Solitude – Episode 26

SOLITUDE

 

_26_

 

(Unedited)

 

 

The weekend passed me by quickly, I was hoping it would last longer than usual but I had a life to get back to. I had work to think about and a firm to run.

 

To be honest I had not thought about my discoveries from Friday last week, infact it was the last thing on my mind.

 

I had a meeting to chair being a Monday morning, I decided to wear a black dress that was just below my knees, army green shoes and a matching jacket. I took some paracetamol before leaving just to help with the headache that I had developed.

 

‘Good morning ma’am.’ My secretary said to me as I walked into my office

 

‘Good morning.’ I responded

 

‘The meeting starts in ten and the board room is ready.’

 

‘Thank you.’

 

‘Tea or coffee?’

 

‘Some strong black coffee.’ I respond

 

‘On it.’ She says walking to my coffee maker

 

I put my things away and almost smile at the scent of the brewing coffee, I wish my life could get back to how simple it used to be. I wasn’t this career chasing woman, I had a career yes but I had a life too. I was happy, I had a happy fun life and I was willing to stay that way.

 

‘Here ma’am.’ She says handing me a mug

 

‘Thank you.’ I respond

 

She walks out and I stand just against the window, I am staring right into the city as I drink my coffee.

 

 

It’s already getting busy, they are people going for work, students school and many others trying to put there lives together. I stare at one lady standing by the taxi rank, she smiles broadly as she talks on her phone. I am imagining who it is that is making her like that, maybe a parent, a friend or a life partner even a child. I can’t help but wonder if I will ever genuinely smile like that again, when Chileshe was around I had every reason to wake up and smile like that. She was more than my joy, she was the only family I ever knew and now that she was gone I couldn’t even have happy thoughts about her because of the many lies she has left behind.

 

August walks in, I don’t need to turn around to know that it is him because his scent hits me before anything else.

 

‘Good morning.’ He says

 

I can bet he is walking to the coffee machine, he is a coffee addict to and many of his routines is to walk to the machine immediately he walks in.

 

‘Good morning August.’ I say before taking another sip

 

‘How was your weekend?’

 

‘Could have been better.’ I respond

 

‘I could say the same too.’

 

I turn around and put the mug on the table, I only have five minutes before the meeting begins and I want to walk to the board room.

 

‘You could carry your coffee.’

 

‘It’s getting cold.’

 

‘Let me pour you another cup.’ He says

 

I don’t protest, I don’t have any fight left in me.

 

We walk to the boardroom together, I carry some documents and my phone.

 

When we get there everyone is seated in their seats except for Chibesa.

 

I am directly facing Chanda, she smiles at me. Something that she has never done before.

 

At exactly 8 Chanda stands up to give the opening remarks.

 

‘Good morning ladies and gentlemen, we all know the tradition of this firm concerning Monday meetings so I know this is not as a surprise to you.’ She begins

 

‘I will now allow the CEO Ms. Mphanda Nella to chair the meeting.’

 

‘Thank you Ms. Chanda.’ I say standing up

 

‘Good morning, as Ms. Chanda has said we all know the tradition of Monday meetings. Here we will talk about what was done the previous week, what wasn’t done and what we can do about it.’ I begin looking from one end of the room to the next

 

‘But for the first part I would like to bring something to everyone’s attention.’

 

I pause

 

‘If you have been here long enough I am sure you all know Mr. Nakamba.’

 

Chanda looks at me a blank stare on her face

 

‘He approached me and he wants to buy the firm.’

 

They are murmurs in the room.

 

‘A pretty good offer too.’ I say facing the projector to show the numbers

 

 

‘From what we have here, we are way above our profit margin; which is a good thing. But what Mr. Nakamba is offering is a very good deal.’ I say showing the numbers from what we could be making

 

‘This will not only benefit me or the board but each and every person in this room, work will be hectic considering we have to impress but the pay at the end of the month will be very good.’

 

‘Are you saying that this is a good idea?’ One lady asked

 

‘I am stating the facts here.’

 

‘Mrs. Chanda the late wouldn’t have sold.’ A gentleman from the board said

 

‘Why?’

 

Silence

 

‘My mother believed in this firm, for her it was more than making money. Or waiting on which client comes next, for her it was about family. About making everyone a part of us, we work as a team. As a family.’ Chanda says

 

I feel the passions with which she speaks with.

 

‘She didn’t treat us as employees, we were a part of her. She knew about our children’s birthdays. She visited when one of us was sick, or our family member. Every birth, every christening, every baptism, every funeral she was there.’ Another said

 

‘That is something that you find in just any company, in just any boss and I say we don’t sell.’ August added

 

‘We don’t sell.’ Another added

 

And everyone in the room agreed to that

 

 

‘Well since it is settled, I must warn all of you that Mr Nakamba won’t rest. He will wage war, he might even want to buy some of you off. But my advise to you is you use both logic and heart, weigh your options and see which is good for you and your family. I will never be half the woman that late Mrs Chanda was but I am hoping to be a better boss following in her footsteps.’ I said

 

The rest of the meeting Chanda took over and we went though all the other issues on the agenda, by 9 we were out and back to our respective offices.

 

‘Can I come in?’ She asked standing by the door

 

‘Sure.’ I respond

 

She closes the door behind her

 

‘Nella.’

 

‘Chanda.’

 

‘I am sorry for the way I have been treating you.’

 

I look at her

 

‘When I found out that Chileshe wasn’t my biological mother I was hurt.’

 

‘Oh.’

 

‘Yes she wasn’t my biological mother, I was sold to her at a price because my mother died during my birth.’

 

‘I am sorry to hear that.’

 

‘So yes I hated you, and the fact that she loved you. I felt that she preferred you and that is something that ate me up.’

 

‘You could have talked it over with her.’

 

‘Well it’s spilt milk.’

 

I smile

 

‘Anyway, I loved what you did in there. Involving the staff and allowing them on what was happening, I am beginning to see why she left the firm in your name.’

 

‘Thank you.’

 

‘No thank you for carrying her legacy.’

 

‘You are welcome.’

 

‘How about we start over?’ She asks

 

‘I would love that Chanda, I would.’

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‘To new beginnings.’ She says extending her hand

 

‘To new beginnings.’ I respond shaking it