Chapter 4
1308 Words
Amaka:
"Sorry, sir. I was mistaken. I thought you were someone I knew before," I said as his blue eyes held mine.
"It's fine. Come ahead for your interview. Why do you want to work here with us?" he asked, clicking on his laptop like he was going through my credentials.
Seeing him affected me, but his acting like he did not know me or recognize who I was made me tremble.
"Hello?" He raised an eyebrow and looked at my face.
"Right. I am a digital marketing student, and I graduated with distinction. I believe I will help your company market their products and services online," I said, lowering my gaze to avoid his face.
He had changed. He looked masculine and handsome. My son resembles him, except Jason was fair like me.
"I see," he replied and clicked his mouse.
"I only employ staff committed to their jobs who do not breach my company's agreement. If you breach my company's agreement, you will pay a fine."
"Okay, sir. I am an honest person. You do not have to worry about that," I replied, lowering my gaze and avoiding his eyes.
"Alright," he agreed. "You can meet Anita to sign up with her."
"Thank you, sir," I replied, standing from the guest chair as I looked at his face once more.
Joseph had returned his gaze to his laptop. I could not believe he did not recognize me.
'Had I changed?' My eyes welled with tears, and he looked at my face.
"What is the problem, Madam?" he asked, meeting my gaze.
I searched his dark, handsome face to see if I affected him. Nothing.
"Nothing, sir," I replied, blinking away my teardrop as I moved from the guest chair. I felt his eyes on me but did not look back as I left his office.
I wanted to resign from working here. This was my first job after graduating. How could my child's father own this company? Was that really Joseph Ericson?
I looked back as his office door closed. The inscription read: CEO—JOSEPH ERICSON OFFICE.
My brows furrowed when I realized he was the one. I looked away and met Anita's curious gaze. She asked, "How did it go?"
"Oh." I smiled, seeing the other newcomers look at me. They were fresh-out-of-college graduates—five young men and four women.
"It went well, Ma. I was emotional. Can I see the document?" I asked. She replied, "Sure." She gave me the documents. I read the terms and conditions of working for them.
It was an exclusive agreement. I could not work for another company or tarnish their group name.
I sighed and signed it, though part of me did not want to.
I wanted to know if Joseph had memory loss for failing to recognize me.
It had been only four years, and he acted like he never knew me. Why did seeing him affect me?
I took my copy of the agreement and put it in my bag while Anita informed me, "You will have to wait to meet your new coach."
"Okay, madam." I sat waiting. After a while, Anita came and said, "Come with me. You will work under Simon Braxton. He is our marketing manager, so you can assist him."
"Okay," I replied and followed Anita into Simon's office. The company was a five-story building. I was surprised to see Simon was the man who paid my transport fare that morning. Unlike Joseph, Simon smiled and welcomed me. "Have a seat, pretty."
"Simon! You should know such compliments are not allowed here unless you want to lose your job," Anita warned, but he laughed it off.
"Do not be jealous, Anita. I knew her before, so move away. It is nice meeting you again, pretty. What is your name?" Simon asked, ignoring Anita's threat. She grimaced. "Do not say I did not warn you."
She pulled open Simon's office door and left, leaving me alone with him.
I sat.
"Is everything alright, Miss?" Simon asked, looking concerned. My face had turned crimson.
"Yes, sir. I am fine," I replied, taking my white handkerchief from my skirt pocket and wiping my face.
"Oh, do away with the sir. Call me Simon, okay? I am not that old, and the boss is older than me," Simon said, flashing his nice set of white teeth. His words forced a smile from me.
"Thank you."
"You are welcome. We get to work today. How fate works," Simon said. I smiled back.
"I will have company security man set up your office here. We will get along so I can lecture you before you move to your personal space," Simon said, leaning against his chair. I looked around his office.
Like Joseph's office, Simon's was painted white with a large desk and his laptop before him.
"Alright. My work starts today," I said. Simon replied, "Yes. Or do you want to go home?"
"No. I am fine," I replied. He smiled.
"Let me call security man to set up your office. That will make our work easier." Simon picked up his telephone, placed a call, and a security man came in.
The security man wore a white top, black trousers, and black boots.
"You sent for me, Simon," he said. Simon replied, "Yes. Get a new office desk, chair, and laptop for my assistant." The security man looked at me and replied, "On it."
"Oh! I forgot my handbag. Let me get it," I told Simon. He smiled.
"Feel free."
I stood from Simon's guest chair and exited his office. His office was on the fifth floor, like the boss's.
Staff worked on the fourth and second floors. The third floor was their meeting hall.
Anita had lectured me about the company's floors when I signed the contract.
I went to the locker, took my bag, and returned the key.
As I turned to head back to Simon's office, Anita came out of the boss's office and smiled at me.
"How is your work with Simon going? Pay no heed to him. The boss's office is next to his. Most offices have glass walls to keep watch and CCTV footage."
"Oh." My cheeks burned red.
"You do not have to worry. Simon and I met coincidentally on a bus today, and I do not know much about him," I told her. She gasped. "Oh! That is fine. Reach out if you need assistance. Take care, Amaka."
"Alright," I replied, watching Anita walked to her office. I sighed and returned to Simon's office.
I was aware the boss watched us from his office. They had cameras and glass walls between offices.
"Are you alright?" Simon asked, looking concerned as I entered to join him as the company's new digital marketer.
"Yeah." I smiled. He smiled back.
"Here is your new chair and small desk. It will keep you comfortable," Simon said, gesturing to the new setup in his vast office.
"Oh! Thank you." I grinned at him. He rose, walked to the new desk and chair.
"You should not thank me, Amaka. We are partners now, so my duty is to make your work easy." Simon leaned beside me as I sat in the new chair.
"Alright," I replied, watching Simon turned on the laptop to test it. I focused on the loading screen and watched him set it up.
"Fill in your name, password, and register. For further assistance, reach out to me." Simon rose from my desk after setting up the laptop. I smiled at him.
"Thank you." I watched Simon return to his chair, and I focused on the laptop. I looked at the glass wall, wondering what Joseph was up to.
The glass was dark, so I could not see the next office. I felt nervous knowing I was under surveillance.
- Writer
