My name is Ben. I studied Business Management at the university and graduated with good grades six years ago. I have not been fortunate with getting a job, thus, falling in love never for once crossed my mind.
One morning, I crossed to the newspaper vendor's stand across the road to read some news headlines. My attention got drawn to an advert placement for a male personal assistant to a company in the capital city. I did not bother to stay further to read what headlines made the rounds.
Quickly, I hopped on the next available taxi to the capital city and in three hours I got to the office in my best shirt and trousers with a bow tie. Photocopies of my credentials and a handwritten letter were already in place.
The interview was not as rigorous as I thought. The Secretary told me that I was the perfect man for the job and was to resume immediately. Throughout that day, I sat at the reception waiting for my new boss at least for a formal introduction but she went from one meeting to another. In one of her movements to the boardroom, she barged into me but acted like I was a nobody. The secretary, Miss Pat kept asking me to wait.
When it was time to close for the day, the intercom rang. All I heard was Miss Pat replying to the caller from the other end saying, "He is still here, ma." Turning to me, Pat said: "You can go in now."
I stood by, straightened my sleeve and dusted my trousers, then walked in.
"Good evening, ma." I greeted waiting for a reply, but the woman backed her table like she was busy with something on her personal computer.
"Can I meet you?" She asked with one of the smoothest voices I have ever heard. She sounded like a piano display during a slow musical display.
"Yes, ma'am."
"My name is Ben, I am twenty-seven years old."
"I studied Business Management and can work conveniently on spreadsheets and Microsoft word."
After my short introduction, she turned her chair towards me. A glimpse of what she looked like made me melt on standing. I thought I had seen it all. Her voice is nothing compared to her beauty.
"I would like for you to call me Ms. Flora." She said mildly, then continued.
"Tomorrow morning, 5:00 am, your work begins."
"But first, you will show me your apartment in town today so that we know how to pick you up tomorrow morning."
I thought of the farness of my apartment and how poorly fitted my place could be but now I have no other options than to take her there with her official driver.
"Ok, ma'am." I said.
She looked at me with some kind of disdain in her eyes. The. I remembered she had warned that she preferred to be called Ms. Flora.
"Oh! Sorry, Miss Flora."
"But it will take three hours to get to my abode." Speaking silently to Ms. Flora.
"That won't be a problem."
"I live in the suburbs too."
Our first drive together started with silence as I looked closely at my boss. She is too kind, considering her status.
I was dropped at my apartment and my boss, Ms. Flora bid me goodnight. That night, I couldn't get enough sleep because I never would have thought in my wildest imagination to get a job in the blink of an eye. All I could do was to iron my clothes, polish my only shoe and keep waiting for daybreak. My alarm too was set to ring by 4:00 am.
As soon as the alarm rang, I got up from bed, made a ten minutes prayer, then had a bath, and wore my clothes. I sat on my couch to wait till 5:00 am before heading for the pick up point. Before I could say jack, I dozed off.
A bang on my door woke me up. I was already ten minutes late. Getting to the door, it was Ms. Flora that came knocking all by herself. She looked so smashy in her short gown.
" Good morning Ms. Flora." I greeted her but did not get any response from her.
"Ben, don't you keep me waiting next time." She said as she led the walk down the veranda as we walked to the parked SUV waiting to convey us.
As she walked before me, I fell in love with her. She was young and beautiful. I wonder why she hadn't been married. Maybe it is by divine arrangement that I got this job. Maybe she would be my wife after all.
I got the door for her. It seems she doesn't like the idea. Her remorse showed it. As she sat by the owner's side of the car, I went to the front passenger seat but she asked me to sit with her in the rear seat. Who am I to say no, I politely returned to her order.
Throughout the journey, we did not speak to each other. I was maintaining my lane because I don't want to risk losing this job.
All the time, we traveled from one point to another. For the first time in my life, I fell in love with a woman and she became my boss. I didn't develop enough guts to tell her how much she meant to me until we had our staff dinner party for the Christmas break in my tenth year.
"Excuse me dance, Ms.Flora." I can't remember how the words escaped from my mouth. She didn't hesitate, like a sheep led to the slaughter she followed me holding my hands as we danced to dim light on the dance stage.
At first, I was scared of holding her but as she grilled me firmly around me neck region, I went for the kill. For the first time, she spoke into my ear:
"I love you, Ben." It was like the earth should swallow me up. For a moment, I lost my step. My legs couldn't move.
Then, she said it again:
"Ben, would you be my man?" I stood there dumb as I muttered, trying to put words together.
"I can't believe you just said that." Flora looked me in the eyes, fire was burning and I could read the line. I wanted this too, speaking to myself.
"Yes, baby." Now, she hugged me with the whole of her body tightly.