Chapter 2: Employed
1011 Words
After watching her go in, Yoseph turned around and drove to the VIP garage, taking the private elevator to his office on the fifteenth and last floor, which was more like a presidential suite.
"Good morning, sir," his assistant, Mr. Akin, greeted.
"Akin, good morning. To my office."
"Okay, sir."
"Who is overseeing today's interview?"
"Uhm, it should be Mrs. Rakeem, sir."
"Okay. Tell her to send one Rose Olumide's CV to me immediately."
"Okay, sir."
"Call Mr. Victor from the programming department."
"Yes, sir."
Sitting behind the fine mahogany desk, Yoseph recalled his conversation with Rose in the car and was surprised he didn't find her repulsive, since that had been the case with every woman he met after facing two painful betrayals.
He massaged his forehead and got to work.
Knock... knock... knock...
"Yes, come in," he answered, his eyes not leaving the documents on the desk.
"Sir, you sent for me?"
"Oh yes, Mr. Victor. You are the one overseeing Mr. Maurice's webpage upgrade from two weeks ago, right?"
"Yes, sir."
"Fine. How come there has been no feedback to Mr. Maurice on the progress? His page is still having problems. What, are you not ready to work anymore? You want to retire?"
"No, sir. No, sir. The thing is... it's a bit tricky..."
"And this is the exact reason he brought it to us. Do you think if he could do it by himself, he'd bother coming here? What am I paying you for? Is it not to solve problems like this?
"Mr. Victor, if you're not ready to work anymore, you can go to the HR department and submit your resignation. I'm sure there are people out there who are desperate for this position."
"I'm sorry, sir. I'll get right on it, sir. I'm not resigning. Please give me another chance."
"Mr. Victor, I don't run a charity here. If you don't work for those clients and they withdraw their contracts, where do you expect me to get money to run this place? I need a progress report by the close of work today. Otherwise, you and your entire team can forget about coming to work tomorrow."
"Yes, sir. Sure, sir. Thank you, sir."
"You can leave."
Yoseph stared at the closed door for a while. Seeing no movement, he picked up his phone.
"Hello, Akin. Where is the file I asked for?"
"I'm bringing it up, sir."
Yoseph sat back down, staring into nothing.
He knew what his interest in Rose meant.
He just hoped that this time, his judgment would be right.
Knock...
"Come in."
Akin paused by the door, surprised.
He had been asked to come in at the very first knock, which was unusual.
Was his boss really that eager to see Rose Olumide's details?
No, wait.
How did he know it was him behind the door?
"What are you daydreaming about? Give me the file."
"Ha... ha... nothing, sir."
Akin let out an awkward laugh.
"Where is it?"
"Here, sir."
Yoseph took the file and unhurriedly went through it.
Rose Olumide.
Twenty-five years old.
Graduated from the University of Ibadan a year ago.
Third Class, Computer Science.
Yoseph chuckled.
"Hmm... she really is not very bright," he murmured.
Akin was left stupefied.
Goodness.
What did he just witness?
His boss had a smile on his lips just now.
A genuine smile.
Akin suddenly felt like hiding before he was held captive for witnessing such a rare scene.
"Akin..." Yoseph drawled.
"Yes, sir."
"It seems I lack a secretary. It's been pretty hard on you, working as both an assistant and a secretary. What do you think?"
Akin rolled his eyes internally.
Sir, if you want to hire the beauty occupying your heart, just do it and stop using me as a shield.
As if you wouldn't hire her if I said no.
Still, he was interested in the progress of his boss's love life.
"Yes, sir. I think she will fit the position."
"Alright then. Report same to Mrs. Rakeem."
"Yes, sir."
"Hmm... Rose Olumide."
Akin thought he needed to see who exactly had gotten his boss smitten.
He was even beginning to doubt his boss's interest in women, considering it had been ages since he showed any interest in one.
Well, that seemed about to change.
Akin took the elevator down to the third floor, where the interviews were taking place.
"Oh my God, who is that?" one of the ladies whispered.
"I heard he's Mr. Dekan's assistant."
"Wow. If the assistant is this fine, then Mr. Dekan himself must be something else."
Akin smiled at their comments, thinking that unfortunately for them, the god-like Mr. Dekan they were talking about had not been interested in women for years.
At least until now.
Thinking of this, Akin hurried his steps.
"Excuse me, ladies."
The women made way for him while the men simply watched.
He pushed the interview room door open.
"Mrs. Rakeem, here is her CV."
Walking up to her, he whispered something into her ear.
Then he turned to Rose, who looked like she had been sitting on pins and needles.
"You must be Rose Olumide?"
"Uhm... yes."
Akin raised an eyebrow.
Hmm.
Beautiful.
"Well... thank you," Rose responded awkwardly.
"Alright, Mrs. Rakeem. I'll leave it to you."
Akin turned and walked out.
The moment he stepped out, Rose noticed Mrs. Rakeem looking at her disdainfully.
Was there really a need for that?
If she didn't want to give her the job, she could simply say so.
What was with the look?
Rose was about to get up and leave. It seemed she wouldn't be getting the job anyway. Better to leave with some dignity.
But Mrs. Rakeem's voice stopped her.
"What? Already acting arrogant when you've not even started working."
Rose didn't hear anything else.
The only thing she heard was working.
Wait.
"Does that mean I got the job?" she asked.
"What now? Who are you acting surprised for? Isn't this what you exchanged your body for?"
Rose was dumbfounded.
When exactly had she slept around?
- Writer
