TASTELESS

CHAPTER FOUR

Kayla is starting the computer and getting comfortable in her new office when a gentleman walks in. He is well built and neatly dressed.

"Hello Kayla, my name is Andrew, your manager." he introduces himself.

"I am Kayla." She replies.

"I already know you Kalee, congratulations on your appointment as an accountant here." He responds and pulls a smile.

"Thank you." She replies and sits back. While in high school, Kayla's nickname was Kalee. Only her classmates know that name. She wondered how Andrew knew it. Kayla knew Andrew through the virtual interview as he was the one who assessed her. And this is the first time to meet Andrew in the face.

"The receptionist will come to introduce you to our company, but meanwhile you can have the record books arranged neatly on the shelves," Andrew says and walks out, but Kayla interrupts quickly.

"Wait, how do you know me?" She asks. Andrew turns back and looks at Kayla in the eyes.

"Don't worry about that, see you later". He says and smiles again. Kayla smiles back.

'wait, did I smile?' she asks herself. How does it feel when a stranger knows your very small details, like your high school nickname? Kayla is not going to ignore that. She has to dig a little bit deeper and get to know who Andrew is. As she arranges the office, two people walk in. They are clients.

"Yes, how can I help you.?" She confidently asks them. Although this is her first time here, she has to prove professionalism in her new workplace.

"We made our payments last month but we haven't yet received the payment receipts. We are here to enquire about that." They say.

"Well, give me a few minutes," Kayla says as she reaches on the office phone, which is off. Just as she tries to think of another solution, Andrew walks in.

"The receipts will be ready tomorrow, please. Bear with us." He tells the clients, who seem to be a couple.

"This is what we have been told all the time." They respond.

"We apologize for the inconveniences," Andrew replies. Kayla is seated all that time. She does not understand why people are not getting their payment receipts. The two clients come into an agreement with Andrew and walk away, leaving Kayla and Andrew looking at each other.

"Why haven't you given them payment receipts?" Kayla asks.

"Don't worry about it. Just do your work." Andrew says and walks away. Kayla's first day at work seems funny. From a manager who knows her high school nickname to unsatisfied clients.

"Our computers here are not upgraded to the latest generation, I've been telling Andrew to upgrade but he doesn't care." The receptionist interrupts as she walks into Kayla's office. She has come to officially introduce her to the company. She unlocks the computer and takes her through the company's assets and liabilities.

"They are indeed slow. You haven't told me your name yet though" Kayla says.

"I'm Lucia, I thought you read my name at the reception." The receptionist replies.

"I didn't see it," Kayla responds. As they click through accounting software and records, a potbellied man walks in.

"Lucy, Andrew needs to see you." He yells. Yelling because his voice is loud and uneven.

"Let me come back and show you the Tally password," Lucia says and walks out.

"Young girl, what is your name?" The man says.

"I'm Kayla," Kayla replies.

"Welcome to our company Kayla, Lucy will tell you about me." The man says and walks out. Weh! It is the first day at work and Kayla feels confused already. But she hopes to catch up with everyone and everything.

'Is her name Lucy or Lucia?' she asks herself and fetches her phone from the handbag. 5 missed calls from her Mom.

'What does mom want to tell me?' she asks herself and calls back.

KAYLA'S MOM; Hellooo, umetupa simu?

KAYLA; Mom niko job.

KAYLA'S MOM; Sawa ukitoka job nipigie.

KAYLA; Sawa.

She hangs up, puts her phone back in the handbag, and looks at Lucia, who had walked back a few seconds ago.

"I forgot to tell you that he is our CEO. That big man." Lucia says as she grabs the mouse.

"Okay, but why does he call you Lucy?" Kayla asks.

"I don't know. I have told him severally that my name is Lucia and not Lucy. But he keeps repeating." Lucia says. She continues to show Kayla things on the computer.

"And who is Andrew?" Kayla asks.

"He is our manager here. I thought you knew him. Is he not the one who brought you here?" Lucia responds.

"Yes, he is the one. But I'm seeing him for the first time today. We have been talking on the phone all that time." Kayla replies.

"Well, I didn't know about that," Lucia says.

Kayla is a sensitive person. She can feel it when something is out of order. While Lucia is busy initiating her into the company's system, Kayla's mind is wandering. She doesn't understand Andrew at all.

After showing Kayla a few things, Lucia walked back to the reception and left her alone in her new office. The day went on well, with a few clients walking into the office. She attended to them perfectly. Her first day at work seemed great until later in the evening. A few minutes towards 5 pm, Andrew walked into Kayla's office.

"How is your day going? Any challenges?" He asked Kayla.

"My first day here is great. I still don't understand how you know my other name Kaleee. How do you know me?" Kayla responds.

"Let us not go there. Most importantly is that you now have a job. Is not that what you wanted?" Andrew says.

"Yes, but how did you know that I am also Kalee?" Kayla replies.

"Okay, I will tell you tomorrow. This is your fare. See you tomorrow." Andrew says as he gives Kayla a one thousand note.

"Wait, I didn't ask for fare" Kayla refuses to take it.

"Okay, thank you, see you tomorrow," Andrew says and turns towards the door. As he walks out, Kayla's mind starts to process memories.

'wait, I know him..