Jewel's POV
Today was the day. The day I'd be starting my job as a personal assistant in one of the biggest architectural companies in the city and in the country. I had gotten back from the states few months ago and I didn't want to lazy around, depending on my parents so I went job hunting and got a personal assistant job. Not what I wanted actually but it was better than nothing and the pay was very lucrative.
Because of my excitement, I had woken up very early to get ready. I was staying at my parent's place pending the time I get my own apartment. Picking up my white towel, I entered to bathroom to observe my hygiene.
About forty five minutes later, I came out, towel cladding from my chest downwards and one wrapped around my hair. I began to dress up, first of all applying lotion on my body before wearing my underwear and sat down in front of my dresser.
I finished my make up and styled my hair into a low bun. I had a pretty full and long hair. People usually thought I wore wig or fixed human hair but it was always my hair. It was only on special occasions I wore wig. I laid my edges and without having to tie any band, it stayed.
I went ahead to slip into a navy blue cooperate given with a slit at the back so that I'd be able to move freely. I assessed myself in the mirror and smiled at my reflection, concluding that I looked perfect. Not too much, not too small. Very okay for first day impressions, especially when I haven't met the boss yet. I complemented the look with black strap heels and black bag. I looked at my watch. I would be late if I don't leave the house now.
I made my way down the stair case and saw that my parents were already up, having break fast. Too bad I won't be having breakfast with them.
"Good morning mum, morning dad." I greeted them.
"Good morning my dear. Sit down and have your breakfast." Mum said but I shook my head.
"I can't. Today is my first day and I really want to make a very good impression on the big boss by not being late." I explained.
"That's good." Dad nodded in understanding. "Have you spoken to your sister? She asked you to call her." He asked and I shook my head. I knew why Pearl wanted to talk to me.
"I'll call her on my way. I have to go now, bye!" I waved at them and dashed out of the house.
I greeted the workers walking around and doing chores, made my way to my Range Rover. I honked, signalling the gate man to open the gate. If I wanted to make it on time, I would need to beat the Lagos traffic, which at this point would be difficult.
I connected my AirPods to my phone and placed a call over to Pearl. It rang for a few seconds before she picked it up.
"Jewel, you have been ignoring my phone calls." Was the first thing she said when she picked the called and I sighed, rolling my eye.
"Good morning to you too, big sister." I replied with sarcasm laced in my voice.
"Don't go all sarcastic on me!" Pearl chided sternly. "You were ignoring my phone calls on purpose." She added and I sighed.
"That's because I already know what you want to say and I am not interested in hearing it." I told her sternly. "You are just going to support Tayo like always instead of supporting your own sister."
Tayo was my boyfriend. We met at the states towards the ending of my studies and one thing led to another and we began to date. I got to know that he was the only son of one of the richest men in the country. We came back to Nigeria together.
Tayo was intolerable. Because of his father's affluence, he acted like a big baby most times with no Manners and it was infuriating. While Pearl adored him to know ends, feeling he was a good way for me to move on from you know who, I found him quite annoying.
He had wanted me to work in his company and I told him no. I didn't want anyone thinking he pulled strings for me to get there which I knew he'd do. I wanted to work for my own money instead of depending on my parents or boyfriend. He got really pissed at my decision and called me several horrible names. I got angry and walked out on me.
Now he had reported me to my sister and Pearl being Pearl didn't want to hear my own side of the story. Her own sister. It was stupid.
"Jewel, he just wants your best interest at heart. Suggesting that you should come and work for him isn't such a bad idea." Pearl said and I scoffed.
"This is what I don't like about you, Pearl. You keep supporting this guy even after everything. I want to work for my own money and not depend on my rich boyfriend to give me everything. I'm an independent woman for Christ sake!" I hit the steering wheel in frustration.
"He is just trying to look out for you!" Pearl snapped.
"Look out for me by calling me a wanna be, by insulting my person?! And you are there, supporting him like you don't see any fault in what he is doing."
"It's not like I don't see a fault in what he is doing. I do..." Pearl started but I cut her off.
"Then fücking correct him for once instead of correcting me." I snapped and hung up, removing my AirPods aggressively and throwing them on the passengers seat. I stepped on the accelerator and maneuvered my way through the traffic.
I loved my sister so much but most times she can be insufferable and it was annoying. Now she has already made me late on my first day. I kissed my teeth and continued driving.
*****
I parked my Range Rover in front of the glass skyscraper and got down, my Chanel bag in hand. I locked the car, smoothened my dress with my hand and looked up at the building.
H&A Architectural Firm
One of the biggest and best company in the country. I put on my best smile and walked Into the building majestically, carrying an aura of confidence, as always.
The lounge was quite large and very busy. Everyone was doing one thing or the other. When I came for my interview the just concluded week, this much people were not around. As I made my way to the elevator, I greeted people as they passed me. I already knew my way around the the big company. I pressed the button indicating the floor I was going to and up I went.
Soon, I was at the top floor where my office was and lucky for me, I saw Laura, giving instructions to a few staff around her. I met her during the interview. She gave me a tour around the place and was pretty nice to me. I'm glad to have already made a friend. Most of my friends were in New York where I had schooled.
"Laura." I called her and she turned around, beaming when she saw me. She dismissed the staffs and made her way towards me.
Laura was a pretty lady with glowing fair skin and killer figure. She had on a bright red gown that stopped just below her knee but had a side slit to her lower thigh. Her white stiletto heels, straight hair and bright red lipstick completed the professional but chic look.
"Babe, where have you been?" She whispered-yelled at me playfully.
"I was caught up in traffic. Am I late?" I looked at my watch. "I'm just five minutes late." I shrugged.
"You are saying that because you haven't met the boss. Speaking of which, he said you should see him by the time you get here." She told me.
"Mr Kalu?" I asked. Kalu was the one who interviewed me last week and he was really nice. I shouldn't have a problem with him, should I?
"Not Kalu. Kalu only filled in for Williams because he was out of town. Mr Williams is CEO and the one you'd be working directly under." Laura smirked at me and I sighed as tension filled me.
"That makes more sense."I chuckled. "Well let me go and drop my bag then I'll get to his office immediately after that." I told her.
"Alright love. Good luck. You might need it." She smirked mischievously and walked off. I frowned but brushed what she said aside.
I dropped my bag in my well furnished office and walked towards the boss's office which was also located at the top floor. I exhaled and knocked.
"Come in." A deep and very familiar voice replied. I brushed it off, feeling overwhelmed by nervousness. I've never met the big boss before. I didn't know how he looked like or how he would act like.
I opened the door, heads bowed as a sign of respect. I was already late. I didn't want to seem disrespectful too. Wouldn't want to loose my job on my first day. I'm pretty sure many other people applied just like I did, so I can't screw this up.
"Good morning sir." I said, my head still down, my eyes on my manicured toenails. I heard him clear his throat.
"Tardiness on your first day isn't a good first impression, Miss... What's your name?" He asked me. His voice sounded awfully familiar but I didn't know where to place it so I dismissed the thought.
"Miss Demilade, sir." I replied and there was a pause on his end.
"Demilade..." He muttered and my eyes were still trained on the floor.
"Jewel?" He called my name and I frowned, looking up. That was when my eyes met his and I recognized him immediately.
Oh God no!
"Henry." I muttered in complete shock.
TEN YEARS AGO. Jewel looked through the window of her mum's car as they drive into the new school. Her eyes widened as saucers, marveling at the amazing structures of the school, some of which we were not in her other school. She was resuming at Elite's academy for her senior school education. Her elder sister, Pearl was also a student of the school, in her senior year. Pearl scoffed has she watched Jewel practically ogling the school and drooling."Stop drooling." Pearl snapped at Jewel who in turn touched the side of her lips to see if her sister was right."It would destroy my reputation if people saw you." Pearl looked away nonchalantly. Jewel eyed and kissed her teeth at her sister."You don't have to be so mean, you know." Jewel replied, as their mum moved towards the parking lot where numerous cars were already parked in an arranged order."You coming to this scho
Monday came faster than expected and all students were dressed smartly in their school uniform which was a combination of light blue short sleeved shirt and grey slacks for the guys and a grey flared skirt which was just above the knee for the senior girl and pinafore for the junior girls.Jewel wore her uniform and complimented it with black high tops sneakers, her white socks showing. Her tie was loose around her neck and her hair was packed in a donut bun. She was just stuffing her back pack with books when Henrietta walked in."Hey gurl!" She called in her naturally excited voice and Jewel flashed her a smile. Henrietta plopped down on her bed and watched Jewel."Hmm, someone seems super excited about start school. That's a first." She teased and Jewel laughed."I'm just excited about being in my first boarding school, away from my parents. It's partial freedom." She replied and Henrietta nodde
Henry and Jewel became close and closer by the weeks and those weeks turned into months. This sparked up rumours from every one, even seniors from other class but Jewel didn't care about that. She like Henry and she was so certain he likes her just as much, if not more.They went home for the mid semester break and still kept in touch. Pearl stopped trying to persuade her sister against being friends with Henry. The girls of her class also find the same but Henrietta supported their relationship. Jewel was glad that she was allowed to be with the one she likes in peace. Even though they were not official yet.Soon, they came back from the mid semester break and were placed in their respective classes. Henry and Jewel were no longer in the same class because of their various divisions. That did not stop them from seeing each other because they still saw each other during the free period or whenever it was time for sport and he doesn't feel li
It was night prep one night when a Junior came to Jewel's class with a paper wrapped together. It was from Henry. The content of the letter said that she should meet him at the Visual art studio in the next ten minute. She got the message and waited for the time before she stood up from and seat and left the class room to the studio. Jewel got to the front of the studio and saw Henrietta waiting. She frowned. "Henrietta." She called and the latter turned to her. "Thank God, you were finally here. He is inside, he wants to see you." Henrietta chirped and Jewel nodded, opening the door and walking in the dim lit room. It was still quite so she could see her surroundings and she didn't miss Henry standing by the table. She smirked. "Are you trying to be romantic?" She asked, teasing him. He chuckled in response and moved closer to her. "Maybe. Am I doing a good job?" H
The end of first term came quickly and they had their annual inter house sport to crown the semester up. Jewel's house came in first position because the house was filled with several good athletes. Soon, the students went home for the Christmas break. Jewel and Pearl already had bad blood between them and didn't talk to each other. Their parents noticed the tension between them and tried every means to stop it all to no avail. Pearl had practically given up on Jewel and had left her to herself. If she gets hurt by Henry then it's on Jewel, not on her. At least she did try her best to warn her sister. This was why she didn't want her coming to the school in the first place. The school will taint her innocence and even though she didn't show it, Pearl was worried about her sister. Jewel and Henry kept close contact with each other and were always talking. They weren't offici
As usual, by 6:30pm in the evening, all the students moved from their hostel to gather in the dinning hall for dinner. Henry saw Jewel and waved at her and she waved back, her lips spread in a grin. Soon, they ate dinner, catching up on things they couldn't catch up on during the Christmas break.Jewel and Henry hugged good night after they arranged their things in class and Jewel made her way to the hostel with her friends. Henry was the last person to leave the class as he had forgotten one of his note books. As he moved out of his class, he saw Senior Ife at the Corridor. He looked and saw no one around except the both of them. He didn't like the look of things, especially when she had a devious smirk playing on her lips and was sashaying towards him, an aura of arrogance and pride hovering around her.
BACK TO THE PRESENT Henry's POVRiing... I took my eyes off the road for a few seconds to look at my phone that was ringing by my side. I saw that it was my mum and sighed. Picking the call, I connected my phone to my AirPods and cleared my throat, getting ready for whatever she wanted to say. Even thought I knew exactly what she was going to say. "Good morning mum." I greeted her, using the rear view mirror to look at my daughter that kept playing with the straps of her school bag. I smiled, my mind absent to whatever my mum was saying. "Akinola!" Mum's voice pierced through my reverie and I winced as her high pitched voice pierced through my reverie. She called me by my middle name which indicated that she meant business. "Yes mum." I answered her. "You are not listening to me, this boy
Jewel's POV"Excuse me." I didn't wait for any of them to reply before I dashed out of the office and practically ran all the way to the rest room. Immediately I got in, I locked the door and leaned my back against it, by breathing ragged and laboured. I walked over the mirror and stared at my reflection. Henry is here. As my boss. "This cannot be happening." I whispered to myself as I began to splash water on my face, trying to be sure that I wasn't dreaming. It was quite certain that I wasn't dreaming. I stared at my reflection as my mind began to go back in time. To everything that happened back at high school. I suddenly began to feel anger course through my veins. Not at Henry but at myself for being so naive to actually fall for a Player after so many warnings. And I hated Henry for proving them right. All of them.