Raising the phone to see who was calling after a long stay with her laptop working, Lucia saw that a servicing company had sent a proposal to be calling through her personal line.
''I am sorry, sir, I wasn't closer to my phone to pick up your call.'' Lucia apologized as the company manager picked up.
''This attitude of yours will never be tolerated anymore.'' He hung up the phone as he spoke angrily.
She had already had a really stressful day at the office and is definitely not ready to listen to her mother's complaints about her not being married.
Her mother called twice before the company started calling. Her relationship with the manager made him call her direct line rather than the company's.
Her worry increased following the manager's statement on the phone. Going to see him or her mother at home became a difficult choice to make.
"She called back to Mr. Larry to ask for mercy. "Please sir, I will be on my way shortly.
She loves her job so much that she could ignore any other thing to ensure the company is not found wanting.
She picked up her car keys and bag and adjusted her clothes to meet with Mr. Larry in his office.
For her mother, she could go anytime to see her. Lucia has been lodged in one of the hotels in town to cool off her head.
The pressure coming from her family over the issue of marriage kept her away.
Many guys have been coming, wishing to have her as a wife, promising a lot of things to her but she kept turning them down.
Larry is among those who approached her, but she turned him down.
They have been in business for a while, and she doesn't want to join the business for pleasure.
She is a very disciplined lady, so focused and knows what she wants. Convincing her takes some time.
She drove off at speed. Although she's a woman, she runs very fast, particularly when she wants to get something done.
"Larry must be angry at me, I can't afford to lose that contract for no reason. I must have it."
She was having those thoughts and kept spreading. It will take five kilometers to get to Larry's office.
As soon as she got closer, she started slowing down. Moved the car closer to the gate and started honking like a crowd was after her
"Get the gate open very fast."
She scolded the gatekeeper who hurriedly opened the gate.
She packed her car in the parking space and moved fast to Larry's office.
Some of the staff were greeting her while she was responding with a wave of her hand.
"Mr. Larry isn't in the office; he is having a meeting in the boardroom." Larry's secretary stated.
"How long will the meeting be, is it with a different company?"
She was scared that they came in response to what she came for but the secretary couldn't give an answer to that
"I wouldn't know madam, though I haven't seen such a group before. Mr. Larry will be in a better position to explain."
She said as she sat down to continue what she was doing.
Lucia wasn't at rest. She would be very angry if Larry failed her. She drove for five kilometers to come over for the purpose of the contract.
Ignoring her mother was another thing that bothered her. She felt she had offended her mother.
Yes, she doesn't want anyone to worry about her marriage, but that doesn't mean she wouldn't find time to see her mother.
She had no option but to wait for Larry. His lines were off. She did some sms but they didn't deliver.
"Can I go to his office and wait for him?" Lucy asked Larry's secretary.
"He locked his office. I don't have their keys."
A response that triggered her more. She doesn't like to stay at the secretary's office while waiting for Larry whenever she comes.
Everyone in Larry's company is aware of that. Staying there for a period she wouldn't know is a challenge to her.
Going to the reception will be the worst. She has no option. She has to wait. Whenever Larry isn't around, she stays in his office because it is very unique like her own.
In a few minutes, a man came out of the boardroom, and she stared at him but couldn't catch his face.
He dropped a file on the secretary's table. We need this in five minutes. "Type and print them out, is urgent."
When Lucia had five minutes, she quickly wrote a note, went closer to the man. "Please help me and give this to Mr. Larry."
The man collected the note, nodded his head, and left.
Being a smart girl, she pursues the documents the man dropped on the table, which weren't related to the contract she came to sign.
Though her mind wasn't still at peace, it could be for another contract that Larry didn't tell her about. She went back to her seat.
Two messages came to her phone, and she felt it was Larry because he must have gotten her note. She opened them, but none came from him.
A young man of average height walked closer to her. "I guess you recognize me as Miss Harcourt?"
Stretching his hand for a shake, Lucia looks up and shakes her head. "I do not know you, I can't remember."
She refused to shake him and told him to stop blocking her view
Immediately, Larry came out, and Lucia followed him. He opened his office, removed the key. "Stay off." He told Lucia, shot the door as he went in
D