While my colleagues were impressed by your CV and you clearly showed potential in the interview, we have decided to go with another candidate.
Although we will not be proceeding further with your application at this time, we welcome you to re-apply for a managerial position if you see any relevant listing in the future.
Thanks again for applying and all the best for the future.
Cara Howell
Human Resources Manager
Thursday, 11 March at 3.55 p.m.
From: Green, Sarah To: Yinka Oladeji Cc: Shane, Dave
Subject: Update
Hi Yinka,
Apologies for the delay in getting back to you. It’s been a manic time! Yes, I managed to chase down HR at Citi. Sadly, they’ve decided to go with an internal candidate, I’m afraid. But they said they will keep your CV on file for the future. I know this is upsetting news and not what you want to hear, but hopefully we’ll hear back from the other employers I put you forward for.
In other news, I got a new job! My last day in the office will be next Friday. But I’ll be leaving you in the capable hands of Dave Shane, who I’ve cc’d in. He’ll be your main point of contact going forward and he should be in touch in a few days to arrange a call with you. He’s got your details, so no need to send.
Wishing you all the best for the future.
Best wishes,
Sarah Green
Recruitment Agent
Catasift Recruitments
Thursday, 11 March at 3.58 p.m.
From: Oladeji, Yinka To: Dave Shane
Subject: Update
Hi Dave,
Hope you’re well. And nice to virtually meet you!
Further to Sarah’s e-mail below, I wondered when would be a good time to catch up? It would be great to know whether there are any openings you think that I’d be suitable for. Also, do you have any updates on my other applications?
If you want to give me a call, I’m available all day.
Best wishes,
Yinka
Thursday, 18 March at 12.44 p.m.
From: Oladeji, Yinka To: Dave Shane
Subject: Update
Hi Dave,
Hope you’re well.
I was wondering if you received my e-mail below? Before Sarah left, she said you’d be in touch to arrange a time for us to speak. Is it possible to arrange this in the next few days? As you can understand, I’m really keen to get an update on my outstanding applications, as I haven’t heard from any other employers as of late.
Hope to hear from you soon.
Yinka
Thursday, 18 March at 12.44 p.m.
From: Shane, Dave To: Yinka Oladeji Subject: Automatic reply: Update Thank you for your e-mail. I am on holiday for the next two weeks with no access to my inbox. I’ll respond when I’m back.
Cheers,
Dave
“For flip’s sake!” I thump my bed. Breathing heavily, I click “reply.”
Thursday, 18 March at 12.45 p.m.
From: Oladeji, Yinka To: Dave Shane
Subject: Automatic reply: Update Hi Dave,
You stink at your job! Next time you want to bugger off, include a point of contact! I hope it rains where you are!
Cheers,
Yinka
I breathe out, remembering how it used to feel at Godfrey whenever someone sent me a rude e-mail. Then slowly, and ever so carefully, I click “delete.”
April
I’m happy for my friend
WEDNESDAY
RACHEL
Hey cuz
How are you? Are you feeling any better?
Don’t worry. You didn’t miss too much yesterday
Will post an update in the WhatsApp group, including when the next bridal meeting is
Rest up xx
I’m happy for my friend. I’m happy for my friend. I’m happy for my friend.
These are the words that I keep telling myself every time I glance over at Joanna and her new man Brandon, who are sitting directly opposite me and having a hard time keeping their hands to themselves.
It’s the first time I’ve agreed to come out since the Valentine’s Day fiasco and I’m already regretting it. We’re at this nightclub in central London: me, Joanna and Brandon, Brian and his partner, Ricky, and Nana, and we’re celebrating Joanna’s new job. She’s been offered a position as the PR manager at a tech company and she starts next month. With the new job, she gets unlimited holiday, free granola bars, and the company even has an office dog.
Meanwhile, the only blessing in my life these last few weeks has been the latest season of Insecure. And Mum’s lack of contact. A few weeks ago, she broke her phone, and since Carphone Warehouse no longer sells the old Nokia model she’s been using since the nineties, she had, after much persuasion, left the store with the latest iPhone. According to Kemi—who’s still having frequent dinner dates with her—Mum is having a hard time adjusting to touchscreen.
They’ve both been very busy getting things ready for the baby—my God, I can’t believe Kemi is due any day now—which I guess I can count as a blessing, as Mum hasn’t even been in touch to ask how the date with Alex went. I’ve stopped attending her church, so maybe she’s forgotten. I’m so glad I never told Kemi anything.
“So, Yinka,” says Brandon, projecting over the cheesy pop music, which has sent many people to the dance floor. True to the photo that Joanna showed me, Brandon has spiky ginger hair, apple-green eyes and a body of a rugby player. “What do you do?”
“I’m unemployed,” I say bluntly.
“Oh . . . cool.” Funny enough, Brandon looks more uncomfortable than me. Then after a long pause, he adds, “What’s the reason? You taking a career break?”
“No,” I say matter-of-factly. And I leave it at that.
Brandon scratches the back of his neck. He smiles awkwardly. “What’s that you’re drinking there?”
I lift my glass. “Oh, this? Tap water.”
Brandon throws back his head and laughs.
“It’s the only thing I can afford,” I say with a deadpan expression.
“Oh, sorry. Let me get you a drink.”
“It’s fine. I’m only teasing. It’s lemonade. But I am unemployed, though. Didn’t make that bit up.”
“Oh, my God, I love this one! Who fancies dancing?” says Joanna, the girl who never dances. Drink still in hand, she pulls Brandon from his seat, her skater dress twirling as she cha-chas away. Brandon looks frankly relieved to be taken away from me. Brian is next up. He doesn’t drag Ricky with him because he hates dancing.
“Girls?” Brian looks over his shoulder.
Nana turns to me with an “I’d rather watch paint dry” expression.
“We’re going to wait until they start playing RnB and hip hop,” I say.
Ricky shakes his head as Brian pushes his way through the crowd.
“What is he like?” Ricky says as he scratches his stubble. “Anyway, you girls fancy another drink?”
“I’m good, thank you,” I say after Nana politely declines. Ricky heads to the bar.
I’m glad that Nana and I are alone, there’s so much that I want to talk to her about. She’s been so busy working—sometimes I hear the drill of her sewing machine well after midnight—that we haven’t been able to catch up as much these days.
Fine, if I’m honest it’s more than that. She’s been off with me ever since I told her that I’d lied to Ola and Rachel about Alex.
“Yinka! This is getting absolutely ridiculous,” was what she actually said when I admitted it. “All this lying! I thought you were a Christian.”
“I’m human!” I snapped back. “Ola was being really snarky. And technically, I didn’t lie. I just . . . exaggerated the truth a little.”
But it was when I asked her to back up my story that she really blew up.
“You want me to tell the girls what? That you lied about how the date really went? Or about the fact that you didn’t actually get the promotion? Or maybe even about your extreme transformational plan?”
“Hey, that’s not fair,” I cut in, wounded. “I didn’t ask to lose my job. And you were there when I abandoned my plan! And it’s not exactly easy saying, oh, by the way, the person I really liked, likes my best friend.”
The silence that followed was astronomical.
Finally Nana sighed. “I just thought, I dunno, you would have told the girls that Alex likes somebody else or something like that. We’re all supposed to be friends. We’re supposed to be honest with each other.”
“I will tell Rachel and Ola in my own time.”