I could swear I dropped my charger on my bed, but I couldn’t find it. First, it was my electric kettle that decided to blow before me, making me bathe with cold water in this late November because once again I forgot to fill my gas. And then my shaving cream finished—maybe that one’s my fault. I was at the supermarket two days ago and totally forgot to get a new one, I was so hooked up with my little conversation with Amanda. And now my charger is missing. It’s not like I’m diagnosed with amnesia, but the rate at which I forget things, I need to go check myself. I hope I don’t forget that one too.

I had Golden Morn for breakfast—no water, lots of milk. Healthy. I decided to go without my charger. For someone who had been applying for promotion for over eight months, I needed to be punctual, and I was already ten minutes late. My car had a few issues and was sitting pretty in a mechanic’s shop a few streets from my house, so I booked a ride earlier. I took my to-do list from the fridge where I pinned it and slid it into my laptop bag—I wasn’t going to forget that. Scanning through, I figured I needed a quick stop at the supermarket again; I’d go after I visited the salon, I’d need to look clean for Amanda. I grabbed my laptop bag, my flask of coffee (which contained just cold water).

My ride was outside already.

Abuja road is not as bustling as Lagos, so there wasn’t much traffic. The distance from my house to where I work was just ten minutes. The driver was interactive in a good way and quite fast enough; we got to the office at 8:18 a.m. I was to pay ₦10,000 but he told me to send ₦8,000 and wished me a great day at the office. He was exceptionally nice.

I signed in for the day and got to my office. One of the reasons I wanted this promotion was the office space. It was large and had a couch at the side. The MD’s office had been vacant for over a year and I was dying to get my name on that door. Not literally though. I took out my laptop bag to submit an ad proposal I made for a high-tech company in Lagos. I set up my system to start the day’s work just to discover I had low battery. I dived my right hand carelessly into my laptop bag as I scrolled through X on my phone with my left hand and that’s when I felt it. My charger. I added “go see my doctor” to my to-do list.

Susu waltzed into my office like she owned the place. She was my work bestie/wife—not that there was anything to it—and she was also the secretary to the CEO, Mr. Alex.

“Hey cutie.” I hate when she calls me that. She knows I hate it when she calls me that.

I threw her the what do you want from me stare.

“Calm down, gremlin. Why are you late sef? See the time you dey resume work on a Monday morning. Na like this you wan be MD?”

“Susan Mberechi, what can I do for you?” Susu is the reason I can come in late and not get questioned for it. She’s my main gee.

“Mr. Alex wants to see you. Shebi I called you this morning, why didn’t you pick my call?” Susu intruded. Did I add that she’s after my life?

“Why does your oga want to see me?” I stared at her from my laptop. She could tell she was a nuisance, but she didn’t care. She never did.

She ignored me as she turned my table upside down, looking for God knows what. She took my flask. “I needed this coffee.” She had a gulp and stared at me in shock. “This is why you’re still single. Rubbish. See you, see golden jubilee.” She hissed, dropped the flask, and headed for the door. “Ehen, why didn’t you pick my call again? You don get babe?” She turned and stared at me like my reply was on my forehead. “Abi Amanda don gree for you?”

I smiled childishly.

Amanda works at the supermarket where I shop and I’ve had this huge crush on her. I asked her for her number a month ago after I had asked her out on a date, which she declined. She said she’d observe me for a while before she gives me her number, to see if I’m worth it. So, to prove that I’m worth it, I go there twice a week and as I get stuff for myself, I also get for her.

“My phone was on DND. And how can I have a babe when I have you, my spiritual wife? Oya come make we go see your sugar daddy.” I stood up from my seat and took her hands as we left my office.

Mr. Alex is a chill boss unless he’s pissed at the media team, which often happens. Susu informed him I was here and he told her to let me in. He had quite a large office. I walked towards him while he read a hard copy newspaper. Who in 2025 still reads newspapers? See why I call him Susu’s sugar daddy.

“Mr. Victor, how was your weekend? I see this season is not looking good for your team. You lost your last match again.” He dropped the paper on his desk and grinned at me.

“Sir, united we stand. What does not kill us makes us stronger.” I scratched the tip of my ear. Manchester United for sale.

“You and who is us? Please carry your bad belle to Old Trafford. Anyways, I’ve got good news for you.” He paused a little and stared at me.

Was he expecting me to say something?

“When would you like to move to your new office?” New office ke? Are we relocating or is it a transfer? And that she-goat did not tell me. Why is he smiling… wait, new office!

I couldn’t see my face but I was convinced I looked like I just saw a ghost. I got promoted.

“Is this good silence or bad silence, Mr. Victor?” He was confused, that I could tell, but I was happy. Too happy to speak. I should say something. Yay? Yippee?

“Mr. Victor? Are we good?”

“Si—sorry, yes. Thank you so much, sir. I’m just too excited to speak. Thank you.” My cheekbones were hurting already.

“You did the work, Vic. Good to have you with us, Managing Director sir.” Ooh, that sounded so good. We shook hands and I left the office.

I went to Susu’s and she gave me a cheeky smile. “Congrats, gremlin, where are we shutting down?” She hugged me.

“You fish, you knew?” I wasn’t shocked; she hears every info in the office firsthand before anyone else.

“I love you?” She gave me her weird puppy eyes.

“Love you too, fish.” I grumbled back.

The rest of the day breezed through. I’m not exactly sure when things happened, but I know I had lunch break with Susu and she decided to squeeze me dry, in her words: You just got promoted, extra pay, extra flex. It’s the audacity for me. I don’t blame her.

I submitted the ads proposal, and I also got this huge deal today. The perks of being an MD—the success comes with the job. I don’t understand too, don’t ask me.

It was 5 p.m. already and I took my phone to book a ride. Thanks to my 20% discount, it wasn’t that expensive. Think big, man! You’re now an MD. I removed the discounted price and booked a ride with the original price. I cleared my desk, took my laptop bag, double-checked my charger, and was about leaving my office when I got a call that Mr. Alex needed me urgently. I hurriedly went to his office. I wouldn’t want to miss my ride.

Susu was in his office with him. She looked up and smiled at me.

“Mr. Victor, I’m sorry I forgot to give you this.” He tossed me what looked like a car key. It was a car key! “Congratulations once again. It’s parked downstairs.”

I looked up at him, then at her, and she mouthed, We’re gonna ball later. Can this day get any better? “Thank you, sir.”

I went downstairs and it was a black Lexus 350. A beautiful one at that. I was in love—with the car, with my job. I could relive this day and not get tired. I needed to take my new baby for a ride. I started the engine and oh boy, did it sound sexy. I was going to drive home and then I remembered—Amanda, salon, and doctor obviously.

I had gone to the salon, had a bath and change of clothes, and drove to the supermarket. I had a list of things to get but when I entered the supermarket, I lost all sense of reasoning. Amanda looked breathtaking, from her messy bun to her French tip nails down to the body-con suicide of a gown she wore. It screamed murder and I was the victim. She looked up and smiled at me. She smiled at me! Kill me already.

I walked to the counter and I could smell the perfume she wore. It was inviting.

“Won’t you buy anything?”

I still stared. I took a chapstick in front of me and gave it to her. “I’ll get this,” I said, not peeling off my gaze.

Did I need it? No. Did I buy it? Yes.

“₦500, sir.”

I gave her ₦5,000 with my “keep the change” reply. She smiled and said thanks, gave me the receipt—and her number. I had Amanda’s number. I was worth it! Yay!

I drove back home and I was undeniably the most excited man on earth. I tried watching Arsenal’s match but I just couldn’t, so I took a shower, and it dawned on me that I forgot my shaving cream. But at least I got Amanda’s number. I applied the chapstick. I was full from excitement, so I just went straight to bed—not before wishing today never ended…

*****

My alarm did not ring again today. I picked up my phone and saw it was 7:28 a.m. with the battery on 15%. Not again today. 

Where was my charger? I couldn’t be late on my first day as MD. I had my bath with cold water again, had Golden Morn without water and lots of milk. This was starting to look like my everyday morning for this week. I couldn’t find the car keys. I frantically searched, I even went downstairs to check if I left it in the car—but the car wasn’t there. My heart stopped. I thought I was robbed. I couldn’t figure out my next line of action but I had to go to work first, so I just booked a ride. 

The rider was the  same guy that drove me yesterday. Again, he made me pay ₦8,000 instead of ₦10,000. 

I got into my office, brought out my system but it was low again. I was taking out the charger from my bag when I felt the phone charger. Just like yesterday. What was happening? I 

looked up and saw Susu—just the person I needed—was about to tell her how weird my day started when she blurted,

“Hey cutie.”

I pouted at her.

“Calm down, gremlin. Why are you late sef? See the time you dey resume work on a Monday morning. Na like this you wan be MD?”

Monday morning? It was Tuesday and I’ve been promoted already.

I couldn’t decipher what was going on, but it felt like a premature déjà vu. I was offered promotion, and a car. Again. 

I got Amanda’s number again, and she wore exactly what she wore yesterday and still smelled so good. But this time I had gotten shaving cream and filled my gas. I got home exhausted and saw Arsenal’s match of yesterday playing live. I just switched it off and went to bed.

*********

I woke up frustrated to no alarm again. Picked up my phone and saw it was on 15%. I checked for the date and it was 03/11/2025, Monday, and it was 7:28 a.m. 

Then I realized, I was reliving one day. I’d been cursed. I was living in bondage—or whatever that Andy Okeke movie said.