Classless

Chapter 64: Lemons and Oranges

Chapter 64: Lemons and Oranges

*Fedor’s POV*

“So…” I did not know what to say afterwards, I had somehow forgotten about the Nico incident and why did they all bear Charles as a first name, wait; I thought since he lived around my area with the same bus and everything that I thought made him relatable.

Mr. Charles was not taken aback like I was, he looked straight at me, “I have always wanted to thank you for saving my nephew but I did not know how to bring that up. Well, do you have the report?”

I absently handed over the report not over the fact that these two were related, if they were as rich as Nico seemed to be, why was he here? Why did he use the bus? Why is he rough around the edges? Why was I curious? I shook myself out of my thoughts and nodded when he dragged Nico out of my station. I had begun to settle when I noticed the interns had begun to buzz around me and I ignored them as best I could. One of them said loud enough for me hear, “Performance appraisal is around the corner, half of us are going to get cut. I wonder who would be among the bottom half?”

“Not all of us started at the same time, and we are not all lucky enough to have the backings of a supervisor and a Chief. Some people are just so lucky, I wish it was that easy for me to open my legs and have things fall into my lap.” Another one responded and no matter what I said to myself to ignore their taunts, she made it too easy to reply.

I took a generous look at her and eyed her up and down and answered aloud, “Nah, even if you opened your legs, arms and eyes; the only thing you’d catch is flies.”

“Excuse me?” She seemed really offended.

I removed the pods in my ears and talked innocently. “What?”

She scoffed and moved closer to my station, “You are  nothing.”

I smirked, “Okay.” I flicked her finger off my table.

My lack of reaction seemed to bother her even more, and she was about to go off when her partner stopped her, “No 8, it is not worth it.”

Kora was right, the rumors were out of hand. I had not even done anything, yet I was going through this shit, school wasn’t even this bad or maybe I did not notice. I wondered how they’d react when they found out that the rumors were half true, my legs were up for a certain someone. Great, their reference was in my head. I needed a plan for when it all falls apart, I wasn’t delusional to think that our relationship would remain secret forever and for the first time, I considered porting to Carl Industries. A girl can dream big and if I could get into Tokhe, surely getting into Carl couldn’t be that much impossible except for one issue. They were big on recommendations and references, I sighed and decided to think on that another day. I focused on my duties as usual and spent more time in the record room and the library which was a sentence I never thought I’d ever use.

My mind still strayed from time to time but it was better, I was getting so used to the distractions that it could no longer work for longer periods. The good thing was that I was getting good and used to reading, it was fast becoming a habit. Even after I had submitted the report, I was curious about the world and I delved into reports, I discovered that the farther back I went, the lesser the information there was about Kolanphur, heck I did not even know that the city was younger than most places. I heard No 4 being called out harshly outside, I muttered in my head; Mr. Charles was definitely in danger of losing his voice, I rushed to him and he beckoned me into his office. He threw my report on his table and asked, “What is this?”

I swallowed, “Report. The report you asked me to compile.”

“This is good.”

What did he just say? I wasn’t sure I heard him well.

“This is really good, way above expectations.” He repeated with a straight face.

Mr. Charles had to work on his delivery because he had no idea how to deliver good news, or maybe he was being sarcastic. “Is that sarcasm?”

“Have you ever seen me being sarcastic?”

“No sir.”

“Some of the information here were out of pocket but still interesting to note. This is good, surprisingly better than most of the reports I had ever seen, your attention to details is surprising given your affinity. When is your internship ending?”

“In two months time.”

“Would you like to remain in the department?”

I coughed uncomfortably, “Are you being kind to me because of what I did with Nico?”

“Yes, does that bother you?”

Well, he wasn’t shy that’s for sure and I thought about it and answered, “Nope, I was only curious.”

“At first that was what it was but you are a hard worker, I respect that and over time, you earned my respect. I know what it means to go against your very nature to achieve an objective which is what you did, you took my advice to heart, actually studied and made a report that not only covered the superficial part of technological advancement but also little pieces of history that made it overall a holistic piece. Based on this, do you Tokhe is heading in the right direction with what we do?” He asked like he genuinely wanted my input on it.

I sighed, “Honestly, I haven’t delved into Tokhe as a whole, what I know flies between the ships and the missions.”

“There you go, your next assignment. Two weeks, give me a report of Tokhe’s past inventions and future direction then input your thoughts on how it can be better and worse.” He ordered and practically chased me out of his office with a glare asking me what I was still doing there.

Maybe I had an advantage because of Nico and I would take any advantage I could get, I did not even feel sorry considering how everyone had treated me the moment my background became public information. I got it in a way, I did not have much to offer and this place was all about transaction. I could barely help myself, how could I assist others? I also understood what Martha had been trying to tell me. I did not get jealous when they got together for drinks after work or when they sat huddled together at lunch, in fact I preferred it. I did not get lonely, I liked being alone with my thoughts as hard as it was to believe and I had gotten into reading novels recently as well. The things inside of a book were marvelous, utterly beautiful and I had also sneaked a peak at Neka’s page, she was not a bad writer; okay she was a gifted writer. I did not even think she was a bad person because I have seen her being nice to others, I just have a way of bringing out the worst in people.

I was eating my food during break while reading what most would call a trashy but I would call it a book of awakening, when I was interrupted by a familiar handsome insufferable face. He smirked, “You know most people would hide when reading that.” He pointed at my book.

“You should hide from me.” I glared at him.

He chuckled, “Chief told you what I did.”

“Chief knows?” I widened my eyes.

“I see, you figured it out yourself.”

“Kurt, you have always been a meddling condescending son of a bitch. It had your handwriting all over it, what are you doing here?” I muttered and hissed at the attention I was getting again. I groaned internally, awesome; I had given them another thing to talk about again.

He sighed, “You know why I did it then.”

“Yes but I don’t think you know why you did it.” I answered.

He smiled smugly and disbelievingly, “Educate me then.”

“You are a control freak. You might not be in love with me but in some demented rationale, you believe I am a responsibility of yours and like with everything you do, you expect perfection. You genuinely think I would not do what is best for me and I will give you that but you have no right to do that, you have the power to get what you want but I am not one of your tasks Kurt. I will let this time slide, but the next time you meddle in my life, I will remind you what pain is. Do I make myself clear?”

“Sternly.” He answered. “I heard that work was not going great.”

“Actually it is.” He believed me because he was stunned. “Did your people not tell you that I am Mr.Charles favorite? He would never admit it but everyone knows it is true, I don’t need anyone’s validation when I have his.” I coined it that way on purpose.

He laughed humorlessly, Charles was not wearing his uniform but he still looked as proper as he always did, “So it’s another man again.”

“What do you mean?”

“Another supervisor, do you have a thing for men …”

“Careful how you complete that sentence.” I was getting annoyed now.

He took a deep breath, “You wanted to get to me and you did. I am sorry.”

“What was that?”

“I am sorry, you are right. I crossed a line and it did not matter what I thought, I should not have taken the choice out of your hands. It is your life and if you wanted to give it up because of a man, you should be free to do that.”

I narrowed my eyes at him, I knew what he was doing and I wasn’t going to walk into that trap, “Yes, apology not accepted. Now, please jump off a bridge.”

“I am sorry.” He said with more sincerity and less sarcasm.

I sighed, I wasn’t mad at him before; it was hard to be disappointed or angry when you had no expectations in the first place. “Whatever, I am fine and I do owe you my life so I guess I could be generous. Why are you here?”

“To check up on you. You interested in working at Carl?”

I looked up at the sky wondering if God really did answer prayers that quickly, “Why? You offering me a job?”

He snorted, “It is ironically easier to interfere with other people’s company than mine. If I did anything, vultures would gather around you and for the wrong reasons.”

“True, your mother is still a B… a lady?” I smirked and he returned the look.

“Yes and that is why I am here, she requested dinner with you. She somehow discovered that we had connected again and she said she wanted to apologize to you.” We both paused at that then burst into laughter before he continued, “If I did not handle this, she would have come to get you herself, you know how she can be. She doesn’t understand the answer NO.”

“Yeah, I know. I am no longer a kid, I can handle her. I think and I am curious; what would she have to say to me after all this time. Maybe she has a job offer for me.” I said as a joke.

“Maybe, I could never read her.”

“No one can. When?”

“After work. Today.”

“Seriously?”

“Yep and without me as well.”

“Nooooooo… What if she kills me and adds me to her collection of lost souls?”

“Did you just call my mother a witch?”

“Never, I would never! I am a respectful young woman, I would never do that.”

He laughed, “Break is over, I’ll pick you up afterwards.”

“Alright, I am taking my pocket knife with me just in case. One thing though, what do you know about Mr Charles?” I asked.

He smirked, “More than you ever would. Interested in another man, society becomes you dear Fedor.”

“I don’t know what that means but I’m out and back to my work.” I left him and hurried back to my station, Mr.Charles summoned me to his office shortly after.

“What do you know about Kurt, Ms. Fedor?”