𝐀 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐧 | 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐲

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟒

☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

"Boss!" Miguel yelled cheerfully as he opened the door, "I brought her here for you,"

The boss, who had been talking to a woman who was sitting across from him in a chair, abruptly turned around to see what the commotion was.

Mr. Johnson was an older man with graying hair and a neatly trimmed beard. He had a commanding presence and an authoritative demeanor, yet his eyes held a warmth that made him seem approachable. He was dressed in a tailored suit and polished shoes, and he carried himself with a dignified air.

His face lit up with anger, his lips pursed and his brows furrowed. However, his expression immediately softened when he saw the woman standing behind Miguel. His lips curved into a gentle smile and his eyes softened.

I glanced between the two and quickly took in the scene. I could feel the tension in the air, and without hesitating, I stepped beside Miguel, standing tall and trying to appear confident.

I didn't want to intrude, but I wanted to make sure I was there to support Miguel if he needed it.

"Good morning Mr. Johnson, my name is Imani Hassan and I'm here-" I started but was interrupted by him.

"Yes, Miss. Imani, I know why you're here," Mr. Johnson said, his voice strong but gentle. He stood up and extended his hand to me, "It's a pleasure to meet you. Please, have a seat."

As I walked up to him, the woman that had been talking to Mr. Johnson passed me to leave. She gave me a small nod and a tight-lipped smile before she exited the room. I gave her a friendly wave and smiled back before I continued on my way to Mr. Johnson.

Mr. Johnson gestured for me to sit down and I took the seat across from him.

As soon as I was settled, he began speaking. "Imani, I'm glad you're here," he said. "We have a lot to discuss, so let's get started."

"You know why you're here right?" he asked rhetorically, giving me a knowing look before he continued speaking.

"One of our girls has fallen ill so we need an extra person to take her place. I'm sure you're up to the task, Imani. I've heard good things about you from Miguel and I think you'll be a great addition to the girls."

A binder was then taken out of one of his drawers by him, and he began to sort through it.

He pointed to the various clauses and paragraphs inside the binder. "These are the rules you must follow and this is the contract that you have to sign if you decide to join us. I suggest you read it carefully before you make a decision."

I opened the binder and began to look through the different documents. Sure enough, among the pages of contracts, rules, and regulations was an insurance agreement. It stated that the company would provide me with liability and health insurance coverage in the event of any injury or illness that could be related to my job.

"All this for one day?" I asked while rereading the document in disbelief. I was overwhelmed by the amount of paperwork that seemed to be required for a single day of work.

Mr. Johnson nodded and said, "That's right. We value the safety and well-being of all our employees. We understand that this is a lot of information to take in, but I'm confident that you are up to the task."

He gave me a friendly smile before continuing. "Now, let's go over the details of your job so you know what to expect."

Mr. Johnson went into great detail about the job, explaining every part of the role and the contract that I would have to sign. He made sure to thoroughly go through the insurance agreement and explain the different clauses and conditions, so I would know all the benefits I would receive if I took on the job.