CHAPTER 6
"Okay oo" I said switching off the light and
heading out.
"So if you go home now what will you do?" Asked Mercy.
"This kind of exam question Mercy"
"Answer somebody"
"I'll shower, eat and sleep. It feels as if today is Friday. Those days in secondary school(high school) Fridays were the days you are extremely tired but today is Monday and I am more than tired" I said dramatically.
"Welcome to the club Friend" said Mercy. We walked together till we found cabs taking us to our different destination.
Climbing down from the cab I entered my apartment.
"Home sweet home" I said collapsing on the bed.
It was a small apartment but it was more than enough. I felt like dosing, the bed was so comfortable. I got up showered quickly, downed three bowls of cereals, said my prayers and slept off.
I woke up the next day to my alarm clock's noise. I checked the time it was 6:15am I had my devotion, took my bath, had my breakfast and left the house.
I arrived at the office by 7:30am.
Thirty minutes left praise God.
I greeted the receptionist who smiled at me. When I arrived at my office, I dropped my purse and went to Mr. Wright's office I arranged his desk kept his chair in order did other stuffs like open his windows, clean his office etc. I made for the door. On my way out I bumped into him.
"Good morning sir," I greeted
"We are having a meeting in the next few hours, I want you to clean room 48. Arrange it properly, the room hasn't been used in a long time. Then you have the light technicians adjust the light properly that is after you must have arranged the room. Is that clear?" He said without even replying my greeting
You know who would greet you tomorrow .
"Yes Sir,". With that, we dispersed. Him to his office and I to room 48.
I entered the room and saw what I thought I would never see in my life time. Did this man say this room has not been used in a long time? Well personally I think it has never been used. He purposely chose this room to irritate me because God, this room is horrible. I mean had I arrived here at night, I would have passed out of fear. Spiders did make this room there humble abode. I moved over to the windows to open them but they were stuck!!
What type of place is this??
I left the room and went to my office. I picked up the the telephone, dialled the janitor and placed the receiver on my ear.
"Does this place look like room 48 to you?" snapped Mr. Wright.
"Certainly not Sir." I replied.
"So what the fuck are you doing here?"
"I came to call the janitors to clean that room, it's in a total mess" I said redialing the janitor's number.
"With whose permission?" he asked
"Do I need your permission?"
"Of course you need my permission before you carry any action out" he said glaring at me.
"I'm sorry Sir, I didn't realise that. Please I need the janitors to clean up that room its in such a state" I said at once.
"The janitors are not cleaning the room;you are cleaning it yourself" he said
"Alone?" I asked confused
"Is there a problem Ms. Good heart?" he asked smirking
"Yes there is a problem! Have you taken a look at that room to see what it looks like? You asked me to move tables and chairs that are in the store room to room 48 and the store room to room 48 is quite a distance. I can't-"
"Well if you can't then you quit" he said.
That was it, he wanted me to quit, but I'm no quitter.
Without saying a word I left to the janitors closet. I collected an apron, a surgical mask, a broom, a dust pan, a mop and other stuffs required for cleaning.
I carried them to the room 48 I removed the cobwebs, I swept, I dusted, I mopped, I cleaned.
By the time I was through, my breakfast was already insignificant in my system. I was drained. I sat on the floor to regain myself and Mr. Wright couldn't find a better time to walk in.
"The meeting is in the next one hour and you haven't arranged the room? You are seating down there like its not your business?" He asked very angry and all I could do was to let out a very loud hiss without getting up.
" Mtcheeeeeewww"
"Are you deaf or something would you get the fuck up and get this place in order" he shouted.
I got up, glared at him and went inside the store room. I pulled, pushed, dragged the tables and chairs to the meeting room. It was quite a task. I mean if I was drained after cleaning, I was more than drained right now. I needed water, i needed food, I needed rest most of all. I picked up my shoes and staggered to my office. Picking up the telephone, I called the light technicians and instructed then on what to do. Few minutes later I walked back to the room to inspect the light and give the room a final touch.
It was perfect.
"The room is ready sir", I said once I entered his office.
"Good" he said looking away from his laptop and picking up his telephone.
"Go fix yourself you look like trash. The board of directors have arrived and you need to look presentable. Its enough you are black you don't have to worsen the whole issue" he snapped.
"Yes sir" I mumbled and walked away. I went inside the restroom, eased myself and redressed my hair and retouched my make up.
"Now, I look 'presentable' but God I'm soooo tired please let this meeting just be for one hour please God in Jesus name Amen" with that I ran into the meeting hall.
Standing besides Mr. Henrik, I watched as different men walked into the hall with their secretaries. Each with his own amount of self confidence and pride all in the same rank as my boss. I looked up and saw him giving each and every one of them a warm smile and murmuring a 'welcome' to them. The smile was beautiful he looked younger with it. If only he smiled often then maybe he wouldn't look that old. As the ushering in was done, the gentlemen took their seats as well as there secretaries who sat beside them. I took my seat despite the look my boss was giving me.
"Good afternoon gentlemen" his voice rang out drawing all attention to him. I saw the secretaries taking their positions to enable them start jotting down once he starts talking.
"I believe you know why I called this meeting today. As you all know I resumed office yesterday and it is important that you know the new rules and orders I have given and your opinions are needed. Therefore....."
And he went on and on and on. Allowing the members of the board to talk at each point. I paid attention and jotted a few things down but when the meeting went beyond two hours, I zoned out.
I thought about my family back home in Nigeria. They are in abject poverty. All of them are looking up to me to help them. Had it not been for my brains perhaps I still would have been in Nigeria hawking fruits. I got scholarship after my final exams in high school which enabled me to travel abroad. With the help of a few.....
I snapped out from my thoughts as I heard my name. I looked up and saw that all eyes were on me
Why? I'm not even a member of the board
"What do think about his suggestion Ms. Good heart" asked Mr. Wright.
"I think its good sir, I mean if it is accepted by everybody" I said not exactly sure if what I said was right. But one thing I knew, Mr. Wright did this to embarrass me.
"Can you explain how this would help our company?" He asked smirking at me.
"I really would have loved to explain that sir but, who can explain this better than he who suggested it and the owner of the company, Sir?" I breathed out at once. My reply stopped all the questions he would have asked me. The meeting went on for a few hours before it came to an end. Finally!!
I got up as the board members got up and I stood besides Mr. Wright and watched as they left.
"Nice presentation Henrik and welcome back" said a man who I guess is familiar with Mr. Wright
"Thanks Ryan",
They know each other.
"So, who is she?" asked the man whose name is Ryan.
"She is my secretary" breathed out Mr. Henrik
"A black girl?" asked Ryan smiling like he knew Henrik hates the blacks.
"You can thank my dad for that later" said Mr. Wright shooting daggers at me
Why does this man hate me sooo much?
"So what is your name?" Asked Ryan
"Ms. Good heart, Mr.?" I replied and at the same time asking his own name.
"I'm Mr. Wilson but you can call me Ryan. Nice to meet you Ms. Good heart." he said extending his hand for a hand shake.
"The pleasure is mine Ryan, and you can call me Christy" I said accepting his hand.
"Christy" he said.
He lifted my hands to kiss it but I removed it once it was about to touch his lips making him kiss his palm and I smiled at him.
"Cunning" he said returning my smile.
"Whore" mumbled Mr. Wright reminding me of his presence.
I wanted to laugh.
"Would you mind going out to lunch with me?" Continued Ryan not minding Mr. Wright's comment
"Not today Ryan, some other time." I said
"How about tomorrow?" He was persistent
"I'm not sure about that. The truth is I don't think I'll be free till the weekend".
"How about we go out for dinner on Friday?"
"Alright,"
"So can I get your number?"
"Sure" I said and gave him my number
"So I'll call you and-" he said
"Christiana, to my office" barked Mr. Wright.
I followed him to his office.
"Yes sir?"
"Who gave you the permission to talk to Ryan?"
"Do I need permission?" I snapped
"What?" he asked
"How many times do I need to tell you to ask for my permission before you do anything?"
"I didn't know talking to somebody required your permission"
"Of course it does. Listen I won't have you whoring around especially in my office" he barked.
"First of all I am not whoring around then second of all how does it concern you if I talk to people? You are my boss not my dad" I turned to leave but he held me and pulled towards him. So close to him that I could feel his breathe all over me. He looked me over and stared at my lips. I wondered what he was about to do.
"You know that if you do anything inappropriate, I would slap you whether or not you are my boss." I threatened. He laughed and released me.
To be continued....
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