CHAPTER 1
Grrriinnn griiinnn! *her alarm goes off*. She was about to shut it off when her mum’s piercing voice from the kitchen scolded her. Sometimes she wonder if mother has some kind of fixed megaphone in her esophagus. How can she be so loud?
“Do not put off that alarm Layla” she said
“You do not tell me what to do” Layla replies with pain in her head
“Yes, I do not tell you what to do, but if you do not get up from that bed in the next five minutes, you are going to miss out on one of your dream interviews and I believe you won’t get such an opportunity anymore”
Reality finally sets in and now she feels really bad because her mother just saved her from a big mess.
With a refreshing burst energy, Layla jolted up from the bed and dashed straight for the bathroom to do her cleaning.
“Thank you mum, I always knew you were a lifesaver,", Layla retorted with a cheerful grin.
“I’m not sure I am your life saver, you just cussed at me”
“I still love you regardless.”
“You have ten minutes left if you still want to get your coffee from beclat”.
Layla was in the bathroom getting her hair detangled while trying to bath because her mother told her she has ten minutes tops and this means she has to get dressed within ten minutes.
Lost in the vanilla smell of her shampoo and body wash, her mother knocked her bathroom door to let her know she was actually running late and might eventually miss the interview if she wasn’t careful.
“Layla you have four minutes to go”
Groaning out in frustration, she stepped out from the shower, grabbed her towel and quickly dried herself up
“You should leave the room right now, I’m about to step out and take care of myself”
“Not that you have something different from my body”
“Mum!!!!” She screamed
“I will be by the car waiting”
*She quickly grabbed the ‘good luck outfits’ she hung by her dresser the night before because she knew she was going to be a mess the next day*
Checking the time she realized she had just less than a minute to meet her mum in the car.
The drive to Tonias Enterprise was not so long, but it felt like the universe was against Layla.
What do I say, I hope I won’t be my clumsy self over there. I hope I don’t mumble and the words are audible. Maybe I should…
“Layla what are you thinking about again”
“Nothing mum”
Letting out a sigh of relief. She didn’t know she was even holding her breath in for this long until her mum was done talking
“Thank you mum”
“Now go in there and do the best you can do...I promise to be holding a cup of coffee for you just opposite it and you can as well run into my arms crying or happy”
“I love you”
“I won’t love you if you get hit by a car while trying to meet me”
Confidently walking towards the big double doors of Tonias. She put up her fakest smile
“Good morning, interview by nine O’clock”
Looking up from her desk the receptionist put on a good smile and handed her the visitors tag*
“You may have your seat, you will be called in when it’s your turn to be interviewed.”
“Thank you”
“It’s the second elevator and you are going to the third floor. Room thirteen”
“Alright thank you”
Sitting down and waiting for her turn to be called in, she noticed a black sedan parked outside the building but she didn’t pay attention. Looking through the magazine and unfazed, but with ears paying full attention in case she was called. The double doors opened
“Good morning Mr. Barley”
“Good morning Triss”
The voice sounded powerful and Layla could bet her heart skipped twice just by hearing the voice.
“I have a package that is to arrive today, please direct them to my office when it’s here”
Layla could not help but admire the shiny shoes and the fine pants, lost in thought.
“What a nice foot piece.”
Realizing her mouth just worked faster than her brain, she looked up in shock but Mr. Barley was not paying attention to her
“Okay sir I’d send them right up immediately it is delivered”
Facing Layla, Triss told her it was okay for her to go up now since it’s her turn
“You remember the right floor and room number”
“Yes I do. Thank you so much”
“All the best”
Moving on jelly legs she walked to the elevator, pushed the floor number, and went straight for the room. She still couldn’t believe she was about to do this. What if she didn’t get lucky? She was about to turn around when suddenly the door opened and a woman welcomed her
“You are up next. Come in”
With wobbling legs, she stepped inside the room and all her confidence was back but she still didn’t know if it was to sit down immediately or wait to be told
“I don’t think you want to be interviewed while standing, Miss...”
“Layla Grams”
“You may have your seat”
“Thank you”
“So why apply for the position of a business strategist at Tonias Enterprise”
“I have learned the art and the practices of what business should look like in today’s world and I believe that adding my knowledge will help in growing the organization”
“As you can see, the organization is well known, and that means we have implemented a good strategy to be where we are today, so what more can you contribute?”
“I don’t think a role will be open in an organization if there are no gaps to be filled, and I really believe in what I could offer to promote the organization and not just its prominence in the global north. The wings of the organization can be spread far and wide with what I believe I can offer”
“A good example might be needed to back that up”
“That’s going to be me selling out my strategy without gain.”
“I see a win-win if you tell us more or shed lighter”
“I picture a win-lose”
The panel lead could not help but smile at her answers and was wowed by her smart mouth during an interview
“Uhm we will get back to you Miss Grams”
Fears set in and she could feel her palm becoming sweaty and her forehead was feeling sweaty and hot immediately. Standing up and walking to the door
“Thank you for your time”
Layla pushed the door opened and was faced with the greatest shock of her life.what she believed was her worst nightmare was standing right in front of her. She closed the door behind her and gripped the doors hard. The one and only Chancey Mednot
“Layla is this you?”
“Hi, Chancey, its a great surprise you made it this far and i am really shocked life did not hit you bad just like i have prayed.”
“Layla, I am so sorry, everything you know is probably not the truth or what you think it is. I loved you deeply but i was in a situation whereby i needed to protect whatever i loved”
“I hope whatever you protected remains protected and does not get snatched away.”
“I know it is protected because it is right here in front of me. Layla, I swear I still love you but a lot is at stake already”
She couldn’t wait to process anything and made a dash for the elevator.
