CHAPTER FIVE
ROXANNE'S POV
I had just returned from the hectic day at work and made it straight up the stairs to my room where I had the liberty to weep out my frustration.
Just when I was about to go on with the weeping, my phone rang. "What was it again? What crime have I ever committed that I couldn't even cry in peace," I wondered
After much shrugging, I picked up the call.
"Hello," I said after much breath control and anger management techniques.
The caller was quiet, getting on my nerves the more. I had already started cursing under my breath when the stupid caller clicked the end button.
"What could the matter be? Why couldn't I atleast have some rest and a break?" While still pondering on these questions my legs in connivance with my stomach, moved to my tiny kitchen and straight to the fridge to find something edible to gnaw on.
I sat down at the dining table and devoured the bread just as savagely as the way my tears poured down.
"What was my crime? Did I choose to be an orphan?"
I could still remember the shape of the CEO's lips as he poured out insults upon insults on my tiny orphaned head. It was as if he had something against me.
After finishing my tearful dinner, I solemnly went to my bed and lay on it, wondering if there were more insults NattCom company had in stock for me.
The most annoying of them was Dera. She made me feel so ashamed of myself that if not for the fact that I was still breathing, I would've thought my myself as a piece of trash in the waste bin.
With a tear on my cheek, I drifted to sleep knowing fully well that horrors awaited me in the morning.
************†**********************************************
At NattCom Company
Roxanne's POV
"Good morning Miss Dera" I greeted, staring graciously at Dera as I wore my smile smartly. I had taken care to resume thirty minutes earlier than the stipulated 7:30 am
"Splendid morning to you too. Wow!! You look different" She commended, looking down at me from her elevated desk.
Her reply came as a shock so I instinctively widened my smile. Getting the CEO's office key would be an easy task.
She returned the smile mischievously before continuing smartly "Yesterday, you were almost dressed as a pig. But today, you look so much like a pig that I'm feeling a strong urge to call security to take you back to the animal farm. Please take three steps away from my desk, Pig. Do not block my bright view," and like a devil, she shrugged and continued, "I'll advise you never to put on pink. You look like a female piglet"
With mouth agape, I watched as she battered me with her welcoming insult.
The words she said took both my breath and my consciousness away from me. I stood there for a while before I felt a gentle nudge into consciousness.
"Roxanne, is everything okay?" Mara asked just after she tapped me. I turned to her, then looked forward again, directing my gaze to the devil in front of me as she typed in her normal furious manner with a response on my lips.
"What is wrong with the pink blouse and jeans I'm putting on?" I bit my tongue and decided against replying.
"Roxanne, you need to get your mop and begin your work in the CEO's office" Mara tried to draw me away from my trance-like anger.
I finally got my voice and consciousness back and replied, "I'm fine, Mara. Good morning".
I turned and walked straight with Mara to the cleaning unit that served both as a store and an office for cleaners.
Mara handed a vacuum cleaner and a mop to me just as she took the same tools for herself. We both stepped out and headed for the stairway but stopped at the first stair when Dera shouted out a question. The entrance hall was built in a way that we had to pass the reception area to the stairway
"Are pigs Carnivorous?" Mara and I both exchanged confused glances, as we had no idea of the origin of the question
Mara replied with a soft "No"
"Or do they grow long nails to help them unlock doors?" She continued while directing her stare at me.
I instantly knew where she was driving. She knew I didn't have the keys to unlock the CEO's office, and therefore in her usual insolent way couldn't ask me to come get the keys.
I quietly went to her desk to get the keys while hailing thunderstones at her inwardly.
I got the keys and saw myself up the stairs.
"Do you think she deserves to be a receptionist? She's too rude" Mara complained as we climbed the mountainous stairs.
I sighed and said nothing, afraid that my words might be used against me. But obviously Mara wouldn't know when to stop, as she gave out another question.
"Do you think she's mentally impaired?" Mara continued as we reached the third flight of stairs.
I swallowed and said nothing, for Mara was hitting close to home that if she asked any more questions, I was surely not going to hesitate to make thousands of curses and swear words.
Thankfully, Mara was to clean the hallway on the third floor, and therefore my torrents of anger and hurt settled back to its original restful position just as she saw herself to her cleaning site.
I continued the journey to the fourth floor, opened the door and began my work in the office.
I was surprised at the neatness of the office. It was furnished with just a large black glass table, one swivel chair and a black chair.
My duty was to clean his work office and rest office. Why there should be a rest office in a company, was something to ponder deeply on.
So far so good, his work office was clean and tidy so I didn't have to do much.
I took out the mop and started mopping the already sparkled white tiles before realizing wearily that I had forgotten to get a rag to dust the surface of the chairs and tables.
I cursed at my forgetfulness and decided to go get it in the cleaners' unit.
EDWARD'S POV
I looked out the window of my car sadly. I was going to work, but I was so down in spirit. I checked my wristwatch and the time read 8:33 am. I didn't know what sort of unknown force pulled me out of my house before Nine o'clock; for my normal arrival time at work workplace was usually between the hours of nine to ten.
"Was it because of my grief?"
I felt so sad about my mom's predicament that tears were beginning to trickle down. I loved my mom so much that anything that affected her affected me too.
While still reminiscing on my mom's state of health, the memory of the new cleaner girl flashed to me. I could already see her blazing pink lips speaking peace into my soul. The thought of her made me feel elated and calmer.
In my mind's eye, I could feel her baby soft hands caressing my cheeks, wiping away the tears from my eyes.
"Sir we've arrived," the driver drew me out of wonderland, just as he made his way to my side of the car to open the door for me.
I made sure to put my brown hair in place, to at the least catch a drool from the cleaner's mouth.
I stepped out of my car, feeling better for the first time in many years. Funny how just a thought about someone could fill you with immense joy.
From the entrance, I could already see the cleaner hurrying to the cleaner's unit. Her back view was mind-blowing as it moved in the most seductive of ways.
It paused my body's functioning and I had forgotten how to take a step away from my position at the entrance.
"Good morning boss," Dera greeted cheerily but all my attention was on the scurrying back of the new girl. The jeans she wore showed her curves so brilliantly and excellently well.
She hurried into the cleaners' unit and I waited patiently.
A few seconds later, she got out and then my legs began to move out of control.
Her eyes widened with shock as she saw me approaching. Blue had never looked sexier on anybody else, for her blue eyes were even bluer and sexier than any I'd ever seen.
Her lips were the softest red that had ever existed. For a moment, I thought I would die if I didn't kiss those lips.
"Good morning Sir," she greeted, lowering her eyes to the floor
I didn't know if it was the stress from my mom's health or some mental issue I knew nothing about that pushed me to say the three forbidden words as a reply,
"I love you"