Chapter Nine
1524 Words
I was in blue overalls, blue gloves, a blue bucket in hand and a mop in another following a generous figured woman around who introduced me to the rest of the junior staff. Martha was her name, our departmental head.
I found myself a partner who I would co-wash with.
Eva.
A slender girl who towered over me, she was attractive with lots of hair, dark melanin skin than my own. She was in blue overalls too.
" So you will start with the rooms upstairs, " Martha announced.
Eva walked out and I followed in tow.
" I love your eyes and your figure, are you really Kenyan though your skin is dark, " She spoke up after her black orbs had roamed up and about my person.
I had received much compliment regarding my pear shaped medium build and my eyes so I just brushed her off with a brief thank you.
" But are you really Kenyan ? " She persisted.
" Of course, Mimi ni Mkenya ! " I retorted.
" Oh ! Lakini macho yako ?"
" It's a form of mutation, "
That shut her up.
One thing I loathed was intrusion of my personal affairs and strongly believed everyone should mind their own business unless they volunteered to tell you.
When we reached the final flight of stairs at the top ,we split up ,she decided to start on the toilets on the left wing while I started on the right wing.
I opened the first door, at the furthest end of the corridor to clean, it seemed unoccupied for a while. I shrugged, walking on the soft brown fluffy carpet that led to the toilet .
I dutifully started the assignment while my mind ran deep into thought.
How long would I do this ?
I frowned. It was true that initially I had no solid plan with my life- how could I, I lived from hand to mouth but I currently had a source of income, money I could budget for and use however I deemed fit.
I could save for school.
I pouted, that was bound to take long.
No pain, no gain.
I had to make a choice. All good things never came easy.
I pouted, I was so engrossed in my thoughts and cleaning that when I heard a cleared throat behind me I jumped tripping over the bucket landing on my behind hard on the tiled floor.
I glared at the source who had a small amused smile.
“ Halloo, ” He greeted.
“ Mr. Adrian, what are you doing here ? ”
“ Oh ! Supervising my staff as usual, ” He casually replied before walking out with a chuckle.
Staring down at myself, I wished I had worn closed shoes.
Red ankle boots ...six inch. I jotted in my mind, when I would earn my pay.
I slowly realized, the work was actually tiresome. It was lunch hour and I was only done with two floors- ten rooms, and I had a remaining four more floors to finish.
Martha came around to call me for lunch.
“ But I'm not done ! Four more floors beneath - ”
“ Oh ! I'm sorry I didn't tell you the correct instructions,you're four workers in total . You and Eva would separately clean each wing on three floors. Then the other would clean the remaining three floors. This is done twice a week, the remaining days, the restrooms are cleaned if there are guests,”
That was reliving.
The cleaning job was boring enough but I'd rather do it a thousand times over than be subjected to my past means of livelihood.
A plate of chapattis and yellow beans stew was presented to me once I entered the small staff cafeteria, I eyed Martha suspiciously.
“ Nini ? ” She asked.
“ Nani ata maliza chakula hiki ? ”
“ Wewe tu , ” Her mouth tipped up in a smile as she answered.
Another protest was cut of as soon as she started complaining I needed curves on my body.
“ But - ”
“ Hapana ! No buts, those curves are not enough, you're an African so more curves. That's our trademark! ”
With that she served another leaving me a plateful of watermelons before I dug in.
I sat at a corner, facing the wall and an empty chair only for a bubbly Eva to plop herself on it.
“ Hi ! ” She breathed, unpacking her french fries.
I thought the food served was uniform.
“ You're not eating chapo beans ? ” I asked.
“ No, we choose what to eat, this is the menu and the hotel pays for that, we don't pay for lunch, ”
I frowned.
“ Were you not given a menu ? ”
“ No, I just walked in and this was dished out to me, ”
“ The boss must have instructed it then, ”
Ridiculous.
I shook my head, there was no possible way Adrian could dictate on what I was supposed to feed on.
“ You're mistaken, ” I said but Eva cut me short.
“ I told you that man has the hots for you. I've been working here for two years and never ever does the boss supervise his employees' during morning hours even if they're new, but today he did. It reminds me of an incident long ago, ”
Psht ! Nonsense !
“ He is just concerned of my welfare as a good Samaritan is - ”
“ Oh really ! Including you being taken up for accommodation, the only employee I might add in one of the most expensive apartments in town ? ”
What ! But how did she know.
“ Jay told me, he's my brother, ” Apparently I had asked the question aloud for she answered.
“ Who is Jay ? ” I harshly whispered.
“ The guy who dropped you at the hospital. He said he saw you being chased down the street by a huge man and when he saw how you were dressed he assumed you were perhaps a pickpocket or a hooker who had ran away with the man's money, ”
I swallowed.
This was not good.
“ He said he expected Adrian to be least concerned with the likes of yourself, especially after what had happened to him last year but being an ever God-fearing man pushed to do good even to the point of stupidity he butted in your situation especially after you bumped into him and sprawled on the floor, ”
I sprawled on the floor ! How disgraceful!
“ Jay said he looked at his friend at the moment and he knew it was not only because of his faith that he intervened. Jay says the boss was taken by your beauty. Everyone around noticed it, he spent an entire four minutes his stare fixated on your face and Jay couldn't blame him. Jay says he would have wanted you for himself too. My brother worries that street women like you can never change even if helped and would ruin the boss just as Neil did. If that ever happens no one starting with the so friendly Mr. Babu will let you go. Neil was wise to run away before we discovered her deception but you, you will not ! ”
I swallowed.
Scary.
She looked scary even the atmosphere had felt eerie at the moment, her eyes seeming as if I were in the truth or dare horror movie where each character would bear a sinister smile before demanding something evil.
Street woman like me.
I felt as if everyone around me bore the same look, evil smile, judging eyes, condemning eyes.
I felt my eyes in ages grow tearful.
Oh no ! No !
I couldn't cry here.
But they knew, they knew I was a hooker.
As if sanity struck her back, Eva's eyes widened with what she had said and a hand reached out to grab mine - I pulled away.
“ Sorry, I don't believe you're a street woman as my brother says - ”
Damage had already been done. I stood and walked briskly out of the place, my food untouched. Hastily grabbing a mop and a bucket and proceeded to the next floor.
A big mental note to avoid Eva and her so called judgemental brother Jay at all costs.
****
Okay, I feel Jay is really jealous of Adrian and projects the jealousy at Jeremy ?
What do you think ?
Is Eva jealous too ?
And do you think Mr . Adrian actually gave directive of what she was to take for lunch. I donno about you but I like this chapter.
Any way, translation for the Swahili words :
Mimi - I
Ni - Am / Are/ Is.
Mkenya - Kenyan
Lakini - But.
Macho - Eyes.
Yako - Yours.
Nini - What.
Nani - Who
Ata - Will
Maliza - Finish
Chakula - Food .
Hiki - This.
Wewe tu - Only you.
Hope you're enjoying yourself. Till the next chapter.
- Writer
