Chapter 3

Morgan Smith

“Hey girl” Ricardo said when I came out of the house to meet with him.

“Hey boy” I responded.

It’s been our constant routine since our first date. I had suggested that he shouldn’t bother but he wouldn’t listen and told me that he wanted to do so now that we have started a relationship. We went on like three dates and he asked me to be his girlfriend on the third one and I said yes.

It has been over a month of our relationship and it is so perfect. We do follow Ann to mass sometimes and I think that’s fine.

“How are you doing?” he asked me when I settled in his car.

“I am good, how are you too?” I asked him back and he smiled.

“I am doing great, bye Ann” he shouted at Ann who was walking to her car.

She smiled and waved to us “Thank GOD you do come to pick her up everyday” she looked at me and I shook my head in amusement “Bye kids and have fun in school, not too much” she said and I rolled my eyes then waved at her.

“Yes mum” I and Ricardo chorused.

Ricardo pulled out of the driveway and we were on our way to school. We were both quiet and I turned to look at him to see that he looked like something was bothering him.

“Anything wrong? I asked but he just smiled.

“Nah, nothing I wrong babe” he said and concentrated with driving.

I wanted to push further but I am thinking the thing bothering him is what I think is bothering him and I am quite aware of a part of that story since he didn’t talk much about it. It was a topic he chooses not t share with anyone and I don’t want to force it out of him. He’ll tell me when he wishes to.

“My mum came by” he said and I reach for his hand holding the gear then gave it a comforting squeeze.

I knew that was the case already.

“How are you coping with her return?” I asked and he sighed.

“I really don’t know, I don’t” he sighed then glanced at me and concentrated on the road “Like it’s been a really long time she left and now she came back and expects me to welcome her with open arms?” he chuckled nastily “She better be joking” he said clenching the steering wheel tightly.

I felt bad for how he is feeling, he told me just a bit about his mum and I am not sure how it feels to have your parent leave you but my parents were taken away from me due to circumstance that wasn’t avoided but I think I can tell how it feels.

I squeezed his arm comfortingly again and saw a small smile on his lips which made me smile too.

“You’ll be good, okay?” I told him and he nods.

“I hope so” was his reply.

I looked out the window and felt him entwined our hands and a small kiss was placed on mine, it made me smile and ii let out a sigh.

I really do hope all will be well with him.

…

Annabelle Dennis

“Ann, come to my office now” I heard my boss, Mr. Roberto’s voice speak from the intercom.

I stopped the report I was writing and stood to my feet then picked up Mr. Johnson’s file as I exit my office and walked over to the boss office. I knocked and entered when I heard a ‘come in’

“Sir, you called me in and here is Mr. Johnson’s file” I handed over the file to him and he went through them.

“Okay, you can have your seat Annabelle” he said and I did.

“Thank you, sir,”

“Ann” he started after a while of reading the file and closing it, he looked at him “You have been a faithful hard worker for the past five years you’ve been working for me as my secretary” he said and I wondered where this was going to

“I really do appreciate the efforts you put into making sure that this firm move forward, you are always on time with your reports and everything you do. We have grown over the years and I am glad with the number of testimonies we get from the people we helped. Giving justice to the ones that are deserving of it”

Is he going to fire me? That thought went through my mind. He was commending me but it felt more like the kind of appreciation you get before you get fired which I hope isn’t the case. I love this job so much and don’t want to leave yet or any moment from now.

‘GOD please, I don’t want to be relived of my duties’ I prayed within as I watched him talk about things I couldn’t hear.

“Ann? Ann?” him calling my name took me out of that reverie I was in and I responded to him.

“Sir?”

“Are you okay?” he asked and I nodded “You look lost and a bit pale” he pointed and I tried to calm my senses then blinked severally with deep breaths leaving my lips.

“I… um, sir I am… sorry” I cleared my throat “I am okay sir” I managed to say and he just frowned “I love my job sir and I would love to… um… keep it” I continued and the frown in his brows deepened.

“What are you saying Ann? No one is taking your job from you” he said and my brows shot up and I bet my eyes could show the relief I felt.

“Really sir” I asked to confirm and he nods.

“Yes of course Ann, you are an exceptional person and I have no intentions on replacing you” another wave of relief washed my entire system when he said that and a grin grew on my lips.

“Thank you, sir,” I thanked and he laughed then nod his head again.

He cleared his throat and the smile on his face was gone in an instant and I knew that meant we were back to talking business so I wiped any smile on my face to concentrate on what he was going to say.

“You are going to organize our annual success party, here” he handed me a file, I opened them and they contained names and contacts of people “The names there are the people you are going to send invites to and I want them to be done before this week ends” he instructs and I closed the file then nod in response.

“Okay sir, I will do just that” I said and he nod.

“Good”

“Anything else sir?” I asked.

“None at the moment, you may take your leave” he dismissed me.

“Okay sir” I said and stood to leave his office. I walked to my office then sat on my chair behind my desk. “The LORD help me finish this before the week ends” I muttered as I looked at the numerous names that was in the file.

I opened my laptop and began issuing out emails to the ones I could do at the moment then I can continue the rest later.

A few hours have past and I sent the mails to some of the contacts there and made a few calls in between my work and I could feel my back ache already from sitting for a long time so I lay back on my desk and closed my eyes to rest them for a while.

While I stretched my neck, I could feel the stress of the day linger there and I grunted then stretched it to my right and to my left. Then I wondered why I didn’t take up Delinah’s offer to go outside for lunch and to use that as a short walk from my floor to her floor where we will take the elevator down to the small café in the building built mostly for the staffs.

“GOD am so tired” I muttered then checked the time to see that it was nearing seven pm and the girl’s night I promised Morgan crossed my mind. “I need to leave now” I muttered then stretched before standing up on my feet and stretching again then I locked my system and shut down my office computer.

I began arranging the files on my table and I thought of taking home the files to continue when Morgan retires to sleep but I decided against it and just put them on the top drawer. My laptop and purse secured in my bag, my phone in my hand, I was ready to head home so I turned around and let out a small yelp when I saw my boss standing by the door with a small smile on his lips.

“All set to go?” he asked and as if he missed how he nearly made my hear jump out of my chest.

“You scared me there, sir” I comment and he gave me an apologetic smile.

“Sorry about that Ann. Thought you heard me come by” he said and I nod.

“Its fine sir” I said then walked out of my office then locked it while we walked towards the elevator so that we can get out of the building.

We rode the elevator in silence as it passed through the nine floors till it got to the ground floor and he waited for me pass before he left the elevator, we exit the building together and I walked over to my car and he to his.

“Good night, Ann” he called to me and I smiled before I entered my car then waved at him.

“Good night, sir”