It had already been months since I started working, preparation of light breakfast, trying to sort out files were becoming my early morning routine.
Charles had been so busy with work that sometimes we barely eat dinner together.

A part of me enjoyed working, being needed to do something while another part hated the stress. Today a meeting which had been announced the previous day was going to be held. The thought of it excited and scared me as well.

Charles had advised that I start driving myself to work, so that I can drop Christy to school. But there was a feeling of uncertainty and fear about driving. I could drive, I remembered how but I just doubted myself.

Nne, it'll save us money and time, Christy won't even need to take a cab home inugo?, "
Charles persuaded

Whenever he made pleas, it was quite difficult to turn down, his eyes were his weakness when it came to giving him away, but they were also mine when it came to obliging his requests and needs.
But this time I couldn't, I didn't trust myself enough to drive and endanger my daughter.

We ended up hiring cab driver, who'd pick us early in the morning and pick us later in the day. He was quite old with grey hair sprouting from all corners of his head.

"He should be retired, if not that our country is so corrupt, this man would have been in a home for elderly being taken care of" I thought to myself.

While in the car, Christy kept playing candy crush with my phone, the driver was playing a native song and all I could make out of the song was " overtaking is allowed, amaghi akwu na line akpata ego"

The song tried to explain that, being successful has nothing to do with age, class, or rank. Whoever was in the position to make money should make money. Hence overtaking is allowed

My mind drifted to my boss, how nice he had been to me, the last week. He'd request for me in his office and question me about strange things, like "which sanitary pad a teenager would use, which brand was better. How painful cramps are, drugs to use for them"
I concluded that he had a baby sister, he looked too young today have a teenage daughter.
Other days he'd just call me in to ask how I was coping with work.

I saw it well to remove details of how my co-worker made me feel so uncomfortable with their attitude and gossip. I had found solace in Onyi, she was very funny, naive and carefree but she was a good person. She made work bearable and would always tell me funny things her children did to their teachers.

" So the man told him to stand up after he failed his test, my son refused oo. That one is oyiri Nna ya(just like his father) Very stubborn. He sat still and kept staring at his book. When the teacher now finally threatened to flog him. My son stood up, looked at the teacher and told him"in my mind I'm still sitting down". I was called to the school because of that. The funny thing was that two weeks earlier, his sister yelled "fuck me!!! " in class and she's just seven. You should have seen the way their teacher was looking at me. Like I was this incompetent mom, hmmm inukwa m. She's lucky she's single, it's not easy to balance work, with raising kids and being a wife as well. Women are just hero's"

I was always amused with her stories and sometimes I wished that I could remember all the funny things Christy did while growing up.

The boss would always nod and tell me to take things easy, like he genuinely cared for my well being.

The car stopped and brought me out of my thoughts.
"Why did we stop? " I asked the driver hoping it was not a car breakdown.

"Small madam say make I stop, she wan do something "he replied

I felt it was rather insulting to call a fifteen year old small madam, irrespective of her status in the family.

"Mpa I na anu igbo? "(Do you understand igbo) I asked him, he nodded and smiled

"Biko kpoo nwa m Christy"

I turned to Christy who was already out of the vehicle before I could say a word. My eyes followed her and I saw that she was speaking to a young boy. He was in his uniform too, but was trekking to school.
Christy pointed towards our car and even though he protested at first. Christy made sure he followed her.

When she got to the car she stared at me, I understood what the look was about. She was asking for permission for the boy to go with her. I nodded at her and the boy came in. He sat beside the driver while Christy continued playing her game.

I asked the boy his name and he told me, it was Charles.His name brought smiles to my face, he was my husband's name sake, the more reason to help him out. He was in christy's class as well but I could tell he was not from a wealthy home. The boy was exhausted from walking for long, he was also very shy and stuttered with his answers.

I had instructed the driver to always pick him up for school before he dropped me at my office and drove off with them.

Onyi was in a very foul mood when I got to the office, she barely spoke to me and yelled at most people who offended her.

I decided to freshen up a bit before going for the meeting, but I ended up having a lot of powder over my body. Someone in the office was up to stupid pranks, I hurriedly wiped off the ones on my face, and cloth. Thanking God that I hadn't put any makeup on.

It was almost time for the meeting, so I left the convenience to meet up. The culprits laughed at me when I came out looking ridiculous. I knew it was them, because they had been gossiping with my name since the first day I resumed.

I sat very close to onyi at the conference room, who gave me a confused look and mouthed words to me.
"O gini mere? "
I gave her a sign that'd talk to her later before the meeting began.

The boss began
"As you all know, this company ventured into the production of detergent last year. Starting from here in Asaba, extending to different states. So far we've been making very little profits . The lowest of income from Enugu. We need ideas to help us push this line of business forward or we would be forced to shut it down, I believe we do have ideas that can help"

Of course I didn't remember what they ventured into last year, but I was racking my brain with hope to come up with something.

Jude's eyes roamed the entire room and when it fell on mine, his gaze lingered. I suddenly became aware of myself and felt embarrassed at my appearance. I noticed a little smile creep into his face before he looked away.

My mind went to Charles and my daughter, how different they were. From different backgrounds, how he trekked to school and my daughter was driven to school.

I didn't know when I yelled poor people!!
A lot of heads turned to face me and they were quite amused with my appearance. I stood up slowly and began to talk.

"The detergents you've produced so far, Who would you say are your biggest customers in the society? "

Jude gave me a puzzled look and replied
" our goods are meant to get to everyone in the society, the general public "

" yes of course, but let's narrow things down properly. At what price do we sell a satchet and what is the size? "

"The selling cost has been #80 for 50 grams as opposed to the cost of other ones which are sold at 100 for 50grams"

We are just starting this business, in as much as we want to compete with others. Let us not forget that they have already created their own market and gained people's trust. While we on the other hand are just amateurs. "

He gave me a strange look as to say"what the heck are you aiming at? "
I'm not quite experienced when it comes to business, but I believe that the man who reaches out to more people makes the more profit. It is better to make #2 profit from over 14million people than #20 from a thousand people. I'd suggest we cut down the size of the detergent and the price so that our market would shift to them, there are more people in this country who can afford #20 detergent than those who can afford that of #80.
I'm not saying we shouldn't also sell that of 50grams but let us make this available to everyone.

By the time I finished a lot of heads nodded, while others snickered at me.
I sat down while others threw in their ideas.

I had barely sat down in my office when the boss requested for my presence.

I walked in on him speaking to someone over the phone, he gestured that I sit and when he finished he stood and walked over to where I was sitting.

"You constantly prove to me that , i was right by never letting you go"
I gave a nervous smile and waited for him to tell me why he called for me.

"You are a very beautiful woman, Victoria. Is it okay for me to call you Victoria? "

I shrugged at that

He walked closer to me, turned my chair to face him. Then reached out for my chin and drew me close.

Oh God please, let him not be that type!

************************************
A/N: let's just say that Victoria is in a tight corner for now, I do hope her boss has good intentions for her.

For the sake of dear Charles 🤔🤔🤔