SAYING NO TO MY BOSS

First day at work.

1 woke up to the incessant ringing of my alarm, groaning as I fumbled to silence it. I glanced at my table clock, my eyes widening in horror when I saw that it was already 8:00 AM. Today was my first day at Checkers Enterprise, and being late was not the kind of first impression I wanted to make.

Regret washed over me as I remembered the ill-advised decision to go to Quilox Bar the previous night. The allure of the night and the enigmatic stranger I had almost spent the night with had clouded my judgment. He was undeniably handsome, but there was no time to dwell on that now.

Quickly, I washed up, abandoning any thoughts of makeup or breakfast. Time was of the essence. I had to find a way to get to Ikoyi from Chevron within the next 30 minutes, a near-impossible feat. Still, I had to try.

By 8:50 AM, I parked my humble Picanto in front of the towering Checkers Enterprise building. My little car felt painfully out of place among the gleaming luxury vehicles, but I couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude. This was Checkers, a company where even the lowest-paid staff could probably cover my expenses for a year. I reminded myself how fortunate I was to be here and headed inside.

Scene 2: A Nervous Reception

Rushing through the lobby, I made my way to the reception area. The receptionist, Adediwura, greeted me with a polite smile. She must have sensed my anxiety. She informed me that I was lucky – the CEO had just arrived. She instructed me to make a coffee and take it to his office. I thanked her profusely, signed in, and hurried to the kitchen.

Her voice echoed in my mind as she warned me not to add sugar, and I didn't dare question her instructions. I couldn't afford to make a mistake on my very first day.

Scene 3: The Encounter with the CEO

Carrying the coffee I had prepared, I approached the CEO's office. I took a deep breath, reminded myself to keep my composure, and knocked on the door.

A deep voice from inside the office instructed me to come in. I carefully turned the doorknob and entered the room, holding the coffee gingerly. "Good morning, sir," I began, my voice laced with nervousness.

Then, my heart stopped as I saw the man sitting behind the imposing desk. The coffee slipped from my grasp, its contents splattering on the expensive carpet.

"JESUS!" I exclaimed, unable to believe my eyes. The CEO of Checkers was none other than Chike, the very same stranger I had nearly spent the night with at the bar.