LAST HEARTBREAK

THREE

Chapter Three

One minute things are good the next minutes, things are in shambles. It's not insecurity anymore but Ayo was beginning to love work more than her. They may have many contracts now but he wasn't the only one working in the company, he was just an employee, a good one as he was always busy. She didn't know if it was work or Tami that took his attention but she was starting to get jealous but wasn't going to show it. Ever since he brought her up randomly in their conversation, Jemima thought maybe something might be going on between them. He had stopped making efforts once again, they say the relationship has its ups and downs, the ups outweighing the downs, but her relationship was different from normal standards as the downs were beginning to outweigh the ups. Most times he missed their everyday night calls, when he picks the call he sleeps off while listening to her speak, or when she was going on and on about her day, he would cut her short and say "I've got work to do babe." Most of the time unapologetic, He stopped sending apology roses and chocolates and suddenly no message was waiting to back up the apology. Now a simple "sorry" nothing followed, no baby, no babe. Sometimes there was no apology, "can't talk got work". Whoever she was dating had died minutes after their last weekend together ended.

They didn't have any intimate time, when she had gone to his house unannounced, they had sat side by side in front of the TV watching a movie, no cuddling, no kissing, sat there like siblings while he took his laptop and worked. She kept going unannounced to get his company, they would lie in bed, her head on his legs while he worked on his computer and she on her phone laughing at posts on any social media app she found interesting, she would show him some so they could laugh together. But every time she went she felt like a unwelcome guest, someone who needed to take her leave two minutes after walking into the house. Jemima persisted, she made them try to talk, she texted every time to tell him about her day, she visited with home-cooked meals something she didn't enjoy doing, and she did all she could do as she knew she was far from patient to see work take Ayo away from her.

Apart from her sudden relationship change, work was far from interesting to take her mind off her problems, it added to it. She had still not moved on from the incident with Mr Damola, It got worse after, during meetings he didn't acknowledge her, when he spoke to her she could hear hatred if it was ever possible. She just knew her boss didn't like her and she didn't feel good about it, why because she didn't do anything wrong. Her friend at work Hauwa had also noticed and capitalized on the fact that maybe Mr Damola likes Jemima and didn't know how to approach her. That sounded to Jemima like the many Korean dramas she binge-watched rather than reality, she didn't conclude on Hauwa's theory but instead, he hated her and wanted to fire her, which seemed plausible than the love theory.

It's been a month working with him and he had made a living hell out of her work experience since she got to the company. A week to Mr Abudu's retirement party which had been earlier shifted, Mr Damola subtly changed his approach towards her. He stopped giving her stern looks, stopped ignoring her contribution and engaged her in conversations when they found themselves alone in the elevator or his office and for the first time he smiled at her, hearts began to float in Jemima's head. Somehow that made work better and she stopped trying to pull Ayo out of work, if he wanted to see her he would come look for her.

"Madam, this one you are happy, is there something I should know?" Hauwa asked taking her seat on Jemima's chair.

"Happy?... do I look happy?" Jemima asked, wondering what her friend was seeing and she wasn't.

"You think I don't see how you are smiling with Oga."

"God! Don't be stupid Hauwa. I've been smiling ever since how does that have to do with Oga?"

"There's something about this particular smile. You sef you know."

"You are a clown.. please come and be going, It's like work as finished in your department."

"There's work oo, that research team is a lot, I'm just taking a break. Na you dey kuku enjoy, your work doesn't require much. I'm here for something else." Hauwa gives a broad smile and Jemima already guessed trouble. "Are you going to the party tomorrow?"

"I'm not.."

"Why am I even asking? You are going, you must go and I'm coming over so we can leave together... no excuses." before Jemima could say anything declining the offer, as she wasn't interested in any party. Someone walked into the room and made Hauwa stand up so fast she scratched her hand in the process. Jemima looked back to see who made Hauwa shake, Mr Damola smiled at her and before Jemima looked towards Hauwa, she had disappeared.

"I need an updated spreadsheet of all the employees, their departments and positions, please I want it by the end of the day. You would be on the seat with Mrs Babalola and me for the employment interview process on Monday."

Jemima nodded and moved towards her desk to start but Damola wasn't done talking. "Mr Abudu asked to send the invites to the retirement party to everyone, no one excluded. He also wants you and I over at his place when work is done." He turns to leave but stops in the tracks and starts again. "Also I need you to post out a PA role and write an exclusion letter to Adanna, I would love to let her go."

"Let her go? why?"

"Ohh nothing in particular just need someone else."

"Why don't she take the secretary role and I find you a PA."

Mr Damola resumed with his stern look, getting into his bossy mode "Will you do what I asked for or I should replace you too."

"I'm sorry. I will do just that."

"I want everything done before the days are over." he walked away vexed and Jemima didn't care, she was done caring how he felt towards her.

She was just harmlessly looking out for Adanna who had been Mr Abudu's PA for years and they had been no problem but Mr Damola resumes and one month later he's changing things. She started to work on the spreadsheet after sending the invite to the retirement party to everyone's work email, she gave her junior to complete the spreadsheet while she drafted the sack letter. She hoped as she typed the first two sentences of the exclusion letter that she wouldn't be the bearer of bad news. After hours of work, she was done and ready to leave the office, she sent her junior to hand the letter to Adanna while waiting for the time to strike six so she could go rest. As She sat in her chair scrolling on TikTok, she felt she had made a mistake somewhere but she couldn't say what mistake she had made, as she was in her thoughts, Rachel, her junior and Mr Damola walked into her office. Mr Damola angrily dropped the exclusion letter on Jemima's table and she sprang to her feet in fear. She looked behind him where Rachel stood, her head bowed avoiding Jemima's eyes, Jemima knew she had fucked up.

"Do you want to lose your job?" he blew out with anger, every word coming with steam.

"I'm sorry, I just wa..."

"You what?.. thought that giving your junior a role I asked you to do is better than you taking it, while you sit and watch Tiktok." she noticed her phone on the table playing the same video over and over, she tried to stop it but couldn't as Mr Damola's next word cut her off guard. "I might as well consider it."

"I'm sorry... I..."

"For?"

She looked at him confused, why was he being difficult, she was apologizing for making a mistake he had already spelt out what was the use of saying it again? When he wasn't her mother, she needed an explanation for why she was sorry. The way he stood there angrily, irritated her, she picked up the envelope that he had aggressively slammed on the table.

"I will go give her." She said and walked out of his sight, silently hissing and murmuring ignoring the possibility of him being behind her.

............

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