CHAPTER 1

NOVEMBER

No one ever told me that looking for a job wasn't rainbows and sunshine. My friends and I have been going about looking for jobs before we could finally settle down and have our graduation party. We graduated a day ago, and though all four of us had to go back to school because we didn't pass a subject, we decided to look for jobs, something temporary, something to prepare us for the real deal.

Sally, the tallest of us all, was lucky enough to be employed at a restaurant. She liked food and she never got fat, no matter how much she ate, so I hoped working there was going to help tame her.

Nifise didn't really care about looking for a job like the rest of us, because she had rich parents, and I honestly couldn't blame her for not being serious in looking for a job. In fact, her father had told her not to bother about the class she failed, that she could work in his company without it. She refused his offer, saying she'd never have peace of mind knowing that she didn't do that course. We all know she failed that course on purpose, so she could stay with the rest of us. She was too smart to fail anything.

Mandy and I were the only ones left. We still hadn't gotten jobs yet, and I was honestly beginning to lose all interest in wanting to work.

"Hey, I think I'll go check out that hospital. I should be able to get something there," Mandy said to me, pointing at the hospital to her right. I swerved right, towards the hospital.

"Do you want me to come in with you?" I asked her.

"No, you don't have to. You still have to look for something for yourself," she said, and I nodded. She dropped down from the car and turned to me.

"You go, girlfriend" I yelled, and she smiled.

I really loved my friends so much. We had been friends since our secondary school days, then we had the pleasure of getting accepted into the same university, and we were roommates since our first year. Even when we moved off campus, we stayed together; we shared a house together. Not many people could say nice things about their roommates, but we all could say nice things about each other because even though we fought, we always found a way back to each other, and our friendship only got better.

Okay, back to job hunting, I didn't know why, but I was looking for a job in a big company because I wanted to work in one after I get my last class cleared. I wanted to work as a financial secretary, and I felt like if that was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life, I better get the experience from a real company. On cue, I saw a silver building, shining brighter than every other building there. You could tell that a lot of money was made there. I took a deep breath, said a prayer, and drove to the building in question.

I parked my car and got down, taking all the documents I'd need with me.

"Hi, how can I help you?" the receptionist said, but I was too awed by the beautiful interior to even answer her. The exterior wasn't the only part that was silver: the interior, everything from the chandelier to the floor was silver colored. Maybe actual silver? I don't know. It looked like real silver, though.

"Excuse me, miss?" she called, and I turned to her, smiling awkwardly. I walked to her, holding my file securely.

"Hi, sorry about that." I smiled at her, peeping at her name tag that had ESTHER on it. Esther smiled and nodded her head.

"Are you here to see someone?" she asked.

"Well, I'm looking for a job," I told her.

"Oh, you're here for the job opening too?" she asked, and my eyes popped. They were having an interview?

"Yes, yeah, I am." It wasn't really a lie. I was looking for a job, and I got lucky.

"Well, you should hurry. Second floor, third door," she said, and I smiled at her, thanking her.

"Here take this," she said handing me a card. It was like an ID card but for visitors. On my way to the elevator, I inhaled a very strong, expensive scent. I turned in the direction of the scent and I almost dropped to the floor, I was looking at a bearded, dark Adonis, so tall and beautiful. He looked like he was in-charge, and that just added to his appeal.

He had two men behind him, all dressed to kill. All three men looked like they just walked straight out of a magazine. The tall Adonis walked past me like he didn't even see me, or like I wasn't there at all. The second one walked past me too, but the last one stopped to look at me. He smiled and said, "If you're going to look, you should at least close your mouth." I felt like digging my own grave right there.

I turned to him and laughed lightly. He was funny, and if I did get a job in the company, I felt like we'd be great friends.

I hurried into the elevator and followed the directions the receptionist gave me. There were two people at the door. I feared that the interview had ended but seeing those two people made me relax a bit.

I stood close to the door waiting for my turn, and when it came, I smiled my way into the office.

"Have a sit, Miss..." the well-dressed middle-aged man said, pointing at the seat in front of me.

"Tete, November Tete," I told him.

"I'm Mr. John Danjuma. Nice to meet you," the older man said with a smile.

"So, you want to work as a secretary?" he asked, and I turned my head from left to right first. This was a secretary job opening? I mean, I knew I said I wanted to work as a financial secretary, but I didn't mean taking away the financial part of it.

"Yes, yes I do," I replied. I didn't have a choice. It was either this or nothing, and who knows, I could work my way to the top later.

"Why? I have interviewed about fifty people who desperately want this job, so why do you think I should pick you?" he asked. Wasn't he interested in seeing my CV?

"Well, I know I'll do better than them. People always save the best for last, don't they? So, I think I'm the best, and you won't regret having me here." I smiled at him. He laughed at my response, nodding his head.

"Let me see your CV," he said, stretching out his hands to me. I dumped my file in this hand, praying to God that I would get the job without any issues.

"That's all, Miss Tete. You'll receive a call if you get the job, and a text message if you don't." He smiled, and I nodded my head.

I needed the job badly. I just hoped I would make the cut.