Chapter 4
1468 Words
Amaka's POV:
"Sorry, sir. I was mistaken. I thought you were someone I knew before," I said as his blue eyes held mine.
"It's fine. Come ahead for your interview. Why do you want to work here with us?" Joseph asked. He clicked on his laptop as if he scanned my credentials.
Seeing him affected me, but his act—like he didn't know me or recognize who I was—made me tremble.
"Hello?" Joseph raised an eyebrow and studied my face.
"Right. I am a digital marketing student, and I graduated with distinction. I believe I can help your company market their products and services online," I said. I lowered my gaze and tried not to look at his face.
Joseph had changed; he looked more masculine and handsome. My son resembled him, except Jason stayed fair like me.
"I see," Joseph replied. He clicked his mouse again.
"I only employ staff who commit to their jobs and avoid breaching my company's agreement. If you dare breach it, you will pay a fine of five million," he warned.
"Okay, sir. I am an honest person, and you don't have to worry about that," I replied. I lowered my gaze further and avoided his eyes.
"Hmm," Joseph agreed. "You can meet with Anita to sign up with her."
"Thank you, sir," I replied. I stood from the guest chair and glanced at Joseph's face one more time. He had already turned his gaze back to his laptop, and I couldn't believe he didn't recognize me.
*Did I change that much?* My eyes welled up with tears, and Joseph looked at me.
"What's the problem, madam?" Joseph asked. He met my gaze, and I searched his dark, handsome face for any sign that I affected him. But nothing.
"Nothing, sir." I replied quickly, blinking away my teardrop as I rose from the guest chair. I felt his eyes on me, but I didn't look back as I left his office.
I wanted to resign from this job right then. But this marked my very first opportunity after graduating. *How can my child's father own this company? Was that really Joseph Erickson?*
I glanced back as his office door closed. The inscription read: CEO—JOSEPH ERICSON OFFICE.
My brows furrowed as realization hit me—Joseph was the one. I looked away and met Anita's curious gaze. She asked, "How did it go?"
"Oh!" I smiled, noticing the other newcomers staring at me. They were all fresh graduates too—young men and women like me.
"It went well, ma. I just got a bit emotional. Can I see the document?" I asked, and Anita replied, "Sure." She handed me the documents, and I quickly read the terms and conditions for working there.
It was an exclusive agreement; I couldn't work for another company or tarnish their group name.
I sighed and signed it, even though part of me resisted.
I wanted to know if Joseph had lost his memory—he failed to recognize me after only four years. He acted like he never knew me. Why did seeing him affect me so much?
I took my copy of the agreement and slipped it into my bag while Anita informed me, "You will have to wait to meet your new coach."
"Okay, madam," I said. I went to sit and wait. After a while, Anita returned and said, "Come with me. You will work under Simon Braxton. He's our marketing manager, so you can assist him with his job."
"Okay," I replied and followed Anita into Simon's office. The company occupied a five-story building, and I felt surprised to see that Simon was the same man who had paid my transport fare that morning. Unlike Joseph, Simon smiled and welcomed me. "Have a seat, pretty."
"Simon! You should know such compliments aren't allowed here—unless you want to lose your job," Anita warned him, but he laughed it off.
"Don't be jealous, Anita. I knew her before, so move away. It's nice meeting you again, pretty. What's your name?" Simon asked me, ignoring Anita's threat. She grimaced. "Do not say I didn't warn you."
She yanked open Simon's office door and left us alone.
I leaned forward and took a seat.
"Is everything alright, miss?" Simon asked. He looked concerned at me, and I felt sure my face had turned crimson.
"Yes, sir. I'm fine," I replied. I pulled a white handkerchief from my skirt pocket and wiped my face.
"Oh, please drop the 'sir.' Just call me Simon, okay? I'm not that old, and the boss is older than me, if you ask." Simon flashed his nice set of white teeth, and his words forced a smile from me.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome. So we get to work today. How fate works," Simon grinned, and I smiled back.
"I will contact the company's security man to set up your office here. You should know we will get along so I can teach you everything before you move to your own space," Simon said. He leaned back in his chair, and I glanced around his office.
Just like Joseph's office, Simon's space featured white walls, and he sat at a large desk with his laptop in front of him.
"Alright. So my work starts today," I said to Simon, and he replied, "Yes. Or do you want to go home?"
"No. I am fine," I replied, and Simon smiled back.
"Let me call the security man to set up your office now. I think that will make our work easier." Simon picked up his telephone, placed a call, and a security man entered.
The security man wore a white top, black trousers, and black boots.
"You sent for me, Simon," he said, and Simon replied, "Yes. Get a new office desk, chair, and laptop for my assistant." He gestured to me, and the security man peered at me before replying, "On it."
"Oh! I forgot my handbag. Let me get it," I told Simon, and he smiled.
"Feel free."
I stood from Simon's guest chair, stepped out, and exited his office. His office sat on the fifth floor, just like the boss's.
Some staff worked on the fourth and second floors, while the third floor served as their meeting hall.
Anita had already briefed me about the company when I signed the contract with her.
I returned to the locker, retrieved my bag, and pocketed the key.
As I turned to head back to Simon's office, Anita emerged from the boss's office and smiled at me.
"How's your work with Simon going? You shouldn't pay any heed to him, and know that the boss's office sits right next to his. Most offices have glass walls to monitor whatever happens. Plus, we have CCTV footage."
"Oh!" My cheeks burned even redder.
"You don't have to worry about all that. Simon and I just met coincidentally on the bus today, and I don't really know much about him," I told Anita, and she gasped. "Oh! That's fine. You're free to reach out to me if you need further assistance. Take care, Amaka."
"Alright," I replied and watched Anita walk away to her transparent office on the fifth floor. I sighed and returned to Simon's office to join him.
I stayed consciously aware that the boss watched us from his office. They had monitoring cameras and glass walls that separated the offices.
"Are you alright?" Simon asked. He looked concerned as I stepped into his office to join him as the company's new digital marketer.
"Yeah," I smiled, and he smiled back.
"Here's your new chair and small desk. It will keep you comfortable, alright," Simon said. He gestured to the new setup in his vast office.
"Oh! Thank you," I smiled at Simon, and he rose from his chair. He walked over to the new desk and chair to join me.
"You shouldn't thank me, Amaka. We are like partners now, so my duty is to make your work easy." Simon leaned beside me as I sat in the new chair.
"Alright," I said. I watched Simon turn on the laptop to test it. I shifted my focus to the loading screen and observed him set it up.
"You will have to fill in your name and password and register. For any further assistance, reach out to me." Simon rose from my desk once he finished setting up the laptop, and I smiled at him.
"Thank you." I watched Simon return to his chair, and I focused back on the laptop.
I glanced around the office and at the tinted glass wall, wondering what Joseph did next door.
The glass stayed dark, and I couldn't see into the next office. Still, I felt nervous knowing surveillance tracked me.
- Writer
