The CEO

Martina pov

I arrived in the village very dejected that day. Once I am at home, I got straight into the bedroom and Tania followed me.

"Well, you came back much sooner than expected." She said to e, looking surprised.

"Yes, things didn't go as I expected them to go." I replied while throwing myself on the bed.

"I told you that before you left, poor girl !"

She comes to sit next to me.

"I know, but I was hoping dad could at least listen to me and that his anger had dropped since then. You should have seen the hatred and disappointment in his eyes. I'm so sad Tany things have turned so worse between he and I. We were so close and complicit! I shed abundant tears. Paula is Machiavellian, why did she act like that?" I tell my sister, still under the shock of the morning's events.

"Because now you believe me what I told you about Paula?!"

"I didn't believe at your accusations against her. She told me that herself the she's the one who planned for my rape, into ordre to discredit me in the eyes of dad." I replied.

"What!" Shouts Tania, not believing in what she's just heard.

"You could've seen how she taunted me. She spat her venom at me again and didn't hesitate to tell me that she and Steve were sleeping together under my nose and that they were going to get married." I narrate bitterly to Tania who looks shocked by my revelations.

"Poor Marty! I'm sorry you went through all of this!" Tania told me solicitously.

"Please, I would like to be alone for a while. Would You allow me?"

"Of course darling !" Tania hastened to respond, then she left.

Once remained alone, I started crying and crying for a long time. Why are people so mean? Why do our loved ones hurt us the most? I always refused to believe people who said to beware of our loved ones. I now understand why a local adage says it is our own toes that pierce our shoes. I lived with my sister and loved Steve and was considering marrying him one day. They stabbed me where it hurts the most. This betrayal tears my heart out. Lord! Can I hold?

As we were on our own, we decided to manage to allow Tania and my little brothers to go to school. With the little savings from my mother and grandmother, I compiled my files for certain official competitions to public service that the government had launched and I also applied to certain companies in Edéa and Douala. In the meantime, my mother and I decided to trade. My mother was preparing and I was going to sell in the sole government high school of the village. Fortunately, the products of our field helped us to eat at home. Our lifestyle has changed drastically. We saved as much as possible and avoided making inappropriate purchases. Trade money should be saved to pay for studies and school materials. As for me, I no longer hoped to continue my studies one day. Despite my efforts, the competitions results for the public service I wrote were not positive. Likewise, my files were not followed up. It saddened me a lot because I had used our profits and capital from our business. For the rest, I lost hope for the other competitions or for the applications in private companies. Because everyone knows how it works in this country. Without a relationship, nothing can be done. Since I have neither a relationship, nor funds, there was no way I could succeed to get a job. From then, things started to become worse for us at home.

After one month of school, my brothers have been expelled from school. We had our backs to the wall, especially for Tania who was writing the probationary exam and Lam who was presenting the BEPC exam. I tried to contact my old acquaintances and some of my friends, but no one acted to fly to my help. Others promised to send me some money, but the same day they were supposed to do it, their telephones did not pass any more. I just understood that when one faces difficulties, they are the only one to face their destiny. My mother and my grandmother tried to apply for loans everywhere, but nobody wanted to help us. I had become thin and was already wasting away. I just wanted someone to hold my hand or a little light to shine in the darkness where we were, in order to show us the exit door from this hellish situation. However, the end of the tunnel seemed unreachable. I was crying every night on my diaper before sleeping and I know that even Tania cried too. But neither she nor I dared to bring up the subject.

After a month of seeing my brothers and sister at home without going to school, I made a decision and resolved to go through with it no matter what it takes. On monday, I went early in the morning to the Society for the exploitation of agricultural products in the village. The CEO is an Italian in his fifties who lived between Douala and the village. His company is large and he is the one who buys the rural products of the inhabitants of our village, as well as of the surrounding villages. He then exports them to Europe and America. When I arrived at the company, the secretary first looked down on me and stared at me like I was a beggar. Nevertheless, I tried to be as clean as possible by wearing my best dress.

"What are you looking for?" She asked me the question in a contemptuous tone.

"I would like to see the CEO of the company." The secretary pauses and stares at me.

"Have you made an appointment?"

"No." I replied calmly.

"Do you think this is the place to come as you want?" She told me in a haughty tone, as if I were ignorant. I remain silent and don't say a word.

"You can't meet him. Go home." She still summons me condescendingly.

"I'm going to wait, even if it takes me the whole day." I said to her, with a firm tone, then going to sit on a chair nearby."

"Madam, I did not give you permission to sit down. Get up from here, or I'll call security!" She screams coming towards me.

"What's going on here Miss Tamba?" It was the CEO coming out of his office accompanied by a man he was with in his office.

"Sorry sir, there is no problem. I was asking this young lady out, since she doesn't have an appointment..."

"Please excuse me sir to come here without appointment, but I can wait for you to have time, even if I have to leave from here by night. I have plenty of time, I'm in no rush. However, I won't leave here without seeing you Mr. CEO." I said recklessly getting up from my seat. He himself seems surprised at the assurance with which I spoke.

"Well, I still have 30 minutes before my next meeting. You can come into my office." He finally invites in his office. I follow him in his office under the ashamed gaze of his secretary. I walk around taunting her with a smile on my lips. Once in his office, the CEO asks me to sit down. I execute and thank him.

"Madame, I admire your boldness and your courage, that is why I received you." He said looking at me with a friendly smile.

"Thanks Sir!"

"So what can I do for you?" He questions me, still looking me straight in the eyes.

"I must, M..." I hesitate to speak.

"Well, where did that reckless girl from earlier?" He said seeing me hesitate to talk to him.

"Sorry Sir! It's just that my proposal may seem absurd to you."

"I'm listening, you have 20 minutes left." He replied looking to his watch.

"Actually, I'm here because I need help. I'm ready for anything, even cleaning toilets. I really need a job urgently." I plead unto him, looking sad.

"We are not recruiting at the moment."

"Yes, I know that. But if I came to your company, it's because I had no other choice. My brothers were expelled from school since one month already and despite our best efforts, we couldn't find a solution to pay their school. I just want some money for their schooling and I will work for you even if it is for a year without pay." I kept begging him, shedding tears. That seems to have an effect on my interlocutor.

"But young lady, at your so young age, you carry such burdens on your light shoulders! Where are your parents?" he asks in a caring voice.

"It's very complicated Mr. But I would be infinitely indebted to you if you agree to help me."

"I admire your courage and I praise such feelings. And for that, come back tomorrow at the same time and I'll give you the amount of money you'll need to pay for your brothers' school. Just tell me how much you'll need for that. As for work, unfortunately I can't help you."

"Thanks Sit!!!" I say almost shouting and full of excitement.

I left there very happy. I came home and didn't tell anyone.