Mr. CEO, I Cannot Be Hidden Anymore

Chapter 3

Amaka's POV:

After I finished my breakfast in the kitchen, I stepped out of the house and headed outside the compound.

The place was just a rented apartment—Mrs. Ann didn't own it.

Luckily, as I hit the busy road outside, I spotted a yellow bus and hopped in. I sat next to a guy in a black suit, and he smiled at me.

I was too preoccupied to smile back. After what Joseph did to me, I didn't smile at guys anymore. It hurt so bad that he'd broken up with me like that. He should've just said he only wanted s*x, not acted like he wanted to marry me.

I was a really decent girl in my neighborhood, which is why my peers turned me into a laughingstock—they never expected a good girl like me to get pregnant.

I wiped away my tears and kept my gaze on the road. The guy next to me spoke up. "Hi, dear. I paid your fare."

"Huh!" I looked shocked that a total stranger had covered my bill. As I glanced at his face, I gulped. He was super fair like me, with short brown hair just like Jason's. He wasn't Joseph Ericson, but he was handsome and built.

"Thank you, but you shouldn't have. I don't need favors from you," I said as the bus kept rolling toward our stop.

"I get it, but I can't help appreciating your beauty. Do you live around here, or where are you headed?" he asked, and I grimaced.

Gross! I hated when guys poked their noses into my business.

"I'm sorry, mister, but I can't tell you anything about myself. These days, people get kidn*pped so easily, and trusting a stranger is risky," I said, keeping my voice low so I wouldn't embarrass him with the other passengers behind us.

"Fine. I'll keep that in mind," he said, and I looked away.

"Industrial estate! Anyone getting off?" the yellow bus driver called, and I said, "Yes, sir."

I got off the bus, and the guy in the black suit stepped down too. My brows furrowed—didn't he have a job this early in the day?

I tried to pay the conductor, but he said, "Your husband already paid."

"What? He's not my husband," I told the conductor, who gasped. "Oh! Sorry, madam. But you two look alike."

"Whatever!" I turned and hurried to the company I was heading to—J.E. Globals.

I didn't talk to the guy walking beside me. I figured once I got into the company, he'd go his own way.

But when we reached the gate, he flashed his ID, and security man let him right in. I was surprised he worked there, but they wouldn't let me through.

"What do you want, madam?" the security guy asked. "I'm here for an interview," I replied, showing him the email on my phone. He finally let me in.

I had to wait for my interviews with the boss—the company was as strict as Maureen said. I hadn't researched it, figuring I'd just land the job.

A receptionist told me to sit and wait for the boss, and it was already 9 a.m. when he finally showed up.

I didn't look up at the boss as he walked in. I heard whispers from the other candidates—there were about 10 of us there for this awesome job interview.

Soon, the lady handling us came over with her folder to introduce herself, after telling us to wait.

"Hi, welcome to J.E. Global Enterprises. We don't tolerate cheating or breaking contracts. We expect our staff to keep our company name high, so other brands want to partner with us on goods and services. So, let's do quick intros. I'm Anita Edward, your new coach. I'll hand out these consent forms to each of you. Once you sign, it means you agree to our company terms. Then I'll pair you with a mentor to show you how things work. But first, you'll go in one by one for your interview with the boss. If he approves you and your reasons for wanting to work here, then you can sign. Agreed?" she asked, and I swallowed hard.

I sat in the lobby on the long guest chairs, waiting. I could see clients coming and going. I was nervous, wondering who that guy from the bus was.

No way the boss of J.E. Globals took the bus like me. I could afford a small car, but I didn't want to show off.

I was making more money than Maureen, who taught me blogging. If I bought a car now, it'd seem like I was competing with her. I didn't know if she felt that way, but that's how I thought she might, so I held back on stuff that could piss her off.

She doesn't get pissed off, but I didn't want to show off.

"Amaka Richard, it's your turn for the interview," Anita said.

"Okay." I snapped out of it, stood up from the guest chair, and fixed my red top and black skirt.

"Ma, can I take my handbag in?" I asked, not sure if it was allowed.

"No. Come with me," Anita said, leading me to a safe where I could store my bag and get the key back later.

"Thank you, ma," I told her, and she smiled.

"Hurry up and don't keep our boss waiting," she said.

"Okay," I gulped and headed to the boss's office.

I took a deep breath and entered the big office on the fifth floor. My eyes landed on the guy in the black suit sitting behind the desk.

"What?!" I gasped, shocked to see Joseph Ericson as the boss of this company. Why hadn't I researched him? How did I forget to look up the company?

I tried to look away and bolt from his office. He looked indifferent, like he didn't recognize me.

"Are you Amaka Richard?" he asked, pretending not to know me.

Did I change that much? How could he not recognize me after four years together?

My lips trembled as I tried to respond. "Jo... Joseph. You own this company?" I asked him, tears welling up in my brown eyes.

"Excuse me, have we met before?" he asked. I shook my head—if he was pretending not to know me, then I'd pretend too. We'd dated for a year before he ran off. How could he not recognize me?