My Precious

THREE

Grace dropped a file on Mr. Abba's table. He picked it up and reclined fully on his chair. He opened and read it with nods as intervals.

"I'm impressed, Grace."

"Thank you sir." She said smiling shyly.

"Okay." He said and opened the first drawer of his table cabinet.

"Take this one, it's a new firm and they need to look good for the public, help them work the magic." He said without looking at her.

She frowned.

"But sir..."

"What is it? Mr Bode should have done this but he has too many work on his hand. I know you have a lot too, just chip this one in like you always do." He said with a cunning smile.

Typical Mr Abba.
"What about the junior staffs? They practically do nothing." Grace said.

She knew he wouldn't dare give anyone else extra task but her. Why is it so hard to say no. She thought.

"Just do it." He said and frowned.

Grace picked the file and left for her overloaded desk. She met the gossip queens at her desk.

"How may I help you?" Grace asked.

"Look at your desk. Smart-ass, know-it-all. You will work till you can't breathe." One of them said.

"Thank you. As you can see, I have more to do. Can I take over my desk now?" Grace asked in a very polite way, one could hardly pick offence.

"Whatever." Another said and they left the table.

Grace sank into her chair and buried her head in files. Different files at a time. They all had deadline she had to meet up with.

"Grace, what happened to Jones and Jones that I sent you to?" Mr Bode said in a very coarse tone.

"Ah! I'm sorry. Something came up that I had to handle, no one else could step in." She apologized.

"Important than work? You were the one that said they needed someone immediately. I had to Start apologizing when I'm not you. Better be careful. Go to them this afternoon, we can't loose that company. You know that."

"I'm sorry sir, I will."

He murmured and left her. Last time she checked, he was not all that superior over her.

On her way back from Jones and Jones, she made a quick stop at the police station. She had been expecting their call ever since but nothing turned up. She entered with a smile but the smile wore off when she saw the officers there were not the one's she met yesterday.

"Good afternoon." She greeted.
"Yes, how may we help you?" One of them answered, his face was hard and he looked too old for the job, at least he shouldn't be at the counter.

"Ehn, I was here yesterday. I filed the report of the baby found under the tree. I'm here to find out updates about the baby."

He frowned. "Miss Grace Atiba?"

"Yes."

"The baby was taken to an orphanage home."

Her eyes lit up in disappointment.

"Orphanage?"

"Yes. For now." He said as if he read her fears.

"If there's no one in search of a baby, the orphanage will take full responsibility of her and she will become one of them." He added.

"Have you checked with other police stations maybe someone has filed a complaint?" Grace asked eagerly.

"Madam! Do you want to teach us our job? Don't come and prove 'miss I know the law' for us here." The female police officer from the previous day said as she came out from a room.

"I'm sorry ma. I don't mean to be rude, I am just worried about the baby." Grace said.

"Worry Queen! Thank you. You can leave." She said rudely.

"Okay, I will. Can I at least have the name of the orphanage?"

The police officer hissed and went in.

"Please." Grace pleaded with the officer at the desk. He nodded and quickly write it down.

Grace wasn't going to let injustice befall that little baby that makes her heart skips a beat at just the thought of her. She knew if something goes wrong with the baby, she might live with the guilt forever.

"Good afternoon, sister." Grace greeted the nun she was directed to as she entered the tiny office.

"Good afternoon, dear." The nun replied trying to pick recognition of her face but she failed.

"I'm Grace Atiba. The lady who found a baby and reported to the police." Grace introduced herself.
   
"Oh! Goodness! Miss Grace,we heard about how you helped the baby. It's an honour to meet you." The nun said and smiled, the wrinkles on her face were much and it was more visible as she smiled.

"It was nothing. We have to look out for each other, right?"

"Certainly. We have to." The nun replied.

"Yes."

"So?"

"Oh, I came to check on her, the baby and I brought a little supplies for the children." Grace answered.
The nun smiled more.

"Bless you, bless you dear. Come with me." She said kindly and led the way to the baby.

Grace carried the baby all through and as if the baby had registered Grace's face, she smiled and giggled more.

"Do you know since she arrived last night, she hasn't really showed any sign of interaction with anyone. She must know her saviour." The nun said and laughed. Grace smiled.

Though, she wasn't happy with what she saw but she was happy to have the baby in her hands. She left the orphanage an hour after, the baby made a ruckus when she dropped her. Grace replayed her discussion with the nun in her head as she drove back to the office.

"What happens if her parents can't be located." Grace asked out of curiosity after examining the environment.

"The normal thing, she becomes one of us. Then she can be adopted whenever, if she's lucky." The nun said.

"But she is. I mean, she's below age five, really far from it. Adoption comes easy for her age unlike teenagers and those above age five, seven."

The nun nodded and thought for a while.

"You are kind. Do you have a child?"

"No."

"Married?"

"No."

"Engaged?"

"No."

The nun was quiet for a while.

"Anyway, my point is, I see the way you look at her. It is passionate. It would be nice if we had more people like you who would look at these children with that passion I see in your eyes for the baby." The nun said and walked away, though not too far off. As if to give her space and time for her thoughts.

Grace rolled on her bed tirelessly, she needs someone. Anyone to receive her love, she deserves to be loved.

Awnnnn! 😊

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