Lagos cities always topped the list when it came to traffic in Nigeria. Today was no exception in Lekki, as Evelyn Collins parked her small convertible in the parking lot of Richardson Industries. It was still early in the morning and she was grateful for the cool air. The fact that she could feel it against her face excited her a lot. The season was the closest thing Nigeria had with where she came from. Inhaling deeply, she started her journey towards the huge building facing her.
Although she was a little bit later than usual, she knew she was still too early compared to other employees. She smiled with pride at that. It hadn't taken her long to adapt to the culture around, and know that most of the employees worked with what they called the 'Nigerian time'. Hah! Frank was going to kill her if she ever followed in the footsteps of others.
Evelyn walked into the impressive foyer of the building with a smile, greeting Waya, the security man at the door. He had got to be the most cheerful security man she has ever seen or met. Not that she had met so many. "how are your kids, Waya?" she asked, after she had greeted him.
"Oh, they are doing well, Miss." He answered, still smiling. He had refused to call her by her name as she had asked him to do, severally. It always made her smile and shake her head. Just like she was doing now. "Welcome back."
"Thank you, Waya." She said to him, and then was off.
She had just come back from her weeklong break after falling ill. Mr. Richardson had insisted she take a break. Evelyn was glad she listened because she had taken her time to sort things out at home. She had caught the flu, coupled with a crazy stomach bug, which had lasted only a few days, giving her time to rest. Frank had known she had needed that break, and she hadn't objected at all when he had asked her to go home.
Two years ago, she had been wallowing in self-pity after all the places she had applied for employment had turned her down. Richardson Corporations had been her last resort and was the biggest company she had applied for. Honestly, she had just applied because her roommate had insisted she did. She sure as hell hadn't been expecting a call from Richardson's informing her that she had gotten the job as personal assistant to the owner and was to start immediately. Even now, she still felt like she was living in fantasy. Being a personal assistant hadn't been her actual plan, but it had been her best shot out of poverty, and wasting away in her London apartment, with an impatient roommate who had been fed up with her joblessness. But she had come to love her job, and the pay was freaking good. Not to talk of the fact that the same job had led her to a country she was fast beginning to call home.
The receptionist looked up from her computer. "You look lost in thought, Evelyn." Bernice said, smiling. Her pearly white teeth contrasted beautifully against her skin, making Evelyn feel a little bit jealous of her friend.
Evelyn smiled in return. "Not really, the weather is just nice." She answered dryly, looking around as if somehow, in the one week she had stayed at home, something had changed. It was safe to say the place was exactly how she remembered it. Beautiful, and sparkling clean. Frank Richardson had a thing for neatness.
Not that she was complaining.
Bernice seemed to find her answer funny and burst into a fit of giggles, drawing Evelyn's attention back to her very excited friend. Was it just her, or Bernice seemed more giggly and excited than usual? "Weather Evelyn?" she snorted. "What has the weather got to do with anything?"
Evelyn couldn't help the tiny giggle that escaped from her lips. "Everything Bernice, the weather is nice and it opened up the abyss of thoughts in my head." Another dry joke. But her friend was used to it'
Bernice looked at her in confusion and burst into another fit of giggles, causing Evelyn to join her. The few people that passed looked at them like they were crazy. Oh well…
"Okay B, that's enough. I know I'm not making any sense right now." Evelyn said, clearing her throat as she tried to put herself together. "Is there any mail or package for Frank?" she asked as usual. Mails and packages usually came to the reception, and if she had the chance, she always collected them, so she could relieve her friend of the stress of bringing it up.
The receptionist began to shake her head but suddenly turned wide eyes. "Mr. Richardson came early this morning, and he asked me to tell you to meet him in.." she exclaimed, nervously looked at her watch. "Oh my God Evelyn, you have to be in his office in five minutes." Her voice had gone from being filled with humor, to that of fear. Evelyn knew Frank was a little bit scary when it came to punctuality. And today he was earlier than usual.