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22.53% A woman's dilemma / Chapter 16: Chapter 16

Capítulo 16: Chapter 16

Amy:

"Amy! I'm going to be late. Where are you?!" Claudia's voice rings out through th e toilet's door. I literally shake with nerves. 

"Amy?" I hear my room's door open. 

"In here!" I squeak. I flush the toilet even though I didn't use it, for the long while I've been sitting here. I wash my hands and let myself out the door. 

"There you are . Come on, zip me up and let's go." She turns around to give me access to her dress's zip. I hold the tiny zip and pull it up. 

"You're shaking." She notes as she turns around to face me again. 

"Nerves I think." I try to smile through the nerves. I must look weird and Claudia doesn't fail to point it out. 

"You look like a constipated monkey. Come sit. I think I have a few minutes to listen." She pulls my hand and sit on my bed. I sit beside her. 

"Okay, spill." 

"I don't think I'm ready for this. I mean yes, I've been thinking of a career choice since my brother made me promise I'll go back to school but I didn't expect it to be this soon. I was actually thinking next year will be better. Maybe I should get a job instead y'know?" I ramble. 

"I admit Frances did surprise me with getting you a spot so easily but sweetheart, this is your chance. You deserve this shot at a new life. I think you should grab it." She pat my hand slowly. 

"What if-- what if I fail. It's been too long." I say my fear and Claudia shakes

her head at me. 

"If you become a negative Nancy what's left for the rest of us pessimistic bitches in this world, Amy?" She says in her no nonsense and matter of fact way. 

"You have always been a ray of sunshine. Taking life with stride. Believing in the good of things. Why stop now?" She asks. I let my eyes slip shut to

block her face out. 

"I'm afraid life is going too good for me to be true." I almost sob out. I let my eyes slip back open. 

"Amy--" I let my body hug Claudia's side for comfort. She pat my shoulder. 

"This is your break in life. I believe it." She says. I pull away a little to stare at

her. She gives me a reassuring smile. 

"School is your thing, Amy. You're gonna kick ass!" She grins at her unusual

L show of enthusiasm. 

"Okay that's enough sappiness for one day. Move your ass from that bed or I'm dragging you to that admission office, screaming and kicking." She pulls up to her feet and raise her brows at me. 

"So? Should I start dragging you?" She asks me. I roll my eyes at her. 

"I'm afraid you won't get the satisfaction of being a bitch this morning, Claudia." I chuckle at her and take her offered hands to stand up. 

"Dang it." She grins as we both walk out of the room. 

"Thank you, Claudia." I say. 

"Yeah, yeah. Just get your thin ass into the car while I get my bag." She deflects to her room and leaves me to grab her car keys and my documents from the counter.

****

"You know how to get back to the house right?!" Claudia calls from the call as she starts to reverse out. She acts like my mother sometimes but I know she would frown as such a comparison. I wave her on with a grin. She motion for me to give her a call when I'm done and I nod. I watch her car exit the premises before I turn around to face the building. 

"Okay, Amy. Let's get this over and done with." I grab my documents to my chest as I make my way nervously into the building. Frances already sent me how to nd the administrator's office so I don't stop to ask any one.

There's no one in sight anyways. Just a row of offices when I enter the building. I'm supposed to enter the last on the right. I make my way slowly down the hallway till I get to the last door. I take in a calming breath and mentally stabilize my breathing. I nervously brush down the beautiful gown Claudia lent me so I can look presentable.

  I should knock. I tuck my file under my armpit and raise my hand to knock only for the door to pull open suddenly, my fist almost hitting the wide shoulders of the man standing at the doorway with his back to me.

"I'm not teaching a student who doesn't deserve to be in my class!" He snaps at the older woman behind the desk, who looks a little tired for so early in the morning. I let my hand fall to my side. 

Is he referring to me? As if he hears me, the angry man turns around and freezes me with his hard stare. I visibly shrink when his eyes appraise my clothing. He snorts and marches out with a shake of his head.

  I'm still plastered to the door when the woman speaks. 

"And that'll be your anatomy professor. A real ray of sunshine." She says wryly, pointing out the door. I nod slowly. He looks too young to be a professor. I keep my opinion to myself. I peel my self o the door and stagger to the desk to drop my file.

"I'm Amy Amadi." I stretch my hand for an handshake. 

"Of course. Mrs Francesca told me all about you. Have a seat." She says and I do as asked. With my mind still reeling from the man who just left the room. He'd been staring down at me but I was able to get a good enough look at him before he marched out. 

For some insane reason, I think he looks familiar. I rack my brain for where I've seen him before. It's a face that shouldn't be forgotten. Even with anger oozing from every pore of his body, he had managed to steal my breath away. He isn't what anyone will call handsome in the usual sense of the word. He's striking. And that ominous scar snaking through his left brow just makes him more attention grabbing.

  And his eyes, they'd been an unusual color of brown. 

"Are you paying attention, miss?" I look up at the woman frowning lightly at me. I shake my head of my thoughts and nod at her. 

"I'm sorry madam. You were saying?" I ask and she shakes her head in disapproval. 

"We don't usually take students at this time of the year. But Mrs Francesca

and her husband are huge contributors to this school. And she assured me that you're quite the intelligent student." She appraise me with her glasses. I nod quickly. 

"So you should be able to catch up then. I'll advise you to reach out to your

classmates. Gabriel should be able to help you with the notes they've taken

so far." 

"Gabriel ma'am?" I ask. 

"He's the top student so far. I already sent for him. He'll be here to give you

a tour." I am a bit uncomfortable with the special treatment but still grateful. 

"Thank you ma'am." I say sincerely. She waves me o as she study my files. 

"Your WAEC result is outstanding and your few years of studying in the

University of Lagos doesn't hurt either." 

"Thank--" 

"Mind you, this is far more complex than a few years of University schooling." She interrupts me and I nod. 

"I will try my best ma'am." I assure her. 

"Now that's what I want to hear." A quiet tapping on the door pulls both our

attention to the door. 

"That should be Gabriel. You can leave now. Pick up your uniform and books before you leave the premises." She instructs. I take this as my cue to leave. 

"Thank you so much for this opportunity." I say as I stand up. 

"Study and show your lecturers that you are not just a spoilt brat with connections." I wince a little from the words. I have a feeling those were the

exact same words my anatomy professor must have said about me. I'll

prove him wrong if anything. 

I make for the door and pull it open. A cheeky face greets me as I look up. 

"Take care of her, son." The woman calls from the oce. I see the smile fall off the guy's face and get replaced with a faint blush. 

"Okay Mom. Please don't tell anyone about that." He pulls the door close behind me and pin me with his eyes. I raise my hands up in surrender. 

"My lips are sealed." I draw my fingers across my lips like it's a zip and the

guy who looks about my age chuckles. 

"I'm Amarachi by the way. Amy if you will." I stretch my hand for a handshake. 

"Amy." He says like he's testing my name on his lips. My attention are drawn to his full lips and I find myself biting on mine. His boyish good looks contrast with the striking look of the young professor from earlier. 

Why am I comparing both of them? I shake my head and follow behind Gabriel as he points to various places in the building.


next chapter

Capítulo 17: Chapter 17

Claudia:

 

"Good morning, Lily." My boss's secretary wave at me on the way to my office without looking up from her laptop. I carry myself to my office and plop down to my comfy chair. It's almost eight am. I pull my thermo of hot coffee out of my bag and pour myself a cup. 

"Claudia." My boss comes in without knocking and I bite down my retort. 

"I've been waiting for you." He says and makes himself comfortable on one of the chairs facing me. I abandon the hot coffee and face him. 

"It's too early to be looking for me . I was actually going to send you the report of my progress on the few houses I'm working on." I fiddle with the pile of files on my desk and pull out the one I need. 

 My boss takes my coffee and starts to sip from it. I make a mental note to go out and grab more coffee from the eatery outside the office. 

"Mrs Gloria's house is almost done. A new coat of paint and the fixing of the bathtub is all that's left. Mrs--" my boss's hand goes up to stop my speech and I clamp my mouth shut. 

"That's not the account I'm here for." He drops the cup of coee and fix his old eyes on me. I drop the file I'm reading from. 

"Which account would you like to hear about?" I ask him. 

"Mr Obi called. You're not taking on his project." He says and shakes his head

disapprovingly. I can feel an headache coming on. I should have drank that

coffee before coming to work. I eye the coffee in front of him and sigh. 

"He's not serious about getting his project done." I say. 

"Oh he's serious. A million Naira serious!" My boss snaps. 

"I can get you another client. Someone who's not a complete pig." I bite out. 

"Well that pig is willing to pay for you to endure him. You think I chose you for his project because you're more qualified?" My brows shoot up as my

anger flares. 

"I'll like to think that." I grind out. My boss cowers a little at my cold tone. 

"You are on this project because you're a woman and it's common knowledge that Mr Obi likes to dabble in women." 

"Dabble?! So I should sleep with him?!" I yell. 

"Get this job done. Don't let me regret hiring a woman." 

"I'm better than most men in what I do." I snap. 

"Probably. But you women are too emotional and choosy. I should have known your breed just can't be professional."

 What?! 

"I am as professional as it gets!" 

"Then do your job. If you think I can't fire you because you got your degree

in Italy, think again. I have myself another Italian graduate. Mr Ben will

be more than happy to take on your projects."  

"Mr Ben?" 

"Yeah. Your new colleague. Ben!" My boss yells in my face. I cringe at his barking. Ben? 

"Sir." My eyes snap wider as Benjamin strolls into my office. 

"You must be kidding me." I gasp. Benjamin has the sense to look wary of

my temper. 

"Claudia. I thought this might remind you of how good we work together."

He says. I just gape at him. He's not serious. My boss looks at the both of

us and shrugs like he doesn't want to be caught in between us. 

"I guess you now know how easy it is to lose your job in this company." He says and stands. 

"Consider this job done." I grind out without breaking eye contact with

Benjamin. 

"I knew you will come around. I already set a meeting with the both of youfor tomorrow morning. Dress pretty." My eyes snaps to my boss as he hurries out of my office. 

"Claudia I--" I raise my hand up to shut Benjamin up. 

"Please leave." I tell him. 

"You mean your office or the company?" He asks quietly. 

"Maybe both." 

"Claudia I know I said I'm here to be close to you. That's true but you should know that I lost my job as soon as you left Italy. I guess I lost focus when you left me." He moves closer to me but doesn't touch me. 

"Are you blaming me for something?" I ask him. He shakes his head quickly. 

"I'm saying I need you and I also need this job. Please?" I don't even know what he's begging for. 

"You should not beg me for your job, Ben." I stand up from behind my desk

and he wisely moves away to give me space. 

"I want us back. I still love you." 

"I'm sorry but I have a meeting to get to."  I grab my bag. I don't bother to

tell him this meeting is with me and a cup of coffee. 

"How bout we go out for dinner tonight Claudia." He calls to my back. 

"I'm busy." I don't even spare him another glance. 

 I bypass my car, deciding to walk the few blocks to the eatery just to clear my head. I frown when I feel someone following me. I stop walking to look

back only to be bombarded with ashes from dierent cameras. I'm stun for a sec until the questions hit my brain. 

"What's your relationship with Daniel?!" 

"Did you come back to the country for him?!" 

"Do you guys plan on getting married soon?" 

"Are you pregnant?!" I gape at the young reporter at her absurd question.

What the heck is going on?! 

 My phone starts ringing in my pocket and it snaps me out of my shock.

  I start to walk faster away from them in the hope that they'll leave me alone. Their footfalls behind me tells me I'm mistaken. A strong hand clamp down on my shoulder and I turn around to throw it o me. 

 I'm seething with anger at this moment. 

"What the fuck is wrong with you guys?!" I snap. The cameras flash some more.

I'm beginning to get dizzy with the various lights on my face. 

"Ma'am talk to us! We're not leaving till we get your statement!" I glare at the stupid jibe from the back. 

"Are you cheating on Daniel by chance?" My head snap to the side where a woman has her phone pointed in my direction. 

"I don't know what you guys are talking about." I stare into the street and notice people staring. A few point at me. 

"Who's the man in the picture with you two?" A magazine is pulled in my

face. I grab the flimsy paper. I gasp at the unmistakeable picture of Daniel Obi, Benjamin and I in a stare off. This was surely taken on Sunday when Amy and I met them at the eatery. 

"Ma'am. Are you cheating on Daniel with the man in this picture?!" I throw

the magazine to the oor. 

"Did you sleep with him to boost your career as an architect?" My eyes snap up to the woman grinning smugly at me and I lose it. 

"I'll show you what I can do for my career!" I growl as I lunge at the woman.

I'm caught in mid air and pushed into a firm body. 

"Let go of me! Let--!" My face turn to stare into the dark orbs of Mr Daniel. 

"What are you doing?!" I yell when he throws my over his shoulder and starts to stride towards an SUV. I kick and scream to be let down. I try to look behind us.

  Cameras keep ashing but a few suited men block their paths. 

"Put me down!" I hit my st into his toned ass. The bastard chuckles, sending a vibration up my body.

"You're not doing yourself any favors, Claw." I will give him claw! I dig my

fingernails into his ass just as he pulls the SUV's door open and gently puts me

down. I glare at his crooked grin. 

"I think we are in a bit of a fix." He says. 

"You think?! Why am I being bombarded by paparazzi?" He looks guilty and I know I won't like what he has to say. His bodyguards come back to

the car before he gets a word out. 

"We should talk somewhere else." He slips besides me in the car and the

car zooms off into the road, leaving the paparazzi running after us till they stop. 

"I have to work." I say warily. 

"I already called your boss." His hand cover mine on my lap. I push it away. 

"What have you done?"


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