The Mechanic

2

The call from Sonar Fleet came a day later and Ntai answered the phone because Sebina was busy in the workshop, replacing the engine of a car from yesterday's clients.

"Madam?" he said.

She turned to him, holding a dirty greasy cloth that she had been using to wipe her hands. Her hair had been braided back and a bandana covered it, only leaving the laid edges exposed. She looked a mess in her greasy overalls that were once green but were now brown, covered in various stains and torn here and there.

"Yes?"

"Sonar Fleet has called. The owner wants to have a lunch meeting with you."

She did a small victory dance, making her employees laugh warm heartedly. She couldn't help being goofy around them because they were like family. She walked to her office and quickly got out of her overalls, taking a quick shower in the staff bathroom which was a mess-she would talk to the staff about it when she came back.

After changing into her jeans and shirt, Ntai told her to put on heels and a wig because she had to set an impression if she was meeting the owner of Sonar Fleet himself!

"You're right."

She quickly changed her shoes and put on a straight black brazilian. For makeup she put on some mascara and lipstick since her eyebrows were always done. She looked in the mirror and even though this was not how she had planned to meet Sonar Fleet's owner, she thought she looked and smelled decent enough.

After arriving at the location Ntai had sent her, she quickly fixed herself and stepped into the lobby, heading straight for the host's desk. This was a fancy restaurant and she was sure that it cost an arm and a leg to dine here. She suddenly felt a little underdressed for a place such as this but on the bright side, this meant that the owner of Sonar Fleet must have loads of money in his pocket! So he wouldn't be intimidated by a woman of her stature. She had been single for a year now.

"Im here for a meeting with-"

"Ms. Sebina!" someone called and she groaned audibly as she turned towards the person calling her.

Faizal was dressed in a loose green T-shirt that covered his lean muscular frame and a pair of black jeans, wearing the loudest neon yellow shoes she had ever seen. He sheepishly brushed his hand over the waves on his head when she looked at him.

Sebina couldn't even hide her disappointment that the owner of Sonar Fleet was once again, a no show. Faizal's smile faltered a little when he realised that she seemed disappointed to see him as she walked over to him, not even a smile on her face.

"Mr. Faizal," she said, reaching out to shake his hand.

He hesitantly shook hers. "Ms. Sebina. I'm glad you could join me." He pulled a seat out for her and she sat down, the scent of her perfume playing with his senses for a second before he let go of her chair.

He sat before her, not daring to look at her because he could feel the burning intensity of her gaze on him. She made him feel like a child that was about to get scolded.

"So..." she started. "I was surprised when you called today. But it was a pleasant surprise I must say."

He looked into her face, absorbing the slight shine on her flat nose and her big luscious lips that had the shimmer of lip gloss on them. Bringing himself back to earth, he looked into her dark brown eyes. "We couldn't waste precious time just in case someone else snatched you up."

For the first time, she smiled and he felt his lips stretch a little too. They ordered some food as they went over the contract, mending and amending what needed to be changed while they ate.

A few hours later, after drinks and toilet breaks, they were done. Faizal ordered someone to revise and print the new contract before Sebina left and after she signed, they just sat in the restaurant, looking at each other.

"Why is your boss not here?" she asked.

He pursed his slightly pink lips. "Um...he's away on business unfortunately. He had promised to be here and it was my day off but I had to show up on his behalf."

"Aren't you a driver?"

Faizal bit his lip for a second. She sounded snobbish right now but he didn't blame her because it might have come across as insulting to someone of her stature to deal with someone as low as he was.

"I am but Mr. Acheampong trusts me more than he trusts his manager despite the fact that he won't give me a promotion. Truth be told, I wouldn't make a very good manager anyway."

She nodded and stood up. "Well, I've got to get back to the workshop, Mr. Faizal. You have yourself a wonderful evening."

He stood up too. "Not to be forward but...I realised that you came here on public transport. Would you mind if I gave you a ride? I'm already headed your way anyway."

She stared at him. "Thank you but no. I don't want people getting the wrong idea about us, Mr. Faizal," she said bluntly.

He chuckled. "I don't mind."

She raised an eyebrow. "I mind." Then she left him.

By the time she was back, only Ntai had not gone home. She realised that she had been gone for hours and she was tired. She didn't think she could drive back home so she was spending the night at her house which she hadn't been to in weeks.

"Why did you take so long?" Ntai whined as soon as he saw her. "Dont tell me that you and that Faizal guy went out. Because I wish a nigga would, madam."

Sebina laughed. It was no secret that Ntai was smitten with her but she was 33 for goodness sake! Ten years older than him. He never confessed that he was attracted to her but the staff gossiped about it and it reached her. It had been awkward at first but she eventually just learned to go along with it, even teasing him a little once in a while.

"You know I wouldn't do you that dirty, sensei," she laughed. "I like men who are older than me."

He touched his chest. "My heart," he fake cried. "Anyway, I just wanted to make sure that you came back safe and sound. I think I'm gonna head out now. Have a great evening and don't work yourself too hard. We gotta save that body for our future children, madam."

He ran out before Sebina could grasp what he had just said. She laughed when she heard the workshop door closing. She grabbed her bag and locked up then drove to her house, just 40 minutes away from the bustle of the CBD.

It didn't take her long to fall asleep in her king sized californian.

A buzz awoke her and she searched blindly for her phone until her hands closed on it and she answered.

"Please don't tell me you're still at work," Papa said on the other end.

Sebina sat up, feeling the waistband of the jeans she slept in digging into her. "No, paps. I'm at my house. I felt too tired to drive all the way to you because I had a long day. Did you eat?" She took off the jeans.

"I had cooked for us," Papa said.

Sebina checked the time. She had been asleep for an hour and it was only seven. "Well, at least now you have an excuse to invite that hot woman from down the street to your house."

Papa laughed. "Child-"

"No excuses. You either do it or I call her."

"Fine. Was just calling to know that you're safe. Love you-"

"-to the moon and back, Paps," she finished up, grinning like an idiot. Since she could speak, every night with her parents ended with this statement. Even after her mother passed, they continued the tradition. "Goodnight."

She changed to her sleepwear and went to the kitchen to microwave some popcorn and headed to the lounge to watch something on TV. She settled for a soapie.