Chapter Two

"Miss Blaine where are you? I understand you are not at the premises?" Mr. Cohen bellowed out in anger.

"I-I-I-I- a-am al-almo-most tth-there s-sire." She stuttered for the first time while speaking to him.

"Almost there? You should be there by now you lazy fool. Just pray you don't lose this contract. If you do, don't bother coming to the office."

"Excu------"

The line went dead just when she was about explaining things to him. From his tone and words, she could tell he was pissed off. She had worked for him long enough to know that he hates lateness and doesn't joke with work especially when it involves money.

But why? is it her fault that she had a flat Tyre and is stuck in traffic? Something she has no control of? She thought, getting pissed off herself.

It wasn't until thirty minutes past seven that she made it to M&M making her thirty minutes late. She pondered over an excuse as she rushed up the stairs to Mr. Monett's assistant to collect the blueprints.

"Oh you are here Ms. Blaine. I'm sorry you are thirty minutes late. Mr. Monett and his board of directors are in another meeting."

"What? oh no no no this can't be happening."

"I am so sorry. Your assistant dropped this off for you."

She turned to retrieve the blueprints from where she placed them forgetting that she had placed her coffee near them.

"God no! Not this now." Mila cried out wretchedly at the ruined documents

"I am so sorry Ms. Blaine. I will fix this. I forgot I had a coffee here." Lola, Mr. Monnet's assistant cried out, panicked for she could lose her job if she doesn't fix this. She brought out tissues trying to clean the coffee but they just got soaked, leaving the huge brown stain evident.

"Okay, Mr. Vicker you will hear from us."

"Sure. It was nice doing business with you."

"Likewise."

"Oh Mila you are here. Too bad you came late. Waited for you for about ten minutes. What happened?" Mr. Monnet asked her as he escorted his business associate out.

"I am sorry sir, I had a flat Tyre on my way here. I couldn't leave my car there so I called a towing service, then I had to take a taxi. It took me a while to hail down a taxi and there was a very bad traffic and........."

"It's okay Ms. Blaine I get you. I will give you one more chance to impress my board and I. Now follow me." She followed suit taking the stained blueprints along with her.

"Ladies and gentlemen I will like to introduce Ms. Mila Blaine from Unique real estates. The proposed company that will be in charge of the construction of the children's hospital and the supermarket."

"Ms. Blaine my board and I will take a look at the designs you brought along with you as you explain your plans for the supermarket and the hospital. Before you start I will like to remind you that we want something ultramodern and classic. For the hospital, we want something that is kids friendly because it's mainly for them. So we want a structure where they will feel comfortable and never miss home when they are admitted. For the supermarket, we will want it in the form of a mall. Very huge where everything could be found. It must be attractive and must consist of all the modern technologies. Without any more time wastage let's hear your ideas."

He urged her to hand over the blueprints while she spoke about their plans for the construction. She silently prayed that Mr. Monnet will overlook the coffee stain.

"What is this Ms. Blaine. Do you think we are here to joke?!" Mr. Monnet shouted feeling like Mila had disrespected him and his board by submitting a very dirty blueprint.

"I am sorry sir it's no.........."

"You came here thirty minutes late with a lot of excuses yet I gave you a chance to prove yourself and you disrespect us by presenting us with this? See, nothing is clear. We can't even see the drawings. Tell me how we can work with this."

"I am so sorry sir, I can fix this just give me another chance."

"I am sorry Ms. Blaine but we can not work with an unorganized company. We can't give you another chance. Good luck." With that, he stood up signaling the end of the meeting.

She couldn't believe what just happened. She had worked tirelessly on this project just for it to be ruined. How would she face Mr. Cohen? A shiver went through her as she remembered his earlier words.

"Just pray you don't lose this contract. If you do, don't bother coming to the office."

"What am I going to do now? I have finally ruined everything"

She sobbed hoping, just hoping that everything was just a bad dream. Had she finally lost her job? She asked herself not believing that she had failed miserably. In all the years she had worked for Unique real estate, she had taken her work seriously and had never failed in any aspect. She was admired by her colleagues both male and females alike and her accomplishments have earned her the position of a supervisor. Now in just a blink of an eye, she has lost everything. She just thanked heavens that she had saved enough to last her for at least a year. Mentally, she drafted her CV and application letter making a note to actually print them and submit them to the companies that have shown interest in her.

Her phone ringing brought her out of thoughts and she dreaded answering it thinking it was her boss. She refused to answer it without checking the ID. The call came again immediately it went off. Again, without looking at the ID she answered deciding to get this over and done with.

"Listen I know I messed up and I am sorry. Before you will insult me just have it in mind that I am human and not a superhuman. I make mistakes and I am truly sorry for this one."

"Mimi, what are you talking about?" Her dad asked confused.

"O-oh dad it's you. Sorry, I thought it was my boss. Didn't check the ID."

"Okay, no problem. I hope everything is alright and that you are not in any trouble?"

"Yes papa, everything is fine."

"Okay good. Your mum and I want you to come over tomorrow after work. We will be having visitors and she would really love to see you."

"Visitors? Do I know them?"

"Of course you do. It's a surprise so I can't tell you now."

"Papa forgive me, I don't think I will be able to make it. I have a lot to do at work and I'm currently busy."

"No, I am not taking that excuse. When was the last time you visited us? Your younger sisters visit more than you do. Please baby I want to see you here tomorrow. I will leave you to work for now. Have a nice day I love you."

"I love you too papa." She said before the line went dead. If only he knew her day was far from being nice.

"I am sorry Ms. Blaine for ruining your documents."

"Don't worry Lola it's not your fault. Everything is fine."

"Are you sure?"

She nodded despite the chaos she was feeling inside.

"But I heard some of the board members talking about how disrespectful you are for giving them a dirty blueprint."

"Let them talk Lola. There is nothing wrong. I should get going now."

She picked up her bag and the ruined documents then walked past a very worried Lola who in no doubt thinks she has ruined Mila's presentation.

She absentmindedly walked to the car park forgetting that she didn't come with her car. Reality drew on her when she couldn't find it after five minutes of searching.

The security situated at the parking lot watched her carefully thinking she was a car thief. Even though she was dressed modestly, the way she was looking at the cars seemed odd to him hence made his eyes follow her every move. After all, that is his job and to him, everyone, whether nice or not is a suspect. He saw her alight from the taxi when she arrived hence his suspicion increased as to what she wants at the car park.

"May I help you madam?"

"Yes dear, I am looking for my car. I think I parked it around here." She said, making the security guard raise his right eyebrow in confusion.

"Your car? but ma'am, you came in a taxi"

"Oh sorry, I forgot. Forgive me." She pleaded, having an embarrassed expression on her face. She noticed that the look on the security guard's face was that of suspicion.

"Did he really think that I'm a thief? Will my day ever get crazier?"