Chapter 4

"Please can you just give me a summary of what just happened in that office?" I asked this handsome man I was forced to face.

Stepping the last stair of the enterprise, the cool April breeze smoothened my skin, sending little strands of hair to my smothered face.

Turning with fury in my eyes, I wondered why this man had followed me. Standing on the lane, he didn't offer a word, he was just gazing at me like I had dirt on my face.

"Sir with due respect, I am sorry for all the trouble I caused the first day I ever entered your company. I don't even know what I was doing but I just needed to forge my way through your security men and meet you for my interview. I needed it so much because I need to fully integrate as a journalist in this enterprise. But I have messed and ruined it up now. Seeing you here today just made me realize I am a clumsy fool who can't get away with life…" I didn't have the chance to conclude my sentence because the rich baritone I heard cut through unaware.

"What is that on your chest?" the voice echoed and I didn't even think anymore.

"I said I am sorry for all the commotion… Pardon?" was this man listening at all to what I have been saying?

Understanding his question, I widened my eyes as he walked forward to stand before me. Since I wasn't offering him an answer, he used his eyes to feed on my flesh. He raised his hand to push aside the light veil I had used to hide my wounds. The breeze had pushed it down, making it visible enough for him to notice I had something wrong with me.

His voice resonating in my head made me speak up the truth, and also, I respected his ego not to answer his question. Maybe he would term it disrespect, but opening my mouth to speak, he cut in again.

"Is this because of the hot coffee that poured on you? Why didn't you say a thing about it? I can just imagine the pain you are going through right now. This is all my damn fault. I shouldn't have let the heater boil like I was going to peel off the feathers from a fowl. Why don't you enter the car so I can take you to the hospital". Wow, this man was just blitzing me with his many questions, but I couldn't give in to him so easily. And besides, he is a wealthy man.

What if I am not secured with him? Please, my life is much more important to me. I shun that door in my head that said those things, and arranging my veil to hide my chest from his lustful eyes I responded rather rudely "Sir, I deserve this because of how clumsy I am. You are not to be blamed because I was the person that threw the steaming liquid on my body, so the cross is mine to carry". This man didn't back off though he kept on insisting that he was the cause.

"You owe yourself no guilt, so don't overstress your mind. If you do not mind, I have been standing out here for brief fifteen minutes. I have a lot to do on my desk before closing hours". At the end of my sentence, I could swear that I saw his countenance filled with disappointment.

Kicking myself mentally, I yelled at myself Megan you are a fool, the biggest one in Douala. You have a chance to lunch with Mr. Sexy and here you are giving him the I don't care attitude.

"Please excuse me". I heard him mutter, as he removed his phone and dial out a number. Saying one or two words over the phone, he passed it to me. "Mr. Nfor has a word for you" he beckoned me to take the phone.

"Ms. Arrey, just comply with anything Mr. Larry tells you to do, and be good. He is giving you an opportunity to get a better interview with him. So take out some time from work if it means that you need to have a great interview. By the way, your pay for the month will be placed out on the dashboard at the end of the month as the other workers. Thank you" giving back the phone to the owner, I stood outside confused and frustrated.

How could these two men just communicate and determine my fate in less than a minute? Looking up at this handsome man I was now stuck with, I even thought of him as a master planner. What kind of position and influence is this man having to toil my life around in a blink of an eye?

"How did you do that?" I asked gaping.

"Close your mouth miss, that's my little secret". Turning to the parking lot, I trailed behind him slowly. My eyes widened when I saw his car, he had a blue Mercedes which accentuated the black suit he wore. Rich men, you people can make someone envy you to an extend of stealing. In front of his car, a driver came out opening the rear door for me and this wealthy man to enter.

"Mark, take us to Fraternity Hospital please" instructing the driver, he steamed off the car.

His car had AC, smiling because the heat from outside will not make me sweat anymore.

"Did the coffee burn only your chest?" I was not expecting this question, but I still answered it anyways.

"No, I have stretch till my right breast, and my laps too. But on my laps, it didn't scrape off the flesh. It just made it pain like mad". I concluded.

"I thought as much, I am truly sorry for putting you through these pains" oh, see him being a true gentleman.

"it is not your fault so stop apologizing please".

"Have you been to the hospital?" I was shocked by this question. Hospital, because of this little burn, he must be joking.

"No Sir, there really is nothing to worry about. Before a week or two, these wounds will dry and peel off, and this is even small as compared to what I have experienced in the past. I collided with my mom who was carrying a hot pot of porridge cocoyams. It burnt my navel, I didn't go to the hospital but I still got over it. Besides, mom has applied a rub on my injured skin".

This man didn't say anything apart from staring at me.

***

We got out of the car in front of a very big building with the caption Fraternity Hospital boldly written at the top of the building. It was a three-story building.

Stopping at the receptionist, and seeing the man that stood beside her, she mumbled happily showing all her teeth "Good day Mr. Larry, Dr. Lewis is in his office". Leading the way, I watched how being important in society is.

Knocking the office and entering, I saw how two adults embraced themselves laughing out loud.

I didn't know this man had such humor, I thought he was purely strict.  "Mr. Lewis here is Megan, and Megan, here is Mr. Lewis my secondary school classmate and principal doctor of this hospital." Mr. Lewis shaking his hand for a handshake said "You are welcome, please have a seat. Would you want some tea? Or Coffee?" He asked me, and Mr. Larry burst out laughing. So annoying for him to do so.

"I am fine thank you" I stuttered given this annoyingly man my killer glance.

"That is the cause of why we are here. Megan poured hot coffee on herself, and it has given her wounds. I would like you to check it and provide some tubes she can use".

Still sitting behind his desk, he asked "please show me, so I can see how severe it is". Removing my veil, I showed him the one on my upper chest.

Picking up his pen, he scribbled out a note on a piece of paper and handed it to me. "Go to the last floor, there is a pharmacy, give this to the pharmacist and he would give you just what is needed". Taking the paper from his grasp I said a grateful "Thank you, doctor".

Mr. Larry embracing his friend one more time led the way outside. After we were done buying the tubes, I turn to look at this man who would help me for reasons I know not.

"What do I owe you?" lowering my head I asked feeling entitled to this man.

"Thank you would be highly appreciated," he said looking at me directly into my eyes.

"Thank you, Sir". Looking at the time,  I said "it's about time I left. I have an article to submit before closing hour". I saw his facial contours become dark, and his voice was so loud when he said "Mr. Nfor has given you the opportunity to flirt with me, so why don't you make the most of it while it lasts?"

"Sorry sir, but I do not mix business with leisure, and I don't even know where to get started with you". My voice was subtle

"Alright, why don't you take a break from work today, then we go out for lunch, where we can sit and discuss something out?" raising a brow to know if I was in the same accord as him, I just nodded in confirmation. At least this wasn't a bad try at all. Smiling, he led the way out of the hospital.

***

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