Chapter 2

Emily pov

“I broke my leg while walking the stairs”he said while laughing loudly.

I was angry but happy at the same time,I thought something bad happened to him or he got into trouble.

“You almost made my heart jump out of my mouth” I said to him admits what seems like an angry laughter. He apologized and cracked a few jokes before he hung up the call.

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A day before the interview,I made sure all my clothes are neatly ironed,I wanted to look my best to the interview,I informed my mum and my brother and they prayed I get the job.

On Thursday morning,I woke up as early as 6:00am to prepare for the interview,I had to walk to the venue so I left the house early,before 9:00am I was already in the vicinity but I decided to sit around and text Sandra to notify her I’m around.

“It’s so good to see you again Emily”,Sandra said walking right in front of me.

“You’re the first candidtae to arrive and that’s one of the qualities of a great employee” she said again obviously making fun of me

Sandra was never serious,I wondered how she got this job I said in my head.

After the arrival of other candidates I was called into the company waiting room where the interview was conducted.

All questions and answers were made into a video recording.

“Mr Marcus will be the one to choose the best candidate,I hope you’re aware of that?”,one of the staffs asked me.

“Yes sir”I replied 

“We will get back to you and goodluck on your performance”,he said again before showing me the way out.

Although Sandra reassured me that she’ll make sure I get the job,I was still very scared and nervous,what if I’m not her boss’s choice I thought to myself,the money is a lot and I’m not willing to let it go for anything,it’ll change a lot of things about my life.

_____________

Marcus.

It was a Friday morning and I was listening to the news when Sandra’s call came in.

“Hello,good morning sir”She greeted in an official way.

“Good morning,I’m listenin”,I replied her,giving no rooms for her unusual extended greeting. 

“The interview was conducted yesterday and the videos of the candidates have been complied and sent to your Mail”She said.

“There’s also a particular lady that did extremely well and I’ll be glad if she’s your choice”,she added again.

“I really don’t know who the person is,but may the best person win”,I replied and hung up the call. 

I checked my mail to see the update and if the task was done appropriately.

When I drafted  the details of the job description I emphasized on the importance of punctuality,attention to details,and maintaining confidentiality. I  meticulously reviewed each applicant’s qualifications and references,their replies to questions admist physical  fitness.

I was slowly narrowing down my options amidst the resumes,the video I  watched last was the one that got my attention,there was just something about the way she talks and carried herself and that caught my consciousness off guard.

This  applicant possess qualities far beyond what I had specified in the Advertisement. She stood out from  the rest,and that was the person I decided to choose,I think she’s worth giving a try.

The second day,I reached out to Sandra to made my choice known to her. “I choose the lady on blue blazers,please send her the resume”, I was still on the phone when my little girl came to sit beside me.

“Daddy” Sophie called,with her tiny angelic voice envisioning the confusion she’s feeling.

“Yes my love, I’m sorry I’ve been really busy here,is there any problem?” I asked her before ending the call abruptly on Sandra.

I knew I had to reply sophie like an adult because she’s so inquisitive just like her mother,she acts more than her age.

“Nothing daddy but I saw you looking at mummy just now” she said pointing to the screen of my MacBook’.

Her words got to me,”that’s not your mum”,I shouted,almost sending myself into a state of confusion,she burst into tears immediately.

“I’m sorry baby but that’s not your mum” I said calmly to her,almost loosing my cool too,I took her into her bedroom and read her stories to her till she slept peacefully.

I went back to my workspace and check the video again,I tried to check and see no resemblance between the young lady and my late wife,but why will Sophie say that kind of thing,i pondered. The way I replied her made me realize how bad I feel when I remembered the death of kate.

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I jolted out of slumber and realized it’s midnight already,went to check up on my daughter and she was already running a temperature,she was having difficulty sleeping properly,her head was hot and her lips looked pale.

I rushed into the kitchen to get a napkin and cold towel to apply on her head,I carried her from her bed to the living room making her body tweak a bit,I didn’t want her to wake up.

I lay her down on the sofa,dipped the napkin into the cold water and place it on her head like I do see her mother do when she was younger,she held my hand and smirk,making it look like she was doing it intentionally,I couldn’t help but stare at her face and wondered how she looks so much like her mother and how  happy she would have been if her mother was there to take care of her this night.

Her curly hair looks exactly like her mother’s,with the hair falling over her shoulder,she looks like a direct replica of my late wife,I wondered if her mother knew she would leave that’s why she gave me a child that looks so much like her.

I can remember when my wife just gave to her in the hospital and I was angry she looked like her mother and not like me.

“She’ll look more like you soon” they all promised. Those were just mere words to make me feel happy,she didn’t change a bit and I felt so betrayed by that.

Everything around me reminds me of my wife and I can’t even help it,I burst into tears again but it was done silently,I don’t want my daughter to know I’m crying.

Around 4:00am,I heard a loud crackling outside,this jolted me out of my sleep,I never knew I was asleep,I looked at my side and saw my daughter was sleeping peacefully beside me,I touched her and her fever was almost gone.

I guess it was because of the way I shouted at her the previous night,I carried her back to her room and make sure she was deeply asleep before I faced my MacBook to continue working,I can’t remember the last time I had a nice sleep.

The thought of my new maid dropped into my mind.,I can’t seem to help the thought of her working in my house.

“will she be able to cope with us”?

“will she be fit for the job”, “will my daughter like her most especially won’t she breech my security consciousness”?.