1. Maya Banks

Maya Banks strolled into Powell's Homes and Properties, her high heels making a clicking noise on the floor as she stepped into the neatly polished black porcelain tile.

Maya glanced around, a feeling of uneasiness flooded around her, she bit her lips to get herself from the maze of the endless crowd around her. She was lost in this maze and she does not know where to go next!

“Hi! May I help you?” Maya turned to a young lady in her mid-twenties, her chestnut hair was pulled back in a ponytail, her straight lilac gown hugged curves neatly as a polite smile was plastered on her face.

After assessing the lady, Maya noticed the sparkling white marble table in front of her, underneath it, was written a word which Maya has missed in bold letter‘ Receptionist’. Maya smiled, she has completely forgotten about the reception in her rush to get to work.

“Yes, I'm kind of lost. Can you help me?” Maya asked her, offering her a polite smile of her own as she reached out to re_strap her bag on her shoulder.

“Sure. May I ask where you are going?” The receptionist smiled back, checking Maya out with a polite smile on her face.

“I'm going to Mr. Barnett's office. I'm his new secretary” Maya replied, with a hint of pride in her voice. Finally, her long-awaited dream was coming to pass.

“Oh! Congratulations! Mr. Barnett's office is on the second floor. If you could take that elevator there, someone will be there to guide you” The receptionist explained, her red painted manicured fingers pointed in the direction of the elevator where Maya has also failed to notice.

Maya smiled at her, thanking her, and sauntered down to the elevator. She quickly got in and pressed the number for the second floor as she relaxed against the wall.

A lot of things have been on her mind all morning, in between the tension of her first day at the office and her mom pestering, Maya was surprised that she was still alive and breathing fine.

As Maya stepped out of the elevator, her eyes saddened as she suddenly paused having remembered her mother's word to her that morning “ Maya darling! Please don't overwork yourself as you did in your previous work rather get a life and most especially a handsome man will do just fine”

Maya scoffed as she resumed walking, she couldn't believe her mom said that. Does she think it's easy to get a man? And a handsome one at that...

Maya pulled out of her thoughts as she noticed yet another receptionist, she walked closer to her plastering a gentle smile on her face.

“Welcome Miss Banks, Mr. Barnett has been expecting you since morning. He's in a meeting right now, if you could wait for him in the office” Before Maya could introduce herself the receptionist has beat her to it.

Maya's heart skipped a beat when she heard that her boss had been expecting her all morning. So much for a first impression, Maya. Maya scolded herself as she forced herself into the office where the receptionist had pointed her to.

Thirty minutes later, the office door opens showing a short man with a slim body who Maya recognizes as her boss. He and one other person had quizzed her on her interview some months ago.

“Welcome Miss Banks” Mr. Barnett called slowly to her walking to his desk. His eyes took the time on the wall clock before turning to assess Maya who gulped nervously.

“Though, I must say this is quite too late of you but I will let it slide as this is your first day, Okay?” Mr. Barnett said gently before turning to look for some files on his table.

Maya smiled, thanking her star that she was off the hook“ Thank you so much, sir. I promise that it won't repeat itself” Maya answered with a solemn promise in her voice.

“It better not!” Mr. Barnett responded looking at her briefly before going back to search for a file on his table.

“Here,” Mr. Barnett handed the file to Maya as soon as he saw it hidden in between another file on his table.

Maya collected the file from him with a confused expression on her face. What was she to do with this? Is this her first assignment?

“Take that and study it. You will be requested to defend it tomorrow in front of the big boss” Mr. Barnett confirmed with a wave of his hands dismissing Maya.

He looked up after some time to see that Maya was still in his office watching him. He raised his brows with a frown on his face“ What are you still doing here?”

“I'm sorry sir but I don't know where my office is?” Maya quizzed with a soft smile on her face.

“Ask the receptionist, she will direct you there. That will be all for now, Miss Banks” Mr. Barnett announced, he watched as Maya saw herself out of his office before he could concentrate on the files in front of him, he needed to submit it to the boss first thing tomorrow morning.

Maya sauntered down the elevator with her bag strapped on her shoulder, her hands clutching the files in her hands as she made her way out of the office after saying goodbye to the receptionist.

She has spent the rest of the day in her office studying the files which her boss has handed to her that morning. 

And from it all, she could see that the real boss was trying to acquire another home in a densely populated area and was looking for both the advantages and disadvantages of it. Maya already knew her answers without even researching for it and that is No!!

Maya stepped out of the sliding door and stood outside inhaling deeply. She was glad that her first day at Powell's Homes and Properties has gone well even after being ridiculously late.

Maya was about to take a step out of the building when her eyes caught a lone figure at the rooftop of the penthouse building. She gasped as her eyes took in his blue bespoke suit which hugged his muscles like a second skin.

She gulped as her legs turned to jelly immediately, her brown eyes mixed with his blue eyes, he was staring down at her with a frown on his face.

Maya averted her gaze and rushed out of the gate to flag down a taxi that will take her home. She couldn't stop thinking about him as the taxi drove her home. Who was he? Another worker?

Maya stepped out of the taxi, closing the door she turned to pay the driver before turning to walk into the black iron gate which had opened as soon as she stepped out of the taxi. Her mom stood glaring at her from the balcony of their apartment.

Maya ignored her mother as she showed herself into the room after stepping out of the elevator.

“Maya! What were you doing at the office until this late?” Her mother's voice greeted her as soon as she stepped into the room.

Maya rolled her eyes at her mother. She sat down on the couch before glancing at the wall clock opposite her which reads seven p.m.

“Please don't start mom. I nearly lost my job today. The only way I could make up was to work until late hour” Maya replied, her hands going to undo the strap on her black heels. She put them on the floor and started massaging her feet.

“Really?” Her mother exclaimed in shock. She couldn't believe she nearly caused her daughter to lose her job.

“Fine. But don't be late tomorrow. You need to go and date, you are not getting any younger” Her mom continued, reminding her that her decision still stands.

Maya nodded and stood up to go into her room, she wasn't in the mood to argue with her mom tonight seeing that she never won any of their arguments.

“And make sure to return Zara's calls. She called you this morning but you forgot your phone at home” Her mother's voice called out to her as Maya opened the door to her bedroom.

“Yes, mom. Thank you” Maya replied to her mom before closing the door to her bedroom. She lay down on the bed with her face facing the ceiling, she was exhausted and drained. 

Her hands immediately went to the file she had dropped on the bed. She picked it up and went through it again. She wanted to be sure that she had memorized everything by heart.

Her eyes took the phone which her mom had placed on her dresser's table. Maya walked to pick it up, putting a call through to Zara. She waited for Zara to pick up her phone.

“Hello, Bestie!” Zara called into the phone as soon as it connected.

“Hey, I'm sorry, I couldn't pick your calls. I forgot my phone at home” Maya replied rushing to explain herself. She didn't want Zara worrying about her as she strolled into the bathroom to bathe with her phone placed on her ear.

“Yes, your mom told me. How was your first day at work?” Zara asked her, as she braced herself for the gist Maya was going to give her.

“Don't even ask about that” Maya rolled her eyes as she put the phone on speaker and dropped it on the mirror stand in the bathroom. She couldn't help thinking back to that morning when she nearly lost her job.

“Why? Did it not go alright?” Zara asked Maya as concern laced her voice. 

“I nearly lost my job today all because of my mom and her sermon” Maya continued slowly. If her mom continues like this, she will be forced to run away from home.

Zara's laughter filled the phone as Maya sulked bitterly“ It isn't funny Zara. You need to see the way she was asking me to get a man. A handsome man at that. 

“How or where do I get such a man?” Maya laments mumbling to herself. She was getting tired of her mom pestering her to get married. For goodness sake, she was twenty-six, not thirty-six.

“Don't mind your mom. I'm sure she's only after the money she will get from the man” Zara told her friend. She was also aware of persuasive Mrs.Banks can be.

“That reminds me, I need your help with my blog tomorrow,” Maya paused in between her bath as she turned to stare at her phone.

“ Why? Is there a problem?” Maya asked her shocked, she didn't want to imagine what was wrong with Zara's blog. She knew how Zara cherished her blog.

“ No, nothing. We'll talk about it when you come” Zara replied and hung up after exchanging a few gossips with Maya.

“Maya! Dinner is ready” 

Maya rushed through her bath as soon as she heard her mom's voice call out to her. She went downstairs and sat down opposite her mom to enjoy her dinner in peace but her mom had other plans for her.

“I was talking to Mrs. Blake the other day, she said her son will be coming back today. Do you mind if she introduced you both?” Maya glared at her mom. She has forgotten how adamant her mom could be.

“Mom, I'm not going on a blind date with anyone and most especially not Mrs. Blake's son” Maya shouted at her mom, she always hated their neighbor downstairs. Apart from being such a freak, she was a gossip. Always knowing what was going on with everyone.

“Calm down young lady!” Her mom returned her glare“ You can't be like this forever. You need to find a man to love_______”

“Goodnight mom” Maya replied and stood up to go to bed. Her mom wasn't going to give her peace tonight.

“ Just think about what I said, Mrs. Blake's son is handsome and caring” Mrs. Banks called out at her daughter's retreating back before standing up to clear the table.

Maya fell asleep as soon as her head touched the bed as she has a long day at the office tomorrow.