Brenda's Fate

Brenda woke up groggily to the sound of her alarm, her eyes still sleepy from last night's clubbing with her girlfriends. I'm getting too old for this now, she thought as she remembered how her whatever number blind date organised by her friends had gone horribly wrong. She had met Eddie, a real estate agency intern and recommended by one of her friends, Gina, and they had talked and drunk easily. When they reached the dance floor, disaster struck: he wasn't able to hold his alcohol in and had puked all over the floor to the dismay of many clubbers and her embarrassment. Brenda made a mental note to never follow Gina’s choice of date the next time.  Scrambling out of bed she rushed through her routine and did a double-strength cup of her morning coffee. She needed it for a hectic day ahead of her, which promised nothing more than warm and bright sunshine. Brenda checked through her voicemails and messaging apps as she waited for her cab and during the drive to her workplace. They were a few messages from her friends that she hadn't met in a while, her reading club's director asking her to step in for her on the next reading day and a voicemail from her mom.  Brenda blew a sigh of frustration as she listened to the voicemail over and over again. She needed to visit her mom, and until it was closing time she would keep that tucked away in her mind and face her job. She breezed into the magnificent building, greeting her co-workers and deploying theirs before she walked up to the elevator which would take her to the top floor, the twentieth–fifth floor where her office and that of senior management members were located.  “Good morning, Sandra,” she smiled at the blond-haired, spectacled woman in all black. The two ladies had become friends immediately after they met each other on her first day at work.  “Hi, Brenda,” Sandra said, looking up from her typing at the computer. She reached across her table to retrieve a file which she handed to Brenda.  "Mr. Harding said you should go through this,” she explained.  Ok. Thanks,” Sandra took the file and flipped through it before heading straight down the corridor to knock on Mr. Harding's office door which was emblazoned with Chief Executive Officer in gold lettering. She opened the door after a sharp come-in. Her position as personal assistant to the CEO of Harding Investment Holdings was crucial.  “Good morning, Mr. Harding,” she greeted before coming to stand in front of his desk.  Her boss was well-absorbed in the computer in front of him, typing away at the keys with a slight frown on his face. He looked up at her after some time and replied to her greeting.  “Have you gone through the file?” he asked as she took her seat. On his desk were some open files, papers with letter heading and his usual white mug of black unsweetened coffee. He told her there were to be new changes for the Greenfield takeover for which negotiations were still ongoing and he needed to send some presents to his parents for their wedding anniversary. She made an entry of that on her note pad and when he was done she rose from her seat.  "Ah, one more thing, Brenda.  Can you please make bookings for me and you to go to Seattle for one week. There is an event I have to attend there and your assistance will be needed.”  Brenda stood rooted for a while then regained her composure. It's nothing, just another one of his travels she told herself. “I will do that sir,” she said before exiting his office.  She left for her office which was further down the hall and prepared the reports before handing them to Sandra who before break time had sorted them and sent them out to various departments. The two ladies went down with the elevator to the cafeteria which was located on the fifteenth floor,  complete with a relaxing room, sick bay and newly installed crèche for new working mothers.  At lunch Sandra and Kendra sat down, conversing on the latest gossip that often went around in the office. After a while, Brenda stopped eating and blurted, "I’m going to Seattle with the boss for business.” She looked to read Sandra’s expression of extreme shock.  Last month she had accompanied him for a business meeting to L.A and two months before that a meeting at Capitol, where he was a prominent lobbyist for free trade and more deregulation in the financial sector.  “Am I right to say that he is probably interested in you now,” Sandra said with a mischievous smile on her face. Brenda shook her head emphatically, for all she knew Alan was a ladies' man who changed the women in his bed like the clothes he wore. She had seen it many times to know that.  At some point, she had thought him a highly attractive male that she would have wanted as a lover but not now. Their taste was as different as coffee and wine. She envied Sandra who as a single woman had countless admirers that she managed to keep at bay, while still retaining a bright smile around her. She claimed she wasn’t in a hurry to tie the knot.  “I'm still thinking of getting married and having kids but maybe not with a guy like Mr. Harding. He’s obviously a player who doesn’t take a lady very seriously.”  Sandra patted her hands lovingly, "Whether love comes now or later it doesn't matter. What's important is that you are ready for it when it comes,” she advised.  After work, Brenda took the drive to her parent’s place, an old eighteenth-century style manor that had been remodelled and designed into a country house.  A big black Alsatian dog with white patches around the ears ran up to meet her at the door.  “Hi Tessy, how are you?” she sang, rubbing the dog's belly and back and ears before giving her a treat. She walked out across the living room to the patio where music was playing. The back of the house had the best view of the property’s gardens, lawns and orchards which were all maintained by a team of gardening staff that came by on a regular basis. She went up the stairs, with Tessy in tow and hugged her mom who was sitting on a lounge chair, a hat on her head with sunglasses and a plate of confectionaries sat on the table beside her.  “You haven't been around in a while, Brenda. What's happening?” “Mom, it's work, school and stuff that's keeping me very busy.” She reached for a few chocolate biscuits on the plate. “Your..” her mother began but paused when her phone rang somewhere beside her which she picked up after a glance at the screen.  “Felicity! How are you and the baby?” she laughed into the phone. It was Brenda's cousin, the not-so-favourite one who liked to tease her when they were growing up. An exchange of conversation went back and forth between them before her mother handed the phone to her. Brenda went tense as her cousin’s high-pitched voice came over the phone.  “Yes, I'm fine.”…  "No, I'm sorry I can't come for Anita’s birthday,” she said, feeling her mother's hard stare. A few more words passed between them before she returned the phone to her mom who cut the call after more minutes of conversation. “What's that for?” her mother asked. Anita was Felicity’s first baby after she had gotten married some two years ago. Her husband worked as a lawyer in a high-profile and prestigious chamber while she worked part-time as a nurse in a school or travelled around like an i********: celebrity.  “What I was about to tell you. My boss is travelling on Wednesday for business. And I have to go with him,” Brenda explained.  "Again. Why can't you be like your sister or cousin and think of settling down? You aren't  getting any younger you know.” “I know. And I will get married when the time is right and to the perfect guy.” Her mother's scoff was a deep poke into her confidence, but she restrained the well of tears that were simmering long enough to leave her mother after another hour and head back home to cry herself to sleep.  The Seattle air was warm and crisp, with just enough clouds to temp down the bright rays of summer sunlight as Brenda and Mr. Harding left the airport entry. The flight had been smooth, hassle and stress-free, and Brenda attributed it to the mind relaxation techniques she had employed while seating next to her boss. Several times during the flight in first class, their hands had somehow made contact which sent an electrifying shock through her skin and down her arms. She had covertly watched his expression to see if it mirrored hers but she had been disappointed. All he had done was say a brief apology, get whatever he wanted and go back to the laptop that constantly engaged his attention. He might be Mr. Sexy and Strongman, she thought, but she was sure he had a communication language for women he fancied and she was determined to see what it was.  A man dressed in jeans and a white shirt came and helped put their luggage into the boot of a parked Mercedes Benz car, the latest model and opened the door for Alan to step in.  The drive was beautiful and smooth, while the scenery changed from the tall, imposing skyline buildings to the mellow warm looking structures of the suburbs. Brenda recognized that this was a neighbourhood they were entering into. She turned to Alan who before her question dropped said: "We will be staying at the Paradise Lodge. I don’t want the hassle of the paparazzi following me around.” She looked at him with eyes full of doubt. He returned the look. “Besides, it's conducive and the facilities have a homely feel. You will love it.”  At the lodge, the bags were unpacked while they walked up the stairs to the front door which was opened by a dark-haired lady with a name tag written Sharon. A man dressed in a similar casual fashion came forward to greet them, introducing himself as Mark. After the introductions, they were led upstairs to a tastefully furnished set of rooms for each of them.  “Would you like to take something? Some tea perhaps?” Sharon asked as she and Mark were about to leave the rooms. Their bags were brought in.  Brenda politely declined but Alan ordered a cup of coffee before the staff left. Relishing the peace,  Brenda took a tour of her surroundings through the window and out onto the balcony that overlooked the greenery of the property. It was serene and peaceful she noted breathing in a lungful of the crisp clean air.  Hours later before dinner, Alan called for her. They went through some of the fine details of the Fidelity Investment merger deal they wanted to finalize, and expanding their offices in the city.  “So that’s all for today? “she asked, going through the notes in her hand one last time.  “Actually, there's just one more thing. A group of friends from my high school are organizing a dinner party for tomorrow and I have to go,”  he said.  “Well, that's no problem.  I will take care of the Fidelity Investment report while you are away.” “No. You don't have to do that alone. You will have to come with me.” A look of shock crossed her features, her mind so unsettled she didn't immediately grasp the meaning of his words until he clarified. "I would like you to accompany me as my date.” Alarmed, she stood up from her chair and counted off the reasons why she couldn't go. She hadn't brought an appropriate dinner party outfit with her, she was his P.A which would make it difficult to keep work from her personal life, and she wasn't feeling too well.  “Please, it's a charity event. And I couldn't think of anyone more suitable to be my date.” Alan pleaded. Her face, however, remained resolutely firm until he mentioned he would give her an extra bonus and not demand she goes on any other dinner date with him. It took a long time before she could change her mind about it and agree to his request.  The red and black strapless dress was a perfect fit that fitted her upper body before fanning out around her hips in a smooth wide tail around her feet. Brenda examined herself over and over again in the mirror as Lilian, one of the lodge staff helped her with her dress up. There were shimmering designs on her front bodice and around the edges of the neckline. A simple solid gold chain weighed around her neck with matching pair of long sparkling gold earnings and her silky back hair was secured in a tight-up do which completed the makeover.  When she came out of her room, Alan stood at the end of the hallway dressed in a black tuxedo and tie and wearing polished dark black shoes. He drank in her beauty and grace as his eyes travelled down from her eyes to her sparkling silver embellished heels on her feet. “You take my breath away. I only wonder what would be the fate of the other men at the party,” he said, walking towards her and offering his arm for her to take.  Together they walked down into the hotel's foyer and entered the sleek black Rolls-Royce that took them to the elite Galaxy club. On the way, he explained what the club did in terms of projects and schemes to help underprivileged neighbourhoods and communities. The club included all the alumni of Mayfield High school and associate members based on their relationship wuth former students of the school and who acted as patrons.  Guests mingled in a swirl of wine and elegant clothing with the ladies dripping with jewellery Brenda knew was almost the same worth as her apartment back home. She and Alan moved around, smiling at some people,  extending a handshake or two and embracing some of the guests that Alan knew particularly well. Suddenly, she felt hugely uncomfortable, the chocker necklace constricting her neck and the air thick with unease. She loosened her arm from his and when he silently questioned it, she whispered that she needed to use the ladies.  Reluctantly, Alan let her go while she excused herself from the group after asking for directions to the restroom. She gently made her way through the crowd in the direction provided, a small smile plastered on her lips. She nearly walked straight into a waiter bearing a tray of filled glasses, but swerved at the last second to avoid him, only to bump into a solid wall of a broad chest and silk suit. Strong muscular arms held her steady from falling. She looked up first at his chest and was glad there was no stain on the immaculately white shirt he wore.  He apparently hadn't had a glass in hand which would have spilled its contents on it.  “Are you ok, Miss?" the man’s smooth voice called as he lightly released his hands from her body.  Slightly startled she looked up into the most handsome man she had ever seen. His jaw was square and hard,  with a little dusting of a beard and a perfect long nose with his deep brown eyes set on a clear face. registered each of his features, drinking them in like cool refreshing water. He looked familiar,  even the voice sparked her memory that she knew him from somewhere.  The man's repeated question brought her out of her daze and she nodded lightly that she was fine, just a little lightheaded. Concern was etched on his face at her response and he suggested calling a cab for her which she refused. She just needs to use the restroom and she will be fine.  Slowly and somewhat reluctantly he released her just as she moved away from his warmth and solid build. She hastened to the end of the hall and found the restroom before hastily securing herself in an empty cubicle. Easing herself she made her way to the sink.  She rinses her hands, restraining herself from splashing water on her face to cool her from the intense heat of her contact with the gentleman.  When her nervousness had settled she left the room and made a beeline back to where she spotted Alan and a lady he had earlier introduced to her as Lisa. As she moved forward, each step bolder than the last she glimpsed the back of a man in black standing next to Alan. Her steps slowed as she approached the group.  “There you are, Brenda. I would like you to meet some of my other business associates. He called the names around the group and then lastly the knight in shining armour. Phillip Morris, CEO of Morris Financial Holdings.  “Everyone, meet Brenda Jackson, my ever-capable P. A.,” Alan finished up with a flourish.