Chidinma had become a regular visitor at her desk.
“Temi, please, which tone guide is for Hartfield?”
“The blue folder.”
“Okay. And after I finish the captions, should I send them to Sade or Mr. Biodun?”
“Sade first.”
“Okay, thank you.”
Ten minutes later, she was back.
Temi didn't mind.
Nobody had officially asked her to manage the intern, but somehow Chidinma's questions had become hers to answer.
On Friday afternoon, Chidinma suddenly gasped.
“My salary entered!”
Temi looked up. “Ah, congrats.”
“35k.”
She was smiling.
Proud.
Temi smiled back.
“First salary?”
“Yes!”
“Enjoy it before Lagos remembers you.”
Chidinma laughed and returned to her desk.
Temi's smile faded slowly.
35k.
She looked around the office.
Two people were now doing work that had once moved through several Content Executives.
She opened log.docx.
Then closed it again.
She didn't need to document this one.
The maths was insulting enough.
That same week, Kunle asked her to come downstairs.
They were halfway to the buka when he said, “I'm leaving.”
Temi stopped walking.
“Leaving where?”
“Pinnacle.”
“I know. Where are you going?”
“A startup in Yaba.”
She stared at him. “You got another job?”
“Yes.”
“How much?”
Kunle smiled.
“How much?”
“180.”
Temi stopped again.
“180k?”
“Yes.”
“Omo.”
Kunle laughed.
“I'm happy for you, but I'm also offended.”
“Why?”
“You've been here collecting Pinnacle salary when somebody was willing to pay you 180k?”
“I didn't know the somebody before.”
“Fair.”
They continued walking.
“What role?”
“Product Designer.”
“That's all?”
Kunle looked at her. “What do you mean that's all?”
“As in, you're not Product Designer plus Graphic Designer plus Social Media Assistant plus Printer Technician?”
He laughed. “Just Product Designer.”
“One job?”
“One job.”
“Imagine.”
At the buka, Temi was quieter than usual.
Kunle noticed.
“What?”
“When you leave, who will I be talking to?”
“You have Sade.”
“Sade is fighting her own battle.”
“True.”
Temi pushed rice around her plate.
“I'll miss you.”
Kunle looked at her.
“Don't make it emotional.”
“Who is making it emotional? I said I'll miss you.”
“I'll miss you too.”
“Good.”
They ate for a while.
Then Kunle said, “You're still keeping the log?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
Temi rolled her eyes. “I know.”
“And your CV?”
She became very interested in her food.
Kunle laughed.
“Temi.”
“I'll do it.”
“When?”
“Soon.”
“That's how Biodun talks.”
Temi looked up sharply.
“Don't insult me.”
Kunle laughed so loudly that Mama Chidi turned towards them.
But that night, Temi opened her CV.
She didn't change anything.
She just looked at it.
It was a start.