Can we try again?

Fifty-three

The atmosphere in the office was tense when I arrived that morning. Everyone was on edge, fidgety as though they were scared of someone or something. Something had definitely happened. I was sure of it.

I soon discovered what it was. It turned out there was an issue. A big one. According to the story I heard, someone seemed to have made a wrong transaction, which had cost the company quite a huge lump of money. Another source said someone had been stealing from the company and now it has come to the notice of the MD. I didn't know which one was true, but what I knew was that there was money missing. A lot of money.

And of course, no one knew who the culprit was.

I first heard the rumour when I got in. I walked in cheerfully into the office, like I did every other day only to find my colleagues looking sombre as though someone had died.

"What's the matter?" I'd asked Pat whose office was next door to mine, and Olamide whose was opposite mine, and neither of them have me the response I was looking for. No one seemed to be giving me the gist of things. Everyone was frowning, sighing, as if they were scared that telling me will aggravate the issue at hand.

I went to Angel instead. She was the secretary to Mr. Attah and she would know something at least, I thought.

"Angel, what's the matter," I cornered her into one of the rooms. "What's going on? Why does everyone look like someone has died. Even you too. Tell me please."

She shook her head, looked left and right, stretched and looked ahead of me, as though someone might be listening. Then she beckoned me to come closer and in a whisper she said, "I should not be telling you this o."

"What? Telling me what?" I almost yelled. "Why? I mean every one seemed to know what's going on and I'm just left in the dark."

"Yeah, but no one is meant to have known until after the meeting." she said.

"Meeting? What meeting?"
"Abeg you tell me the gist na." I blocked the exit. "If not I won't let you leave this place. I'm serious."

She sighed. Then looked again to see if anyone was coming. Talk about being over dramatic.
"750,000 Naira is missing. I heard Mr Attah in the phone talking about it."

My eyes shot wide opened. "What?"

She shushed me. "Bring your voice down."

"When? How did that happen?"

"I'm not really sure, but I think it's a wrong transaction. It could be an accident or someone's been reaping where they did not sow."

My eyes couldn't get any wider. "Oh no. Do you have any idea who did it?

She shrugged. "Who knows?"

"Oh my God," I said, still in disbelief.

"I know right. This has never happened before. At least not since and now I've been working here sha." She bit her lips. "Mr Attah is going to have a meeting with each and everyone of us." Then she went quiet for a while and spoke again. "Some people might be going."

I knew exactly what she meant by 'going'. Some people would be getting fired.

"Oh God," I said again, the reality just hitting me. Shit's just got real.

"Let me be going now," she said. "I'll see you later." With that she exited the room.

I felt weak. Like all the strength from my legs were suddenly drained out. I'm the newbie in this place and that meant that it was very easy for people to point accusing fingers at me.
Angel's words rung in my head again ". . . This has never happened before."