CHAPTER ONE

“So that’s why I can only afford to keep just one of you employed at Regal Corporation,” Mr Vance used a big cotton handkerchief to wipe the sweat off his brow and adjusted his glasses. 

Suhaira turned to look at Jack in horror, as the implications of this bombshell from the boss sank in, but Jack was staring down at the table. Just ten minutes ago she had been giggling at Jack’s jokes. Now she felt as if her world was crumbling. She started to gather up her papers but Mr Vance motioned for her to remain seated.

“There is some good news,” he said, “a huge housing development company, Bazaar Abodes, are giving us a chance to pitch a proposal to them to be their sole selling agents.” He glanced at them both. “I will decide on which one of you stays based on how many units you can sell in this development. Sorry it’s come to this. You have both been assets to the company. But now times are hard.” 

Suhaira stood up to follow Mr Vance out of the boardroom. 

“Suhaira, hold on,” Jack grasped her hand.

She pulled away and bolted to the Ladies. In the privacy of the kiosk, she leant her forehead against the cool tiles. What am I going to do without a job? I haven’t even paid off a quarter of mum’s bills. And what about my little sister Grace? These thoughts ran through her mind as she struggled to accept the news.

Swallowing the hard lump in her throat, she went out to the washbasins, longing to splash some cool water on her face. As she reached for the tap, she stopped abruptly. Anna or one of the other girls in the office would instantly notice that her make-up was smeared.

Jack was waiting for her in the corridor. 

“Are you okay Suhaira?” he tapped her on the shoulder, “This is such a shocker!”

She shook her head mutely and pushed past him to walk the short distance back to her kiosk. But he grabbed her hand and pulled her close.

“Hey, Suhaira, don’t be so upset. You know I can’t bear to see your pretty face so downcast.”

“Jack, sorry, but I need some time alone.” 

He looked at her closely, his dark eyes full of concern, “I know, my dear. But we’re in this together. We’ll figure something out.”

“How are we going to work this out?” she snapped, “I mean, one of us has to leave!”

Jack gave her an encouraging squeeze.

“I’m with you, Suhaira. Why don’t we go for a drink after work and talk about it?” 

She nodded bluntly before storming off to her kiosk. Suhaira knew that this wasn’t Jack’s fault, but was in no mood to socialise with anyone at all. She sank into her chair and stared unseeingly at her computer screen.

“So Suhaira, why did Mr Vance want to meet you?” Anna, the slutty receptionist, appeared out of nowhere, curiosity seeping out of her every pore. “Is it true that he fired you?” She looked at her expectantly, leaning casually against Suhaira’s desk as if they were best friends.

“No Anna, not yet,” Suhaira sighed. She often wondered how Anna was always up-to-speed on office gossip, especially the negative things, and Suhaira had a wild suspicion that Anna had secretly installed spy-cameras in the office. 

“But she will, won’t she?” 

Anna was like a dog worrying a bone. Suhaira could not believe that someone could be so excited about another’s misfortune. But then, sensitivity had never been one of Anna’s virtues, especially where Suhaira was concerned. Just then, Suhaira’s cell phone beeped. Worried that Anna would probably ask about that too, she decided to get rid of her.

“Yes Anna, I am sure that I will eventually get fired.” 

“Oh, I’m so sorry to hear that,” Anna said, barely concealing her broad smile as she scurried away, probably bursting with this hot gossip. Finally, free of Anna’s annoyance, Suhaira scrolled through her phone. There were three messages, all from her best friend, Zafeera. Each of them asking basically the same thing but getting successively more impatient for a response: ‘How was last night?’

Last night. Suhaira couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across her face as she pictured Zafeera jumping to steamy conclusions and waiting for Suhaira to fill her in. She thought about the fun evening she had shared with Jack. Though Zafeera seemed to be expecting something more passionate, it had just been drinks at a noisy Inn. Still, Suhaira could definitely feel the spark of attraction between them is growing over time. Jack was great company and Suhaira was looking forward to something more.  

The ping of an incoming email interrupted her thought. She scowled as she turned back to the computer. The email was from Mr Vance with all the details of the proposal that they had to prepare for their pitch to Bazaar Abodes. Reluctantly, Suhaira tossed her cell phone back into her bag. Zafeera would just have to wait a little longer for all the juicy details. It was vital that she landed this client.

Suhaira sighed as she read the email. It looked as though she was going to be swamped with work. The owner of Bazaar Abodes was coming into their office the next morning to hear their sales pitch. Talk about short notice. She took a deep breath and began to type furiously. 

The shuffling of chairs and sounds of people gathering up their belongings made her look up. It was already five. How had the afternoon just galloped by? A shadow fell over her desk and she sensed it was Jack’s even before he put his hands over her eyes. 

“Jack, let me go.” She laughed, but he persisted in covering her eyes. She finally managed to squirm out of his grasp. She turned her head to see him staring intently at her computer screen.

“Are you telling me my screen is more attractive than I am?” she teased Jack, making a face. He smiled at her.

“Not a chance. Your image was reflected on your screen. That’s all I’ve got eyes for.” The smile he gave her made her weak in the knees.

“Where do you get such cheesy lines from?” she laughed.

“You inspire me,” he said, with mock poetic drama. “So let’s head for Choices,” he said, “we can catch some pints. I’m all up for a repeat of yesterday. Or maybe something more quiet so that we can just talk.”

“Sorry Jack, I need to be home early. I have to be with my family today.”

Jack frowned. “We really need to talk about this job issue. Do you think you can get out of your family thing, just for tonight?” 

“Well, they really need me there. Besides, we have that big presentation to make tomorrow, and I want to prepare.”  

“OK, fine. See you tomorrow, then,” Jack nodded and walked away, looking disappointed. 

Suhaira suddenly felt a twinge of guilt. Jack was just trying to be nice and make her feel better. She regretted mentioning the presentation; it sounded as if she was brushing him off. Suhaira considered going after him to make up and was just a few steps behind Jack when Anna confronted him, leaning flirtatiously towards him as she whispered something. Suhaira felt like smacking Anna across her face as the receptionist moved even closer to Jack, giving him a close-up of her ample bosom.

He said something to Anna who giggled excitedly. 

Is he now asking her out?

Suhaira marched over to them. “Jack, actually I can come with you, I’ll just tell my family that I can’t make it.” She flashed the most charming smile at him.

Jack stared at her for a moment. “Actually, Suhaira, let’s just leave it for today,” he said coolly, “We have to present our proposals tomorrow. I also have to prepare. You’re right, we need some time.”

Anna interrupted him. “What presentation? And where were you guys planning to go?”

Suhaira’s urge to smack Anna became even stronger, and she was glad that she and Jack had decided to keep their dates a secret from Anna and the rest of the staff at Regal Corporation. Now that would have been news. 

“Nothing much,” Jack said, “just work stuff.” He left without another word, leaving Anna looking wistfully at his disappearing back.

Eyes off him, Suhaira thought, scowling angrily at Anna. The receptionist’s open interest in Jack rankled Suhaira to no end. Even though she and Jack hadn’t made anything official, Suhaira wouldn’t put it past Anna to wreck a good thing.

Suhaira swallowed the lump of disappointment that had formed in her throat and left the office. After being single for years, Jack was the first man to have this effect on her. His ambition, charm and good looks were irresistibly attractive. And she knew lots of other girls felt the same way about him. She shouldn’t have passed up the chance of another date with him. 

Have I ruined things with Jack? What if he was really annoyed and wants to call things off? She made a face at herself as she passed the mirror. He was more concerned about me and our relationship. Have I come off as over-competitive? But isn’t he bothered by the possibility of losing his job too? 

That night, Suhaira couldn’t shake off her feelings of frustration. She had to keep her job, but would that mean losing Jack? Or what if she got to keep Jack, but ended up losing her job? Could they survive this blow so early on?

Looking at her sister laughing and talking to her mother after dinner, Suhaira knew she couldn’t afford to lose her job, no matter what else it cost her. Her family depended on her. Putting aside thoughts of Jack, Suhaira worked late into the night, perfecting her proposal for Bazaar Abodes, determined to do a great job.

***

The next morning Suhaira surveyed her closet critically, scavenging through the hangers, looking for something to wear. She knew she needed to look her best for the competitive presentation ahead. She knew her presentation was great, although it wouldn’t hurt to dress to impress. She knew exactly what look she wanted: something smart but sexy, something classy and expensive looking. She sighed as she rummaged through the same old clothes over and over, as though they would magically transform into what she wanted. She promised herself that if she managed to keep her job, she would treat herself to a new outfit. Not if, Suhaira, when, she told herself sternly. 

She finally settled on her best trouser suit. It wasn’t new but it was cleverly cut and made her legs look longer and slimmer. She paired it with a light blue silk top that Zafeera had given her for her last birthday. She reached for her spectacles but after a minute’s pause, decided to go with contact lenses. Much cooler and way more attractive, especially the way the lenses gave a sexy glint to her big, dark, almond shaped eyes. After a careful application of makeup, she was all set. The subtle lip-gloss set off her caramel coloured skin. Perfect. Enough feminine charm to wow Mr Vance and the owners of Bazaar Abodes. Zafeera constantly told Suhaira how gorgeous she was but Suhaira always wished that she was a little taller. 

“Suhaira, what time will you be home?” her mother called out from her bedroom. 

Suhaira still hadn’t got used to her mother being home during the day. For as far back as she could remember, her mother would be dressed and out of the house by six thirty each morning. It had come as a huge shock to Suhaira and Grace when they discovered their mother, who had always seemed infallible, had been struck with cancer. Suhaira sighed and said a silent prayer of thanks that the early diagnosis had managed to save her mother’s life and that she was now in remission. But she was still far too weak to work, and Suhaira had insisted that she stay home and recover.

“I don’t know Mum,” Suhaira said, walking into her mother’s bedroom, “I may have to work late again.” 

Given her mother’s ill health, the last thing Suhaira wanted to do was worry her with issues of her job. In fact, she hadn’t even told her about Jack. There was no point really. Knowing her mother, she would have asked a million questions. Suhaira knew that Jack was the type of guy that her mother would disapprove of; his easy charm was often mistaken for a playboy attitude. With his perennial stubble and pierced left ear, he definitely looked something of a ‘bad boy’.

Though her mother was always on about Suhaira needing to socialise more, and ‘find a nice, decent man’ for herself, Suhaira was sure her mother wouldn’t see the gentleman behind the playful and rugged exterior. Besides, it was way too early to be discussing Jack with her. 

“Working late again!” her mother shook her head, “That company really seems to be taking advantage of you, I hope they appreciate you.” 

Suhaira leant over to kiss her cheek, “Yes Mum, they do.” 

As her mother smiled at her, Suhaira’s heart constricted when she saw how frail she still looked. Thank goodness the worst was now over and her mother was well on her way to recovery. “I have to go now Mum. I want to catch a lift with Mrs Rhodes today.”

Normally, Suhaira took a dala-dala to work every day. Sometimes, though, her kind neighbour would offer her a ride. Suhaira rarely accepted, not wanting too many favours. Today was different. She was desperate to reach the office on time and was willing to leave the house almost an hour earlier so she could catch a ride. 

Suhaira had sold off her car to cover some of her mother’s medical bills. Not that it had been much of a loss. The rickety car had been more of a nuisance anyway. Suhaira was planning to buy another car once she finally finished paying off the medical bills. But only if I can keep my job, she thought, as she piled into her neighbour’s car. As they inched forward in the gridlocked Dodoma traffic, Suhaira was so engrossed in mentally re-running through her presentation that she barely paid attention to Mrs Rhodes’s chatter about her latest business venture.  

After what seemed to be a lifetime, they made it to the Kikuyu road roundabout. Suhaira cursed the traffic silently; there couldn’t have been a worse day for such a terrible traffic jam. She consoled herself by thinking how much worse it would have been if she hadn’t had a ride, though that did little to improve her nerves. Mrs Rhodes had barely brought the car to a halt when she flew out the door, shouting a hurried ‘thank you’ over her shoulder, jostling pedestrians out of the way. She pounded on the button of the ancient lift in the building but the indicator stubbornly remained at the sixth floor. Suhaira lunged up the stairs, taking them two at a time. How could this happen today of all days? I’m never late! 

Anna pursed her glossy lips. “You’re late,” she sneered, “They are all already in the boardroom.”

“Is the client here yet?” Suhaira gasped. 

“He was here on time.” She wasn’t bothering to hide her smirk. 

Oh dear. Now I don’t even have time to go to the Ladies and check if I look okay. Suhaira cursed her luck, before taking a deep breath to calm herself. Relax, Suhaira. You can do this. She squared her shoulders and pushed the boardroom door open.

Mr Vance was at the head of the table. “Suhaira, finally! Meet Mr Perry of Bazaar Abodes.”

The client swivelled round in his chair to face her, a sardonic smile on his face as he watched her clutch onto the back of the nearest chair for support. 

David Perry! What the hell is he doing here?

Suhaira stared at him, sure she was dreaming. David Perry. Son of Thurston Perry, one of the middle East and Africa’s biggest businessmen and the heir to a million-dollar enterprise. Here, in their office. Their new client. Suhaira was sure this was the stuff nightmares were made of. She felt like the daylights had been punched right out of her and it was all she could do not to turn and run.

He stood up and offered her a hand. “Hello Suhaira, nice to see you again.” His expression was inscrutable. 

Suhaira sank into the nearest chair after giving him a limp handshake. Is this some type of joke? She glanced around the table; Mr Vance continued to give a history of the company in his monotone. Jack, though, did not look very happy. He was obviously perturbed that she seemed to know the handsome new client.

If only he knew!