22 Emma

Emma was fuming. She grudgingly opened her email to check the message that the HOD of the department of accountancy, at the University of Lagos, had sent to her.

She was already dressed for her hostel, The Scholar suite's usual TGIF party and was about stepping out with her friends when she received the hateful call from Dr. Shitta, asking her to check her mail, that he would call her back in twenty minutes for questions and further instructions.

Dr. Shitta was not just the HOD of her department, he was also her father's most trusted friend. And her mentor in the accounting field, as so declared by her father.

Not that she needed any mentorship from an outsider, especially when her family was filled with Ph.D. holders. Her family members just preferred to keep her at arm's length.

They want absolutely nothing to do with her and would rather give the responsibility of her care to another person than deal with her themselves. Except for her dear grandma, Mama silver who took care of her since when she was a baby.

Emma never understood why she had to live with her grandma when her parents stayed in the same city with them until when she was six years old.

The whole family and some family friends were gathered at her grandma's house for new year's eve dinner. It was there she overheard a conversation where her mother said...

'Emma was a mistake I would have aborted, if not for Mama Silver that advised me against it, and also offered to take care of her. I don't want the burden of another child right now that my career is at its peak.'

Her six-year-old brain knew what a mistake was but couldn't grasp the meaning of that word 'abort' so she checked her dictionary and saw... 'Terminate. Bring to a premature end.'

She was not wanted! No wonder they dumped her with her grandma when she was just a three-month-old baby and hardly come to check on her. They always have one excuse or the other as to why they couldn't visit or why they forgot about her birthdays.

Even though she started hating her parents from that day, a little part of her still yearned for their love and affection. She waited and waited for them to love her the way they do her siblings but it never came.

Growing up, she was deliberately troublesome and mischievous at school just so she could get their attention. So they could have a conversation with her at least. After each atrocity, she knew the school authority would insist for her parents to come to school if they don't want her expelled.

Instead of the attention she craved, she got a disappointing glare from them... And sometimes they would scream and call her a disappointment to the name Da-Silva in front of everyone present.

To her family, Emma was like those dregs you see at the bottom of the coffee cup that you washed down the drain. She was the most undesirable member of the family.

Even her twins elder siblings were no better. They were fifteen years older than her... Who wants a kid sister at eighteen years old?

She only got to see all of them during Christmas and new year celebrations and that was because Mama silver insisted on the whole family spending the holidays together. Even at that, they still wouldn't be alone with her long enough to strike a conversation.

She and her family are now at a point where Emma no longer cares. To her, the only family she has was her grandmother.

Emmanuella Ayinke Da-Silva was 20 years old and in her final semester at the University of Lagos. She was exceptionally beautiful. Even more than her mother who was among the top five in the Miss Universe pageant during her time. She might not be as tall as her mom, but she was fairer in complexion with the kind of curves that emphasize the boobs, narrow waist, and perfectly wide curvy hips.

Apart from being beautiful, Emma was also exceptionally brilliant. She was the best student in her department, and also was the student with the best overall CGPA in the whole school.

'It's Friday night for goodness sake! Can't I have just this one night to myself!?' Emma screamed to her empty hostel room, cursing Dr. Shitta in her mind. She was supposed to be having fun with her boyfriend at the TGIF party but here she was, all alone in her room. She was pretty sure she was the only one left on her floor.

"Uughh!" Emma groaned in frustration when she saw the email Dr. Shitta sent contained almost a hundred likely interview questions that he felt the CEO of Salvadorian Empire might ask her at the interview on Monday.

The CEO of the Salvadorian empire interview interns!? She told the stubborn old man several times and even forwarded the mail she got in reply to her application that all interns would be interviewed by one of the company managers. She wouldn't even make it to the presence of any of the directors but her mentor thought otherwise.

It's either he was just too damn stubborn or he just believed in her ability to aced all tests to the extent of securing herself a good position in the company. An undergraduate securing a position that is better than an internship at the Salvadorian empire!? That's very unlikely to happen.

He said the Salvadorian empire would serve as a good learning ground for her to gain enough experience before joining her own family's company.

'Can't I learn at my family's company!? Why do I need to go gain experience in somebody else's company before joining the company that belongs to my father!?'

Emma once wondered to herself before asking Dr. Shitta. But the old man had no answer for her. He just looked away covering her question with another question.

Emma laughed knowingly to herself when she remembered the previous day's discussion with Dr. Shitta. She made a promise there and then while going through the interview questions that she would try her damnedest to aced all the tests.

Even if she didn't manage to get the position Dr. Shitta anticipated now because she was just an undergraduate, then she would work hard and get it in the nearest future.

She would be successful on her own and would never go back to the Silver corporations. Not even if they all beg her on their knees. She would never go back!

Salvadorian empire was a multinational business group in Nigeria. They pretty much had their hands in everything that would bring money, power, and fame to them... Politics, oil and gas, entertainment industry...name it. The Salvadorian empire was way, way bigger than her father's Silver corporation... They were the biggest in the country.

Even if she managed to pass all the tests, Emma prayed that the CEO would not be part of the interview team. The old, CEO was rumored to be a mean, grouchy, slave driver. God, I don't wish to cross-part with another grouchy old man. My father is enough to last me a lifetime.

About ten minutes later, she was already engrossed in the questions and halfway through when her phone started ringing.

She unknowingly swore at the unknown person for the disturbance. This was why she would always study at night to avoid any form of distraction. That's the thing about Emma, she loved studying as much as she loved partying.

[Daniel is not with me if that's the reason why you're calling] She picked the call and said curtly to Ty one of her boyfriend Daniel's numerous friends.

[I know where Daniel is...] Ty chuckled and replied softly before Emma rudely cut him off mid-sentence.

[Then why are you calling!? I've told you gazillion times already that what you're asking is impossible. I can never and will never date you, and I might be forced to tell Daniel...]

[I'm not calling because of that Emma calm down and hear me out please.] He interrupted her mid-sentence. [I know you don't believe me the first time I told you about Daniel and Diane. I think you should come right now and see for yourself.

[See what for myself!?...] She asked, even though she knew what he was driving at.

[They are alone together right now. They got a room at the Lakes hotel beside the club where we're having the TGIF party. I know you still don't believe me because you trust your friend so much, and I seem to be the evil person who wants to destroy your relationship with them... I'm just saying you deserve better Emma.

Okay, why don't you prove me wrong and come right now to the party? They are in room 104. I've made arrangements at the hotel reception. They would hand you an envelope which contains their room's key card when you arrive.

And if you think I might be up to some hanky panky, then bring a friend along with you. Don't just sit and assume everything is well Emma. Hurry! I'll see you later.]