My arrogant millionaire boss

Prologue

A gasp left me as I took in the person in front of me. Standing before me is the exact stranger I insulted when he asked me for directions when he got lost.

If I begrudgingly thought he was handsome that day, then today he's more handsome than he was then, standing on the other side of the door wearing clothes that look as if it was specially made for him.

His hair was gelled back and whenever I inhale I perceive his sweet scent that's purely male.

What's he doing here,

how is he related to Mr. Kalu?

Maybe he's their errand boy?

I tried to convince myself, but based on his dressing, you can deduce he's nothing like the errand boy I pegged him as.

I browsed through my memory of how I looked that day.

Recalling how snappy I was that day made me blush hard in embarrassment.

Seeing him here made me regret applying for the job, what if he tries to exact his revenge on me?

What if he humiliates me in the presence of Mr. Kalu?

What if_?

"Earth needs your awesome presence, miss," he said in a smug.

I looked up to find him smiling at me with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Chapter 1

Looking back on this carriage life that they call life with a smile on your face, you will come to the same conclusions as I have.

#

The harmattan weather is always harsh.

This year's harmattan season isn't like the others. In Nigeria, harmattan season starts in December and stops around February time, but last year's harmattan season didn't start until February of this year after two months of intensive heat, making it the first late harmattan witnessed in Nigeria.

The streets were filled with layers of dust, a compliment of the season it is.

Snow falls in some countries during wintertime, but in ours ggetseye tearing dust.

I trudged along the paved way which is the only safe place to walk on if you want to escape the dust, although I was putting on three layers of clothing, I can still feel the stinging claws of harmattan on me.

My bones ache as though I ran a marathon with time.

Most of the children playing in the streets had split lips, and some unfortunate ones were burdened with calloused feet.

The stings of the season were mainly visible on the poor, they are recognized by the signature white of their body.

"Auntie good morning!!" Chorused the happy kids as I walked past their playing space.

They weren't bothered about the cold since they have friends to play with.

"Morning, ole otu unu di?" I smiled at them, "we are fine, thank you!!" They chorused as they resumed their game of tag.

I smiled at the cute little creatures, the children are the main reason I like walking to my mom's shop every morning instead of taking a motorcycle there, their smiles brighten my day as they have contagious smiles.

*

Walking towards Uzoma street, I frowned when I saw Kachi in his mother's shop, my brightened countenance turned sour.

I don't consider him an enemy, but he's certainly not a friend.

I turned my face towards the left pretending I haven't seen him, knowing it was a futile plan as he has already seen me, but it didn't deter me from hoping.

"Well, well, well, if it's not my pretty pretentious wife," he cooed pathetically as I side stepped him with my face still turned.

As much as I love walking to shop to see the children, his also the reason I hate walking to shop.

"You know you can't ignore me forever nwanyim, the more you run from me, the more I give chases", he threatened.

I didn't reply to his taunt I walked past him.

"You can't run forever!" he shouted as I turned a corner.

*

Almost near our shop, I stopped frowning.

I tried to smile, as my mom gets a kick whenever I frown.

"Madam sees the time you are coming to shop, I your maidservant has already swept the shop for you, "my friend Ifunanya joked.

I kept a long serious face, "oh sorry madam, I don't know you arrived earlier. I'm I apologize for my tardiness, it won't happen again," I sarcastically said.

She laughed at my poker face, "gama Biko, I don't have your time, your mom is expecting you, and you know how she is when she's kept waiting. " She joked.

I laughed as I entered our stall.

" This one you are smiling today, itutara counter? Federal government onyeregi scholarship?" mom joked.

"Some people are just enemies of progress, ekwutumekwu, my enemies must be put to shame.

So, you want me to be sad abi?, okwalagi," I chuckled as my mom lightly spanks me.

"I don't have your time," my mom countered as I walked into her production office.

My mom came from a rich, aristocratic family, but her entitlements were transferred to her younger sister when she got married to dad against her parent's wish.

They didn't only deprive her of her right, they disowned her.

My dad, on the other hand, came from a humble family of artisans, his father was a furniture maker and my father inherited his business when he _my grandpa_ passed on two years ago.

"Muna, Muna, Munachi!!" I jerked from my thoughts, my mom was giving me a funny look.

" Good to have you back, earth requires your presence," she looked at me as if I've committed an abomination by thinking.

"Mom, I was just lost I thought, you know", I babbled.

"You better not get lost again, and better still don't go there at all. What were you thinking of exactly?", she folded her arms.

"Wow woman, you've become an expert in bead making", I tried to beg the question, I can tell she knows what am up to, but decided to give me a break as she continued making the bead bag in question, I let out a breath of relief.

"A for being an expert, wait until you see the teddy bears and flower vase I made, that when you will truly realize you have a professional mother", she beamed with pride as she-cats walked out of the shop flaunting the beads she was putting on.

My mom was a model before she got married to dad, although she doesn't complain much about it, I know she misses those good ole days.

"You might be an expert in beading but you and I know am the professional wrapper, ana amakwanuaka?", I scoffed.

" Mtcheww, I don't blame you, I blame your father for spoiling you rotten with praises when it's obvious you didn't merit them",

"hmm, I don't have much to say, my work speaks for itself. Good wine doesn't need an advertisement", I pursed my lips.

We bickered back and forth as we got the shop ready for the day's sales.

The day's sales were dull compared to the ones of yesterday. There weren't many customers which might be due to the public holiday being observed by others.

Due to the lack of sales, I've been reading ever since my mother left to attend one of the contribution meetings she's a member of.

"Are you busy?" Adanne my friend of eighteen years asked.

Adanne have being my friend from the moment we were born. It was as if we both were born for the other.

"Is there any problem?" I look up at her. A smile on my face.

" I was hoping to get you to escort me to market, but it seems mother isn't around, right? " She looked into our shop.

" Oh. I would have liked to escort you there, but mother isn't around."

I felt terrible about that.

For a week now, I've not had a chance to gist with my best friend, and when the chance presented itself, I can't even take it.

"I know. Don't worry, I'll be back when I return from the market. I have plenty of juicy gists for you." She wiggled her brows.

"Don't tempt me with those words, don't you know how giddy I feel whenever I hear juicy news?" I raised a brow, my inner gossiper coming out to play.

"That's why I said those words, I want you up on your toes until I return." Blowing me a kiss, she left my shop. Laughing as she did so.

"Bitch!" I shouted after her. My frustrations were much.

"Don't think too deeply!" She shouted.

*

I sat at the shop, my mind trying to think about the kind of juicy stories she wants to tell me.

Knowing who Adanne is, her stories are always top-notch. It is a one a million type of tale.

She tends to tell a story so captivating you'll feel like you're there when it actually happened.

Her ways of telling stories are rivaled by none. Most times I always joke about her being the next bestseller, but the truth is this. Adanne might know how to tell stories very well, but she can't write. Which is one of her many flaws.

"Good afternoon," I heard someone call out from the entrances to our shop.

I speedily rose from the chair I was sitting on, and rushed towards the place, thinking it was a customer.

At last, I've gotten a customer after all this time spent not doing anything in the shop.

"Welcome." I brightly smiled at the male, who looks not all that older than I am.

He's putting on ripped jeans, and a dress that so much looked like it's in danger of tearing should it be removed. The tightness of the shirt makes his muscles really visible.

His black hair was barbed, in an Afro style. The lengthy side was gelled.

Looking at him, one will know he's clearly not from this Street, based on not only hw looks, but the way he carries himself.

"Hi," he smiled.

Hi." I smile.

It's not every day you get someone as handsome as him in our shop.

"How can I help you? Is there anything you want to buy?"

I asketh my professional seller's voice. Teg sweetness dripping from my words was so teeth shaking.

"I apologize for disturbing you, I want to avoid buying anything, actually..."

"If you didn't come to buy anything, what did you come to do?" I frown at him.

What might he be doing in my shop if he's not here to buy anything?

"Actually I'm new in this street, and I got lost. I need directions back to my house. " He smiled. " Am I hoping you can point me back to the? e." He kept on smiling.

You can say it's the smile that did it for me.

"Where's your house? Do you know the number? I can point you there." I offered since it's the least I can do for him.

"I don't know the number, but my house is blue. The inner part is painted yellow, it has silver gates."

"Oh!" I exclaimed. "I know where you're talking of. You live there?"

The blue house he just described is the most beautiful house ever built in an area like ours. "Are you by chance living there?"

He might look as if he came from a middle family, but that doesn't mean he lives in such a beautiful house.

"Thank the Lord you know the place." He took a deep breath.

Showing him how to get back to the blue house, I went back into the shop to continue with my novel as I wait for the arrival of my bestie.

My curious state is making me wait for her return, just like Christians hoping for the return of the Messiah.

*

Adanne didn't return that day. Her parents might not have given her permission to visit me.

I spent the rest of the day reading a novel I got from the bookshop. It was a very captivating novel, one that left me wanting more.

*The motherer returned later in the day. Her time's delayed by one of her friends who came to visit the old woman they pay their contribution.

"I sold nothing. It was as if all the buyers went on a public holiday."

Even the people who normally pass our shop every day hardly did so.

For today, all they do is pass one after the other.

If you have nothing doing, and choose to count the people that pass by per minute, you'll be able to do so today.

"I guess it's due to the public holiday. It wasn't so yesterday." Mom took seat beside me. "I hope tomorrow isn't like this." She sighed.

"I hope so."

If things continue this way, I don't know how well we're going to cope with witches in hard times. Things will be too difficult for us more than they have been so.

"Let's hope for the best." She placed a hand on my head.

I woke up hungry. My stomach rumbling loudly.

"Good morning Lord." I yawn. Slowly stretching my arms.

Rubbing my stomach, I walk out of my room.

The delicious aroma of yam oatmeal led me directly to the dinning.

"Good morning." I sat near my eldest brother, Ud.

"Hunger must have made you leave your room." He chuckled.

The dinning is located inside the kitchen, as we don't have much space in our three-bedroom flat. On the far corner of the kitchen is our dinning. You might not refer to it as a dinning as it only consists of a small round meeting table with five stools round it.

"Shut up," I frown at him. "You're talking as if you didn't come down for the same reason." I glare at him.

"Are you trying to call me a glutton?" He turned to face me.

"Are you not one?" I counter. "You're the one who eats more than everyone in our entire family." I stuck my tongue out at him.

"You." He stood from his seat.

"Mom!" I alerted my mom of his advance toward me.

"Ud leave your sister alone!" Mother shouted at him.

"But mom."

"Don't mummy me. Leave your sister alone." She points the spatula to his face.

"You're Always supporting her despite all she does." He murmured.

"She's the last born. Of course, I ought to pamper her."

Mother dished the food the moment father walked into the room.

"Good morning dad." I smile at Father.

"Good morning dad." Ud greets father.

"Morning, my darling daughter." father pecked me on my forehead. "How was your night?"

"It was okay." I smile at him.

"It's typical of you two to always forget me whenever Muna is involved. You didn't even answer your greetings." Ud Frowned at father.

"You always complain. It seems you're too jealous of your kid sister."

"Jealous? Why should I be jealous of someone like you?" Ud scoffed at me. A funny look on his face.

"Let's eat before the oatmeal gets cold."

My daddy led us in a short prayer before we commenced with breakfast.

Today's breakfast went by faster than normal, as daddy had to leave earlier than normal. He had more than three morning customers waiting for him, and he wants to be free of work before the coming Easter celebrations.

"Mom, was off to work." Ud pecked mum before giving me a funny look. "I'll see you when I return, glutton." He smirked.

"Stop calling your sister that." Mom playfully hit him on his arm.

"Why shouldn't I do that? Isn't she a glutton?" Sticking his tongue out at me, he ran outside the room.

Ud works at a surveyor's office as a secretary while Ugo my immediate elder brother is a medicine student at Imsu(Imo State University).

My parents and Ud agreed that since Ugo is the most intelligent of the two, it only seems tight to train him. If he eventually gets a job after schooling, he'll then train me in the university.

I'm currently a high school graduate, but I'm yet to take jamb. Not that I don't want to take the exam or anything of that sort. There's no money to train both Ugo and me in the university.

There's only enough to currently train him.

*

I turned on the faucet and started washing the used dishes while mother tidies the kitchen.

It's like the way we do every morning. Mother tidies things up while I wash the used plates.

"Your father is super worried about the workshop. It's really getting worst as the days go by, and you know he had high blood pressure. I'm really and utterly worried about him." She sighed at her words.

"Why's that? Is anything the problem?" I queried. "Is he having issues on his business?"

"The land in which his shop is located on have being sold, and it's rumored the owner is planning to demolish the shops and erect a shopping mall. Your father is more bothered than the others whose shops are located there.

As you know, we have more problems in our plates. Money as it is really difficult to come by, and we can't afford to be burdened with more difficulties.

Ugo's tuition fees are due to be paid next month, the landlord have reminded us of our house payment due next month.

Currently, we're down on groceries. Things are getting real complicated. I don't think we'll survive until next month if nothing hood happens."

"What of Us? Have they paid him the three months salary his being owed?" I hanged the dish towel and turned towards mother, who is already done with her chores and is sitting on the kitchen stool.

"I don't think so, he hasn't said anything concerning his salary." Mom said worriedly.

" You don't have to worry about things. It'll get better someday. After the tempest comes the calm. There's a silver lining in every storm. You don't have to give up hope on things. The Lord can make all things good on his time.

All we have to do is wait on the Lord. Cast all your cares on him, and he'll take care of them." I encouraged her.

"I hope so. I pray the Lord never allows us to be put to shame." Removing her apron, she hung it on the nail. "Am I leaving for shop. I expect you to be there before noon. I need to go to the women's prayer meeting."

"Okay mom." I, too, hung my apron, and walked out of the parlor the same time mom left the house.

*

I took my bathe as fast as I can, and got ready to shop. Putting on my dark skinny jeans, I paired it up with my brother's oversized polo (he gave it to me when I begged for it).

Ready to shop, I took with me the novel am currently reading, Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella, and left go to the shop.

*

I took the longest route to avoid bumping into Kachi. I don't want anything to sullen my day.

It's not like I have a problem with Kachi or anything like that, it's just that he gets on my nerves.

Kachi isn't all that bad, but his actions aren't endurable. He has made it pretty clear to anyone who cares to listen that he's in love with me, and clearly expects me to return his sick affection.

Just thinking of it made me feel sick to the bone.

"Watch where you're going to, your dippy girl!" Jenny AKA the devil's incarnate said as she pushed me to the side of the tarred road.

The force from the bush made me collide with the floor.

"Don't mind her, always a bete," Chirped in her partner in crime Amara as she moved to the side to avoid having a collision with me.

I stood up as fast as I can from the floor.

"You deserve to be on the floor, down below me." She pushed me to the floor. "You don't deserve to breathe the same air as I. You don't deserve it at all."

"Ouch!" I palmed my butt. The pain from the collision was so blinding it made the air momentarily leave me.

Looking down at my poor pathetic self on the floor, they laughed maniacally. Their mouth wild open to show their dirty teeth.

"How well do you like being on the floor?" Jenny looked down at me. "This is where you deserve to be."

Jenny wasn't my enemy before. In fact she was my beat friend when we were in kindergarten until she developed a crush on Kachi who was and is still the most handsome boy in our city with his golden dark skin and brown eyes. She didn't take it well when he confessed his love for me in our Jss2 (Junior Secondary School) and she thought I was being pompous and proud as a peacock for not accepting his proposals,, although I told her I didn't accept him.

She never believed my words when I said he gets on my nerves, but he didn't believe a word. Gradually we drifted apart, and she formed the four deadly venom group.

My mom warned me about her when we became friends. She said Jenny is like a green snake in a green grass. A wolf in sheep's clothing.

I didn't believe her then, but I do now after she's bitten me with her venom.

"We will show you not to out your eyes in things that are doesn't concern you." One of the deadly venom took the rod from the floor.

She raised the rod towards me, my eyes instinctively closing.

I guess my cup have gotten filled, even though I don't know what I did to deserve it.

"What are you all doing here?" I heard Kachi ask.

Hearing his voice made me breathe out in relieve.