"Mum, I'm here,"Nichole had said just as she approached the door.
"You should have called, you know," her mum said to her.
"It's a surprise,mum",she had replied jokingly.
"Well, you know I don't fancy that, sweetheart ," she chipped in.
"I know but would you send this poor little thing away?" She had replied.
"Awwwwn," poor thing, I like the sound of that," her mum had said while smiling at her.
"Where is my little boy?" She asked while making reference to her brother, Jack.
"Jack?, well he went to the gym. You see, he doesn't seem to be helping his poor mother out. Always out doing one thing or the other. That was the reason I wanted you to be here, Nichole." She had said to her.
"Well, you know I'm all grown now,Mum.Besides,I have to take care of you and Jack. "She had replied.
"I know that it was all for the best love." Her mom had replied.
"Well…, I'm here now mom, what can I help you out with?" She asked.
"You know, I was about making breakfast before you came in," she had said while taking her hands into hers. They had walked into the kitchen together.
While Nichole had taken up the duty of cutting the lettuce, her mom had the meat thoroughly washed and steamed up.
"What's up with you and your boss, Nichole darling?" Her mom asked her.
"He's just a piece of goddamn shit mom, a beast, a saddest,urghh…,just name it mom. He does not care about creatures like him or is it the fact that he derives joy in making fun of peoples' lives all because he feels he has arrived?" But guess what mom, I'm never giving up knowing fully well I got you and my baby boy to take care of and besides,I went through hell before I got this job." She had complained bitterly to her mom.
"In everything you do Nichole,I will always stand by you," her mom replied tearfully while at the same time trying so hard to force the tears back.
Just then, Nichole had moved closer this time. Gently, she had hugged her mom in consolation and in words of affirmity,she had said to her,
"I will be fine mom."
"Yoo, what's up people?" That was Jack's voice.
"Hey sister, what's up with you?What are you really up to?" Jack had asked Nichole who he wasn't expecting to see at that point in time.
"Huh?" Well, I'm cool little bunny and I'm not really up to anything dude." Nichole had replied now facing Jack with her two hands folded across her breast region.
"You are becoming a man, Jack but you know that does not stop you from helping Mom out with the house chores, you thick headed boy," Nichole had chipped in.
"Boy?" Jack had smirked at that word while walking up to his room with his sneakers which were a bit messy in his right hands.
The meat has been well steamed and served on the dinning table together with the lettuce. Nichole had set the table and had also served the food all by herself.
"If only she would come back to staying with us," her mom had thought silently.
Minutes later, Jack is seen walking towards the dining room. He had gone to freshen up.
After they had settled down, they ate silently. But as Jack notices the silence which envelopes the room, he had turned to Nichole who was sitting just close to him and asked,
"heard your boss is really a hard nut to crack, but you know what? I gat you full time, Princess, your bro here has got all it takes to handle this, trust me." He had said while lifting up his arms in display to show his mom and sister what he got.
Just as he was done with his show,Nichole had burst out in laughter. She had laughed so loud that her ribs were all cracking up.
"Look here, young boy,Mr.Martino Brown is not just one of your school buddies,ok? He can make you rot in jail just with a snap of a finger."
Nichole had said in a terrifying way while snapping her fingers at Jack's face. He was a bit frightened.
"Okayyyyy, someone needs to be calm right now," he had said in a bit terrified state while bringing down the fingers Nichole just snapped at her gently.
"You guys should eat up so the meat don't get cold," their mom had said to them while picking a chunk of meat from her own plate and placing it in her mouth.
Everywhere had returned to its quiet state but shortly after, Nichole had spoken up.
"Jack love, you will be escorting me to the grocery store so that I can pick some stuffs."
"Hell no! I have some catch up to do with my friends," he had replied.
"It's just for some couple of minutes, baby boy,"Nichole had said.
Reluctantly, he shrugged and said,
"well...,if you say so.
They were done with their meals and Nichole had the table cleaned up.
She had gone upstairs after that to take a cold bath. She was all sweaty. After she was done with the cold bath, she had changed into the clothing she came with and in a couple of minutes, they were set to go.
They had taken a cab which stopped them right in front of the grocery store. Jack had gone to pick a shopping basket for picking up the groceries while Nichole did the pickup. Just as she walked shelf to shelf, she had caught hold of the chocolates they used to enjoy when they were much younger.
"How time flies," She had murmured to herself while picking up the chocolates and placing them on the basket Jack had brought earlier.
As she was about turning to the other side of the shelf, she had bumped into someone and bringing up her head to see who it was, she had marvelled by who was standing so erect in his well handled suit with a shiny brown shoes that was enough to reveal her reflection. His haircut was damnnn! His perfume ever ready to take away all her sorrows. It was Justin Miller, her old school mate back then in high school. He didn't change not even a bit though he was not looking bad though. His smile leaving the whole place in suspense.
"I'm really sorry about that, lady," he had apologized to her.
"No way, he doesn't seem to remember me or is he just acting up?" Nichole had thought.
"It's all good, Justin Miller, from Thales High school, if I'm not mistaken?" She had questioned.
Martino,who was now calm had said nothing to Nichole nor her old school mate, Justin.Nichole,now afraid and could not place her hands on what next her boss was going to do had quickly rushed and picked up a shopping cart while returning quickly. This time, she was standing next to her boss.
Martino still left them in suspense. He had left the grocery store quietly. They seem to be the centre of attraction in the store.
Just as he had left, Justin said to Nichole,
"well, you see, I didn't know that he was your boss but all the same, how could he even dare to order you around like you are his home servant? I couldn't stand that shit you know." He concluded.
Nichole who was so worried had said to him,
"Justin, thank you so much for standing up for me, but you see that man, he is something else He is not someone you would love to mess with not even for a second. So please, any other day you come in contact with him, try to avoid him in every possible way,ok?"
"Well, you know that's not gonna happen, I can't just stand such bullies." He had chipped in immediately.
The man shrank in his glare.
Nichole's heart skipped. She knows how ruthless her boss, the CEO could be. Martino Brown doesn't forgive. He breaks people even before breakfast.
Watching him now, she realized those weren't exaggerations.
He had dismissed the manager with a sharp flick of his hand, then turned his gaze towards Nichole's direction. For a brief second, their eyes met. His were like water; cold, unreadable and making her spine tingle. Quickly, she had looked away while clutching her folder.
"Miss Lockwood, your friend from yesterday, hope he got to learn his lessons?"
He asked.
"Sure, he did," she managed to reply while at the same time trying not to look directly into that cold eyes of his. This time,Martino had stood up and walking up to her with his hands dipped into the side pockets of his turkey black trouser, he said,
" that was just a tip of an iceberg, Miss Lockwood. If you wanna try, then go on. No one messes with me without paying the price that comes with it."
He had concluded while adjusting his tie gently.
Nichole had swallowed hard and nodded, though her legs trembled.
His staffs really felt for her. He doesn't give a damn about anyone.
The meeting had ended with a tense silence. The executives shuffled out, their faces pale, carrying files as if they were carrying their own death sentences. No one lingered. You do not dare. She had barely managed to put the boardroom in order after she returned to her office.