GIVE ME A HEART
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CHAPTER 1??1??
The rain fell heavily. I stood outside the company, watching people driving off in their own flashy cars. My fellow interview candidates were already gone, in their cars or with someone they might’ve known in the company. Only I was left. No one offered to give me a ride and getting a taxi in this rain would be difficult.
I stood with the security guard outside. We hadn’t said much to each other but I was beginning to get the feeling that he felt pity for me. He gave me an umbrella.
” This rain isn’t going stop,” he said. ” You better get going now. You might get a taxi.”
I thanked him and set off in the rain. I held my briefcase close to my chest and stared at the ground. Today just wasn’t my day. I decided to go home and lament my doom. If that lady was Veronica, then I was in big sh*t. I wanted to see Ronnie. I need to know who that lady was.
Just then I was approached by two heavily built men. One of them ran up to me and threw me an uppercut that threw me to the ground. The second man began kicking me all over with his shoes. They beat me up, kicking me from my head to my toes. All these while, water gathered around my face from the heavy rain and I had the sick feeling of drowning.
Suddenly, a bright headlight burst out from the corner and sped towards us. The two men grabbed my briefcase and document and ran off before the lights landed on them.
The car screeched to a stop and someone jumped off the car. It was Ronnie. She turned round the car and came to me. ” Andrew, what happened?”
The next thing I saw was her supporting me to my feet and ushering me into the car.
She shut the door and fired the engines. I sat still and cleaned my face. My suit was wet and dirty from the mud. I didn’t say anything. Today definitely was my worse day ever.
” Who were those guys?” Ronnie asked.
” I don’t know,” I said, fighting an urge not to cry. ” I guess they must be thugs.”
” They pretty wounded you Soo bad,” she said, looking at me from the corner of her eyes. ” You need to see a doctor.”
” No thanks, I’m fine,” I said. ” I just need to get home.”
” If it makes you feel better,” she paused. ” Why not stay at my place tonight. You can have a change of clothes, get warmed up and possibly get a nice meal.”
I turned to look at her. She turned and looked at me too. I looked away. ” Sorry but I’ll pass. Just take me home.”
She turned another route towards New street. I could see she was a stubborn person.
” There’s no way I’m letting you get home with those wet clothes and bruises,” she said. ” You’re coming with me, wether you like it or not.”
I wanted to say something but nothing came out. We said nothing to each other until we arrived at her house. She blew the horn two times. A gateman opened the gate. We came into this two storey building that seemed to have cost a lot of money to build.
” Is this your house?” I asked.
She laughed in her silly ways. ” Nope, it belongs to my ancestors. Ofcourse it belongs to me silly. Who else?”
I wasn’t in the mood for her jokes so I opened the door and stepped out. She brought out her umbrella and ran up to me. She leaned heavily on me as we walked into her house.
Ronnie’s house was lavishly furnished with expensive furnitures, 14 inches plasma television, a glass table, glass stool, a chandelier, all the works. She had what a typical rich man would keep in his own house.
Ronnie led me to a chair and settled me down. She then went inside for sometime. I took off my coat and stared at the suit. I just ruined this dude’s suit. Now I’m going to get enough money to pay him back. Just then Ronnie arrived with a first aid box.
” Now, don’t get all cocky,” she drew a stool and sat in front of me. ” I’m going to treat your wound so you better not resist.”
I didn’t resist. I allowed her do her thing.
” Take your shirt off,” she said. ” I can’t work on you with your shirt on.”
I went red.
” Come on,” she said. ” Are you shy?”
I took off my shirt until only my chest showed.
She laughed. ” My, you really need to work out in the gym more often. Your chest looks like a barren land.”
If I wasn’t in a sour mood I would’ve laugh along with her pointless jokes. It hurts me and it made me feel like I was being made fun of.
” You did well in your interview, Andrew,” she said as she applied bandages to my forehead.
” Stop joking,” I muttered. ” I did horribly. I’m not certain that job is mine.”
She laughed again. ” Well, you’re starting work tomorrow morning, how’s that for a joke?”
I shot her a surprised look. ” No kidding?”
She nodded. ” I told you you’d get the job didn’t I?”
” But I’m not qualified….” I started but she broke me off.
” I’m going to be your boss. You’ll be working under me,” she said.
This was also unexpected. ” But how did you convince them to….”
She cut me off again. ” Pulled some few strings. You ask too many questions, Andrew.”
After a moment silence I spoke. ” Who was that lady that asked if I had any bullying history.”
” She’s your partner. Your fellow co-worker. You two are going to be working in the same office. How do you like that?” She got to her feet.
” I don’t think that’s a good idea,” I said. ” She scares me.”
” Really?” She asked, surprised. ” Actually, it was she who suggested we picked you for the job.”
I just opened my mouth, unable to say anything.
” Are you hungry?” Ronnie asked. I nodded. ” Go upstairs, you’d see some clothes on the bed. That’d be your room. Take a shower and be downstairs for dinner.”
I wasn’t sure if she wanted me to stay the night but I was too preoccupied with the relief that I got the job at last. It all Looked like a dream to me. I walked upstairs and like she said, some male clothes were set on the bed, waiting for me. I glanced at the room. This wasn’t the guest room. This was her room. There was a picture I sighted on the bedside.
In that picture was a familiar face. A man, embracing Ronnie in a cuddled hug. Ronnie was smiling. She looked Happy.
Minutes later, I was downstairs. She was waiting for me with a wine glass in her hand. ” Wow, you look handsome, Andrew.”
This was the second time she’d said that to me. I sat down opposite her and studied the meal. She’d probably ordered for some food. I was once a delivery boy so I recognized the packaging of the meal.
” Well big guy, dig in. And don’t feel too embarrassed. You’re in my house now so eat to your heart content,” she poured some wine into my glass.
” Let’s pray first,” I said as she grabbed her cutlery.
She stared at me, surprised. Then she shrugged and bowed her head in prayers.
” Lord we thank you for this meal. We pray that as we eat it, may it nourish our bodies and make us healthy and strong. Thank you for Ronnie. We pray that you bless her for her kindness,” I prayed.
” Amen,” Ronnie said and grabbed her fork.
” And Lord,” I continued. She paused. ” Give us a heart. Amen.”
I opened my eyes to find her staring longingly at me. ” You really love that prayer a lot.”
” I’m doing it because Veronica would’ve wanted me to. I’m heartless. I need a heart,” i said as I pick up my fork.
She took a spoonful of jollof rice into her mouth and looked away. She sipped from her wine. ” I wondered if you didn’t. You already have a heart as far as I’m concerned.”
” I don’t have a heart,” I maintained. ” You’re the only one who knows about my past. I don’t know why I’m saying this to you….”
” Andrew,” Ronnie interrupted me again. ” Just eat your dinner. The more you talk the more you’ll move me to tears.”
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