Chapter two
Avery's pov
The whole office seems to be deserted, there is nobody at the spacious one large office shared by five staff. How can everyone not be at work at the same time? I wonder.
I continue to walk through the hallway that leads to my office and still yet there is no one in sight. Not even the chief auditor who comes to work sometimes before the security men.
I begin to have a weird feeling as if that is not enough, scary scenarios from horror movies I've seen come playing in my mind. What if there was a zombie outbreak and all of them had been bitten.
I cringe and hit myself in the head. "No don't do this now Avery," I say to myself and continue to walk to my office.
"What the hell" I mutter the second I step inside my completely dark office, but how come? All offices and even the hallways had light in them when I walked past them.
There's only one thing that comes to mind.., "vampires".
A cold shiver crawl up my spine at the mere thought. What do I do? Just as I am about to put on the flashlight on my phone, the lights came on and I hear a loud screeching noise revealing most of my colleagues.
"Surrrrprissssse" they all sang out loud at the same time balloons and tiny cuts of glittery sparkles came falling on my body.
"Oh my god," I gush out, mouth wide open.
" Close your mouth already we don't have an insect in the mouth of the newly born" my best friend Sophia jokes.
" Happy birthday girlie," she says hugging me.
" Thank you so much, soph, how did you even manage to plan all this?" I ask her still surprised at how she came up with the plans.
"Firstly, it isn't my doing alone. There's chole and Theodore who also helped and secondly, well let's just say I am your fairy godmother whose job is to see you happy and see your dreams come true. Remember how you fantasized being celebrated at work on your birthday?" She asks.
"Of course I do" I reply smiling.
"Well yeah, this is me your fairy godmother Sophia making that fantasy come true," she says in a highly sugar-coated voice and takes a bow.
"No, you didn't," I say in a loud squeal.
"Of course I did" she replies matching my tone.
"Guess what?" I ask.
" We're going to the club after work" she answers proudly.
" You know me too well," I say posing hurt.
"How am I your best friend if I don't know you too well" soph questions looking at me like I'm talking fallacy.
"So we're going to yours to get dressed, yeah," I ask.
" Of course," she says rolling her eyes.
"Happy birthday Baby" Theodore a colleague that has been asking me out for a while now hugs and kisses me on the cheek.
On any other day, I would have rebuked or questioned his actions, however, since it's my birthday today, and according to Soph he played a major role in making it a memorable one I decide to forgive his actions.
"Thanks so much, darling" I reply matching his energy.
" You're welcome hun" he replies lovingly.
"Yeah, soph mentioned you helped in doing all this," I say using my hands to demonstrate what I mean.
"That's very correct, you've been an amazing friend and colleague, it's was my little way of showing how grateful I am. I know it isn't much, but I want you to know I did it specifically for you and not because soph asked" he gushes out making me blush all the more.
If I was pink before I am sure I'm now as red as a tomato.
"Thank you Tee," I say addressing him by his nickname while using my hair to hide my flushed cheeks.
"No need to be ashamed or hide them Ave, it makes you look even cuter," he says catching on my antics to hide my blush.
And here I am thinking I was being subtle enough, although he might have noticed because of his weird uncanny fetish and obsession for blushes, whether it's on my face or not. Hell, he acknowledges all woman that blushes and most times go further to talk about how it's a natural phenomenon especially for Ladies, and how it is supposed to be appreciated and not ashamed of earning him the nickname weirdo. Most time I wonder if he is an advocate for flushed faces.
"I wasn't hiding it, my actions were all from impulse," I say trying to make him drop the topic.
"I'm sure it was," he says smirking.
"How on Earth is he catching on all ludicrous behaviors today" I ponder in my mind.
"is it the new age or do you always look like fire?" He says breaking me from my reverie and complimenting my look, even though it was a weird way of saying it, I still find myself smiling.
"Yeah I always look fire," I say back at him, imitating his word choice.
"If you don't mind, little Miss look like fire, I'd like to take you out for dinner," he asks.
" On what grounds Tee," I ask trying to validate his true intentions. If he is going to ask me out again then it's a no, but if otherwise then why not.
"I know what you are thinking, but trust me it's not about my feelings for you, I didn't bring a gift for you so just think of it as a birthday gift" he replies looking squarely in my eyes.
"I love birthday gifts" I coos cheeringly.
" Then it's a date?" He asks waiting for my final approval.
" Definitely" I answer beaming mightily with joy.
"what took you so long" I hear soph asks someone from behind me.
Turning I see soph and Chloe another of my best friends and colleague making their way to me.
"Happy birthday Ave" Chloe screech in her high-pitched but sweet voice and hugs me holding a pink and white window patisserie box and a black and brown paper jute wine bottle bag.
"Is this what I think it is?" I ask Chloe.
"I don't think it is exact," she says handing me the box.
I gingerly open the box and find a buttermilk raspberry and grape butter cake in it.
"Thank you so much girl," I say hugging her with the shimmer of tears in my eyes.
"That's not all" both she and soph hiss at the same time.
"Open the wine bag," Soph says nudging me a little on my stomach.
"Hmm, okay," I say and begin to untie the black ribbon used to fasten the handles on the wine bag.
"No way" I grumble as I fully recognize the bottle of wine I'm holding.
"Yes, way" soph answers.
" Oh.., my.., God.., Is..., this..," I stammer before Chloe cuts me off answering my unspoken question.
"Yes my love, the very Domaine Georges and Christophe Roumier musigny Grand Cru red wine," Chloe says.
"How did you even get this," I ask gaping unbelievably at Chloe and soph.
"We made a pre-order last month from an online store which has its head office in Italy and a branch here. It hasn't been available in their store but I received a mail it was shipped in last night from Italy and that it will be delivered this morning to my apartment, the reason I came this late" Chloe says indirectly telling me the stress she went through.
"You shouldn't have," I say trying to stop the crises brewing in my stomach.
"Oooowww, don't cry, we don't want your dope ass make-up to smear." She says dabbing my eyes with tissues.
"This is too much, I don't deserve this," I say choking on my sobs.
"You deserve so much more Ave" you are wonderful and deserve the very finest things in the world, soph says hugging me.
"More like why I have you guys, you are without any doubt the finest things on Earth both in look and character" I day hugging both Chloe and soph tightly.
"Okay that's enough, I need a share of that hug" Mr. Robert the CEO, says opening his arm in a hug invite.
Unlike every other cliche CEO, Mr. Robert is in every sense of the word an amazing, honest, and kind-hearted man and also a father figure to me. Ever since I started working at imperial IQ, he has shown me nothing but love and total acceptance. Seeing he had his arms open for me, I quickly rush in embracing him in a tight hug. Although an old man in his late sixties, he's still very committed to his work and respectful to everyone
"Happy birthday Avery," he says breathing into my hair.
" Thanks, Mr. Robert" I answer and begin to pull away from our embrace.
"I get that you guys are still celebrating though, sorry but I must cut it for now," he says to all of us.
" Do-don't this" soph says bashing her lashes at him
"Trust me I hate to do it, especially to Ave but duty calls. I need every departmental head to get their reports ready by the latest 2:00 pm today" he says checking his watch.
"What that's today," Soph says in shock.
"Yes and today is also the last working day of the week except you'd want to come in for work tomorrow being Saturday" he replies sounding serious.
" But why all of a sudden," I ask.
Normally, preparation of the report is done three months into the start of a business year, why on Earth does he suddenly needs it now.
"I know this is not the style we are used to, but there's an emergency, I'll let you in on it during our meeting that will come up today," Mr. Robert says looking at us to gauge our reactions.
"Wait, there's a meeting after the collation of our result?" Theodore asks.
"Yes there is and I'm sorry for the rush, but you must begin now" Mr. Robert answers before walking away.
This is so unlike him, what the hell is happening? I ask myself.
"This ladies and gentlemen is the end of our party.., to your offices everyone, you heard what the boss said, "Soph says pushing everyone out. Being the head of human resources comes with a certain height of responsibility.
"And you too birthday girl," soph says smiling at me.
"This is my office" I reply and roll my eyes at her.
"I know, I'm saying get to work," she says exiting my office but turning to blow me a kiss before disappearing completely.
"This should go," I say kicking off my heels before switching on my computer.