The Forbidden Love

Chapter Four

Nalishebo waited for a few minutes for a cab to come, the moment she felt like giving up, deciding to walk back home, a white range rover with tinted windows pulled over close to her, she moved a bit backwards fearing she might be bashed.

She looked away the moment a car window on the passenger’s side rolled down. What brought back her attention was when she heard someone in a car call her name. She bent her head slightly so that she can see who it was calling her using her surname in a Range Rover at that hour all she knew was none of her friends drove such an expensive car.

Nalishebo was dazed to see that it was her boss Mark who was inside the car.

“Miss Nalumino would you mind if I offer you a lift on your way back home?”

Nalishebo wanted to withhold but she failed to because Chitalu had already opened the car door inviting her in, she had no option but to go inside the car. She sat down comfortably, closed the door then put on the seat belt, when Mark noticed that they were good to go, he drove off.

“Miss Nalumino if I may ask which way are you heading?”

“ Northrise Sir.”

Those were the only words that came out from their mouths during the drive to Nalishebo's place, from there, there was total silence except what Nalishebo did, was fiddle with her fingers until she was dropped off in front of her parent's gate that's when she broke the silence by saying,” Thank you” and rushed straight inside without an attempt to look back.

Mark made sure she had entered inside the yard safely, then he drove off back to ittawa to his parent's house where he was living because his apartment was under renovations.

“Nalishebo! You’re have just arrived on time, dinner is already served come and join us, dear! ”Her mother called out.

“I’m coming Mama let me first wash my hands.” She mumbled.

Nalishebo left for the kitchen to wash her hands and dried up with a kitchen towel, stormed to the dining room and joined in a family meal, while eating her mother popped up a question.

“How was your day?”

“It was hectic and tiring at the same time Mama.”

“Why do you say so dear?”

Nalishebo explained everything that happened at work, how Mark had bumped into her and how she yelled at him using a high tone, nevertheless, the conditions she was provided with when she apologised, the rest of the family remained quiet as she explained. When she finished off explaining, her father showed concern then further asked,

“Nalishebo my youngest child and only daughter among the three boys, have you forgotten what your mother has taught you about respect and politeness?”

“No Papa I haven't, I don’t know what came to my mind moreover, I didn’t know that he is the son of the company’s owner.” She replied in a low voice.

Before her mother uttered a word she was cut off by Mubita, Nalishebo’s brother who came to visit his parents who went ahead and said, ” Mama let her rest for now as you can see she had a rough day.”

“Alright, I won’t say a word, I’ll leave the scolding for tomorrow.” She whined.

Then Mubita turned to Nalishebo who sat next to him and said,” Sis you look exhausted why don’t you go rest I’ll help you wash the dishes and clean the kitchen.

“Hmm… how nice of you big brother, thanks for helping me. Mama. Mubita is right, today was a long day for me, I feel tired. Besides that tomorrow I have to wake up early, let me go to bed.”

Nalishebo rose from a chair thereafter, said goodnight to everyone, and paced to her room, she threw herself on the bed before she knew it she was already fast asleep.

She ignored the first alarm sound, it jingled the second time, but this time, she switched it off. And went back to sleep, forgetting that she was supposed to prepare herself for work. The next thing she heard was her mother knocking and calling,” Nalishebo! Nalishebo! Is it your day off today?” She opened one eye, got a phone from under the pillow, checked what time it was. When she saw how late she was, she jumped out of bed and rushed to the bathroom to take a bath.

On her way back to her room she met her mother in the corridor, she greeted her while rushing back to her room, she just heard her mother say something but she never heard exactly what she said. She dressed up and combed her hair, got her phone and texted Tamara.

Nalishebo: Babe are you at work?

Tamara: Yes Babe I’m, why.

Nalishebo: Babe I want you to do me a favour.

Tamara: Babe what kind of favour?

Nalishebo: Babe can you please come to my place to pick me up, am late for work, if I catch a bus it will be worse.

Tamara: Okay babe, give me thirty minutes I’ll be there but I should find you outside the gate I’m not going to enter inside.

Nalishebo: Alright, Thanks babe you will find me waiting by the gate.

After texting Tamara she went to the dining where she found breakfast already served in the dining by Dorothy the housemaid. Naloshebo sat down to eat, when she realised that she was the only one having breakfast, she called Dorothy and asked,” Dorothy am I the only one having breakfast what about others were are they?”

“Madam went back to bed after seeing Sir off for work, Sir Mubita has also gone for work.”

“ That means I have to eat alone? anyway, that's all I wanted to know, you can go and continue with what you were doing sorry for disturbing you.”

“It’s okay Miss Nalishebo,” Dorothy replied.

“Dorothy, how many times have I stopped you from being formal with me uhmm….? Just call me Nalishebo.”

After apologising, Dorothy rushed back to the kitchen to continue with her chores.

Nalishebo was sipping her coffee when she heard a honk on the gate, she grabbed her coffee and stormed to the gate while drinking her coffee carefully fearing spilling coffee on her light pink blouse.

She opened the car door and told Tamara to hold the coffee for her as she entered in. She closed the door fastened the seat belt. Thereafter, they exchanged greetings, Tamara handed back coffee to Nalishebo and started the car engine and drove off.

On their way to the company Tamara saw how panicked Nalishebo was, she stepped on the accelerator to increase the speed for them to arrive fast at the company luckily, there wasn't a traffic jam.

When they were almost there, Nalishebo thanked Tamara then later asked,” What will I ever do without you?”

“ Please stop flattering me, what are friends for.” Before Tamara continued talking Nalishebo chimed in, ” Tamara sorry to cut you short what’s the mood at the company?”

“What do you mean? Clarify .” Tamara replied.

“What I mean is, has the boss arrived.”

“I haven’t seen him, so I don’t know if he is in.” Tamara retorted.

They got carried away with the chatting, before they knew they were already on the company’s premises, they hardly had time to say their goodbyes, Nalishebo had stormed out of the car, and trumped towards the main entrance. Before she approached the door, the guard already opened the glass door from inside.

Before she went to her office she halted at the reception desk and asked,” Monica is the boss already in?

“Yes he is, he came in very early today and he left the message for you that he wants to see you.” Monica the receptionist confessed.

“Thanks, Monica I'll head to his office please excuse me.”

Nalishebo strode to her boss’s office, when she reached the door, she felt as if her heart has jumped out of her chest. She could even see her blouse shaking with heart palpitations. She knocked three times that’s when she heard an answer,” Please come in” before she said her greetings Mark raised from his seat with anger and said," Is this how late you report for work? Before she answered, he continued speaking, this time he rose his voice while moving closer to her only leaving an inch for their bodies to meet concurrently.

“ Miss Nalumino this should be your first and last to report for work this late, especially now that you’re my secretary. Expect to be reporting early and knocking off late do I make myself clear?”

Anger was building up in Nalishebo, but she held her breath and closed her eyes hence that, she moved an inch back. Then answered with a shaky voice while flinching with fear,” Ye…..yes Si…Sir understood it wo… won't happen again Si...Sir.”

“It better be, now get those documents work on them, put them in the system, once you’re done, send them to my server so that I can also keep the records .”

“Very well Sir, anything else?”

“No, that’s all I will let you know if anything comes up.” This time he answered in a calm voice.

“I will take my leave please excuse me.” She countered and walked out of his office closing the door behind. When she entered her office, she drunk a glass of water rapidly to calm her nerves down. But that didn’t help, she kept feeling a knot tied on her throat. She felt warm tears streaming down her face, she put the documents on the desk and wiped them off using her palms.

She has never been humiliated, nor been talked to in such a manner, much less in an elevated tone, not even the CEO himself has ever spoken to her that way. She wanted to text Tamara but stopped on the way, she thought she will only distract her.

She thought to herself if this is what will cost me to be forgiven throwing his tantrums on me, one day he will be sorry, I will give him the taste of his own medicine, the moment I placed my eyes on him, I knew he was a spoiled brat and a wolf in sheep’s skin, if he thinks that he will push me to the corner and step all over me just because he is my boss, while then he chose a wrong secretary, I hate him for this.”