CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

'Sorry pal, McKenna is taking a shower and after what I put her through today, she is sore and a warm bath could do wonders to her aching body' the voice contained a hint of laughter and excitement.

For a second Jason couldn't breathe. He hung up.

FIVE HOUR EARLIER

McKenna waited for her new boss to leave the office, she was already running late and even though she didn't fancy Tony, she wasn't the type to be late for a date.

Jessica descended the stairs without grace or elegance. Her brown bag, clutched tightly on her right hand and her left hand held confidential documents.

Jessica had a troubled facial appearance as she descended down the stair. Her make-up was uneven like she has been touching her forehead and eyes a lot and she was missing a diamond earring on her right ear lobe.

Jessica was half way to the door when her phone rang and she turned and walked to McKenna's desk and dropped the documents on the table. She opened her brown bag and took out her iphone. Jessica's voice was almost a whisper and it cracked when she spoke.

'Hi Auntie…give me a minute to go to a private place, so we can talk' Jessica said and ran her hand through her hair nervously.

Jessica picked up the documents but left her brown bag on McKenna's table as she raced back to her office.

Elena watched quietly from a corner and since the office was almost empty with exception to the janitor cleaning the office, she saw the whole encounter.

When Jessica raced to her office, Elena made her way to McKenna's office space and sat on the table close to the bag.

'What is wrong with our new boss?' Elena asked

'Ellie, I have no idea' McKenna picked up the bag Jessica left on the table

'But how about, I behave like a good secretary and return Miss Jessica's bag to her' McKenna stood up with a mischievous smile.

'Be careful and remember to act innocent' Elena advised

As McKenna got close to the door, she could hear Jessica talk on the phone.

'….believe me Auntie, I will get to the root of this matter….I am sorry, I disappointed you….I know but I will fix it….yes…bye auntie'

A minute after Jessica hung up on; McKenna knocked and pushed her way inside the office. Jessica was crouched over the table as she sobbed quietly; one of her brown heels was by the window while the other heel was under the table.

By the mini-refrigerator, the documents Jessica was holding before was scattered all over the floor like she angrily tossed it from where she was sitting.

McKenna loved what Jessica did with the office, the burnt orange color she had the office painted with and the arrays of colorful paintings on the wall. On the table was a picture, an older couple with three girls and the older girl looked awfully a lot like Jessica. She looked about sixteen in the picture.

Jessica also bought two burnt orange and one yellow color sofas that she strategically placed at the corners of the office. McKenna loved every change she made to the office and she bet Jason would have a heart attack if he saw what happened to his precious colorless office.

McKenna gently dropped the brown bag on the table and went to pick up the documents on the floor. Jessica raised her head up and looked at her.

'It's my mess, McKenna. I will clean it up'

'I don't mind, Miss Jessica' McKenna gathered the documents and placed them on the table.

'Are you alright, Miss Jessica?'

Jessica wiped her face with the scarf on the table.

'I am fine. You can go home for the day, McKenna'

McKenna was indecisive. She didn't know whether to take the easy way out and go home; moreover she was already late for her date with Tony or ignore her boss's statement and press till she gets her to open up about her problem. The latter option was likely to get her fired.

'With all due respect, Miss Jessica you don't look okay. Tell me how I can help, please'

'There is nothing any of us can do' Jessica said and when she saw McKenna made no attempt to leave, she continued

'Somehow and I don't know how, Jackson Donna got a very confidential document about a contract that was worth millions and he…he….anyway, I have only being here a few months and I have cost this company millions. When I leave here, I will hand over my resignation letter to my aunt and I will also have to call my cousin and tell him, his company might go bankrupt because me.'

McKenna's heart missed a beat when she heard about Jackson Donna. She quickly composed herself.

McKenna sat down on the chair and listened patiently.

'You can't quit Miss Jessica. You can't give up at the first sign of trouble but I have a brilliant idea, Mr. Yagazie has been trying to land the contract with Elvis Corp. for months now but Mr. Elvis has been elusive. If you can get Mr. Elvis to award the contract to this company then I think everything will work out just fine. This contract is thrice the amount Jackson Donna stole' McKenna was breathless.

'What makes you think I can get a contract that even Jason couldn't get?' Jessica asked

'Because failure is not an option, Miss Jessica and I have seen you negotiate a contract before, you are a force to be reckon with'

McKenna left Jessica's room happy and afraid. She was able to convince her boss to hold off resigning but getting Mr. Elvis to award the contract to them will be a difficult task. McKenna pushed the problem to the back of her mind and even the bigger problem – everyone will know there was a mole in the company and Jackson Donna further in her mind.

'No one can ever find out my connection to Jackson Donna' McKenna whispered to herself as she made her outside after saying goodbye to Elena.