She paced her office, tense and skeptical. How would she go about this? Emily wondered, opening the curtains of her windows. She walked back to the other flank of the office and paced again—many thoughts in her head. What would the other staff call her piece? She was worried by these thoughts and more as today happened to be the day of her presentation, and the staff would be gathered in the room where they were assembled the last time. Why did she suddenly think Jessica loathes her? What was the explanation behind the divulgence at the eatery the last time? Why did she have to tell her those words if she didn't reckon something was ongoing between the boss and herself? “Argh!” The woman let out a demoralized sigh and sauntered to her desk. Can there be a change of plans? She thought. No, she beseeched. At least, this once. All she required was some more time to repair herself and see how stable her mental health was, just in case Jessica had something up in her sleeves. Sh
Emily, who lay on the bed in her room, leaped to her feet at the sound of something and dragged herself out of the space, headed to the other room in the apartment. “Olivia,” she dubbed, clasping the handle of the door. “Open up already.” The door was shut and locked when she pushed, and she had to pause another moment for the door to be unlocked. “Olivia,” she shouted this time, recollecting the headphone the younger woman owned could be over her head. “Olivia!”“Hold on, Emily,” the door opened and there was Olivia, grinning. “Come, look. I've got something to show to you.” She invited Emily who wandered into the room, glancing around like it was her first time gracing the room with her existence. “What is it?” Emily, who had come to know what happened, could not help but raise a question when she took a seat on the bed. “You screamed, and I came. What was that noise about?”“You won't believe what just happened!" The younger woman exclaimed. She picked up her phone from the be
Olivia let out a sigh when she sighted Mrs. Blackwell. She was enthusiastic and pleased to have a company in the Cafe shop, finally. At least, for the moment before Vicky's shift in the evening, since she almost had no business with the rest of the girls who left her all alone about a while ago. Just when Olivia thought about the older woman, she appeared in the foyer of the Cafe shop. There was a smile on her face, and a ‘welcome to the shop’ that waited to be discharged from the barricades of her mouth, in the direction of the woman who was yet to walk into the shop.The older woman walked in, grinning. She held a handbag—and from the look of things, Olivia was certain that she came from the office she works in. She was well dressed, corporately. “Olivia,” the woman called, her voice—soothing and wanting to be listened to. “Good afternoon, love.”“Good afternoon, Mrs. Blackwell,” Olivia hailed, standing and overseeing. “Welcome to the shop. How are you doing?”The phone she clas
Emily who has decided to be friendly, took it upon herself to take Olivia to a boutique where they could shop for some wear before her day of appointment at NovesTech Corporates, arrived. “You don't have to do this,” Olivia had said, declining the offer. “We are not particular if the job is mine, yet. I was only asked to come for an interview.”“People get employment when interviewed, don't they?” Emily retorted. “Are you not going for the interview, Olivia?”“I will, of course,” Olivia answered back and got up from the chair where she was seated. She walked farther from that spot and slanted on the wall, heaving a tired sigh. “I am not your obligation, not in that mode.”“I never said you were,” it was Emily's turn to heave a sigh. “We will go shopping and that is final. I am older and have a say, after all.”The younger woman gave up. Emily's mind was made up and there was nothing she could do about it. She needed the dresses, after all as most of the clothing she possessed was no
Men and women—staff and non-staff walked into the Corporation with their cases and handbags. Amongst those who trouped into the large compound stood Olivia Reynolds who had a black handbag, hanging on one of her shoulders.Her legs directed her to the reception area. She strode in after exchanging pleasantries with the old man at the door and nodded at a few people she could see, gazing at her before walking to the woman who seemed to be the receptionist. “Hi,” she greeted, smiling. “Good morning.”“Welcome to the Corporation, miss,” the woman said and looked up. “Can I help you?”“Argh, yes,” Olivia replied. “I have an interview this morning,” she explained. “I am here for a job interview.” She paraphrased when her thoughts told her she didn't let it out in a reasonable way. “One moment,” the other woman said. There was a black-skinned computer in front, and she confronted the screen to look out for something. “What time is your appointment?”“Nine in the morning,” Olivia replied
What was happening? Why would Victoria prowl her in this manner? She wondered, her thoughts orchestrating her to a more diverse dimension, waiting for the first question to be tossed at her.Expecting the worst. “How old are you, Olivia Reynolds?” Victoria put forward her first question. “I understand you are above 20.”Of course. How can she not be above twenty? Did she have the look of a kid? Was she considered to be below twenty and a graduate with a degree at the same time?Is this not the same Mrs. Blackwell she was in love with days ago? Was this not the woman she admired so much and was looking forward to seeing again, maybe at the shop? “I am 24,” she said after so much thought. Her back relaxed on the extended chair, her eyes wide open as she was beginning to get exhausted from the interview already. “I will be twenty-five in a few months.”“I see,” the older woman jotted down something on the computer system with the help of the keyboard. “Twenty-four, going to twenty
Alexander got up from his seat and led the way to the door of his office. It was the day for Emily to give her presentation—and from what he understood, she was prepared to give the fairest of her phrases and demonstration to the other staff who anticipated the meeting for over a week. He caught up with the door, opened and walked out before locking. He spent last night, sending links to Emily—encouraging her to use them in refinement for her presentation to the staff and she had reached back to him before her sleep, telling him of how it helped. Maybe it didn't, maybe it did. He would know at the end of the meeting. The CEO had gotten to the glass door and sighted a few of the staff in the room. A smile emerged on his face, while he pushed open the door. “Good morning, staff and workers of Stone Enterprise.” "Good morning, sir." The staff got on their feet for a brief salutation. “Where are the others?” Alexander looked around the room, and at the door again. “On their way,
Staff and workers in the Corporation walked past the magnificent gate, headed to their various offices. From her findings and the time displayed on the watch, worn on her wrist: she was early on the first day of her appointment. She pushed open the glass door and made it into the reception hall. “Good morning,” she greeted the woman she found at the stand, although it was a different person from the older lady she had seen the last time she was there. What does she care, anyway? She stopped to think, continuing with her journey when the lady at the stand dubbed her back. “Excuse me?” She turned around to face her. “Did you call for my attention?”She heard her name but was not sure. Now, Olivia walked to the reception stand to see what the younger lady wanted. “Good morning,” the lady greeted her. “You must be Olivia Reynolds.”“Yes, I am,” Olivia replied with a nod, and pride in the tone she spoke with. “Can I help you?”“No, not at all,” the lady said. “You need to sign on her
Olivia walked out of the kitchen with two trays and positioned them on the table. Where was Emily?Past eight in the night and she was yet to return from the Enterprise. Such a thing rarely happened and when it did, there was a problem.She grabbed the glasses on the table and headed to the kitchen. By the time she returned, the door made a sound. “Emily?” Olivia positioned the new set of glasses on the table and walked to the door. She unlocked it from inside and when it opened, there was Emily at the entrance of the apartment. “Well, what happened to you?” There was worry in her tone. She supervised the older woman walking into the house, while she latched the door and veered around. “Emily, did something happen at work?”“Good evening, Liv,” Emily, who was exhausted, plopped down on one of the couches. “I was assisting Mark with his task. He had a lot to do at work today.”“Ohh,” Olivia sauntered past her and caught up with the dining table. “I organized something for us to eat
“Emily Hartley!” Mark stepped into her office without knocking. He had a smile plastered on his countenance and something she could not plainly catch a glimpse of was in his hands. “Mark!” She dubbed, recuperating from the shock she encountered when he bumped into her expanse, screaming her name. “What's up?”Pointing out the look on her face, he halted halfway. “I frightened you, forgive me.” He started to walk again, then put up with a seat opposite her. “I was asked to pass information to you, that's why I am here.”“Is everything OK?” She sat up and asked, and then her eyes flitted to the item in his hand. “What do you have there, Mark?”The man cracked up and positioned the card on the table before passing it to the other side so her hand could touch. “Mr. Stone asked me to give this to you.”What is it? She wanted to ask. But on second thought, she took the yield of the card, unfurled it and wheezed the next moment. “Yeah—” Mark was loving the reaction on her countenance. “Yo
The door of his office pushed open and with this, he caught sight of her at the entrance. “Katherine!” A smile came live on his face as he modelled up on his seat. He made a gesture with one of his hands, pointing to one of the vacant chairs opposite him. “Come on. Take a seat.”With a smile on her face, and bobbing of her head—Katherine made it to one of the seats. “I am sorry I took so long, Mr. Steele,” she lowered the file she came with, on the desk. “She came a bit late.”“Were you able to make her speak?” The worried man asked. “Did she tell you anything at all?”“No,” Katherine shook her head. “She didn't say anything to me at all. I feel I am not good at a task like this. It feels as though she is hiding something and doesn't want to talk to me about it.”"Damn it!" Jonathan slammed one of his hands on the table. “Why do I get this feeling that the woman is up to something?” The worried man asked. “Not on a mission of her own, but with someone and that person is none other
Whatever the woman had come up with this time, had better make some sense. Olivia boarded a cab and headed to the location as asked in the text message she received last night. It was better than ending her moment in the office to be there, she thought while the man on the sterling did his job. When would all of these be over? Her thoughts drifted and she sat up on the seat, clutching her handbag tight to herself. This was not the right time to bother herself with these questions. All she knows she needs in the meantime is to know why Victoria had called for another meeting. Well, she was going to know in the end. So why bother? She lifted her head to look outside the cab and rays of sunlight came off at her, reminding her of how the day had just started. Soon, the cab halted at the front of the gate. “I have arrived, ma'am.” the man who handled the journey process called the attention of Olivia who looked like she was lost in a world of her thoughts. “Thank you.” She greeted
Shit!Why did she forget to tell Olivia of the little idea that popped up in her head before leaving the office? The woman hopped in her car and heaved a sigh. It was not so hard to return to the office, take a seat and discuss with her about her plans. But on second thought, she thought back to Mr. Steele and how he was everywhere, seeking answers to the questions he asked Olivia the other day. The man was clever and wouldn't think twice before knowing that the woman lied about her answer. This way, he would pursue other ways to know and even go as far as bringing some of the other staff into the picture. It was a long day at the office, there was a need to be at home. But after many thoughts and unanswered questions, Victoria started the car engine and began her journey out of the large compound. The man who seemed like he lived at the gate, forever, opened up for her to drive out and she did, she heaved a deep sigh. There was a need to meet with Olivia as soon as possible and
“Have you told him yet?” Olivia strolled into the medium-sized living room. “Has he talked about it, rather?”“Uh, no,” Emily shook her head. “I texted him that night, but got no reply.”“Oh, I see,” Olivia bobbed her head. “Why is he yet to talk about it?”“I wouldn't know,” the woman answered back. “There is time for everything. Now may not be the right time to go on dates.”“You are right,” Olivia nodded as she squeezed a spoonful of the nourishment in her mouth. “He'd come around, don't think about it.”“Who says I am troubled by that?” Emily sneered. “Mr. Stone has a preference for me. I like him, too. I am not bothered about anything. Nothing at all.”Olivia altered her position on the chair and began. “Would you date him if he asked you to?”A smile appeared on Emily's countenance and she switched her position on the couch, confronting Olivia. Her face contorted red and she glanced away, then back at Olivia. “Why do you ask, Liv?”“Why not?” Olivia questioned back. “You are my
The ride back to the Corporation was a peaceful one, and Victoria wasn't inclined to chip in a word. At the same time, there was Olivia who wasn't ready to speak with the older woman. A lot went on in her mind, and it was at the same time difficult to figure out. After a while of driving, they dropped anchor at the gate and the man who offered his service as a gateman did a good job by opening up to them. Ready to hop down, she asked. “What do I tell them if asked a question?”“What do you mean, Olivia?” An aggravated Victoria raised a question. “I thought I told you before now that it is not my business whatever you tell them. I pay you for all of these things.”“Right,” Victoria grimaced, hoping down from the car. “I'll see you later.” She said as she picked up her handbag from the chair where it posed. “See you later, Olivia,” Victoria heaved a sigh. She had yet to hop down from the car and Olivia seemed to care less. Of all things to care about, not Victoria and her strategie
“We are meeting with Tricia today,” Victoria announced that morning. “I expect you to be in my office by 12.”“Today?” The shocked lady asked. “Why?”Victoria, vexed by the remark, veered around. She glanced around her, shaking her head. “What do you mean by that, young lady?”“I—I am sorry, Mrs. Blackwell, but that is not what I meant to ask.”“What did you mean to ask?” The older woman asked while she modified the bag that hung on her shoulders, prepared to blast. “Does the nature of your job not have to do with meeting up, even when least expected?”“It does,” Olivia bobbed her head, prepared to walk away. “I will be at your office by 12, Victoria.”“Yikes!” She let out as she pushed the door of her office. It was beginning to be more difficult than she reckoned it to be. Her legs led her to her desk and she put up with the chair next to the table. Now she desired to be Emily for the whole week. For goodness sake, the woman would consume the whole of a week at home. Perhaps, it w
“You sent for me, Mrs. Blackwell,” she tossed the file on the table, causing the older woman to look up and meet with her gaze. "This is the file you asked for."There was neither a smile nor grimace on Victoria's countenance, and one of her hands dug into her hair like she was in thought before the other woman came in. “Take a seat.” She finally spoke, after a while of not letting out a word. Without hesitation, Olivia snatched the chair next to her and modelled in it. “Do you need something?”“No,” Victoria shuddered her head. “Not really. I only have an assignment for you.”Her heart leaped. What was it about this time? Well, a part of her told her she could accomplish it no matter what it would be. Did she not get Mr. Stone's contact after the slight complication she seemed to have faced? “What is it about, Mrs. Blackwell?”“I have more files for you to deal with,” Mrs. Blackwell astonished the younger woman by disappointing her. “Although you and Katherine would have to sh