55
998 Words
MARCEL'S POV
When I turn back, I find out that Jocelyn is nowhere behind me. Smiling, I shake my head. She's probably feasting her eyes on the decorations.
Climbing down the stairs, I walk back to the hallway and I find Jocelyn staring intently at the large frame embossed with my company name.
As I walk towards her, I realize that she's staring at the frame quite intently and with her jaw set. There's some other reason why she's looking at that frame like she's experiencing a wave of PTSD.
"Hey," I called when I got to stand beside her. "Jocelyn, you okay?"
Like she pulled herself out from a train of thought, she looks at me and smiles stiffly. "Yeah, I am. I was just looking at this frame," Then she laughs so weirdly that I know that something is wrong.
"No, I don't believe you. I think there's something else wrong. I mean, you're looking at the frame like you're reliving past memories,"
Jocelyn scoffs and turns her head to the side. When she looks at me, I can see hurt and anger blazing in her eyes. "Did you bring me here to humiliate me? Because it sure looks like what you're trying to do,"
I am confused as hell. What the hell is she talking about and why the sudden change of attitude? "If you would explain to me, Jocelyn. I don't know what you're talking about,"
She points to the frame and her lips tremble. I see that she's about to cry and when I draw close to her, she takes a few steps backwards. "You know what I am talking about. You only pretended. What do you want from me, Marcel?!"
I am getting frustrated as seconds count. "Nothing for crying out loud! I only want to help!"
She shakes her head and begins to move backwards before turning on her feet and dashing out of the hall, towards the porch. I immediately run after her and before she runs out of the door, my fingers grasp her wrist and I pull her back.
"What's wrong, Jocelyn? You're making me extremely worried," I say. I can even see tears well up in her eyes.
"Can you at least tell me? If you're mad at me, tell me why. I'd understand,"
"Do you remember a certain black woman coming into your office when you were searching for employees to fill up the vacancies in the administrative department?" Jocelyn Gbone Dizon?
I nod, frowning and wondering where she is driving. "Yes, I remember. I'm the owner of the company,"
"You interviewed a few people before the only black woman came into your office. You shouldn't forget it,"
I try so hard to recollect but I do not. I see lots of faces everyday and the only people whose faces I remember are that of my family, friends and business partners.
"Remember?"
I shake my head. "I don't remember, Jocelyn,"
"Your resume is topnotch, and so are your grades too. You will do a good job here at Reynolds..." she says in a voice that sounds like mine. "Would have loved to employ your services, but you are not just what I am looking for. I hate to break this to you, but you can't have the job."
She is staring at me with hatred in her eyes as I scan my head for memories. I am taken back to my office.
Then I look at her again and it dawns on me. "Jocelyn," I gasped.
She shakes her head. "Why do you want me to work for you after rejecting me for no just reason?"
"Look, I can explain if you would let me,"
I totally remember everything. f*****g hell. The growth in the past month was massive because I knew I would have locked her up if I found her in my car.
She is the one!
I suddenly feel a wave of guilt wash over me and I feel like a really terrible person. I had turned her down only for her life to be miserable but it wasn't too late now. I still have the chance to change things and make it up to her.
"Jocelyn, I know what I did was terrible but I promise you I have changed. I had turned down a woman who would have become the best on my team because of some sentimental belief I held onto. That day, I didn't just feel like employing her. I had this terrible ideology about black women being extremely ambitious. I feared that one day, she would buy my company and make me bankrupt.
"I just want to know why you want me back," She replied, looking at me with disappointment in her eyes.
"I want you back because you have potential! I need you. I remember seeing how terribly good your resume was,"
"You shouldn't have turned me down then," She says and turns to walk away but I grab her by the arm again.
"My former assistant, very good at what she does and diligent. I had just made her the head of the administrative department to compensate her for being a great employee but two months later, she got engaged, married the love of her life and moved to Italy. I didn't pick you because I wanted someone who looked exactly like her and that was absolutely stupid and delusional of me,"
"Did you find someone who looks like her?"
I nod.
"And what was the outcome?"
"I fired her the next month."
"Why?"
"She could never replace my ex employee. I was just too sentimental and now I have seen the light, I want you back. I am really sorry and I promise you that your working environment will be favorable for you. Just trust me and come back in with me,"
She stares at me for a long time without saying a word. Closing her eyes, she sighs.
"Alright. I'll go in with you."
- Writer
