“Hello, I heard you came to the bar. Are you feeling well? Please contact me upon receiving this message.”Christian! It seems one of his employees informed him of my presence. I felt remorseful for not reaching out to him since his departure, yet he displayed concern for me.Perhaps he was aware of the current situation between Zach and me.That particular day, I was not feeling well, luckily it was Friday. Therefore, I opted to work from the comfort of my home.I spent the entire day ruminating, and by noon, I was still in bed with my book, laptop, and phone.I found it difficult to reach out to him; I missed him, but I hesitated to make contact on uncertain terms.My phone rang; it was a video call from Christian, which I transferred to my laptop."Christian, hello!"I greeted warmly."Hey!"he responded, noting my demeanor."It has been a while,"I murmured."You appear distant, and you do not look well,"he observed."I am fine,"I replied, attempting to compose myself."No, you're no

As I opened the curtains, the warm sunlight of a November morning poured into the room, filling me with a sense of calm and confidence. The upcoming trip was on my mind, and I knew I had to be well-prepared not only to impress my boss but also to make a mark on every woman working in the insurance industry in our country."Hey Bella, could you please collate the files I emailed you and reach out to all the clients involved to schedule a meeting at the office for a biodata upgrade? Also, make sure to assign some staff members who are meticulous and detail-oriented, "I dictated a voice message.The day was off to a beautiful start, marking the beginning of a new month. Excitement and nervousness mingled within me as thoughts of the upcoming presentation danced in my head. Still in my pyjamas, I made my way to the kitchen to whip up a quick breakfast. I cracked two eggs into a bowl, sprinkled in my favourite seasonings and spices, and whisked them together. Just as I was about to take th

"Hello, how did the meeting transpire?" Christian inquired through a video call. I let out a sigh and responded, "It did not unfold as anticipated." As I aimed the remote at the television to lower the volume, my laptop sat before me as I settled into the sofa. I had at last returned to the comfort of my own abode. Home, sweet home.48 HOURS EARLIER;Standing before the expansive audience, I began, "The inception of insurance in my homeland dates back to 1879 when British colonial traders sought to safeguard their maritime trade, a venture they held dear. Initially, insurance underwriting was conducted in London, with local agents in my country issuing cover notes. The insurance industry flourished with the establishment of the first assurance company, the Royal Exchange Assurance, in 1921, a pioneering endeavour, followed by others. Subsequently, the first indigenous insurance company, the African Insurance Company Limited, emerged in 1950. Eventually, my country established its own i

I had lost my appetite, yet I continued to eat to avoid appearing contrary, pleased that he could maintain such a facade without drawing undue attention. Nevertheless, our eyes met sporadically during the meal. As the dinner concluded, conversations ensued. Erica, a photographer, attempted to pitch some business ideas to Zach, while Christian tried to become better acquainted with Bella. The wine seemed to have loosened their tongues and spurred conversation.However, I found myself with no desire to converse with the individual seated across from me. I gathered up some dishes and made my way to the kitchen to wash them. While occupied with this task, I heard footsteps and turned to find him leaning against my kitchen counter, holding a glass of wine. I wished I could vanish at that moment."Hello," he initiated the conversation."What are you here for?"I asked, disregarding his greeting."Nothing. I thought I would keep you company, as we are the only ones without a conversation part

However, it wasn't too late to embark on a fresh start. I secured employment at a distant canteen, where I undertook the tasks of washing dishes and serving meals to customers. The owner of the establishment graciously provided me with a place to rest my head. Subsequently, I began to endure a succession of harrowing nightmares; visions that involved my mother offering me to a menacing beast poised to consume me, or dreams in which Ben engaged in intimate relations with me. These nightmares induced tremors and nausea, I had to adapt and cope with them.Fortunately, I secured an additional position as a part-time tutor for children residing in the streets, thereby augmenting my income. One day, the canteen owner summoned me and inquired about my aspirations for furthering my education. Although, there were individuals of my age who were employed by her."Your future is promising, and I am disinclined to witness it waste away merely in service to me," she remarked. Encouraged by her wo