Chapter 1: Office Palava Begins

She waka enter with all the confidence of person wey don chop book finish. As her heels dey click for corridor, the scent of designer perfume just follow am everywhere—sweet but strong, like person wey wan announce say, "I don land!" People dey give her side-eye, dey whisper: "See as she sharp, come get Oxford English!" I even catch Chinedu and Amaka dey exchange quick look—Naija office gist go soon start. But for this our country, street sense dey pass book sense sometimes, no be every time book fit save you.

Because her copy dey always near wahala with Advertising Law, I call her name for team meeting. My mind flash back sharp—my mama dey always talk, if dem call your name for public, dey ready for wahala. I no even carry vex; I just set matter straight so she go sabi say this our business, e get rules. But for Naija, public correction fit look like insult—nobody wan fall hand for front of others. The air just freeze; people dey shift for chair, dey look ceiling, dey pray make fight no start.

Chai, you for see Chukwudi face as I talk. Oga eye red, mouth squeeze, like say him chop unripe mango. For that moment, e clear say matter don pass ordinary office wahala. For Naija, if you call person name for meeting, e fit mean say you dey drag hierarchy for mud.