Chapter 7:- What is going on?

Damilola briskly departed from Richard's suite, her mind filled with a sense of urgency. She needed to meet Clara at the cafeteria for lunch, as they had been given permission to dine there during their lunch break. Upon reaching the reception area, she promptly whisked Clara away to the cafeteria, her hunger gnawing at her.

"Hey, where have you been? I've been searching all over for you," Clara exclaimed upon seeing Damilola.

"Well, that's a story for later. I'm absolutely famished," Damilola replied.

"Alright, but I'll need to hear all the details later, okay?"

"Yes, yes, I promise. Can we eat now?"

"Of course! You should know better than to ask that question of me," Clara teased.

"Tsk, you glutton," Damilola retorted.

"Whatever," Clara shrugged.

The two friends made their way to the cafeteria, laughing and engaging in light-hearted conversation as they walked. After their lunch break, they returned to work and continued their duties until their shift finally ended.

Damilola and Clara changed into more casual attire in the restroom and waited for their colleagues to take over from them. As they walked to Damilola's car, Clara suddenly realized she had left something behind and excused herself to retrieve it.

Left alone, Damilola sat in her car, idly scrolling through her phone when she remembered her iPad. She quickly rushed back into the hotel and fortunately found it resting on her desk. She picked it up and headed back to her car, but on her way, she caught a glimpse of someone.

*********

Clara, who had finished her errand inside the hotel, returned to the car but Damilola was nowhere to be found. She leaned against the car, waiting for Damilola's return, but after almost half an hour of waiting, she grew impatient and was about to go back inside to look for her friend. Just then, she saw Damilola walking out of the hotel with a distant look in her eyes.

"Gosh, finally! Where have you been? I've been waiting here for almost half an hour," Clara exclaimed as Damilola approached.

"I'm sorry, babe, let's go," Damilola replied with a smile, walking towards the driver's seat.

"What do you think you're doing?" Clara asked, puzzled.

"Clearly, I'm driving us home, you know," Damilola responded.

"Girl, I told you I'd drive."

"Alright, fine, take the wheel," Damilola said, handing Clara the car keys.

"I'm never letting you drive me again, you'll be the death of me," Clara joked.

Damilola had already settled into the passenger seat, lost in thought.

Clara started the car and began to drive, but the silence between them was palpable and unusual. Clara couldn't bear it any longer and felt that something was wrong.

"Hey," she called out to Damilola, waiting for a response, but none came. Damilola just kept staring out of the window.

"Hey, Alex, are you alright?" Clara asked again, tapping her friend gently.

Damilola snapped out of her reverie and looked at Clara in confusion.

"What was that for? You could have just called my name, silly."

"And you think I didn't?"

"Well, if you did, I definitely would have answered," Damilola replied.

Clara rolled her eyes and said with concern, "Alex, what's wrong? You're acting strangely."

Damilola forced a smile and replied, "I'm fine, okay? No need to worry. I just remembered something."

"Do you really think I'm naive enough to fall for that? We're friends, and if I can't tell when something's bothering you, then I don't deserve to be called your best friend."

"Well, Clara, it's not as dramatic as you're making it out to be. Fine, I'll tell you what's bothering me."

"That's what I want to hear. Go ahead, I'm listening."

"I got a new job," Damilola revealed.

"What? You went job hunting without even telling me? Are you seriously considering leaving me behind at the hotel? What happened to our promise to always stick together?"

"Relax, Clara, I'm not leaving you."

"Then what are you planning to do?" Clara asked, giving her a suspicious look. She couldn't fathom Alex taking the job and leaving her behind. They had always planned to work at the same company. If they went their separate ways, what would happen to their friendship?

"Just let me explain, okay?"

"Fine, go ahead." Clara wasn't going to let her take the job anyway, so she didn't see any harm in hearing her out. It wouldn't change her mind.

"This afternoon, just before lunch break, someone told me that Mr. James wanted to see me. I went to his office and he offered me a position as his personal assistant..."

"What? Mr. James? Are you kidding me?"

"Darn it, Clara, will you let me finish?"

"Okay, go on."

"I asked him if he already had a personal assistant, and he said yes. So I asked him why he needed me, and he said it was for a friend. When I asked who the friend was, he, he, ugh, he said it was 'Mr. Richard'," Damilola said quickly, frustrated by her friend's lack of understanding.

Just when Damilola thought 'there must be a limit to Clara's ignorance,' Clara placed the back of her palm on Damilola's neck.

"You don't seem to have a fever, but the words that just came out of your mouth could only be uttered by someone who's delirious. Maybe you're sick, but not showing any symptoms."

"Clara, I'm being serious right now, okay? I was just as shocked as you are, okay?"

"Wow! How is this even possible?"

"I don't know, I really don't. It's freaking me out, babe. I'm so confused," Damilola said, speaking rapidly without taking a breath.

"Take a deep breath, calm down. That's it, slowly. Now tell me in detail everything that happened. What did Mr. James say to you?"

Damilola took several deep breaths before recounting to Clara all that had transpired, leaving out no details.

"This sounds bizarre. Mr. Brian would never have recommended you."

"I know, right? There's definitely something fishy going on," Damilola agreed.

"Well, what could possibly be fishy? Mr. Richard didn't even know you before, did he? It's possible that Mr. Brian recommended you after all."

"If you say so."

"I'll be getting off soon, can you take over the wheel? Or should I drop you off at your place and take a cab?"

"Come on, Clara, I'm not a burden, nor am I a child. I can drive myself home. Let's drop you off at your place, and I'll find my way."

"Okay, drive safely. I'll see you at work on Monday," Clara replied, pulling up in front of her house, giving Damilola a hug, and stepping out of the car.

After Clara alighted from the car, Damilola took over the wheel and drove herself home. Along the way, she couldn't help but reflect on the events of the day. It all felt like a surreal dream.

When she returned to the hotel, she saw Mr. Brian and expressed her gratitude for his recommendation. However, he laughed and denied having recommended her. Confusion filled her mind. What was going on?

As she drove towards her house, various thoughts flooded her mind. She arrived home, parked in front of the house, and grabbed her bag along with the iPad. The sight of the iPad triggered her curiosity.

"Why does he even need such an extravagant gadget like an iPad?" she wondered aloud. She switched it on and started exploring its contents. To her disappointment, she found nothing special on it except for her one-week to-do list.

"Seriously? A to-do list?" she exclaimed. "Does he really need to spend so extravagantly? He's going to be the death of me, I swear."