I FELL FOR MY BOSS

I FELL FOR MY BOSS

Chapter 1: Friendship

Stella woke up at about 5:am that morning, the annoying sound of the crickets filling the surrounding.

She looked beside her and saw her sister sleeping soundly on the bed. It was a very tight room with lot of loads, it looks more like a local kitchen, with clothes, pots and bags hanging from different corners.

Their small foam was placed at the center of the room, and a big drum of water standing just right after the wooden door which was taken out every morning, and brought back in the evening to avoid theft.

Stella was the first of three children, living in a remote village with parents. Their parents were just poor farmers, but they were what you'd call a happy family.

Stella was just nineteen yrs old, Grace her younger sister was sixteen and Christopher her younger brother eleven.

They based on the daily proceeds from their farm. They were farmers, what you would call wretched farmers, feeding from hand to mouth.

Some weeks ago, she nearly fell into the hand of a trafficker LadyB. She had agreed to go with the woman, coz she told her she would be her assistant over there and she happily took the offer. But her parents declined the offer, and refused her from going anywhere with LadyB. She did not fight it, coz she knew her parents always wants the best for her.

People who let their children go complained of poor communication, and they also complained about LadyB not fulfilling the promise she made them. All these also made her feel better.

Stella slid her hands under her pillow and brought out a small torchlight. She woke Grace up so she could help her in carrying the drum outside, coz it was quite huge and had a lot of weight.

"Get up sleepy head" she said hitting grace hard at the back.

"What's your problem it's not even bright yet", Grace grunted.

"Lazy bone, my problem is that you're just too lazy." She said and then she sighted an empty bottle of soft drink close to her.

"Look is that not what you had last night?" she asked pointing to the bottle that was hiding under a bag of cloth, and peeping with it's head.

"It was too late, so I wasn't able to........."

"Enough of your story" Stella cut her short. "Just come let's take that big man outside."

Grace finally stood up after stretching for some minutes, and then helped her in taking it out, but right after grumbling.

The whole place was as silent as a graveyard, but she wasn't scared at all, coz she was used to it.

"Where are you going?" Stella asked, turning to Grace who was already few walks away from the bed.

"Back to bed" she sluggishly replied without looking back.

"Lazy bone" she cursed under her breath as she drew water from the drum into a miserable looking bucket, with the help of a worn out plate.

She walked into the bathroom and in no time, she was done. And when she came out, the place was no longer silent, but filled with the chattering of men and women preparing for the day's job. She went into the room and started dressing up.

"Where are you even going this early?" Grace grunted using her hands to cover her face from the reflection of the torchlight. Stella noticed it and shifted the torchlight from her direction.

"Don't you know it's the season of bush mangoes. I and Dorris are going mango hunting, we decided to go early, so we would be the first to pick up the ripe ones" she replied.

"Wow, please can I come along?" Grace asked excitedly.

"No, you can't" she shunned her immediately. "I just want it to be the both of us" she added and Grace's expression changed immediately.

"But not to worry, I'll make sure to bring some home for you guys, so cheer up okay"

"Okay sis" she replied with a small smile.

"So just help me tell mum and dad I'll be back soon"

"No probs sis" Grace nodded and with that, she left.

*

Stella and Dorris found a spot and got their bags filled with mangoes, and they also enjoyed their selves with the juciest mangoes.

After the hunting they headed straight to Dorris's house. Doris was her Best friend, they've been friends since childhood and the villagers knew them to be inseparable, they always do things together and it was rare to see one without the other.

Dorris's house was much better than Stella's, her stepfather was well to do, she lived a much better life and they were financially okay.

Dorris was also beautiful, she had a set of bulging eyes and big boobs which she never liked. Dorris was a clear opposite of Stella, daring and bold. Guys who were interested in Dorris were always afraid to approach her, and so they talked to Stella instead. Stella was quiet, she had a calm spirit, and was always quick to cry. The villagers loved her so much coz of her respectful nature, and how she was always ready to help. She was such a hardworking child.

At Dorris's house, Dorris was busy cooking,and also they engaged in a discussion. She was telling Stella about a girl in their village who went to the city and died there, and her corpse was returned here to her parents in the village.

Stella felt bad about this, and just couldn't thank God for the kind of parents she had. And she began singing praises of her parents to her friend.

"Enough of your praises girlfriend, let's head to you house now, I'm done cooking, we're gonna eat when we get back" Dorris mouthed.

"And who told you I'm coming back?"Stella teased.........

"You're coming back, it's an order not a request" she said firmly.

"Yes Ma" Stella smiled as they stood up ready to go home, causing Dorris to laugh.

They headed to Stella's house, holding hands and singing happily. But by the time they got home, their excitement ended. They were so shocked by what they saw that Stella almost passed out.

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TBC

I FELL FOR MY BOSS

Chapter 2: A Tough Decision

"Oh my God" tell me I'm dreaming. Stella said to no one in particular as they looked into her compound.

Her compound was crowded with lots of people, many villagers were present there, she could recognize some faces and she couldn't recognize some of them. As she haven't seen them around before.

Stella's heart raced as she drew closer, coz this was how they normally gathered in a person's compound when they lost someone. So this shouldn't be what she is thinking. She wondered the reason for this, coz she left a peaceful home this morning, so what is this?

She looked around seeing unknown and familiar faces, not knowing who to ask anything. And the pitiful stare some of the villagers were passing her made her more scared and curious. She kept looking around until she spotted Grace sitting on a small stool close to the entrance, her age grades were all around her and it seemed they were consoling her. But she asked herself a question. Why was there no single tear in Grace's eyes??

She walked motionlessly to where Grace sat, with the bag of mangoes in her hands not minding Dorris who was at her back, asking her questions.

"What happened, where is mum and dad. What is going on here?" she found herself speaking. coz at that moment , she knew she wasn't herself.

"Dad is seriously ill, he could not even wake up this morning" Grace answered in a calm but pained tone. Stella knew her dad wasn't feeling that well before, he's had a sickness for years building in him. But he always claims to be fine, she guess it has gotten the best of him.

"Have you guys called the herbalist?" Stella asked lowly.

"Yes he's inside, but he said he can only give him some herbs to keep him alive for the meantime. He needs to be treated as soon as possible" Grace voiced out.

All this while Stella kept her focus at a place not knowing what to do anymore. She was slowly loosing her mind.

"What is going on here!" she started screaming repeatedly as she threw the bag of mangoes in her hand, and all the mangoes were rolling away. All over the ground. She was shouting at the top of her voice, drawing the attention of people to herself.

"Don't shout at me, you can go inside and see for yourself. There's no use shouting here, cause it won't change anything" Grace fired, letting the tears she had been holding back all this while, fall freely.

Stella talked no further and she immediately went into the house. She found her father lying unconscious on a mat, he was putting on a singlet, and there was a piece of clothing wrapped around his waist. Her mum was seated close to him with a tearful eyes, and sympathizers around her. At that moment, seeing her father lying there almost lifeless, half dead, her breathing seized for some time.

The Herbalist then stood up and looked around. "Remember, you must not waste anytime if you want this man alive" he said firmly and her mom nodded.

"I'll take my leave now" he announced and left immediately.

"Mum!" She exclaimed falling beside her mother, immediately after watching the herbalist leave.

"What happened to dad, should I be worried, is he going to be okay?" She kept on asking questions which her mother could not give answers to. She just embraced her and kept on crying bitterly.

"My daughter," her mom cleared her throat, finally finding the voice to speak.

" I love you, we all love you. Whatever decision we may take is for the good of everyone. You know someone has to sacrifice for the well-being of the family. We love you no matter wat happens, never you forget that."

Confusion and worry was clearly written all over her face, as she stared at her mom.

"Mum what are you talking about? Come out clean, what do you have to say to me, what is It you wanna say? Stop beating around the bush, you're making my heart race. Just tell me, tell me mum" She ranted. And just then she discovered she was crying badly.

"You know we are not greedy parents" she started again. " we are happy family, we are satisfied with what we have, and we love you three dearly. We would never take a decision that will hurt any of you. But.........." she paused.

"But what mum, tell me and stop putting me on suspense before I die" she half yelled, looking so serious and almost annoyed.

"But your father's condition is way beyond me, we can't fold our hands and watch your father die."

"No mum, we can't" Stella interrupted her.

"We have to provide the money needed for his treatment..., she continued. And in other to do that, You Stella will have to go to the city" she released the bombshell.

Stella was dumbstruck immediately she heard those words. All the blood in her body went dry and some systems in her body stopped functioning for some minutes. She was partially dead at that moment. Dorris who has been standing behind Stella the whole time gasped and covered her mouth with her hands.

"It was Serah's mom that helped us out in finding a job. There's a certain woman in the neighboring village, her son in the city needs a help, and she agreed to consider us. He has assured a year payment and I think that is enough for the treatment for now. You leave first thing tomorrow morning." She concluded

Stella searched deep into her heart, asking herself questions, she was deep in thoughts. She was trying to say something but she found herself saying nothing, she was dumbfounded. All the whispering and murmuring, sounded distant. She felt her mum trying to touch her.

"Stella, please do not take this the wrong way, there is nothing else we can do to raise the money except you going to the city," her mum said patting her shoulders.

Stella flung her mom's hand away from her shoulders and ran away, while Dorris ran after her. She got into her room and bursted into tears, she laid on her foam and kept crying seriously. Dorris came behind her and started consoling her. She held Dorris's arm and kept crying profusely.

" Don't worry you won't go anywhere" she assured.

" Yes, I'm not going anywhere, if I get to the city, I'll be maltreated, beaten up, and be treated like an animal. I might even be raped.....she gasped. I could die Dorris" she said with fear in her eyes.

Dorris kept on patting her, in order for her to calm down. They were so many thoughts running through her head and soon, she drifted to sleep.

*

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When she woke up that evening, Dorris had gone back home. It was late in the evening and she has already made up her mind to run away from home that night, so as to escape going to the city. She knew it was a rough decision to take, but her mind was made up. She wasn't ready to die yet, or even loose her virginity to any being that she does not even love.

After they had said their prayers that night and was about to retire to bed, when her mum called her back for a talk. She placed Stella to sit beside her, and started showing her reasons why she has to go to the city.

"Stella, it's all for your father, we will be hoping that nothing bad happens to you, if your father dies now, the hope of this family has ended. Your father needs to get well, and this treatment is needed urgently, and this is the only way I can think of. He has always been there for you, and has done a lot for you. Can't you just make this little sacrifice for him, to save his life? Please do not try anything stupid, coz if your father dies, it's all on you" her mother sobbed.

Just then, Stella saw that all her mother was saying is the truth, and she realized she had been selfish all this while. And there, she made up her mind to go to the city and bear the unbearable for her father. She couldn't care less if she died. She was determined to do anything for her father.

"I'm ready mum, I'm ready to go. I will go to the city" she said firmly.

*

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TBC.

I FELL FOR MY BOSS

Chapter 3: Emotional Morning

It was as early as 4:am, Stella felt someone pulling her legs but it felt distant. She tried ignoring it, but it continued harder and harder. Then it dawned on her that it was reality.

She opened her eyes to picture a strange woman still dragging her to wake up.

" Go away" she grunted still fighting the sleep in her eyes.

"Won't you get up?" a familiar voice asked still sounding distant.

"You had better start getting ready". It came again.

She opened her eyes, blinking it severally because of the reflection from the torchlight. Then, she fully opened her eyes to see her mum squatting right in front of her.

"Go and have your bath my daughter, the woman will be here soon." Her mood changed instantly, when she remembered that today, she have to leave her home for the first time in her life. Nevertheless, it was for her father.

She stretched for sometime, before sluggishly getting out. She knelt on the foam and said her prayers. When she was done, she got on her feet and looked at her mom for sometime, and then she walked past her without saying anything.

She walked out of the room and headed straight for the bathroom. In no time she was done bathing, and she came out. When she walked into the room, she saw her mom packing her stuffs and putting them into her most treasured bag. Just then she remembered that she had not even put any of her things together for the journey. She was too sad to do that.

She saw the sadness in the eyes of her mother, she knew that she never wanted her to go, she knew she never wanted any of this. But on the other hand, she couldn't just let her dad die. He is the pillar of strength in their family.

"Come dear" her mum called. "I have already picked out some good clothes for you. You're going to the city, so you need to look good. Look, I got you a new dress" she said faking a smile.

"I selected your good clothes, even though they are few. I don't want you to wear rags over there" Stella looked at her mom and sighed, before walking close to where she sat.

"Mum, are you happy, do you really want me to go?" Stella asked kneeling beside her mom.

"Happy?....yes...yes I am happy, I am happy" she stuttered with tears in her eyes. Then, she could see the pain a mother should feel coming directly from her eyes. She drew her mum close and hugged her, and her mum bursted into tears.

"Why me? Why us mum, why?" She asked as she joined her mother in tears.

"My daughter, I know you've heard the things that happened to the people that went to the city, and that is probably why you're scared. But my prayer is for nothing to happen to you my dear. Believe, and who knows, you might even prefer there to your home.... When you're happy, I'm happy. When you're sad, I am too my darling. I weep always coz I don't know where they'll be taking you, and I do not know who you're going to be with over there. I will not even see my own daughter for a year" her mother was crying bitterly now.

"I gave this a serious thought. But there is your father, that man is dying, he needs help. If he was to be healthy and strong, do you even think he will let the child he has loved and protected for nineteen years go? He would rather die. I'm the victim here, I'm the one suffering here, I can't let my husband die, I have to do something. I feel like I'm loosing both my husband and daughter at the same time." She sobbed badly.

Stella drew closer, and cleaned the tears off her mother's eye.

"Don't worry mom, in a blink of an eye a year will be completed and I will be home with all of you again, and by that time father would have been okay and strong. And we would be one big happy family again as we used to be. I am ready to bear the unbearable for dad's sake." She said smiling amidst tears and her mom hugged her tightly again.

Just then, they noticed Grace has been awake all this while, and she was sober. Stella walked up to her and engaged her in a bear hug, and she bursted into tears.

" I'm gonna miss you big sis" Grace cried "I'll miss you more" Stella said hugging her tighter.

"Enough, go get dressed now" her mum said pulling them apart with teary eyes. It indeed hurt Stella to see them in that way.

She reluctantly took the new blue gown her mom got her, and looked at it with teary eyes. This was the first time her mom bought her a new dress in two years. She had a flashback of the happy moments they had together as a family. The discussions, jokes, laughter, and all that. She could not hold back the tears that poured freely from her eyes, she was weeping bitterly.

"Ah, clean up your tears" someone said rushing from behind and wiping her tears with the back of her palm, she looked up and saw that it was Dorris. Her boobs was the first thing Stella saw as she looked at her, they were outstanding. She was holding a big bag in her left hand as though she was going on a vacation.

She tossed the bag on the floor, causing it to make a small thud sound. And she began wiping Stella's tears again.

"Dorris, what are you doing here so early?" Stella asked looking surprised.

"I can't just let my best friend go like that. At least, I should be here to give you a hug or even see you one last time before you go. Don't you think?" Dorris chuckled softly, an obviously pained one. Stella looked at her and also let out a pained laugh. This is not happening to her.

*

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TBC....