She told Emily that she would be absent at the house for a few days after dropping her things at home. Emily told her not to worry about her since she was already back to her feet now and moving around and just live her own life so she went over to Eddy’s place.
“You are not going to work?” Eddy asked in surprise when he saw her at his door
“I am taking a leave for now so I will be spending a few days here” she said and pushed her way in.
She had bought groceries from the store, wine and fruits to keep herself busy and well fed for the days she would be spending with him. They finished dinner and played several games before settling down to watch a movie while munching on snacks and wine.
They took wine to the extent that they started feeling hot and tipsy, before they knew it they yanked off each other’s clothes and made out heavily. This time she was prepared for anything and it felt as if his warmth will be the biggest antidote she needed to make herself forget her worries.
They ended up sleeping together for the first time in their relationship because she had always avoided sex and told him that she was not ready. She woke up in his arms and she was flushed with shyness before he pulled her closer and told her that there was nothing to be shy about. Throughout the three days she spent with him, they kept on doing it almost every two hours in the sitting room, on the sofa, in the kitchen, under the shower and anywhere they liked.
She was not sure why she was going on a sex streak but she definitely didn’t want to think about work and those things kept her occupied like she wanted. She ended up going home on the fourth day and the reality sank in once again that she was jobless.
She started her job hunt but everywhere seems to be filled up and all her efforts were futile. She didn’t know what to do anymore and her savings were getting drained day by day. She saw a flier that a supermarket was hiring so she applied to be a sales lady there for the main time till she gets a decent job.
***
The new secretary that was brought for Tom, Olivia seems to be inadequate in everything to him. She was always slow in delivering reports, she couldn’t master the brands under them well and couldn’t draft a contract correctly without mistakes.
“What exactly is this bullshit called report? How come you got this job when you cannot have anything done perfectly? You should stop filling up this space unnecessarily if you are not going to learn!” he growled at her and threw her report she submitted off the table.
“I am sorry sir, I will fix it as quick as possible” she muttered in fear and picked it before running out
“I guess Miss Amber raised the standard so high for CEO Tom, he doesn’t seems to be satisfied with any other person” one of the employees at work remarked as she watched Olivia fumble with the PC keyboard while trying to fix the report.
“I don’t know why such a hardworking lady resigned suddenly. Come to think of it, I miss her too” the other lady added and they both stood up to leave the room.
***
Chairman Holland arrived at an executive meeting with other companies’ chairmen and he was ushered in to the big room where the meeting was taking place.
“You are welcome, Chairman Holland” Chairman Henry, Charles father welcomed him
“It is a big honor to be invited here, I am truly glad” Chairman Holland remarked as he shook hand with him and had his seat
“As we all know that Chairman Henry is contesting as the mayor of Chicago so we have come together as one to show our support to him” one of the chairman stated and they nodded in unison
“We need to help him as much as we can so that we can benefit from his win too. We need to be solid behind him and push him up the ladder” the man continued
They finished the meeting and they were served food and drinks as they made connection with each other. One of the chairmen walked up to Chairman Holland to have a chat as others were discussing.
“I heard your company is doing so well because your first son took over the Shellhouse mall. He seems to be competent so why not let’s link him up with my first daughter too? They will make a good couple” the man suggested
“I will ask him about it and let you know how it goes” he replied with a smile
“If he can agree to be her husband then I will make sure to invest deeply in Holland Group to show my support” the man added and they talked some more before he went away to join others.
***
TWO MONTHS LATER
Anita, Tom’s mom was trying to order in groceries but couldn’t get access to the website because it was down and she needed to get food cooked as soon as possible so she decided to visit the supermarket and get the groceries herself.
She entered the supermarket and it turned out to be where Amber was working but she didn’t recognize her. Amber saw her and recognized her immediately so she ran up to her to ask what she needed.
“Hello ma’am, what are you in need of so I can guide you through here?” she asked with a polite smile dancing on her lips
“I want to get some groceries but I don’t seems to know their sections since I haven’t come here myself. I just place an order and they bring them to me” Anita replied looking lost
“I can be your guide for today then” she said and ushered her through the sections after collecting her shopping list from her.
They spent up to one hour shopping through the market and she made sure to help Anita get everything she needed on her list.
“You must be making a lot of tomato broth soup that the CEO likes” she blurt out packing the ingredients into the shopping box
“Oh! How did you know that my son is a CEO and he loves it?” Anita asked with shock and she realized that she had slipped
“Ah, that’s because I worked for his secretary for close to three years. That was why I was able to recognize you when you came in” she revealed and Anita burst into a wide smile
“You should have told me, I almost made a mistake of snubbing you. I knew he had a secretary but I didn’t bother to meet you since I don’t know much about the company and also doesn’t want to inconvenient him” Anita explained and Amber smiled
“That is not a problem ma’am” she remarked
“But why are you working here? Are you not supposed to be at the office right now?” Anita pressed further and Amber went silent for a few seconds
“That is because I quitted already, this is my new workplace” she answered
“He always go about how his secretary is a professional and gets everything done on time, what could have happened? I am sure he will miss you at the office” Anita muttered
“I am not sure though, the new secretary must be doing a good job” she said and finally helped her carry the last box into the car before bidding her goodbye.
*****
The new season has rolled in and the goods they placed orders for were brought in that day at the office but all the orders were wrong. They came in different colors, sizes and designs from the original ones that were supposed to come in which caused an uproar in the department store that day.
“Who the hell placed these ridiculous orders?” Tom shouted and flipped the file he was handed when the complaint was laid
“I was the one sir” one of the ladies at the sales point answered
“Who did you show before you went ahead to place the orders? Who gave you the go ahead?” he growled
“Secretary Olivia gave the order sir” she quickly responded and Olivia rushed down from the office to meet them at the mall after hearing what happened
“Did you pass this order?” he asked turning to face Olivia who was still trying to catch her breathe
“I think I did sir” she said sheepishly and that only made him more annoyed
“You think you did or you did?” he roared and she quickly admitted that she did.
She was so tired after compiling a lot of orders and paper works all day on a certain evening. She was getting ready to go home when one of the employees at the mall brought the final file of the order to her so she could present it to the CEO or check it herself before they send it out.
“Do we have to submit it to the CEO compulsorily?” she asked with a yawn
“Not compulsorily the CEO because you can also check on his behalf” the employee replied and she told her to hand it over
She rushed through it and didn’t even compare it with the file on her system since she wanted to get off work so bad. She just glanced at it briefly and signed it immediately.
“You can send the order” she said and handed over the file back to her.
The innocent employee had sent in the order in the file Olivia signed without knowing that it was the chart of the last season before Amber left.
“It must have been a mixed up” Olivia said biting her lips in regret which only made Tom fume the more
“Do you know the cost of returning the goods? Do you even know what you have done? This is the height of it! Don’t step into this company as from tomorrow” he yelled at her and walked off in anger
“She’s in trouble” the employees murmured as they gossiped about what happened
Tom spent all day looking for ways to trim down the cost of returning goods and he was so exhausted with dozens of calls he kept receiving that day.
He left work so late and got home to see his mother still cooking around eleven in the night which made him surprised because she was not supposed to be in the kitchen at that time.
“Why are you still cooking by this time?” he asked moving closer to her and saw some covered foods on the dining table
“Oh! You are home. I am trying to cook a new dish because Joseph said he didn’t like what I prepared for dinner” she said as she stirred the food on fire
“He didn’t like what you prepared for dinner so you are cooking by eleven in the night? He should get his ass to the kitchen and prepare what he wants! Why should you be the one to cater for that need? You must have cooked these all day and he’s not interested in this? Then he should feed himself!” he lashed out
“You shouldn’t worry so much about it, I am almost done” she said with a smile but he slammed his hand on the table in anger
“This is happening because you are always taking it in! Do you want to continue living like this? I don’t want to live like this anymore, mother” he declared with his eyes brimming with anger
“Why are you shouting so much this late at night? You woke me up from my sleep” Joseph said as he appeared in the kitchen while rubbing his eyes
“You should get your own food if you won’t eat what was prepared, how dare you make her cook by this time?” he lashed at him but Joseph scoffed
“She should at least earn her keep by cooking, why would she complain when she does nothing all day?” Joseph slammed and that earned him a hot slap from Tom.