Chapter 1

Amira's Pov~

"Next, Amira Lee Hudson!" the secretary called out to me.

Oh, finally! God knows how long I had waited.

I knew a job interview did not take up to fourty five minutes, yet I was made to wait for over an hour and thirty minutes.

It was extremely ridiculous that I was made to wait for that long, when all that was to be done, was going through a number of CVS, and asking a few questions.

I guess that didn't matter much anymore, all I wanted was to get the job.

I really hope the wait was worth it, I was ready to put my eggs in one basket.

I walked right into the office, where others who had been interviewed earlier had entered. I was confident, walking with model- like steps, and with faith in my heart, that I would get the job. I definitely will.

I was a bit startled to see someone sitting on a chair, with his back to my face, when it should have been the opposite.

I assumed that this person was the owner of the writing firm, but it sure would not hurt anyone if he had his head tilted, with a smile plastered on his face, to welcome me in.

"Take a seat", he said without even turning in my direction.

"Thank you, Sir", I replied while taking my seat.

"Pass me your CV", he said again, as he slowly swirled his chair so he could speak, face to face.

I quickly gave it to him, with a smile on my face. I knew for sure that I would get the job.

I had graduated from college, here in the United States with a first class degree in English and Literature, and I also acquired a Masters degree in New York, the "Big Apple".

There was no way on earth, that I was going to lose this job. Absolutely not.

"Um, Miss Amira Hudson?" he called out to me, as he slowly shifted his attention from my CV, to my face.

"Yes sir?", I replied in anticipation

"I'm sorry, but unfortunately you're not fit or qualified for this job", he said as he stared blankly at me.

His eyes were as dark as coal, and showed no emotions.

"How so? I don't quite understand that, Sir. I mean, I graduated from a good university, I have good degrees, and you are well aware of the fact that my physical appearance is even a plus.

So, how then I'm I not qualified?" I asked while faking a smile, I was trying my best to not rain abuses on this man.

"Well, Miss Amira Hudson, this is my company. And I call the shots here, when I say you are not qualified, then you really are not qualified.

You have absolutely no right whatsoever to question my authority or decisions, so I would ask you while I am still nice and polite, that you took your leave", the man said with a hint of finality in his voice.

"But Sir..." I started with a shaky voice.

"No 'buts', you're not fit for the job. You could go somewhere else , and also make sure you shut the door when you take your leave", He said then shifted his attention back to his laptop. God knows how hard I was trying to not smash that Laptop on his head, for being such a rude jerk.

If I had known that I would not get the job, I would had left a long time ago.

Now the time was far spent, and I knew for sure that there was no way in hell, that I could get interviewed by another writing and publishing firm because it was past 5pm.

Dammit! What a waste of time, energy and bus fare!

I walked out of his office, and down the stairs feeling dejected. I had deliberately refused using the elevator, because I was scared of heights.

It's amusing how I had thought that this was going to be my last time, searching for a job. Or better put on a "job hunt".

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Mom, I'm home!" I yelled immediately I got inside our house. I flunged myself on the sofa, I was really exhausted.

"Oh, honey! You back already? Hold on for a second, I'm taking a quick bath. I would be with you in a moment".

My mom yelled back from her bathroom, which technically is inside her master bedroom.

Well, that's my mom for you. Always being immaculate! My mom believes that our bodies are God's Temple, so caring for our bodies was a way of honouring God.

After all, they say "being clean is close to being Godly".

My Mom was born to an American Dad, and a Korean mom. While my Dad was Nigerian.

According to my Mom, we used to live in Nigeria until I was two. We then relocated to the United States of America, where I spent 25 years of my life, and still counting.

For this reason, I never got to know much about my Nigerian culture. But to be very honest, I couldn't care less! I wanted absolutely nothing to do with anything in relation to my father.

My Mom has been the pillar of my strength, ever since Dad left us for another woman.

She has been everything to me, a father, a mother, a friend, a teacher, everything.

I remember when I was 18, and in grade 12. I was just about graduating from high school, when my Mom fell ill.

Yet, she refused telling me about it. In her defense, she did not want me to get worried, or lose concentration in my classes.

When she went for a check up in the hospital, the doctor gave her a diagnosis, which showed that she had ulcer.

This was because Mom would starve herself, day in day out just to pay my tuition fees, buy groceries, pay for electrical and water bills.

When I found out about my mom's health status, I swore to myself to take up odd jobs, in order lessen the financial burdens on my Mom's shoulders.

It's not that I were born poor, I actually used to live a life of luxury; this was before my Dad abandoned us.

My Dad was a multi millionaire, and still is. He owns chains of businesses,lots of them. There were times in my life, when I had all I wanted. My life's principle was "If I want it, I would get it". But things began to fall apart, like the book "Things Fall Apart" by Chinua Achebe.

My Dad started coming home at odd hours, at first we didn't think much about it. But gradually, he made it an habitual practice to always come home late. Whenever he was drunk, he'd beat up my Mom, this he did several times.

My Mom refused divorcing him, despite the trauma he made her go through. She wanted to stay for a reason, and that reason was me.

I remember one night, out of the numerous other nights when he'd beat up my Mom. He came back, drunk as usual.

My mom had not prepared dinner for him, because she had been preoccupied with her job. She had returned home, only few minutes before he did.

He was unwilling to see reasons why his dinner had not be prepared, nor served at that time.

My Dad was so vexed, that he dragged my Mom up the stairs, to their room and beat her into coma.

My mom was in coma for a week, I was so scared that I thought she would die. I was only seven year old at the time of the incident.

I knew kids my age would prefer that their parents sort things out, had they been in my shoes. But I refused to think that way, if my father was tired of staying married to my Mom, he had better get out of our lives! And for good.

From the day on, I begun praying for his demise. As that was the only ticket to my mom's safety, happiness and peace of mind.

I was beyond excited when he demanded for a divorce, I even went as far as convincing my mom who was in refusal; to sign the divorce papers and move on. She had told me that she did not care much about herself, but rather she was worried about me and my future.

As my dad had stopped my mom from continuing her work. With an accusation that she was using her job as an avenue, to cheat on him.

But I knew that having a mom, and living in penury, was much better than losing my mom, my peace of mind and living in luxury.

My father had intended on taking custody of me, but my Mom was unwilling to agree.

She wasn't going to let that monster take her precious jewel away, and turn her into a monster like himself.

My father had paid the judges, so as to prevent my mom from getting an alimony or a share in his wealth.

This was for a woman who stood by him, in his trying times. A woman who remained faithful in nothing, till much.

From day one, my mom stuck by him.

The ingratitude of my father towards my mom, taught me that all men were ingrates. And I swore to never fall in love, nor get married.

I would rather go to the coventry instead!

My Mom had so many reasons to take full custody of me.

Because a man who could make such unreasonable decisions, to keep his wealth from his wife and child; a man so selfish and self centered, who knew that the lives of his wife and child depended on his money, yet turn his back on us, could as well starve his daughter to death.

It has been twenty long years, and my Mom still does all kind of jobs to ensure I lived a comfortable life.