Chapter 4 HOPE

It was a sunny day, the birds were chirping and singing. I sat down and watched the children play around in the park, while some other people were having picnics. I came here for air. It's been quite a while and I have heard nothing concerning the interview. I picked up my phone and check my email for the millionth time.

I noticed a new mail from Smith Incorporated, my heart beats so fast, as I click on it. I have been offered the job as the secretary to the CEO. I looked around, I wanted to scream but people were around me. I screamed inwardly and punched the air so much that a little girl in the park looked at me weirdly. I grinned at her.

I got up and went home, I had to prepare for the next day. I'll be resuming immediately.

***

I walked into the company's building. It was as magnificent as I remember. The receptionist, Maggie, greeted me happily and took me to the fifth floor where my desk will be. I was stationed right outside the CEO's office. Maggie gave me a little orientation and asked me to call her if I needed anything. I settled in.

So far so good, I've been enjoying my new job. The CEO has been communicating with me via email, he was out of town. So all my tasks were virtual for now.

"Get out! you're fired! Leave my face!"

"I'm sorry sir. I will adjust the document and reach out to them again"

"I don't care what you do. I don't want to ever see your face again"

"I'm sorry sir. I'm really sorry"

Footsteps approached me, I wondered who the people speaking were.

I noticed two men coming and Maggie was behind them. I looked at her and she gave me a signal to get up, I immediately did and walked towards them.

The smaller man was already kneeling and groveling, he was almost in tears. I wondered who the larger sized man was to hold this much power.

I fixed my skirt and moved a little closer just as the man turned to face me. It felt like the earth had stopped rotating.

My feet remained planted on the floor while my eyes remained planted on the man's face.

I could hear Maggie call my name, the two men were now staring at me but I couldn't speak.

I heard Maggie asking if I was okay but no words could leave my mouth. I felt the earth shaking and wished the ground would swallow me.

"And who are you?"

I realized the large man was talking to me. I opened my mouth to speak but kept stuttering.

He turned to Maggie "Who's she? And is she dumb?" Maggie replied and said "I'm sorry sir. I apologize on her behalf. She's your new secretary. She's a little bit overwhelmed as she hasn't met you before." Maggie gave a small smile.

He looked at me for a long time, almost disgustingly and then he walked past me. When he got to his office door he shouted "she better get organized and finish all tasks for today. If she's a moron you might as well send her home. I can't cope with one." he slammed the door.

I noticed the man who had been begging earlier was still sitting on the floor sobbing. I wondered what he must have done to warrant him being publicly embarrassed. After some time, Maggie let him out.

When she came back to me, she said "that's Mr. Jason Smith. He's the CEO of Smith Incorporation." She asked me to behave myself as the boss doesn't take nonsense.

***

After work, I decided to eat some leftover pizza with my best friend as we chatted.

"You mean Mr Greek god is your boss?!" Jessica screamed. I covered my ears.

"You're gonna to damage my hearing, Jess. This is the 5th time you're asking this question." I told her. I know it's quite shocking to learn this but I was experiencing this firsthand. The rest of my day at work today was unreal. He was mean to everyone and everything.

"What are the odds that he didn't recognize you?" Jessica asked again. "I bet he did but pretended not to."

I sigh "No Jess, he really didn't know who I was. I guess I'm easily forgotten. What's there to remember?" I say as I continue eating.

Jessica sharply turned to me, her hair whipping me on the face as she did. "Have you seen yourself? You are one of the most beautiful women I've ever seen and you should know this from the amount of attention you attract" she says

"Take it easy, I do not want your hair taking off my eyes. I love my sight," I say.

Jessica behaved like I hadn't said anything and continued her endless praise of my unseen beauty. I continued eating quietly, of course it's very much like Jessica to patronize me. She loves making everyone feel good about themselves.

When she realizes I was going to say nothing, she takes a deep breath and says "You're beautiful, Oz, I don't know why you just don't see it."

I groaned at the nickname she called me because, of all nicknames to come up with, it had to be Oz. I immediately head to bed and I hear her chuckling.

***

"Schedule a meeting with Mr Anthony of Fresh Farms, Mr Cameron of Healthy Veggies and Mr Green of All Greens Global." He orders and I nod.

"There's a Mr Christian and a Mr Xiaver I'm supposed to meet with, but I can't really recall their full names or why I'm supposed to meet with them," he says more to himself than to me. He scrolls through his iPad for a long time leaving me standing there waiting for him.

"Okay! A Mr Christian Black and a Mr Xiavier Rutherford." He says

"Also add this name to the list," he says and looks at a name written on his book, "Mr Alexander Ivano." He finishes.

He looks up at me and says "Make sure you schedule them all on the same day, sometime this week." I nod again.

"Yeah...take this to the receptionist, she'll know what to do with it" he said while giving me a big brown envelope. I collect it just as I hear him ask what my name was. I tut inwardly. It's been a month of working with this Man and he didn't know my name?

I try to put on a small smile "I'm Ixora Benedict, Sir" he nods and practically shoos me away.

Was this how working with him look like? Being treated like a lesser human being?