I was so tired from yesterday's trip with the girls that I needed an alarm to wake me up.
For the past five years, I've never needed one because sleep was never my friend.
I'm woken up by the annoying sound, in case I never said this, I hate mornings but my excitement for my new work and new life made me all too bouncy and ready to take on the world.
Three pieces.
Bouncing to my ensuite bathroom and looking myself in the mirror, I could be in a haunted house scaring people.
My hair was a mess.
Whoever said it's easy to maintain a curly afro, was mad, it may be soft but I looked wild I could pass for a cavewoman.
Jumping in the shower, the hot water relaxed every tensed muscle on my body.
For my hair, I've always used strawberry and cream scented shampoo and my body wash is always cocoa butter.
I'm obsessed with cocoa butter.
It was my mum's favorite.
I washed up and shampooed my hair, closed the water, towel-dried myself, brushed my teeth then headed out the bathroom to my walk-in closet.
It's a perk for having a sin-rich sister and brother-in-law.
We placed all the clothes we bought yesterday in their rightful places, and they still wanna go back soon they said it's not enough, they better count me out of that fashion, is not my thing.
Going through everything we bought, finally, I pick out a black high waist pencil skirt and match it with a plain white shirt and finished off my look with a pair of black and white peep toe 4inch stilettos, putting on a black lace pantie and bra first before I got dressed.
I packed my hair up in a neat bun after I used a dryer and silicon serum to soften it, using ponds on my face then putting mascara and eyeliner and finishing off with a peach lipstick complimenting my light skin tone.
I don't like makeup very much, only on special occasions even then my sister Ave is in charge of it.
I couldn't tell you what comes first in the process.
With eyeliner and mascara, my chocolate brown eyes pop to perfection.
Looking at myself in the full-length mirror in my closet, I can only be satisfied with what I have to work with.
I put on my favorite perfume panache then I grab a cream handbag put my things and walk out to have breakfast.
Walking into the kitchen I find Katie still busy making the last of the breakfast and right on my heels was Luke and Ave
"Morning Katie "
I said gaining her attention, she freezes for a few seconds, looking at me from head to toe, then she comes and hugs me
"You look, beautiful sweetie"
Her voice filled with pride
"Yes she does "
both Luke and Ave say in unison evoking a deep blush, last I got any complaints was 5 years ago.
Breakfast was easy going, it's been a while since we were all set and ate together, I was a bit nervous so I can only guess how everyone else was feeling.
It could be my excitement or nervousness but I don't eat much, if I do I might throw up.
"Ready?"
Luke said looking at me and at first, I'm confused about what it is I'm supposed to be ready for.
"To go to work, or have you forgotten?"
"Oh I was gonna take one of Katie's cars or call a cab"
I said with a wave of a hand, standing up and taking my half-eaten food to the skin, scolding myself for wasting.
"No you will not, we going to the same office so we will be leaving together every morning "
He said with a smile, I smiled back and thanked him before hugging my sisters and grabbing my bag, and head out with Luke.
We got to the office parking lot, it's a 30-minute drive and it was 8 o'clock.
We walked to the elevator and he pressed the 10th floor as soon as we got in.
"You ready ?"
Luke asks his eyes smiling down at me as a big brother or father would.
"I think so, but what will I be doing exactly?"
I asked scrunching up my face feeling stupid for not asking earlier, when he sees my face he chuckled
"Let's get to the office then we will talk, okay?"
"Okay"
The elevator stopped and we got out, walked to the end of the office floor
We are greeted by a beautiful lady with lush Long brown hair with the most beautiful blue eyes I've ever seen.
She's wearing a black shirt but that's all I can see since she was behind a desk that came to her rib cage.
Come to think of it, I couldn't be sure if she's wearing a shirt, it could be a dress.
"Shay this is Emma, the receptionist for the 10th floor, and Emma this is Shay, the one I told you about"
I reached out my hand to her and she does the same and we exchange greetings.
"Follow me"
Luke led the way again
"I will show you my office in case you need anything and will show you the break room as well then I will be showing you to your office. Is that alright?"
"Sounds perfect "
I said with a smile.
We reached in front of this brown wooden desk with a lady sitting there with a high ponytail, a purple shirt, and black pencil skirt, and purple 4inch heels.
As for how I knew she was wearing a black skirt and purple heels?
Her desk was glass.
Boom
She stood up when she saw Luke approaching.
"Morning Mr. Thomas"
"Morning Becky"
Luke greeted her back with a smile.
"This is miss Shay Williams, I told you to send a memo to her team yesterday?"
I extended my hand to greet Becky and she does the same
"Becky"
she said as she gave me a warm smile, maybe we gonna be friends.
A little dance took part in my head, index fingers pointing up.
What do you do with a friend though?
The dance party ended.
"Nice to meet you miss Williams "
"Please call me Shay"
I said letting go of her hand.
"Of course Shay"
Becky said then Luke led me to the big wooden double door behind Becky.
"Come in"
He shows me his office with a very big dark brown wood desk, a big chair to match and two smaller ones on the other side of the desk standing on the right, two of the walls- curtesy of having a corner office- is a floor to ceiling glass, then on the left wall there is a bookcase full of books and a file cabinet, in front of it are two large brown sofas with a glass coffee table and a door which I'm guessing is for his bathroom.
We go out and he shows me the break room, There is a coffee machine and other things I might need but he informs me the canteen is on the 7th floor., the break room is nothing special.
I just nod my head.
"So ready to see your office?"
"As ready as I'll ever be "
I said earning me a chuckle.
We started walking and I saw the looks all the girls in the office were giving.
Some had warm smiles, some looked at me like they wanted to kill me, but one I almost laughed at is the one where I was looked at as if I was dead herself.
"TAKE A PICTURE, IT LASTS LONGER"
I wanted to scream.
I knew I looked horrible from my five years of solitude, I just didn't know how bad until now.
Take about a big hit on self-esteem.
For as long as I've known Luke he has always been bold and trimmed beard at all times.
He's got these greyish green eyes, my sister says it's what got her hooked but she isn't fooling us because the man has a body that can charm a girl's panty off, other than mine thank you very much.
And he is a very handsome man and confidant as well.
He is what people call the whole package, My sister chose well but even as impressive as he is in my eyes he didn't even hold a candle to my Nick.
Luke is gross to me.
Buff.
I ignore all the looks and we got to an office, three offices, a copy room, and a conference room down from Luke's.
With tainted glass double doors, he removed a key from his pocket and unlocked it then handed me the key and I mutter thanks as we entered.
It's big but smaller than Luke's.
With just one floor-to-ceiling glass wall overlooking the city and a dark brown wooden desk on my left with a big chair, smaller chairs on the other side of it, and on the right two white sofas with a wooden coffee table. And a shelf waiting for me to fill it up as I please.
"You like it?"
He asks with hopeful eyes and I decided to play with him a little.
"It will do for now"
I said with my nose turned up and his face fell, after that he looked so disappointed but I just burst out laughing and he soon joins me.
"God I'm kidding it's beautiful, you really should have seen your face though"
I continued laughing.
"So you have jokes, Ms. Williams"
"I'll be here all week"
flipping invisible hair
"So, ready to meet your team?"
He asked after we stopped laughing
"So I'm heading my team and I get to choose the events I want to do or how will it work?"
I asked him after placing my bag on the table.
"Well I will be assigning you with the events, but you will be heading your our team of 5 people and you will be assigning them. How is that?"
"Sounds good to me"
I said with a smile, still nervous but with a hint of excitement.
We headed down the hall to boardroom 3, found three men and two women.
The first woman to introduce herself was Cindy, short afro dyed a light brown, framing her small figure were black skinny jeans with a navy blue blouse and pink hills, She looked no less than 25.
We shook hands
A guy named Dalisu with short black hair and chocolate brown eyes and dimples, his light skin making him look even cuter.
Grey tight shirt showing off his lean muscles with blue jeans.
A guy with a little build came next and shook my hand, introducing himself as Dadi, hazel eyes, and bald head.
Then next was Peter with blue eyes blonde hair and muscles everywhere more than Dadi.
Last to introduce themselves was a girl with her nose up at me, -I am hideous looking for this to keep happening- Everyone smiled but her.
Long Brazilian hair with hazel eyes. Flawless skin.
Wearing a dark blue dress that was just above her knees, With black high hills.
I shook her hand but she didn't say her name.
"And your name is?"
I asked, she shrugged her shoulders
"Lucy"
"Well nice to meet you, Lucy"
I turn to Luke
"I think I got it from here"
He smiled.
"Ok, lunch is at 1:30 come to my office we eat together, what say?"
That was an offer I couldn't resist
"Sure see you at lunch then"
Luke left and Lucy still had her nose up at me.
"Do we have a problem?"
My hands folded low in front of me to hide my nerves. I haven't been a boss in so long and this situation had me wanting to crawl back in my shell.
But I asked for this, I wanted this, I needed this.
"I mean I guess it helps to sleep with the boss, he is married you know."
Lucy said, I just blinked, too stunned.
"Lucy"
The girl I now knew to be Cindy said harshly but I held up my hand.
"What makes you think I'm sleeping with him?"
Lucy snorts unladylike
"Eating in his office with him when he's never had lunch with his old stuff"
I nodded my head, I may have not been in touch with the outside world for a long time but I was not a pushover and this is how rumors are started.
"Not that it's anyone's business or owe you anything but the woman he is married to happens to be my sister, and no I didn't get this job because I'm family. I got it on my merit. Not that it's any of your business again but I'm having lunch with him because as you see I'm new here and he is my brother, father almost."
I walked up to Lucy and stood in front of her, even with my heels she is still a few inches taller.
"And do me a favor, don't ever take one of the purest relationships and taint it like that, I won't be so nice next time"
I said the last part with a smile, I was extra I knew. but I felt like it was something I had to do before we went any further.
The day went by without a hitch apart from Lucy's attitude. Had lunch with Luke then at 6 we knocked off.
We drove together.
I was so tired I went straight to shower before I ate dinner.
Then I went to sleep, for the first time in five years I went to sleep happy about what tomorrow might bring.