The elevator stopped at the 20th floor, and Ashley hurriedly walked out of the elevator without looking back. She didn't know that the man behind her looked at her with a meaning.
Ashley didn't know where to go for the interview, but as she walked away aimlessly, a voice sounded behind her
" Are you lost?"
" Uh?" Ashley turned back surprised
" I said, are you lost?" The person who asked her was a boy of her age. He should be around 23 or 24. He looks fit, and he is handsome with his blonde hair and deep blue eyes. His lips were thin,his nose was straight, and he had a square jaw. He would surely be a hot cake here.
" Yeah, I'm here for an interview, but I don't know which office I should go."
" Oh, go straight and turn left,"
"Oh, thank you,"
" And my name is Darren," shouted Darren as Ashley walked off
" Ok," Ashley shouted back.
" Who is she?"
" How dare she talk to Darren like that?"
" I really don't know."
" But who is she really?"
People whispered as Ashley conversed with Darren.
Darren heard what they said and shouted at them.
" Y'all get back to your work,"
Ashley looked at the time on her watch and saw that it was 9:05
She rushed into the office with her forehead covered with sweat.
" Hello, sorry I'm late. There was a jam and I couldn't find the office"
" That's not a good work attitude," said the woman behind the laptop.
" I'm sorry ma'am"
" Have a seat."
" Yes."
" Ashley Dean, right?"
" Yes."
" You studied at Harvard University?"
" Yes."
" And you studied graphics design."
" Yes. And I'm here to interview for a graphics designer"
" You know that this is an app company, right?"
" Yes."
" Ok, go on,"
-----------------------
" Thank you, Lord," Ashley muttered as she stepped out of the office.
She walked out of the building under many scrutinizing eyes and took out her phone to call Nicole
" Hello, mum, I got the job,"she said as she flagged down a cab.
" Ok, come home quickly. We have to celebrate, " Nicole voice sounded over the phone.
" Yes, mum." Ashley stood under the sun, but there was no cab.
She looked at the time it was 11 am. And no cab stopped.
Suddenly, a Black limited edition Sedan stopped in front of her.
The window came down, and the side profile of the man she met in the elevator.
" Get in," his voice sounded as emotionless as ever.
" No worries, sir. I'll get a cab," she said, feeling that he was a little mysterious
"You can't find a cab here. Get in"
" No-no..."
" Get in. I don't like repeating myself. " he sounded controlling, and it was like she was under a spell as she opened the door and entered.
As Ashley entered the car, the man looked at her and Ashley his face completely.
She now knows why his side profile was familiar. He was the person she had a crush on in high school; her one and only crush, the person who never noticed her but Taylor and the one who...it was a real shocker. Ashley can't believe she's seeing him again after so many years.
The man wanted to speak but Ashley beat him to it.
"Dylan?."
"Hmm?"
It was really him!
"I want you to work for me."
"But I'm already working for you."
He raised a brow and said,
"As my assistant."
"W-what?"
"Don't act dumb Ashley."
"But I want to be a Graphics designer, I didn't study assisting in college" Ashley rolled her eyes.
Dylan aura felt cold and Ashley surely felt it.
"You would work with me as my assistant or not get any job in the country."
He paused and seeing that Ashley isn't cooperating, he said, "And it includes your sisters."
"What the hell is wrong with you?! I don't wantbto work with you, and it's not going to be like the novels where the boss sleeps with the assistant or secretary and falls in love with them. No way, I don't accept it." She said looking angry. Her almost white skin had a shade of red showing she's angry.
Dylan looked at her like she's dumb and said slowly,
"Who wants to sleep with bones when there are sexy women lining up for me. Uh?"
Ashley looked shocked but Dylan was not done yet.
"You're flat, ugly and not my or anybody type. Even if a man wants you, it means he doesn't have good aesthetic."
Ashley was now angry. She has never been insulted like this and she knows she has never been the busty type but she's moderate okay!
"If I'm flat and ugly, why did you..." Ashley paused and said,
"Forget it. Drop me off here."
Dylan frowned but did not say anything.
The driver in front looked at his boss but he didn't say anything so he listened to the woman and stopped the car.
As Ashley came down she eyed Dylan angrily like Nigerians do. This was something she learned from a young age - flapping her eyelids really fast without closing it.
Dylan watched her but didn't say anything.
"Did I ask you to stop the car?" Dylan asked after Ashley had gotten down.
The driver didn't say anything as he was scared.
"You didn't tell me what to do. Oh lord!, this job I terrifying." The poor driver thought.
"Ashley," Dylan whispered. "You Nigerian fool."
☆☆☆☆☆
Ashley got home exhausted.
She was exhausted from all the stress and from Dylan behaviour.
"Mum, I'm home." Ashley shouted when she got into the duplex.
"Oh, Ashley, you're back?" Nicole said, coming out from her room. She was wearing a simple gown looking young and beautiful, but she had the aura of an elderly person, seeing her no one would know she's the mother of two grown-up daughters who are age 26 and 24.
"Yeah. We're Taylor and Michelle?" She asked as the house was silent.
"Don't ask unnecessary questions." Nicole said as she brought out a blindfold and said,
"Come here."
"Mum, what's it's for?"
"Nothing. Just come."
"Okay?"
Ashley was what Nicole was planning, but she knew that it was related to the job she had gotten today.
"Follow me and don't peek." Nicloe said with a smile
They walked for sometime, then Nicole stopped
"You can take off your blindfold now." Nicole said, and Ashley took off the blindfold, and in front of her was a beautiful decorated basement.
There were tiny lights formed into wordings that said
"Congratulations, Ashley."
Bubbles were flying everywhere, and there was a huge cake that said
"Congrats, you big head."
Tears welled up in Ashley's eyes, and she chuckled when she saw what was written on the cake, knowing it was Taylor's doing.
Everywhere had a hue of blue, her favourite colour.
It was even better than when she graduated from high school.
Then somebody jumped on her laughing.
"Congrats, Ash." Michelle said, hugging her and putting a key in her hand. It was a car key.
"Yeah, Ash, I'm so happy, so you can pay me back my money." Taylor said from behind.
"Is that why you are happy?" Ashley asked, sniffing.
"Duh. Money is important, ya know. "
Ashley shook her head and gave Taylor her bank card.
"But the cake was enough."
"Naa, you're the youngest; we should pamper you." Michelle said, smiling.
"Yeah, and if you really like the cake, you should thank Mum. The cake was made by mum and the party was her idea." Taylor said with her hands on Ashley shoulder.
"Mum..." Ashley felt like crying. Her own biological parents didn't love her and threw her out of the house, but her foster mother loves her like one of her own.
Ashley hugged Nicole and cried.
"There, there, don't cry.This is a happy occasion."
"Mum... you took me in, cared for me, loved me, and saved my life when my own biological parents threw me out of their lives.
You...I love you, mum, you made me special when I was worthless. I'm a Nigerian, not American or white, but you made me, made me feel at home. I love you, Mom."
Ashley cried as she spoke. She was overwhelmed with emotions. She wasn't wanted by her biological parents, a disgrace, but this woman made her feel like a human being.
"Ash, you're the best thing that has ever happened to me. Those Ejimes aren't worthy of you."
"Yes." Ashley whispered as she tightened her hug on Nicole.