Katherine thought in her head that she has lost her newly found job. She cried inwardly but smiled outwardly. The smile was an awkward one, though. "It's fine if you sack me. I'll totally understand but once I'm sacked, I'll be left with no other option but to see you as an ugly elf," Katherine said smiling. Mr Olsen looked shocked. Is she really giving me an option to save my face when it comes to what she thinks of me? Mr Olsen wondered. "Oh! Since you say nothing, I'll drop these files, boss. Boss and employee at work; ugly elf and the brave lady outside," Katherine bowed and left after dropping the files on Mr Olsen's table.
Mr Olsen was still surprised. No one ever talked to him that way. No one has ever made him speechless not even his ever-annoying Jake. He clenched his fist angrily after she had left. His eyes fell on the files Katherine dropped on his table. A smile etched on his face. A wicked and mischievous smile. He began checking the files.
Immediately Katherine stepped out, she put her hands on her head like a grieved woman. She knew she was in trouble with that ugly boss of hers. She calmed herself and went to her office. "Any problem Kat?" Ariana questioned. She had noticed Katherine's uneasiness when she entered the office. "No, I'm fine. I'm just anxious. I'm not sure what the boss will think of my work," Katherine responded with a forced smile. "C'mon Kat, he will be impressed. I know you did your work diligently," Ariana said more like age was trying to cheer Katherine up. "Thanks," Katherine appreciated.
Sophia swirled her chair around but stopped while facing Henry. "What's up, Henry?" Sophia asked. Henry looked up, "Bulb and ceiling fan," he responded still looking up. Sophia frowned, "It's fine. That is how first time lover does," she said. Henry looked at Sophia perplexed. He leaned forward. "Who is a first-time lover?" Henry asked. "What?!" Sophia faked pretence, "How am I supposed to know? Who said that?" she questioned looking around but was only answered by the confused and curious stares of others. "You," Henry said. Sophia leaned forward, half-closed her eyes and said in a low voice, "How can I say that to my boss?" Henry placed his elbow on his desk, his chin on his palm and looked thoughtfully at Sophia. "This is Sophia being a busybody. I think Linda loves you," Sophia said in a whisper. Sophia expected Henry to look surprised but the latter only smiled. "We are a couple already but we are not ready to tell anyone. You are the first outsider to know," Henry said in a whisper. Sophia smiled. This is great news, she thought.
Mr Olsen checked through the files thoroughly. He was bent on finding fault in the files but his efforts will be in vain as Katherine's files were flawless. He became angry and thought of how else to deal with Katherine. He dialled her office's line. Five minutes later, Katherine entered the office. "Why did you come here late?" Mr Olsen questioned looking stern but in his mind, he was smiling because he now has a cause to sack her.
******
Jake alighted from the car as well as Jessie. The duo went to J.Beauty Unisex Salon. The workers greeted both of them duly. "Can't you talk dad and mom out of engaging me with Angelina after all you seem to be the real child while I'm not?" Jake questioned sitting on the couch in Jessie's office. "I told him but he said he would go on with the engagement unless you come home with your fiancée this week," Jessie said. "How about you pretend to be my fiancée at least to keep the engagement on hold till I find the right lady?" Jake proposed. "Right lady? You are planning to dump Dylan?" Jessie questioned. "No. I'm not dumping Dylan. It's only couples who dump each other," Jake said looking confused. "Eisshhhh," Jessie glared at Jake, "So, both of you lied to me," she said. "Lied to you? How? When?" Jake enquired still confused.
"Remembered when both of you slept under the same blanket in each other's arms? I can recall clearly that both of you said you were dating," Jessie said. Jake burst into laughter. He recalled the incident Jessie was referring to. Actually, what happened was he (Jake) was afraid of sleeping alone after watching a horror movie so Dylan had hugged him to sleep in a bid to ease his fears. He remembered being kicked out of bed after Jessie left that morning. "That was a lie. And it was your fault, you made your conclusion even before we explained," Jake said. "Ohhhh? So you want me to take the blame for believing that shit! Gosh! I'll kill you then go for Dee," Jessie said and charged at Jake. Jake held her hand and looked pleadingly at her. "Punk," Jessie let go of her hand.
"What do you say? Will you pretend to be my fiancée so that the engagement can be put on hold?" Jake inquired. "Dad will know it's fake, idiot. How about you talk to Katherine?" Jessie responded. "No. Katherine is just recovering from a breakup," Jake said. "Let the engagement hold then. Who knows? You might fall in love with Angelina as time goes by," Jessie said. Jake glared at her. "Heyyyyyy! It's just a suggestion. I'm not forcing you to take it in," Jessie said.
Jake thought for some time. "I have an idea," he said. "What idea?" Jessie questioned. "Same idea as the one I said earlier," Jake responded. Jessie felt like punching Jake in the head but she just controlled herself. "Okay?" Jessie raised a questioning eye at him. "I'll ask another lady but she is a psycho and can be annoying," Jake said. "Doesn't matter. After all, it is just for half a day, " Jessie said. " What if mom insists that we spend the weekend with them?" Jake asked the question he dreaded most. He knows that psycho lady won't agree to spend the weekend with his parent. " You will plead with her," Jessie said. " Fine that aside, the handsome dude is hungry," Jake said flipping his hair to the back. " This is a salon. We will gladly serve you hairy pepperoni," Jessie said.
******
"I'm sorry sir. I was sorting some file," Katherine replied bowing, "Ooh? Oh? The files were more important than my call, right?" Mr Olsen questioned angrily. " I'm sorry sir," Katherine apologised again. " Who needs your sorry? You are fired! " Mr Olsen thundered. Katherine chuckled. Mr Olsen looked at her confused. Like who laughs when being sacked? This lady is something else, Mr Olsen thought. " Since my reports were flawless, you decide to use my deliberate late coming as an excuse to sack me," Katherine mocked," I'll go, sir. But sir, if after a week, I'm unable to secure a new job, I'll come back to this organisation again," Katherine said with her head high. " Hmmm......... I thought as much so you were sent by one of my business rivalries," Mr Olsen said. " No one sent me," Katherine said. " That doesn't refute the fact that you are sack," Mr Olsen said and hit his table angrily.
As if the sound made by the table was a set button in Katherine's brain, she became sober and began to beg. Mr Olsen was left puzzled. Was this lady not standing up to me now? he thought. This is another reason he dislikes females. They change within a second! But this lady is an interesting one. He thought of what to do.
"I'm very sorry sir. I will never answer your call late. Give me another chance. I can't be jobless so soon again. I'm sorry," By now Katherine was already on her knees. " It's fine. I won't sack you but this is your first and last chance," Mr Olsen said. " Thank you, sir. Thank you, boss. Thank you so much," Katherine kept bowing while appreciating," You can go back to your office," Mr Olsen said. Katherine quickly left the office.
" I have gist for you," Katherine and Sophia said together as soon as they got to their apartment. It was as though they couldn't wait to spill whatever they got to say as soon as their way was closed against the world. "You go first," Sophia said. " No, you go first. My gist is a long one, " Katherine said. The two friends began to argue about who should gist the other first but they finally agreed to Sophia talking first. Katherine was left mouth agape when she learnt that Henry and Linda are a couple already but she was quick to compose herself. I'm happy for Linda. she must be the happiest person on earth right now," Katherine said. " Yes," Sophia said," Now to you gist she said adjusting her sitting posture on the couch. " Do you remember the ugly elf I told you about? " Katherine questioned. " Yes. What about him?" Sophia replied. "He is the CEO," Katherine said. Sophie's eyes were goggled. So many thoughts were already facing through her head.