Defying The Rules

Day 10 of the Afrobloggers  #WABC2021

Today, we talk about workplace romance!

PS. This might be a little steamy!

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“Make friends first, make sales second, make love third. In no particular order.”                                         – Michael Scott, The Office

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I walked in on Sheena and one of the bosses the other night. I could not even remember his name. The tall good looking one with a head full of thick beautiful hair, and a constantly trimmed beard that I had wondered a few times about – what would it feel like if he gave you a peck on the cheek? Would it be soft-ish or scratchy?

Sheena and I had some late-night work to finish, and we were almost done when she said she wanted to run a few things by the boss’s office. She’d offered to drop me at home, so when after about fifteen minutes she was still not back, I went in search of her. I was tired and sleepy.

I found her alright!

“You know… our intern is still…” She whispered.

They were leaning sideways against his desk; she was facing away from him, with her backside in his groin. Because of the high heels she had on, her face was directly next to his. Her right palm was flat on his desk, supporting her, while the left was caressing his thigh behind her. His hand was clearly down the front of her skirt, and I could see it moving!

“Shhh…”

She giggled for a second, and then seemed to start hyperventilating.

“The…. intern…. will hear….” She stuttered.

It was almost as if something had my feet planted into the ground! Because why was I still watching? What if they just turned sideways and saw me at the window?

Just when she turned to face him, kissing him as if her life depended on it, I slowly retraced my steps to her office, packed my laptop and walked downstairs. I took the stairs because I really needed to blow off the steam. I called Mawuli on my way down to ask if he could pick me up. I could easily have taken an Uber, but it was midnight, and Sheena, who was supposed to be my ride home, was clearly enjoying a rather different ride! 

There is an interesting workplace culture in Ghana. Everyone and their sister has a work husband or work wife! 

For many, it’s just a platonic friendship with a lot of teasing – just for the fun of it. For some, it goes a little beyond that, with a few other benefits… contracts, promotions, gifts, transportation, lunch, etc. For another set, it went very very deep. Once in a while, we get a scandal or two from these office relationships. 

And what’s funny is that it’s either an open secret, just a rumor or an actual secret that no one knows about. 

Sheena’s was definitely a full-on secret because nothing prepared me for it! 

I called Mawuli as soon as I got downstairs, to confirm he had already left home. I needed him to hurry. I had questions.

Did he have a work wife? Was there anyone he did these things with?

Would he tell me if there was? Weren’t these things supposed to be against HR Regulations? 

I texted Sheena to say Mawuli was in the neighbourhood so I left with him. 

All he did was laugh when I told him. I didn’t know whether to smack him or laugh too! Because he laughed and laughed, and then it got contagious, so I laughed too!

“No, I don’t have a work wife. And yes, most of the time, HR is not happy about interoffice dating.”

He laughed some more, and then tried to fix his face. 

“You narrated the story as if you wanted some of that!” 

I glared at him!  If he wasn’t driving, I would probably have hit him! And no, I’m not violent!

He sobered up for a second. 

Then suddenly parked the car just across the street, about two blocks from my house. 

“Are you acting up because you want some of that? Cos I can give you some of it right now!”  

Now it was my turn to laugh. 

Before my nervous laughter was over, he’d taken his seatbelt off, and reached into me, almost in one swift second, to give me an unforgettable kiss.

I definitely did not need any of that workplace romance!

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Dear diary…. 

There’s absolutely nothing like making out on the side of the road.  Sheena and the boss had me reeling. But all that was nothing compared to making out with Mawuli just across the street!

PS. I  really need to go back and re-read what HR says about workplace romance because wow!