Chapter 1
It was a cold morning,the wind rustled through the trees, and newspapers tumbled across the street.
At 6 a.m., I reluctantly dragged myself out of bed to take a quick bath and prepare for work. Just as I began fixing my hair, my phone beeped. It was an email from my boss that read:
"Good morning, Miss Clara. I hope you've prepared a solid business pitch presentation. Please, don't be late."
I let out a deep sigh.
Once I finished with my hair, I quickly put on my shoes and rushed downstairs to catch a cab to the office. A glance at my wristwatch confirmed my fear, I was running late.
"Oh no , my boss will be so mad at me."
"Driver, please hurry up, I have an important meeting to catch!" I urged.
When I finally arrived, I dashed straight into the boardroom. My boss was already there, clearly furious. I tried to explain myself, but he wouldn't listen. His only concern was the presentation I was about to deliver to the investors.
Trying to steady my nerves, I poured myself a cup of coffee. I couldn’t afford to mess things up any further.
The meeting had ended, and thankfully, it was a success. I managed to convince the investors, and my boss commended me for my effort. What a relief it was.
As I stepped out of the boardroom, I was greeted by Lisa, my close friend and colleague.
"Well done, Clara! I'm really happy for you," she said with a warm smile. "Oh! Before I forget, you owe me a treat at Chow's Delight. You know how badly I've been craving their jollof rice!"
I laughed. "Alright, my Lisa. we’ll go there today after work, my treat!"
"Ok!" Lisa replied cheerfully.
Our conversation was suddenly cut short when my boss signaled for me to meet him in his office.God knows what this one-on-one meeting is about.
Many thoughts ran through my mind. I wasn’t sure why he had called me, but I silently prayed it wasn’t something serious.
“Have a seat, Miss Clara,” my boss, Mr. Clinton, an elderly man in his late 50's, said with a gesture.
I sat down, still feeling nervous.
"I'm very pleased with the presentation you gave this morning," he began. "However, I want you to understand that I do not tolerate lateness especially for important meetings like this.
Also, you'll be working with a new partner who will be joining the company soon. Please ensure you work closely with him.
Both of you and some other staff will be attending a conference meeting in the U.S., where you'll meet potential clients valuable to this company."
"May I ask who my partner is?" I asked curiously.
"You'll find out when he arrives tomorrow. That'll be all for now. You can return to work, Miss Clara."
"Thank you, Mr. Clinton, for this golden opportunity."
"You're welcome, Miss Clara."
I left his office feeling both confused and curious.
I couldn’t stop wondering who my new partner might be. Still, the thought of traveling abroad made me smile.
“What’s with that smile, Clara?” Dennis chuckled, snapping me back to reality.
“Oh, Dennis. I didn’t even notice you,” I replied.
“It’s okay. How did your meeting with Mr. Clinton go? Hope it wasn’t anything serious.”
“Not at all. He just informed me that I'll be partnering with someone for the trip to the U.S.”
“Oh, that’s great news! I’m happy for you. I was selected too which means we'll be going together,”Dennis said with a smile.
Dennis, a very handsome guy, has always been there for me through difficult times. He never misses a chance to talk to me.
Most of the ladies in our department would do anything to be with him, but I've always seen him as just a friend.
Before long, I was done with work what a relief. Lisa, bubbling with excitement, rushed over to my desk.
"Clara, Remember we’re going out, so hurry up! I’m starving I could eat a horse!" she exclaimed.
"Alright, Lisa, calm down. Let me just pack up," I replied, chuckling.
We headed out to Chow’s Delight.
After the meal, Lisa leaned back, satisfied.
"Clara, my dear friend, thank you so much for the treat. That was amazing!"
"I’m glad you enjoyed it. If you don't enjoy it, what do I gain?" I teased.
We both burst into laughter.
We stood at the roadside for about 10 minutes trying to get a cab. Lisa was lucky to get one first.
"Alright, my dear, see you tomorrow at work," she said.
We waved each other goodbye and went our separate ways.
