CHAPTER 45

NORA

Nora gets a memo at the office, that there would be a meeting and every staff is implored to be present. Nora wonders what the problem could be because her organization barely calls all the staff together for a meeting. She works in a thriving skincare firm but of late, distribution has drastically reduced and everyone thinks it is the situation of the economy but with this memo shared with each of them, speculations start flying round and round.

Nora slides her chair from her desk, and goes

towards her partner who shares the same office

with her. "Cassandra wassup? You got the memo

too right?" Cassandra a middle-aged lady who has been Nora's partner for years and has also become very close to her that they refer to themselves like age grade waved her memo at her "Rumor has it that the company is going into bankruptcy, so many staff will be laid off today" Nora is shocked, she wonders why she is just hearing this. She tries to brainstorm how many of them are in their department to know if she will stand a chance to remain or if she will need to start praying for God's intervention "but.. how did you know this? I mean staff being laid off" Cassandra looks at her in a funny way surprised at the question she just asked "word has been flying around for about a week now, and everyone is aware perhaps except you, you are barely at work these days, and even when physically around, your spirit and soul is absent" she throws her hands in the air as she gestures "no surprise if you weren't informed, I'm surprised you even spoke to me!". Nora is too stunned to speak

"Why on earth will I not speak to you, Cassandra

you are my closest pal here" she whispers to her

with a full concern expression with bulged eyes, Cassandra shoves her aside "Nope! That new guy in your life is your best friend right now, perhaps your phone too" Nora never knew she has messed things up this bad with her partner at work, she didn't even know her fate at the moment. Then an inquisitive thought crossed her mind "wait a minute, I didn't discuss my relationship with you, Cassie how did you know I have a man in my life?" she throws the question at her with curiosity written all over her face "a lady in love isn't hard to know, whereas every morning, you have excitement written all over you whenever you walk in through that door and you are the first to leave the office now, you used to be the last when you had no man in your life, Nora. It's not hard for anyone to notice" Nora withdraws to her seat timidly, she never knew she was an open book that everyone could read easily. Whereas she might become unemployed in a couple of hours, she has better things to be worried about. She taps her foot uncontrollably as she looks at the clock in anticipation with fear of the unknown all over her face.

As the clock struck twelve, every staff assemble in the mini hall that is often used for training and briefing. Everyone takes their seats murmuring as they await the managing director, Nora is seated close to Cassandra, her palms are all sweaty and her face is pale. The Managing Director walks in with a long list of names on a sheet of A4 paper, the room goes quiet that instant as he addresses them. He appraised them for their good work so far towards the development of the organization and expresses his remorse to let some of them go as it wasn't his choice but the state of the company and how they can't afford to pay a huge number of staff, so rather than owe them their remuneration, they will lay them off so they can forge ahead in other organizations and help them grow as they did theirs. With that speech, he started with the accounting department and calls out ten employees in which he hands them the letter of termination of the contract. As the number of employees sitting reduces, Nora's heart pounds faster. It got to Skin product analysis and review which is Nora's department, Cassandra's name was called first and Nora almost fainted. She knew immediately that she didn't stand a chance with the high numbers of more qualified workers that have been laid off. She prays silently in her heart, begging God to give her another chance which she would never take for granted, she promised to work really hard and not get distracted by any son of man. Nora kept her finger crossed as she waited for her name to be called but everywhere goes silent instead, Nora lookes around to see just twenty-one staff in total left sitting, and the Managing director announces

"Congratulations to the remaining of you left standing. Put in more effort as this phase will be a tough one with just a few hands handling the normal units in the company, we are filled with optimism that things will work better in no time so we can recruit more hands or call back some of the employees that their contract just got terminated. All the best!"

Tears rolled down Nora's face in gratitude as she released her long-held breath in relief.