Strings Attached (On-going)

4. STORM AFTER SUNSHINE

Life was beginning to open up for me and I was doing same. I felt I had to give life another chance to make it up to me, for all that it had taken from me. According to Dr. Tonia, I couldn't hold on to my past and expect to move on freely.

She said my past was like shackles dragging me back, but obviously, memories could never be erased, not that I disagreed with her, but I could never forget what happened to me. It was like a tattoo on my body, I could never make it just disappear, more like a scar.

Despite that, I wanted to live, actually live, like a normal adult. I wanted to see beauty in things again and stop being all shady and gloomy about everything. So when I got a mail informing me about my appointment as software maintenance officer at the very company I was hoping to get in, I couldn't hide my excitement. I had to look my best for them, and that's exactly what I was doing, selecting the perfect outfit.

I finally landed on a striped shirt and black skirt, revealing my perfect shape. I managed to pull my huge afro into a bun, carefully sleeking my edges. I decided to have just a little make up on. For good luck , I slid into a pair of black heels my Dad got me on the first day of my first job, "this is for luck, you'll do well Lisa, you're the best any firm could ever have", he had said.

I finally took my phone to order an Uber. My impatience was devouring me at this point as the ride delayed. Grabbing my bag, I decided to pick a taxi downstairs, but I guess my morning had other plans for me as a black SUV pulled up inches across my feet. Its tinted glasses went down slowing revealing a black gentleman with a prominent and neatly shaped beard, about my age, or a little older, I couldn't tell, grinning like a five year old. "Hi, good morning".

"He-llo", I responded, unsure if he was actually speaking to me, but then again, I was alone there.
"Where are you headed", he let go of the steer now, looking at me directly. At this point, it was certain I needed help, and help was right under my nose. So I told him my destination and fortunately, he was headed there too.

I was very particular about strangers, I had been since I was eight, when my sister and I were almost kidnapped by a lady who claimed my dad had asked her to pick us up from school.
I did need the ride, but didn't want to come off as too desperate, though I was, an attitude learned from my best friend.

So I tried turning him down, "I'll just try another Uber, thanks though", after which I disdained myself immensely. But then again, I had his persistence to be grateful for, "no, I insist....please, the sun is coming up, and you don't want to be late for work.".

Well.... "Sure, thank you", I said with a smile, and then climbed into the car, I sighed, "I hope this is not the point where I'm hypnotized and killed, butchered and probably thrown to the hungry vultures at night when ask men sleep.", I thought, and then chided myself silently, shaking my head.

Raising my head, I caught this stranger staring at me through the rear mirror, grinning from ear to ear. He directed his gaze to the road when he caught my eyes, "I'm Dave"
"Lisa", I returned his smile which apparently was creeping me out.

I mean, stranger plus lots of smiles.... definitely creepy.

Still nodding, "the week is almost ending, how has your week been??"
"Actually, today is my first day.. I'm just hoping it goes well", I smiled wryly. Our conversation continued till I got to my destination, with Dave doing most of the talking while I just nodded. I was mostly reticent around strangers.

According to him ,He was a lawyer, lived a few blocks away from me. He offered to pick me up after work, which I accepted, I felt I would come off as ungrateful if I rejected so I agreed and we exchanged contacts.

Finally, there I was, facing this Magnificent building, with ScyleTech written hugely on the very top front. Sighing softly, I walked in head high accompanied by the clicks of my heels on the marble floor. Which obviously wasn't calming my nervousness.

Being here reminded me of Oscar, he always wanted to set up a business like this, he was the best software engineer I had ever met, his love for what he did gave me an interest, encouraging me to major software maintenance in college. I wondered if he moved on that path anymore, better still, if he was even still alive.

I walked carefully into the huge building with my heels still in their element. I was hostilely welcomed by a plumpy raven haired lady who gave me a very emotionless smile, "hello, I'm Raya, you're welcome to Scyle Tech, we're, done with interviews" Who was killing her joy this morning? That was stern.

Looking at her, I knew she was an Indian. I loved people of colour but this lady right here was about to change the narrative.
"Hi, actually, I'm not here for the interview,I'm Lisa Martin, got an email--"

She lifted her head and took a better look at me. Her expression changed almost immediately, "oh. My God!... I'm so sorry, you know these interviewees always come in late and expect some sort of magic or something, forgetting I'm just a human and not a fairy, nor a god", she chuckled and rolled her eyes, "I'm sorry... It's wonderful to finally meet you". Finally meet me? I had never met that lady before... "Actually, the boss has been asking about you since he got in"

"Oh..uh, but I'm here on time right, even early, right?", I raised my brow. The "boss" didn't actually expect me to be here at 6am, I was told to report at 8. "Yeah, don't worry, I'll lead you up there, I'm sure you'll get lost if you go there alone" , she chuckled.

"Sure, thanks". She led me into the elevator, I stood behind, and I couldn't help but scrutinize her again, "you're Indian?", My curiosity led me on.
"Yes, I am", she smiled. I nodded, "cool,nice", was all I could say. She probably thought I was a dummy, I mean it was so obvious she was an Indian, I mocked myself in the head.

I got the urge to take another look at myself, make sure I still had my perfect glow. I dug into my bag, picked my tiny mirror. Lipgloss...check, hair .... check, perfect make up....check....all good, my confidence climaxed.

I smiled at myself with satisfaction and started imagining how my first day was going to be. "Here we are", Raya said, snapping me out of my reverie.

How did we get so high? The place was huge, the sight from where I stood made me feel I was hanging in the skies. Raya led me to a room and asked me to wait as she pressed the bell button and entered another office. Knowing I was just a few feet away from the "boss", my nervousness heightened, I could feel my palm getting wet.

"He would see you now Miss Lisa, I'll come back to show you to your office when he's done with you."
"Oh thank you" , I gave her a smile and got up . I walked briskly yet majestically through the opened door. I didn't want my boss to get the impression I was lazy or something.  Unfortunately for me, my smile didn't last as I stood frozen in my tracks. Despite how much I wanted to take in the serene view, I couldn't, because I was facing nightmare.

At this point my eyes were locked with a pair of familiar dark green eyes. They were staring back so intently, the tension oozing from them could push me into the walls behind me.

In just a split of half a second, all got blur. Just then, my bag dropped from my hand and it felt like the air around me wasn't enough, for a second I thought I was dead probably sitting with my family in a silent space.

"Hi Lisa", that sounded so distant and yet so close, actually like an echo, surrounding me in forest.
"Lisa..... Lisa?", The voice came again, this time, bringing me back to life. I squinted my eyes to see better, as though scales had just fallen from my eyes.
"Lisa, are you okay?"

"Oscar?", I widened my eyes at the realisation.

Oscar is the boss??😲😳😮, No wayyyy!!......I'm imagining the tension in the room right now.

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