On The Devil’s Menu

I knew this was going to happen the second I was reminded that my group’s team bonding would be holding today. As usual Mira picked our spot, no, rather ‘they’ picked the venue without consulting me or asking for my opinion. Just like they normally do. Why am I even surprised it’s happening again this time around. Damn! It’s been hell so far... wish I had called in sick. maybe I’ll be put out of my misery. Alone in my apartment watching my favorite tv show... I glance at my watch for like the 67th time, wondering when this whole s**t show was gonna be over still trying my possible best not to yawn “Zia! Zia! Zia... Fuck! I totally zoned out on them. Happens a lot whenever I’m in their company though. Sometimes I imagine myself at home in my favorite T-shirt, tucked away in my favorite sofa with my favorite junk stuffed full in my mouth watching my tv show. I turn my attention back to Becky with her obnoxious red lipstick that’s literally screaming “NOTICE ME!” loud into our eyes “Sorry.. what were you saying?” She gives me this stupid look she’s fond of giving just me. The special one she’s curated for me and me alone, like I’m some piece of s**t she’s wasting her precious sights on “ I said my period started and if you’ll be gracious enough to run to the convenience store to get some tampons for me?”. She slurs out. same as everything that ever comes out of her mouth. A little demon in me is begging me to rebel just this one time, to speak up and remind them I’m nobody’s slave here. But then... Mira is the CEO’s niece and I know she’s been out to get my ass for a pretty long time and I really desperately need my job. Besides, I’ve been enduring their shits for the longest time, just so long as they’d let me do my job. I turn my gaze from the bar to her, stretching my palms out so she could give me her card. She gives me the this fake puppy eyes, pouting “Darling, make it snappy.” not waiting for my reply she turns back to the rest and throws her hands over Jason’s shoulders snuggling nearer to his body, laughing and smacking her lips all over his face ‘Thought this was meant to be a team bonding’ i ask myself in my head Yeah that happens alooot too I talk to myself most times “Now where in this shithole Zia are you gonna find a*****e?” I mutter under my breath cussing as I leave the club in search of the nearest convenience store around here. For all I know, Becky wasn’t on her period and she prolly made this whole period crap story to spite me or make Mira laugh. Just like they’ve been ordering me all over the place ever since I got here “Zia go order drinks for us....” “Zia you know I hate this drink... go get me another one...” “Zia I’m going to the restroom don’t think I’ll be able to reach my zips please come along...” Can’t a girl get a break! I turn to the old man sitting outside a coffee shop with a nice hot cup of coffee in between his two palms raised very close to his lips and a paper beside his left elbow on the table “Excuse me sir, do you happen to know of any convenience stores nearby?” He doesn’t even spare me a glance, points his index finger sideways I take it it’s the next street?” I ask nobody “Thank you very much for your help” I reach for my phone, not exactly to call anyone who would I call? The only person I have in this world is my mum and she’s still in a persistent vegetative state. One of the sole reasons why I keep up with my colleagues tyrannies, just so I could have the money to pay for her monthly hospital bills. Finally! a*****e! I brisk my way into the store wandering from one aisle to another and there! Some tampons! I grab a few, different brands. Wasn’t in the mood to take chances. And make my way to the checkout counter to pay. My game plan was simple Give her the bag of tampons, grab my bag and call it a night but nothing prepared me for the next words that came out of Mira’s mouth “Zia darling, I just got off the phone with the boss and he wants you to meet...” she scans the whole place around with her eyes and I find myself scanning the place with her. Who are we meeting?, who are we searching for with our eyes please? I find my self asking myself in my head “ okay! He wants you to meet with a potential investor who we’re trying to draw in to invest in our company” she resumes rubbing me shoulders in mock affection with a sly smile on those beautiful heart lips of hers I’m literally screaming in my head right now! What investor!... Why are you just informing me right now! What do I say!... Where is he!... Becky and Jason were trying their best not to giggle loudly and if I wasn’t so hell bent on looking for this someone here who could possibly be the potential investor, I would have caught up to their reaction. Becky seemed to have noticed my frenzy search for him “Ummmm... Mira didn’t I hear the boss saying something about this man wearing a Black shirt and Black pants??” Mira swirls to look at her and back to me and quickly concurs “yeah... something like his sleeve folded almost to his elbows also!” I palm my palms to my forehead... Now you’ve got to be kidding me I should walk all over this bar searching for some mystery man on black with a rolled sleeve, and say ‘hi the boss sent me’ with a wave and a smile. Shoot me in the head please! Jason gives them an impatient look that got me wondering what for??? You’re not the one being sent to the slaughter house unprepared so what’s the look for please?? Mira turns her face to the right and smacks her lips in the air, repeating this exercise twice again. All this pretentious show of affections she’s normally doing. Doesn’t get me though cause yes! Mira I see you for what you are it’s just not my place to call you out on your bullshits “Bye glassy have a nice chat okay?” I sigh inwardly so we’re back to calling me glassy? Shoot me in the head again please. Becky is drawing Jason to the door giggling loudly on top of her voice and then she suddenly stops without warning bumping into Jason who was following her closely behind and turns to me. “Make sure you get him to invest Glassy!” She yells and turns back to the exit and leaves with Jason. “ I trust you to be safe” Mira says to me gathering her things from our booth “And oh, Glassy? I want you to report your meeting with him directly to me and no one else. Am I understood?” She adds as an afterthought Wait a minute! Why her? Why not the boss? Yunno what? Whatever I really don’t care. I push my glass up to the ridge of my nose and brace myself for this sudden task. Here goes nothing But the bar first... I need something strong for this, have to be a little bit high enough for this stupid impossible mission and at this same time try not to get too high. Doesn’t happen enough just in case you were wondering Okay maybe maybe thrice a week Nahhh that would be a lie Try every night after a working day Sounds just right. The bar attender keeps giving me this funny look as I continue requesting for another shot immediately I down the last but I’m a little bit too wasted to give a f**k right now. I’m looking at his shirt and his rolled sleeves wondering if his the one I’m ought to meet but, then my gaze goes further down for me to realize he’s wearing a red pants. Oops sorry was told to look for a black pant. I laugh to no one in sight and lean forward to cup his face in my palms “Strictly following orders... sorry” I laugh to his face again Shit! Zia get a grip on yourself girl! i mentally kick myself.