Chapter 5
1149 Words
It had been a while since I lost my father and I was buried in work, I didn't want to give my mind any space to wander. All I wanted to do was work and make my parents proud.
“Ma’am, our manager at Strasbourg wants to speak to you, should I connect him to your line?” The receptionist inquired as I was composing an email. “Sure, please do,” I replied.
I wondered why he was calling when we spoke at length barely twenty minutes ago. It better not be another case of theft because I was tired of those already.
“ Hello ma’am sorry for disturbing you again, but I made the inventory list as you requested. I wanted to ask how new items were going to be bought as our procurement staff quit a month ago.”
“You have no procurement clerk in your branch? Who did you tell? And how was I supposed to know this when I’m not psychic?” I said, scolding him.
“ Actually, Don Luis was aware before his demise. I’m so sorry for not bringing it up since you resumed” he said, obviously remorseful.
I was upset that he took me off guard, but I guess the reason was good. “ Contact the media manager and tell her to post an advertisement indicating we have a vacancy for that position. It shouldn’t be hard to get someone at the last minute"
“Alright Ma’am have a splendid day” he hung up the call.
Such big shoes to fill, and I’m in awe at how stressed I am barely two months in.
My gaze suddenly moved towards the wall clock and I realised it was time to go get lunch.
“Hey girl, I’m going over to the restaurant to get lunch. You want something? ” I asked as I stood in front of her desk.
She smiled and pondered for a while, “Ma’am, don’t bother about me, I’ll get something when I’m ready. I’m so indecisive” she continued.
I chuckled “you’re just being silly, but I’ll leave you to your decisions.”
As I looked left and right to be sure of the road before crossing, I heard my name, “Sofia!!” Repeatedly three times and turned only to see Francesca.
The last time I saw Francesca was at my dad’s funeral, and we didn’t speak to each other. I haven’t heard from her since our last encounter at the boutique. I shuddered as I remembered what transpired.
I knew I didn’t invite Francesca, but she came around. If I’m being honest, I actually didn’t invite anyone. I was mostly in my room and only had human interaction with the lawyer, and when I had to sign off on cheques for burial preparations.
“ Girl, I’ve been trying to reach you. How are you? ” She asked, and you could hear the sudden sadness in her voice. “I’m fine, I’ve been good”, I responded swiftly.
She looked at me and, as usual, wasn’t satisfied with my response. “Liar, it’s okay to grief, but you can’t bury yourself in work and I know you’ve been avoiding me but enough is enough girl please.”
“Avoiding you? I haven’t been avoiding you. I only needed a little time by myself, so I could heal. It isn’t always about you Francesca”, I said to her, almost raising my voice.
She held my hand. “I know it isn't about me, I’m sorry for sounding selfish. But you know I care about you, where were you heading to?”
At this point, I wasn’t agitated anymore. “just going to get lunch, I’m famished.” “Oh, I’m hungry as well and I heard your Chinese rice is to die for” she invited herself.
We got our meals and returned to my office where we ate our fill. “Splendid meal indeed, your chefs are amazing” she kept complimenting the meal and I felt elevated, my morale was boosted.
“But seriously, you look down, and I want to take you out tonight. There’s this lounge downtown I want us to visit” she said looking pitiful.
“No, I’m not going,” I insisted. “I’m still not in the mood to interact with a lot of people, I just don’t think I can right now” I continued.
She shook her head in displeasure. “Do we really always have to go back and forth before arriving at a good response?. This will be good for you Francesca, I just know it”, she held my hand as she gave me the pitiful look once more.
I wasn’t interested in going out, but I knew no one was waiting for me at home, so why not go out with Francesca since it was the weekend and just maybe, it might be good for me. “Fine, I’ll go with you.”
We got to the lounge, and it was buzzing with people that were happy and dancing to music except me, I wanted to drink alcohol and leave.
“Do you like the place?” I managed to hear what she said to me. “It’s alright, good drink i must say” I screamed into her ear so she could hear me.
She started to dance for me.
Francesca danced so beautifully that I smiled effortlessly. She reached out and dragged me from my chair, and next thing I knew, I was on my feet dancing to music.
“That guy over there is checking you out” she yelled into my ears as she winked at me. I turned and I saw the most charming young man I had seen in a while. He smiled at me and I immediately turned my face from him.
I rushed to take a seat and finish my drink. “Why are you acting weird?” She asked with smiles all over her face. “Calm down, it’s fine, let's dance some more.”
“I’m not dancing anymore. I want to finish up so we can…” I was interrupted by a tap on my shoulder, he was a fine man indeed. He gave me his phone, so I could input my phone number and I did, he waved me bye.
Minutes passed by, and we left the lounge for where I parked my car. “Hello!” my attention was called.
“I’m sorry to be a bother, but can I get your number again? I don’t know what happened in there.” He said as he gave me his phone and I obliged.
“My name is Emiliano” he said with a beautiful smile,
“Emiliano, huh? I’m Sofia, nice to meet you”, I responded with a broad smile.
- Writer
