The Forbidden Love

Chapter Five

She sat on the chair in frustration, started working on the documents as she was ordered to. Tamara stood by the door for quite some time, without being noticed by Nalishebo who was busy and carried away with her work, Tamara had to call her to get her attention and recognise her presence.

“Tamara you startled me, how long have you been standing there?” She asked with a soft voice.

“I have been standing here for about ten minutes with you not catching sight of my presence, what has kept you tied up?” Tamara replied.

“The usual, work of course.” She answered.

“Have you forgotten that it’s lunch break?”

“No I haven’t, it's that am caught up with a lot of work, besides I don’t want to get scolded for not finishing this in time.” She pointed at the documents that were piled up on her desk.

“This is quite obvious, to me It seems like from now onwards you will be skipping lunch, this boss is certainly overworking you!” Tamara replied surprisingly.

“Not only overworking me, he just stated this to me, but she also imitated his hoarse voice and said everything she was told earlier when she was in his office in conclusion she said,” See I told you, he is a spoiled brat to top it all off he is cranky, with this hate that I am feeling towards him now, I feel like dropping my resignation letter on his desk.” She confessed dryly.

“That’s sad, no wonder I got suspicious with the way he forgave you in a flash without any pause, he’s up to no good, but anyway you’ll get to know him adequately as you continue working with him as days goes by.” Tamara conceded remorsefully.

“I hope so, you do you that know just to mention his name it’s giving me creeps and making my skin to crawl, his bad mood is unbearable.”

“ I can imagine working with such a bad-tempered boss.”

The two ladies ate their lunch in Nalishebo's office heartily, after all their chatting, giggling and having their meal, Tamara went back to her office and Nalishebo picked up where she left from when it was quarter to 6:00 pm, she stood up from her desk to go to the ladies to relieve herself, when she opened the door she was met with the full impact of Mark’s image who caught her in his strong arms when she tripped over and was about to fall. They stood for a few minutes just staring into each other’s eyes. When Nalishebo felt an easy with the position that she was held in, she let out a small cough to distract the tension that arose between them. After that followed by a whisper,” Sir,” she failed to compose a sentence but showed some signs at him using her eyes, telling to him let go. Mark saw the actions that Nalishebo made, immediately it clicked that he was being warned to realise her from his embrace.

Mark let go promptly. Thereafter, apologised embarrassingly.

When they separated from each other's embrace, Nalishebo asked,” Is there anything you want me to assist you with Sir?”

He cleared his throat and answered,” Actually nothing, I came to check if the documents are ready for approval.” He lied, he used the documents as an excuse for him to catch sight of her.

“Am not yet done, as soon I am done, I'll bring the documents for approval, aside from the documents is there anything else you need Sir?

“No nothing else,” Mark responded.

“I'll take my leave please excuse me, Sir,” Nalishebo replied shyly, and walked past him, rushed to the ladies room.

Mark sat down in his office quietly, the moment he closed his eyes, he had a flashback of the incident that took place recently between Nalishebo and him, how he held her in his arms and kept her from falling when she had tripped over, he could still smell her sweet perfume on his shirt, he went on and confessed to himself,” I never realised that I had a beautiful lady such like her as my secretary, but why did she look at me with so much hate, am I being too tough on her? Why am I even thinking of her she’s just a mere employee, let me call Anthony so that I preoccupy myself away from these thoughts.”

Anthony has been Mark's childhood friend, whenever he is going through mixed feelings both personal or professional he calls him for advice.

“Hello fella, it’s been long how are you? You rarely call these days.” the voice on the end of the line answered.

“Hi Anthony, am fine I merely have time to call, I must confess I am tangled up with a lot of work lately.” replied.

“So what’s the catch?” the voice on the other end of the line asked.

“Nothing much.”

“Come on my guy, I can feel it in your voice you’re not okay I’m ready to listen spit it out.” The voice on the other end of the line responded.

“Okay it’s like this, I have this secretary who gets on my nerves, but I don’t know why of late I am thinking of her! to make matters worse, I am beginning to feel this soft spot for her. I don’t know why is that.”.

“Mmm, is that so? Are you thinking what am thinking it is?” the voice on the other end of the line asked..

“Hum...... No way pal it can't be possible, you dare not think of me that way.”

“Buddy if you’re saying it’s not what I I’m thinking what is it then? let’s do this one of these fine days I’ll drop by your office to see for myself that way I might be able to tell.” The voice on the other end of the line acknowledged.

“Okay buddy, I’ll be more than happy to see you here. Enjoy your day, bye.”

“See you soon buddy, bye.” The voice on the other end of the line replied and hang up.

After the talk between him and his friend, Mark went back to finish where he had left off. The time he eyed on a wall clock it had struck 7:00 pm, he got his phone and called up one of his favourite coffee shop valis coffee shop. He placed an order of two cups of hot chocolate and doughnuts. A few minutes later Mark heard a knock on his office door, he rose from his chair, he opened the door to see who it was, it was the delivery man from the coffee shop, he said thank you and took out some money from his wallet likewise and tipped him off.

Mark knew that he was the only one and Nalishebo left in the entire building so he took one cup of hot chocolate and doughnut to Nalishebo himself, he knocked on the door, and waited for an answer. The voice inside the room answered,” Please do come in the door is open.”

Nalishebo’s eyes popped out widely when she saw her boss serving her, she never knew what it was, but she could tell by the smell of the rich aroma that can out of the disposal cup that it was mouth watering coffee, she went into deep thoughts,” What does he want this time? Attention seeker?!” Nalishebo never anticipated that she was thinking out loud Mark might have heard what she said.

“Miss Nalumino are you saying something?”

Nalishebo blinked twice in despair thinking that perhaps Mark heard what she said, she quickly answered,” No, oh sorry sir please forgive my manners do you need any help?”

“No, I brought you this, since it’s cold I thought this might help,” Mark replied calmly.

“Thank you, how generous of you but you shouldn’t have bothered Sir.” She lied when she said that he shouldn't have bothered deep down her heart she was craving for it and was happy to be served by the boss.

Mark dismissed what she said, and asked,” Where can I put this?”

“You can please put the parcel right here on my desk Sir.”

When Mark placed hot chocolate on Nalishebo’s desk he excused himself and paced out of Nalishebo's office closing the door behind him.

Nalishebo couldn’t wait to help herself with a cup of hot chocolate that was placed in front of her, it tasted delicious such that it made her taste buds dance with amusement. She enjoyed every single of it with pleasure.

She locked her office door, paced towards the reception area, her quick steps lessened and her heart plummet to her feet when she saw Mark posing near the door direction with a smile on his face,” What?! is this man still here? Oh no, I hate his presence aside from that being alone with him in this entire building makes me feel awkward, what am I going to do now?” Nalishebo mumbled to herself.

“Miss Nalumino here you are, I was waiting for you, by the way, I thought it was rude to talk to yourself most especially in the presence of someone.”

Nalishebo pretended not to have heard his remarks, instead, she found a way to change the subject.

“Thanks Sir for your generosity, but...”

Before she finished speaking he stretched out his hand and opened the exit door then cut in,” After you Miss Nalumino.” Nalishebo never uttered a word but to go along with him.

Nalishebo was so tired, when she got inside the car, she never realised that she had fallen asleep on her way home in Mark's car.

Mark stole the glimpse of her while she was fast asleep and his mind became flooded with a thousand thoughts of admiration for her, he lifted his hand and felt like caressing her soft cheeks but he stopped himself when he heard soft sighs escape her mouth. He enjoyed watching her sleep and was never tempted to wake her, he made sure to drive as smoothly as he could. Mark was only drawn away by the traffic lights that showed a GO signal.

Nalishebo was woke by the buzzing of her phone, she checked the caller ID to see who it was, it was her Mother calling she quickly swiped her fingertip on the screen to answer the call.

“Hello Mama,” She answered with a sleepy voice.

“Baby, are you still working?”

“No Mama I have knocked off and I am nearly home.

“This thing of knocking off late is worrying me cause you know it’s not safe for you to be walking in the streets alone this late.”

Before she responded she looked at Mark with the corner of her eyes, when she saw that he wasn’t paying attention to the phone conversation that she had with her mother, she continued talking,” Mama my boss has given me a lift back home , so don’t worry I’ll be home some soon, we will talk when I arrive, bye Mama I love you.”

“Okay, I love you too my baby girl.” She responded and hanged up.

When her mother had hanged up, she turned to look at Mark she apologised for sleeping in the car recklessly. She was dropped off at the same spot she was dropped the previous day.