CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP - 15

SCENE 20

INT. MAGNET OIL AND GAS BUILDING - MORNING

Miss Etim arrives office. There are a lot of busy movements about the office. She’s been greeted by everyone she walks past. Her countenance is not pleasant as she does not respond fondly particularly when she moves past Bruce and, later, Amara.

SCENE 21

INT. MAGNET OIL AND GAS/MISS ETIM'S OFFICE - CONTINOUS

Miss Etim enters her office accompanied by her driver, who carries her laptop, purse and some folders from the car. The driver drops every item appropriately, excuses himself from her office. Miss Etim falls into her seat and ruminates. Shortly, there’s a knock on her door.

MISS ETIM

Yes!

Door opens and Bruce appears.

BRUCE

              Good morning, ma'am.

Miss Etim doesn't respond.

BRUCE(CONT'D)

I, um, wanted you to know ...to know what today’s schedule is.

Opens a notepad to read from.

MISS ETIM

              (Frowningly)

              Put them down in ink.

He takes paper from a notecase on her desk and silently jots down the to-do lists from his pad.

BRUCE

              About last night... I wanted you to know it is not what it was.

MISS ETIM

              I think I already have a very fair idea what it was. You don’t have to replay the details for me. Now out!

BRUCE

              There’s absolutely nothing between Amara and I.

MISS ETIM

              Like I care. Out!

BRUCE

              I'm sorry.

He makes to leave.

MISS ETIM

              My Fiancé will be coming to take me out… for dinner… about 7:30 tonight. It’s going to be an official call. No, it’s a social call. It’s, er, social slash official call. Yes, a social and official call. I want you to add that to my schedule for today.

BRUCE

              Your fiancé?

MISS ETIM

              You heard me.

He scribbles the information down on his memo pad and hers.

MISS ETIM(CONT'D)

 And I want you to be there.

As he makes to leave:

MISS ETIM(CONT'D)

And Amara too!

As Bruce shuts the door, she dials her cell phone. A male voice responds.

VOICE(THROUGH PHONE)

              Hello?

MISS ETIM(INTO PHONE)

              Hi, Tom. How are you doing?

TOM(THROUGH PHONE)

              Who’s this?

MISS ETIM(INTO PHONE)

              Come on, Tom, it’s me. Don’t tell me you deleted my number.

TOM(THROUGH PHONE)

              If you don’t tell me who this is am going to hang up the phone.

MISS ETIM(INTO PHONE)

              Ok, ok, it’s me Rose.

TOM(THROUGH PHONE)

              Rose?

MISS ETIM(INTO PHONE)

              Rosemary Etim.

TOM(THROUGH PHONE)

              Magnet Oil and Gas?

MISS ETIM(INTO PHONE)

              Yeah. You deleted my number?

TOM(THROUGH PHONE)

              The last time I asked you out, you told me to go to hell.

MISS ETIM(INTO PHONE)

              That’s like half a year ago, Tom. You should be back by now if you did go.

TOM(THROUGH PHONE)

              Hahaha...very funny. Anyway, I never went. Now, what do you want, Rose?

MISS ETIM(INTO PHONE)

              Just checking on you.

TOM(THROUGH PHONE)

              Hm. Interesting.

MISS ETIM(INTO PHONE)

              How’re you doing?

TOM(THROUGH PHONE)

              Fine. Fine, and you?

MISS ETIM(INTO PHONE)

              Am good. Um, listen, I’ll be free tonight in case you still like to take me out on that date?

TOM(THROUGH PHONE)

              For real?

MISS ETIM(INTO PHONE)

              Is 7.30 P.M ok?

TOM(THROUGH PHONE)

              Oh, yes.

MISS ETIM(INTO PHONE)

              Will be waiting for at the office then.

As she ends the call, Amara walks in with a jug of coffee on a tray

MISS ETIM(CONT'D)

What’s that?

AMARA

              Your favourite coffee. just the way you love it…

MISS ETIM

              Will you get out of my office with your stupid coffee!

She startles and hurries out of the office.

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