Chapter One

Mia

I took my glasses off and yawned out loudly. I was famished, all because I had been writing about a Parent who impregnated his own daughter for the past three hours. Proofreading, carrying out self edit, and also reducing my use of big grammars, so as not to give people the headache of going to check a dictionary countless time, before moving over to read the second paragraph.

I wanted my readers to understand my story. Although, I needed to add some lie, to make the story seem more interesting, and to make it lengthier.

The story was short but I wanted it to be lengthy because my grumpy old boss, Mr Derrick never ceased the opportunity to lay constant complains whenever I wrote short articles or news. He usually read the story before it would undergo publishing.

Currently, I was having slight pains on my finger tips which had been on the keyboard for the past three hours. And my throat was getting dry from lack of liquid. Even my stomach was grumbling like an old man who was forced to exercise.

I drummed my fingers on my desk before sucking them one after the other. I usually do that to ease the pains.

I stopped sucking my fingers when I felt someone's presence behind me.

I turned and saw my colleague Mr Levi, a thirty something year old man, who was married with three kids. One of the best reporters we could boast of, in our office.

Nice and quite handsome but had the Calabar accented English despite being in lagos for seventeen years. And that made it very difficult for him to speak in public. He wasn't even allowed to read news over the raidio or on tv. But was allowed to write articles because he was very good. He was also being envied by most of our colleagues.

But he had an awful smell like a truck driver, whenever he was sweaty. I winced when I thought about the awful smell that was frequently around him when I go close to him. And how he smelt the last time made me barf the baby food I had eaten one faithful day. I had to swallow the vomit back with my nose wrinkled in disgust, because Mr Derrick was surveying me, and I wanted no drama from the old man.

Well, Mr Levi was friend of my mine and the only one who understood my person .We were eight reporters in the same office. Unlike Mr Levi, the other reporters labeled me as a rude, saucy and weird young lady. But the truth was, I was a no nonsense person and couldn't have my mouth shut when keep when pissed. I stood up to everyone, I mean everyone irrespective of their age, size and whatever position.

The rest of them were older.

Pushing those thoughts away, I glanced at Mr Levi.

"What are you doing, are you trying to peer into my work or something?" I asked raising a mock- curious brow at him.

"Don't be silly, why would I peer into your work when I'm better than you?" He teased and I rolled my eye balls in their sockets, at his cocky remark. His Calabar accented English reserved R, L and T.

"Anyways, just checking on you, you've been typing for the past three hours."

"Just gotta finish this stuff you know, by the way can I borrow your car, wanna go have lunch. I'm famished."

He looked away abruptly at the mention of his car, then replied "No."

"Pu-leeez." I pleaded, giving him my huge baby black.

"Nno way, go and take a taxi". He replied, scrunching his face up in a frown. He was soft hearted despite his huge physical structure.

"Mbok." I said which meant 'Please'.

He normally used that when he wanted to send me on an errand.

He was mute for some seconds contemplating how he'd be, if I get into an accident and crash his car because of how crazy I was.

And what it seemed like a whole damn while, he cleared his throat and spoke up, eyeing me.

"Okay, but don't take long." He warned tossing me his car keys.

"Yes sir." I saluted him with my two skinny fingers, gave him a lopsided grin, before waltzing around him.

"Damage my car, and pay for it. You silly girl." He offered me a smile, shaking his head as I bumped into a colleague of mine, who rewarded me with a sneer.