TOO FAR TO REACH 2

 TOO FAR TO REACH

CHAPTER 2

Suddenly, the office had become this place I hated to go to. I loved my job and I was the best in the sales department but I hated being at work since I was pregnant and you know what else I hated? Looking at Jeff. For whatever unknown reason, I could not stand Jeff’s presence but he was unfortunately always in our department. The poor guy would come to my workstation and I was literally ignoring him. Connie was the only other lady in my department and she had a serious crush on Jeff, Connie would flirt with Jeff in my presence and even try to annoy me as she somehow thought I had a similar interest in Jeff. One thing is, I never really ever looked at Jeff like that. How Jeff and I got so close as to be partying together was actually shocking to me as well, firstly because he was in administration and much closer to senior management. Secondly, I was not one to make friends anyhow, I was always giving my best at work and then returning home where I at least had a life.. well I had Niko but not anymore.

Cloud investments had been in business for 12 years and I joined them in their 9th year, the company first took me in as a marketing officer meaning I had to walk and market their products around town but soon enough, I was taken in as a sales personnel after only two months. Most people never left my level in a year and others just quit. I was determined to give my best as I had no option, my teaching diploma could not get me a job in a whole year and I needed to make a plan as I would not see myself returning to my aunts place in Luanshya. Therefore, I took a short trip to Lusaka after one year of looking for a job unsuccessfully; I was hosted by Tina, a former classmate who was working as a teacher at a good private school in kamwala south. Life had not been so easy, I only managed to start my teaching diploma at 26years as for some reason my aunt did not want me in school but just babysitting her grandchildren. I knew I had to look for a job quickly and try to put myself together before Tina would eventually get tired of hosting me. Well, the Lord had been on my side and in just a week I got the marketing job. I was desperate for anything as I could not see myself returning to Luanshya to be my aunts maid, she had already started hinting that my jobless self was becoming a pain. So, I went back to Luanshya with the little money I had from plaiting hair which I did part time as I looked for a job, most of my clients then were Tina’s workmates and friends. Back in Luanshya, I said bye to my aunt and assured her I would be sending something home as I had found something to help me. She gave her blessings and off I returned to Lusaka.

Working as a sales lady for Cloud Investments meant talking to as many clients as possible in a call centre room; it was 8hours of explaining the products to clients over and over again. Sometimes it felt like hell and I honestly had no energy to hold any other conversation, some clients would annoy the hell out of you but you needed to stay calm as all calls were recorded and you must guess our pay checks depended on it. The package was not so bad; it could afford me a one room apartment and my day to day needs. My aunt was kind enough to ask me to stop sending money home as she needed me to be settled, I knew it was her ego that could not allow her accept my money. They were doing extremely fine anyway and I was so glad she accorded me an opportunity to be educated despite the fact that my late mum and herself were never in good terms. I have no idea what really led to the sibling rivalry but I understand my mum was never married and she never mentioned who my father was, my aunt raised her while she brought me home when she was 16 and ultimately lost her life in unknown circumstances when she was only 18. I was 2 years old. There was a lot of trauma that I encountered growing up in the hands of my aunt and the most torture came when people always said I looked like my oldest cousin who was an exact copy of my uncle. I think people were just polite to say I looked like my uncle, sometimes I also saw myself in him and other times I saw my mother as I had pictures of her. It was rather strange.