Purple Romance

Kobby opened the door and entered the room and saw no one. He had in his hands a pair of black ladies' sneakers and another bag containing jean pants for ladies. He saw a note on the table and took it 'Thank you for today. I won't impose on you anymore'

After reading the note, he looked at the things in his hands and didn't think much about it before opening a drawer under the table and stuffed the things inside.

He sat down and his eyes fell on the piece of ankle jewellery on the floor. He picked it up and looked at it murmuring 'a designer who is clumsy and proud. Cute!'. Kobby opened the same drawer and added the piece of jewellery to it and closed it.

...….

Maria got down from the cab holding four different cups of coffee in a coffee box and rushed into the building. She got on the elevator quickly and was soon at the CEO's floor. She heaved a relief and looked at her time. She had used 12 minutes to go and come back. That was already the faster she could juggle out.

She was about to go to Paul's office when the latter got out and saw her and spoke.

'That was quite fast, Miss Lee?'

'I did my best'. Maria handed the coffee box to him.

'What is this? You bought four cups of coffee?' Paul looked at the box as he spoke. Maria spoke in between breaths.

'You said the CEO said I should surprise him, but I really don't know how to do that, so I bought all the four different coffee flavours that they have at the café. He can just pick from them the one he likes'. Maria yawned quite exhausted but proud of herself.

'That was quite smart of you. I will take it from here'. Paul took the card and the coffee away, walking towards a corner. Maria turned and looked at him.

'Is that where the CEO's office is located?' Maria pouted her lips and went towards her office.

'Come in'.

Paul entered the office and placed the coffee box on the leisure table situated at a corner where a sofa was close to before turning to speak to Ad-Din.

'Boss, Miss Lee brought the coffee you requested'.

Ad-Din was busy working on some files on his desktop. He humped a reply before saying 'bring it to me'.

'Boss, she bought all the four flavours of coffee at Wave café'.

Ad-Din looked up from his desktop and saw the coffee box 'she said she wasn't good at surprising people so she bought all four flavours. That way, you can have the one you like'. Paul completed and looked at his boss.

'I suddenly don't feel like taking coffee again. She…came too late and now my appetite is in something else'. Ad-Din said and smirked.

'Ah?' Paul didn't hide his disbelieve.

'I suddenly crave the special pasta dish that my chef makes but he is a Michelin star chef and his schedule is already packed due to the upcoming family dinner my family will be having. He is…currently indisposed. I will write the ingredients for you. If she can prepare something like that for me which will have the same quality and taste, then I will make her my assistant personal secretary. Tell her that and also, tell her that if she succeeds, her salary will go up by 5 figures'.

Ad-Din finished and looked at the small woman on the screen. She was turning around in her chair at that moment.

Paul was rendered speechless by his request. Not only was it bizarre, it was also kind of perverted. Paul didn't know much about their relationship but he was now aware of one fact. His boss was being childish and was bullying this woman for whatever reason he didn't know.

'Why are you still here? Aren't you going to tell her?' Ad-Din asked and placed a paper on the table.

'I am going right now'. Paul said and picked the paper. He saw that it really did contain the ingredients to making the pasta that he wanted but he wondered whether the woman would be able to do it or not. Paul didn't say anything again and went out.

The corner of his mouth turned up as he imagined the reaction of the woman. Ad-Din stayed glued to the screen and didn't want to miss out on any expressions she would make. He clearly knew she sucked at cooking and still asked her to prepare food for him. He wanted to see whether she had changed over the years of not.

....

'But…I don't know how to cook'. Maria said and internally cursed the CEO. She bit her lips and clasped her hands together nervously as she looked at the paper in her hands.

'You should take this opportunity and prove your worth, Miss Lee. I know my boss can be unbearable but take it like this. You are already past your twenties and with your certificate, it will be difficult to get a good job elsewhere. My boss never goes back on his words' Paul said.

'Then, where should I prepare it?' Maria asked.

'The company's canteen. The boss has an appointment and will be back by 4:30pm, the workers would have gone home by then. You can use the canteen and prepare it. Is going to be his dinner so you can take your time'

Maria gave a half-hearted smile and nodded her head. Paul was right. If she needed to prove herself worthy then she had to do it. Because of her licence that was revoked last 8 years, it has been really difficult getting a job in the teaching field because of the rumours that went out around her. She didn't want to go near any building that was called a school anymore. That was even one of the reasons why she couldn't accompany Tiana to school on her first day.

Her Ptsd didn't really come from the accident though sometimes she was reminded of it but her ptsd came from her last days and moments at the school.

People who don't know much about ptsd always think that it has to do with a major breakdown or having panic and anxiety disorders as a result of something that happened. Pstd can take form in so many ways. It is all about intense suffering, which doesn't necessarily show and a reaction to shocking circumstances that the person cannot control.

Maria took her bag and went out. She hailed a cab and went towards the city's fish town where she could get some of the sea ingredients she needed to make the pasta.

...….

Safe Haven International School.

Calia sat on a rock with a camera taking pictures of the kids that were busy playing in the school park. Her jewellery designs were almost completed and she needed a child model so after leaving the hospital she asked her assistant to drop her off at the primary school where she was now at currently.

She was taking pictures of the kids when one of them ran to her. She was sucking a lollipop and looked at Calia curiously. Calia saw the way the girl was looking at her and turned looking around. She thought maybe there was something behind her but there was no one. The girl removed a lollipop from her school uniform and gave it to Calia.

'Me?' Calia asked and the girl nodded before sitting on the rock beside her.

'Thank you' Calia unwrapped the lollipop and started sucking and just like that the two sat on the rock sucking their lollipops as they watched the other kids play around.