TOO FAR TO REACH 3

 

TOO FAR TO REACH

CHAPTER 3

It had been three months of avoiding Jeff and I was getting tired, I mean so tired of escaping him especially because it had started becoming clear to everybody that I was pregnant. In these three months, I had started trying so hard to rebuild a relationship with my maker. You see, my aunt was never that spiritual and my uncle was worse, I really don’t think that man believed in anything other than his own strength. The man was so successful and worked really hard, he was hardly ever home which made my aunt mad most of the time. I still liked him more because he was much kinder than my own relative. Well, the days had started becoming very lonely, pregnant and no friends around, I decided to start going to church. There was a Pentecostal church near my cottage, I would often hear them praying and screaming at night when they had overnights. I just thought I needed to join this family to feel some sense of belonging.

Did I mention that Jeff’s brother in-law owned Cloud Investments? Well, Jeff’s sister was married to Mr. Cloud, the brain behind Cloud Investments. Anyway, Mr. Cloud was a very jovial Irish man and he was always ensuring that we were well taken care of as employees in the least way he could. What do I mean? Well, Mr. Cloud gave simple incentives to keep us motivated and that meant a reward every once in a while for the best performing sales rep.  I had received a couple of those and it had even become normal that I aimed at getting one every month, the incentives were normally in cash form and that was around k500 to K1,000 extra on pay day. It was like part of my salary. Need I mention that Mr. Cloud was also very observant, he would notice when I was not myself and I was often not myself because of Niko. Now let me also state exactly why Jeff and I got close, Mr. Cloud had asked him to talk to me concerning training some staff who were going to start working in the sales department, the man had so much faith in me that he let me run new members of staff through the company objectives and expectations. Aside that assignment, Jeff and I had also extensively worked together to prepare for an ad campaign that was coming up August of the previous year to boost sales. I had given my best and I travelled with Jeff a lot as we promoted Cloud Investments in eastern province, I was so certain that I was going to get a promotion and travel to eastern province but that had not yet happened 8 months later. On the long trips, Jeff was kind enough to book me in the same hotel and it was all business, as a matter of fact we only shared a drink the day prior to our return. A lot of gossip had filled the company and I was hated by many ladies, eventually most of them just left and only Connie remained in my department. I was uncertain of how Mr. Cloud felt about me after many ladies left; I felt he might have had the impression that I had grown wings in the company hence I did not get the promotion. However, I also knew Mr. Cloud was not that petty, he knew I was good at my job and he would keep me regardless. Anyway, enough history… lets proceed with this journal of events.

That week, I returned to work and Mr. Cloud was by the reception as the Ulendo dropped me off, I had not see him up close in months and I had no idea what he would say. I presumed he would say “Young lady long time” as always. Well, he had a huge smile on his face (as always) and he rushed up to me and whispered…

“So glad you are here… I had no one to gossip with. Come and see the dress Connie is wearing”

I immediately burst out laughing before I could even see Connie. Mr. Cloud and I were close like that, he was a good man. Before we could proceed in I noticed him look closely at me and my smile faded, I would not be in trouble for being pregnant but I just somehow had no idea how he would take it. Jeff had just pulled up and was rushing in near us when Mr. Cloud exclaimed…

“My dear are you pregnant!”

I was not sure whether to concentrate on the joy on Mr. Clouds face or the shock on Jeff’s face as he froze for a moment while staring at my stomach.