UNCONDITIONAL

EIGHT

"I cannot believe you refused to go out to lunch with the boss's daughter"

I knew this would get around. I can never understand how everyone knows everybody's business in this place. If I remember correctly we were the only two individuals in that room when she demanded to have lunch with me. I wish everyone would just mind their own business. I am in my office with a co-worker who calls herself my friend but I don't have friends at work. I am working while she is loitering and working on my nerves.

"Where did you hear that?"

I ask not really interested because she will not tell me. Lizzie and I have been colleagues for the three and a half years I have been employed here. She has made it her task to befriend me and calls us friends but to me she is just a colleague. I do not think I am too good for her or whatever, I just hate that she likes to gossip and she is very judgemental. Two things I really cannot stand,that is why I have never had friends till college. I only have two close friends and my sisters.

"I heard it through the grapevine but that is not important. What is important is that you turned down one of the richest women in our area. So you know how much she is worth and what she will inherit in the near future?"

"I do not care."

"What do you mean,you do not care Khanyi,this girl is loaded and sexy as fuck. I thought you liked women"

"That is the problem,you and her are just the same. Thinking because she has money and is beautiful I will fall at her feet and jump because she said so..... I am not that type of girl. She can keep her money and not that it is any of your concern but I do love women"

"Why do you have to catch feelings,it is only money and she is willing to flaunt it,so why are you acting all high and mighty. We all know you could use some extra cash with that army you have at home"

I count to ten before I cause a scene at work because of this heffer. I cannot believe she just called my children an army. She has no right since I have never even asked her for even a cent,no matter how stranded I was. I am not one to fight but she is talking about my children here. There is a knock on my door before I can cuss her out.

"Afternoon ladies....Khanyi may please I talk to you?"

From one pest to the next today is not my lucky day I think as Percy asks. I have done my best to avoid her but right now I am almost glad she came because Lizzie was almost thrown out the office window she has been looking out of since she got in here. Lizzie winks at me as she walks out,swaying her plastic self a bit too much and I thought she was straight!

"Thank you for the orientation the other day"

"I didn't orientate you,I just found you someone who does that. You should thank them"

"Well if it was not for you I wouldn't have received an orientation"

I nonchalantly say okay,she got her so called orientation on Monday and it is now Thursday. I am not being rude but I do not understand why the appreciation since I only just picked up the phone when she asked me to show her to the finance offices and called someone who does those type of things.

"I have not seen you since Monday. You must be very busy or are you avoiding me"

Really!!! Why does everyone think they matter that much for me to avoid them,even if I was avoiding her.

"Not to be rude Percy but why are you here. I am sure it was not to thank me for my nonservices"

If there is such a word.

"We got off on the wrong foot the other day. So I came to apologise for demanding for you to go to lunch with me and I would love to take you out tomorrow evening..... please......."