Three - First Day At Work

Christiana finished dressing up for her new job and stared at herself in the mirror.

Beautiful. She was dressed in a professional white suit gown, and a flat white shoe to go with it. It is her first day at work. She hopes that she'll make an impression.

"Oh, Christiana. You're going to bag that job, in Jesus name..." she whispered to herself as she turned around to stare at her back, "Amen."

She got out of her house and locked her door. Her eyes automatically went to TheKings. She glared at the huge mansion.

Too bad it belongs to that rude and arrogant man! All those flowers are wasted there. All of them.

She sighed in regret and turned towards her gate. No thinking about her horrible neighbour. Today's her first day at work. She does not need anybody to ruin it for her.

That in mind, she turned and walked out of her gate.

An hour later, she arrived in front of the orphanage. Smiling gratefully, she paid the taxi driver and waved at him cheerfully as he drove off.

Then, she stood in front of the orphanage, looking at the big building. Her plans broke out in sweat.

You're going to be fine, Christiana. It's a job interview not a visit from God. You shouldn't be so nervous. It's either you get the job or you don't.

The pep talk didn't work. She wiped her sweaty palms against her gown. She stood there for a long long time.

Finally, she stared at her wristwatch. A gasp tore from her lips. It's just five minutes remaining before the interview!

It's now or never, Christiana.

With her head high, she stepped into the big gate that was boldly written Hope Regained Orphanage at the very top of it. The gate man waved at her and she waved right back, smiling at him.

In the lobby, she walked straight to the receptionist's desk. A very beautiful woman in her prime, who's bored were knitted as she typed away on the computer in front of her.

Christiana cleared her throat to indicate her presence. The woman looked up from her computer towards her. She smiled and gestured for her to walk closer.

She did. "Good morning, ma'am. I'm looking to the manager of this building, I have an appointment with him."

The woman was still smiling kindly, "I take it, you're the Home Emergency Nurse that was gonna come today?"

"Yes, ma'am. That's me."

"You're welcome, beautiful." the friendly receptionist shook hands with her, "As for the manager..." she glanced at the computer screen in front of her, then suddenly a man walked into the reception. ".....I think you just found him." she pointed at the man.

Christiana smiled and took in the man that just walked into the reception. In tailored black suit, a white shirt and tie, and a black shoe to go with it, he looks...good. He's handsome to be precise, his face was also friendly as he waved at the receptionist.

He began walking towards them. Christiana mentally prepared herself for meeting the manager.

He stopped in front of her, staring at the receptionist, "Good morning, Mrs Martin."

"Good morning, sir. This young woman was just looking for you, she's the newest in Hope." The woman had shortened the name of the orphanage to Hope.

The manager gazed at me assessingly for a few seconds. He extended his hands, "I take it you're the nurse."

"That's me, sir." Christiana took the hand he extended.

"Let's go to my office while waiting for the boss, he wants to check you out himself." The man already led the way while Christiana followed.

Right. The boss. She just remembered.

Was that supposed to make her more nervous? Is it normal around here, the owner of the orphanage coming by himself to interview people?

"I take it the boss comes by himself to examine every new employee to be hired." Christiana said.

"Nope. Infact I heard you're the first he will be interviewing and hiring himself." The man provided as they entered the elevator. "It must have really hurt him when Lia died last week."

Christiana was trying to control her summersaulting heart when she heard the last one. She turned abruptly as the elevator began moving, and stared at him with wide eyes.

"Someone died? What happened!?"

He spared her a glance, and shrugged sadly. "It's kind of a long story but you'll be hearing about it soon enough when you start working here. Lia is one of the orphaned children here, I heard she died out of carelessness from our parts."

"You heard?"

"Yes, I heard. I'm also new here, nurse. The boss fired the last manager after that incident." He provided.

It's wasn't making her feel any better at all. Not only did a child die, but this boss must be really strict.

Silence descended as the elevator opened and they walked out of it. They passed three doors before they arrived at one with the writings on the door... 'The Manager.'

He opened the door and they walked in. "Here's my office. But, we ain't staying here, we're going to the main office, the boss will be arriving quickly."

Minutes later, she was seated at the chair of a very big office that was well decorated and arranged. The books on the desk well packed, the tiles well scrubbed, everything looked almost brand new.

He began working, typing away on the keyboards with all concerntration on what he's doing. Her eyes followed his movements, for lack of better things to do. If she doesn't keep herself occupied, she'll have a nervous meltdown.

A call came in for the manager. Reaching for the telephone, he placed it to his ear and began a business discussion.

She sat down there for more than twenty minutes, her butts started protesting.

She got up and walked to the window, for lack of better things to do. It has a very beautiful view. Tall houses, sky scrapers and beautiful houses. This is indeed a city for the rich.

Oh God! There was a beautiful view outside the window, lots of house. She'd never....

The door bust opened immediately, the manager walked in, looking very formal and down-to-business.

He held the door for the other man to walk in, he entered then.

He wore a well tailored immaculate white suit, his shoes so shiny, one can actually use it for a mirror. But his face....

Christiana stood frozen to the wall, her eyes wide open.

Oh God! This can't be happening!

She stared into her boss's face, the deep blue eyes she saw this very morning. The one that made rude and unholy remarks about her...and the last but not the least, the face she planted her palm on before running out in anger.

His eyes pinned on hers and flashed with recognition.

She knew she was done for.

In her mind, she'd already imagined herself going back to the convent, going back home and maybe it's just for the best, she missed home.

She looked back at her boss's face. Oh yes, he remembered her very well, because he pinned her with that deep blue eyes and his mouth twitched cynically.

"You." Was all he said.