Ruth:From Farm To Queen

Chapter 7: The First Day At Work

Ruth's first day at the foundation office was not what she expected.

The office was at Sapele Road, inside a big glass building that had AC in every room. The staff there were all fine girls and boys from big universities - UNIBEN, UNILAG, even one from Canada. They all wore fine suits and spoke big English.

When David entered with Ruth wearing her simple blue gown and carrying her small faded bag, the whole office went silent. Everyone looked at her from head to toe.

"Good morning everyone. This is Miss Ruth Osayande, our new Field Manager for Village Outreach. She will be in charge of finding the girls for our scholarship. Please cooperate with her. Give her a laptop and show her how our system works," David said.

After David went to his office, the whispers started.

"Field Manager? This village girl?"

"See her bag, na market bag."

"Oga David don bring another charity case again."

One girl, named Tonia, who was supposed to be Ruth's assistant, rolled her eyes.

"So, Miss Field Manager, have you ever used a laptop before? Or you only know how to use firewood?"

The whole office laughed.

Ruth's face turned red. She wanted to disappear. She had never touched a laptop before. In Ugonoba, she only knew how to operate her small torchlight phone.

Tonia dropped a silver laptop on her table with a loud bang.

"Oya, turn it on. Let's see if you sabi."

Ruth stared at the laptop. She did not know where the power button was. Her hands were shaking. She pressed the screen.

The office burst into laughter again.

Tonia laughed the loudest. "Oh my God! She is pressing the screen! Jesus!"

Ruth's eyes filled with tears. She wanted to run back to the boys quarters. Maybe Mama Nosa was right. Maybe she was a nobody and will always be a nobody.

Just then, David's voice came from his office door. He had been watching through the glass.

"Tonia, in my office. Now."

Tonia's smile disappeared. She entered David's office and David closed the door. Nobody heard what he said, but when Tonia came out, her eyes were red and she was shaking.

She went to Ruth's table.

"Ruth... I... I am sorry... I did not mean to laugh at you... Please forgive me..."

Ruth wiped her tears and smiled small. "No problem. You can teach me? I really want to learn."

David came out and stood beside Ruth. He put his hand on her shoulder.

"Everyone listen. Ruth did not go to UNILAG. She did not go to Canada. But she has something none of you have. She knows what it means to be hungry. She knows what it means to be called a nobody. That is why she is your boss in this department. If you cannot respect her, you can resign and go. This foundation is for village girls, not for proud people."

The office was silent.

David turned to Ruth. "Come to my office, I will teach you how to turn it on myself."

Inside his office, David taught her patiently. How to turn on laptop, how to type, how to save. Ruth was a fast learner. In two hours, she had typed her first email, even though she typed with one finger.

"RUTH OSAYANDE - FIELD MANAGER" - she typed it and smiled.

For lunch, David ordered food for both of them - Amala and Ewedu from a good restaurant.

While eating, David said, "You see, Ruth. This is just the beginning. People will laugh at you because you are from farm. But one day, they will clap for you. Just keep learning."

Ruth nodded, eating happily.

But in the office outside, Tonia was not happy about being embarrassed. She was on w******p, typing quickly to Vanessa.

"Aunty Vanessa, that girl don resume for office o. Oga David just shouted at me because of her. I hate her. What should I do?"

Vanessa replied instantly: "Good. I need you inside. I will pay you 50k every month. Just be my eyes and ears. Send me every picture, every video of what she does. And spoil her work small small. I want her to fail."

Tonia looked at Ruth through the glass door, Ruth was laughing with David, and Tonia smiled wickedly.

"Okay Aunty. Deal."

Ruth thought her battle ended when Vanessa left the mansion. She did not know that the battle had just entered her office.

And the enemy was now sitting right in front of her, smiling.