The Meeting.

A week flew by as both Phoebe and Eric prepare to enter a new direction in their lives.

Phoebe who had to say her goodbyes to her mother and little brother found it difficult since she wasn't fully sure of her decision to leave them behind, three days into her trip, her boss made an arrangement for her to leave for New York, and meet the other recruits before they leave for Singapore.

She gathered everything she would need for her trip; it would be her first time on a plane. It has always been her dream to be on a plane and fly across the world and finally, her dream had come true.

She never thought achieving her dream would distance her from her family. The reality was far more different than her dream.

Kotoka Airport- Ghana

Finally, it was time for her to leave for New York, her mother, brother, and two best friends came to see her off. She wasn't the only one leaving, there were a few working colleagues with her and also her boss but they distanced themselves to give her private moments with her loved ones.

" Mama are you ok with me leaving huh?, if you don't want me to go, I assure you I won't," Phoebe said with teary eyes.

"Silly girl, don't even think about it, this is for you, and I want you to go, make your dream come true, and stop looking back. Besides we will be waiting for you when you come back." Her mother said to her calmly, holding her cheeks in both hands and wiping a drop of tear on her left cheek.

"Tell her that again, is not like you be gone forever" Ella stated with a chuckle and a soft smile.

" Drama queen, you have to leave now, before they leave you behind," her brother said to her pointing at her boss and colleagues.

She pulled her brother and placed his head under her armpit and ruffled his hair.

" Come here you prick, talking rudely to your big sis huh". He pulls himself away from her and gasps for breath.

"Damn you sis, you nearly killed me" drawing laughter in his mother and sister along with her friends.

She glanced at them again, looking at how happy they were, she felt relieved.

" hey Jon take care of Mama for me alright and make sure you don't miss class, remember education is the … "Jon interrupted and added "The key" I know you don't have to worry, I would take care of Mama even if you don't ask.

"it seems our baby Jon is all grown up," one of Phoebe's friends said teasingly. "Go now, don't keep them waiting" his mother reminded her. She quickly positioned herself and smiled. " bye !!" She says as she turned and left.

"Cat do you think she will last long there? I meant, her temper and all that," Ella asked the person next to her.

"She passed through her probation time, she can get through this too, besides I think she has changed a little, she is not all wildly as she used to be," Cat answered.

They both nodded and glanced at their friend's mother and little brother, they prayed they were right.

Let's go home...

New York.

" Gramps, you called again, I remember saying I would be back in a week, it's been four days and you haven't stopped calling," Eric said to his grandfather on a video call.

"Hey what is wrong with me calling my grandson and checking up on him, see I told you his not our little potato anymore." His grandfather voiced out looking at his right side."

"Gramps is someone with you, maybe, " Eric asked curiously. "Yes, your grandmother." He answered, and before Eric could utter another word, his grandmother popped up and asked how he was doing, he responded and they spoke for a while.

"I have to hang up now gramps," Eric informed them. " Wait !! little potato I noticed how much you've grown to look just like your father," his grandmother said with a big smile on her face.

" I look nothing like my dad's grandma", he answered. " then maybe your grandpa then" she added. Eric sighs and says his goodbyes.

He was about to end the call when his grandmother said something which made him pause. " Your cousin Philip is getting married soon, erm you know her, you two went to the same high school, what's her name again Racheal Li."

" I see, I didn't know that, well all the best with the wedding, I am hanging up," he said in a low tone. " will you be com…" he cut the call while his grandmother was speaking.

"We have lost our little potato, he was so kind, respectful, and a sweet boy when he was young but he is nothing like that now," Grandmother says while sobbing.

"Don't cry, it's just like that, when they grow they hardly pay attention to the elderly, and .. we lost our potato on the day we lost his parents too.." Grandfather says as he comforts his wife.

Eric's POV

It's so hard to hide from them, "Your cousin Philip is getting married soon, Racheal Lee?" I recalled what my grandmother said. I am not bothered I am just in shock.

Not in my wildest dream could I imagine my cousin with Racheal, their taste is so different not to mention their age. Philip is six years older than me, the same age difference between him and Racheal.

I once thought she was into me, but I guess I was just imagining it.

"Sir, may I come in?" Andrew asked waiting behind the door. "Yes, you may" I answered. He entered and greeted me.

"Sir here is the schedule for today's meeting and tomorrow" he stretched his hand and handed the file to me without making eye contact.

I scanned through and cleared my throat, he was behaving awkwardly and obediently.

" I will take my leave then sir." He turns to leave.

" Andrew, I want to say .. my voice started to shake, I didn't know how to say it. Let's just forget it and say it, I thought to myself. " I am sorry for the other day, I guess I was stressed. I was rude and I to apologize."

Andrew looked shocked, I wasn't surprised, it was my first time apologizing for something I know I did wrong. "You can go now". He smiled boldly and nodded, he was about to leave when I stopped him again.

"I want you to find me a new hotel, near the airport so that I won't have to drive all the way there. You can leave now".

I finally let out a heavy sigh, I was sophisticating. It was the first and I hope the last.

It was finally time for both Phoebe and Eric to leave for Singapore, they were both at the airport getting ready for their flight.

Phoebe was with her work colleagues and some recruits, she noticed she was the only brown skin (black) girl among them and the only African too. The recruits were from different backgrounds and races, most of them were Asians, and the rest were Americans, fifteen in total excluding Phoebe.

More males than females. She wasn't close with any of them after arriving no one had spoken to her and she decided to do the same. At the airport, they waited for their instructors to assign their respective roles and also their flights.

Suddenly her stomach started to growl. She needed to use the washroom, she asked for directions from the instructor and left.

Eric was on his way to board his flight, A first-class flight, and many bodyguards to accompany him for he was a popular figure.

His bodyguards had to circle him up as the women and even men try to get closer to him at the airport.

Trying to escape the crowd he bumped into something, not something but rather someone. Phoebe and Eric's shoulders bumped into each other causing Phoebe to fall.

"Watch where you going lady" Eric yells at her, she didn't get the chance to talk back as Eric and his bodyguards left.

She sighed and tried to locate her people...

" is everyone here?" Another instructor asked twice. " Yes please" a lady replied with a fake smile. " ok then let's move...

Phoebe was left behind, she got there and no one was there, she looked around nothing but noticed a bag which one of the recruits was wearing, entering a plane.

She quickly followed, got her things, showed her passport and ticket, and entered. It was her second time on a plane but she was still not familiar with the type of classes one should be in. She just followed the person with the bag.

It was so spacious and nice, there were only three passengers, they didn't look familiar but she didn't mind, she believed they were instructors.

She walked quietly and saw an empty seat and sat there without looking at her side.

"The plane will be taking off in five seconds", female attendant announced.

"What the hell!, Who are you? And what are you doing in this plane", the person sitting next to Phoebe yelled….