IT’S HER.
Evelyn gave a lot of mathematical equations to Tom later in the evening and watched him work both his sense and nonsense in the rough book. That was his punishment. She was sitting on her bed while he lay on the floor with a bottle of coke and a bag of chips just like her.
She would, once in a while, take a look at him and the expression he had on his face was so glorious to see, the expression of the pain of having to solve the most annoying subject in the universe.
Evelyn sipped her coke and then received mail on her laptop. She clicked on it quickly after seeing the sender; THEO GROUP OF INDUSTRIES.
With anxiousness, she read the message and almost screamed for joy…well, she later did because she couldn’t contain the joy within her. She was called for an interview. Her joyous scream startled Tom, his heart felt like it dropped into a well when he heard that.
“Mom, what is wrong?” He asked.
“Nothing is wrong. Everything is just fine, my dear. I am being called to come to one of the famous companies for an interview.”
“Is that why you are happy? You haven’t even gotten the job yet, what if you don’t get it?” Tom asked innocently and Evelyn’s smile completely wiped off her face.
“Extra ten mathematical equations!” She ordered coldly and climbed onto her bed. Tom’s eyes widened. He looked at his book in horror, he was given twenty equations and so far, he has been able to do five without being sure of the right answer, now another ten more?!
“Mum, do you know how much I love you?” He tried to act cutely but Evelyn was getting none of it, she only glanced at him from the side of her eyes.
“Tom!”
“Yes, mom.” He continued working out the equations.
Evelyn shook her head as she diligently replied to the email and did a bit of her research. After ten minutes, she stood up and walked to her wardrobe to find suitable office wear. That was when she discovered that her son had slept off, she chuckled and went to carry him up to her bed.
She covered him with the blanket and kissed his forehead. Then she covered the bottle of coke and put it into her side refrigerator before focusing on her real issue. It was too late to call Kira so she opted for the next morning instead.
When she opened her wardrobe, she just stared blankly at the clothes for about two minutes, not knowing where to start.
“This is going to be a long…long night.” She mumbled.
_______________
The next morning, at exactly six am, Evelyn woke up in her piles of clothes. Her hair was the real definition of the phrase ‘ a bird’s nest ‘. She looked…horrible that if Tom had woken up earlier than her, he would have screamed.
Evelyn groaned and smacked her lips, a little bit tired but not wanting to return to sleep. She first went to the bathroom to brush her teeth and fix her hair before coming back to wake Tom up.
“Mom, I need a unicorn.” He murmured sleepily and Evelyn chortled.
“I thought you wanted to meet Superman.” She said as she took off his clothes.
Tom yawned and continued sleeping even while standing. After bathing him, Tom became fully awake and went to where his mum had arranged everything he needed for school while Evelyn went to the kitchen to prepare a light breakfast and delicious lunch for him, the school provided that for them but this was the least she could do for him, moreover mother’s meals always taste best.
Within a few minutes, he was done eating and dressing up.
“Come on, boy. Let’s go.” She pulled him along and locked the door.
For Tom, this was another experience for him and he was anxious about making new friends. He turned to his mother.
“Mum, will I have new friends?” He asked.
Evelyn looked at him and touched his hair affectionately.
“Of course, you will. You are human after all, not a beast and association is part of life.”
“What if they don’t like me?”
“Stop thinking about the negative but be positive. Not everyone is meant to like you and not everyone is meant to dislike you, you just have to wait and see before leaping. Don’t worry, school will certainly be fun.” She assured him.
The cab dropped them off at the school’s gate and she walked him in. After getting him settled in class, she went to see the school’s bus driver and gave him the location he was to drop off every day, it was Kira’s place.
When she was done with the arrangement, she stopped over at an early boutique to buy a few official wears. Her interview was at 8 am and it was already 7:15. In a fit of rush, she dashed into the bathroom when she arrived and took her bath, applied her body lotion, wore her dress and then heels, packed up her credentials, styled her hair and breathed out heavily.
She was ready to move.
_____________
“I am serious, bro. Having to deal with all this mess is not fun at all.” Dan complained to Raphael a thousand times.
“I didn’t force you to become a spy, you chose to be one so be it and stop complaining to me. I have a lot of work that I need to cover. The Chairman isn’t letting me breathe for just a second.” Raphael replied.
“And I also have to face the interview for the secretary post.”
“Why don’t you allow the board of interviewers to do it on your behalf?” He asked.
“There will be a ‘ back enter ‘ situation and I don’t want that so I decided to do it myself,” Raphael replied.
“Very smart. How about your progress in finding your mystery girl?” It seemed Dan was here to piss Raphael off and to frustrate his life this morning.
“Nothing yet.”
“And the video I sent you?”
“How is that going to help?”
“Exactly, I see no reason why you are so hell-bent on finding her, simple! Give up my dear friend and just open your heart to another worthy lady. Do you get it?”
Raphael gave him an intense stare before responding, “No, I don’t.”
“Okay, we are done here. I am leaving.” Dan stood up and hit the table lightly.
“Don’t forget to close the door.”
“Oh, I won’t,” Dan responded with an evil smile before leaving. Raphael saw him leave without closing the door.
“DAN! Get back to her and close the door! DAN!”
_____
Evelyn was standing in front of the building with a bit of anxiousness. She looked around to see people walking here and there.
“You can do this, Evelyn.” She encouraged herself and was about to get in when she collided with someone.
“Goodness, I am sorry.” Dan apologized.
“No, it’s alright. Excuse me.” She walked past him without looking up, she didn’t want to be late.
“Strange,” Dan muttered.
The inside of the company was big enough to contain a battalion. Evelyn became confused about which way to go. It was spacious below and had everyone walking freely. Was she supposed to climb the stairs next or what? She looked at the time, just five minutes to 8.
“Damn it!”
She hastened her footsteps into one of the elevators and pressed a random number. It took her to a silent hall.
” Did I perhaps press the wrong button?” She whispered.
“Who are you?” Someone asked from behind her.
“Hi, I am looking for the interview section. I am here for the interview for the secretary post.” She replied.
“It’s on the fifth floor.”
“Thanks.” She hurriedly got back into the elevator and pressed the fifth button. On getting there, she went to meet the woman that was there as a receptionist.
“Hello.” She greeted her.
“Are you here for the interview?” The woman asked sharply.
“Yes.”
“Take your seat. I will inform the boss that you have arrived.”
Evelyn looked around wondering where the others were.
“What about the others?” She asked the woman.
“They are given different meeting times.” She answered and picked up the telephone. Evelyn nodded and looked around, she stretched her neck to see if anything or anyone was coming from the opposite direction. It was like a passage…or one-line direction, whatever it was, it was connecting the receptionist’s office to the other place but with walls.
“Please, come with me. The boss is willing to see you.”
Evelyn stood up and redressed herself.
“What may I call you?” Evelyn asked politely.
“Mrs. Conner.”
“Nice to meet you, Mrs. Conner. I am…”
“Evelyn Rosé.” Mrs. Conner cuts in.
“Yes,” Evelyn answered and kept quiet.
She was right. When they walked through the passage, she saw the open officer. Everyone was seated professionally and was working while those who weren’t working were discussing in a low voice. They all looked at the two women.
“Good morning, Mrs. Conner.”
“Morning everyone.”
Evelyn was impressed, this wouldn’t be a toxic environment to live in or so she thought. Mrs. Conner arrived in front of the office and pointed at the door before leaving.
Evelyn knocked twice with a gentle effort.
“Come in.” A deep and muscular voice ordered, Evelyn literally shivered but regardless of her thoughts, she opened the door and walked in then closed the door.
“Hello, sir.” She greeted him softly.
Raphael who was busy writing something on a piece of paper stopped, that voice sounded familiar. He then looked up and the two felt as if they had been struck by a lightning of attraction. While Evelyn was wondering how a handsome person like him could exist, Raphael was speechless as he stared at her.
It was her! It was really her! The woman that he had been looking for for the past three years was standing right in front of him in flesh and blood. It was her.
TBC…