5. The Big Blue

The leave ended just Swiftly as it had started sending George and his colleagues back to work. Other workers at The Big Blue Logistics company were still tied to their work normally and Hussain seemed to be doing whatever it concerned him. Everything seemed to be coming back to life as the three returned to work with their prominence.

Bruce picked the keys from Hussain's receptionist and went to discharge his duty. He inserted it to the door of one of the heavy trailer trucks , swung it open and jumped inside with a kind of agility that proclaimed his renewed energy at work. He started the engine and the big machine revved as it slowly accelerated out of the parking . It left a slot from the line of other carefully arranged several trucks. They sightly proclaimed the wealth of the Big Blue and each had an attractive blue painting on their sides with 'The Big Blue Logistics company ' imprinted on them.

Collins sat in his small but smart built office as the Manager of the warehouse. He was seen giving directives to store men while he gave Susan luscious looks as she did her work . Susan was unaware of the her secret admirer and was busy folding the sacs to stack them in a corner before she started sweeping. She was one of the few female employees here.

Hussain trotted from the building near his office where he was talking to another employee and came to meet Bruce who was at the gate with the truck. He entered the truck to have a brief chat with Bruce before he went to pick the imported cargo from Mombasa. The journey would demand at least two or three days on the road before he came back to Nairobi. "Do your things on the road and make sure to come before 14th because of our ' grown up deals ' okay?" Hussain whispered when he finally got closer to Bruce .

" Okay master. And remember to send Kim and his crew after me so that we don't waste any single minute on the road should this thing break down."

" Kim is right behind you. Just do your work . And be careful on the road. Take this for any expense on the way." he assured Bruce while he fished out a bundle of new bank notes and gave them to him with not much concern about amount.

By now, several others truck drivers were coming in and each received a word from Hussain before they departed. But Bruce's track was special because it was the only one that had an immediate escort car full of mechanics such as Kim. Hussain never wanted him to delay on the roads for any reasons so as to have time to utilize him for other ' deals ' .

Back in her house as she prepared for work, Angela was busy doing her final touches on her make up. She was reminiscing the anniversary day she had with George two weeks ago and couldn't help but smiled to herself in the mirror. She preened in the mirror once more. With a sudden and serious face, she stopped a bit to listen to something. It was her phone in the living room and with little care, she jolted like a deranged woman into the living room to receive it.

She wiped on the screen briskly only to realize an anonymous number calling. Taken by a little fear, she picked it and a familiar feminine voice echoed on the other end.

" Hello , Angela! It's been long!"

"Hello ! who .. who .. who is it?" she stammered as she tried to figure out who the caller was. " It's Susan! Your highschool classmate! You remember?"

"Ooh how could I be stupid to forget you Susan. How. are you ? What do you do these days? Where are you?" she asked endlessly with a lot of enthusiasm and memories of highschool experience filling her mind.

"I'm doing okay pal. Just pushing with life in Nairobi. Currently I work in a logistics company. I'm not with that stable income as you may think . I'm just a cleaner. "

" Wow! that's nice to hear that you're in Nairobi. I myself work with a bank just here in Nairobi too. But don't worry you'll soon find a job. Your degree in computer science can land you in a great place. And what's the name of your company?My boyfriend works with one."

" It's called The Big Blue Logistics. You know Blex Towers? It just a kilometer from it and ..."

" I know . I know it. It's the one." Angela interrupted.

" Wait! You said your boyfriend or something? May I know him please!"

" He's called George. A secretary to the owner of the company ."

" I know he's also a..." the phone call ended unexpectedly and the two were left each in their own world of imagination. Angela completely perplexed of the coincidence of her former highschool friend being a college to her boyfriend. Susan bewildered of how George , a handsome college of hers could be a boyfriend to Angela.

Emerging from the corner of the warehouse, Susan was met by angry looks from Hussain and Collins standing by the far end of the compound. She could easily tell their discomfiture on their faces clearly reading the warning she should never make such long calls again during working hours. Alice, her fellow colleague , was sweeping at the entrance of the warehouse and also warned her for making the call. Her voice was inaudible to Hussain and Collins and Susan picked up her brooms to sweep along the passage to Collin's office.

At lunch hour, Hussain picked George from his office so that they might discuss few innate matters. He enlightened him on the upcoming job on the 14th and promised him a decent pay should it became successful. Delighted by the pay, George nodded in total agreement and noted the van for the job parked not far from their standing point. He seized the chance and notified Hussain on the need to service it before the day.

Susan and Alice were deadly locked in a gossip about George and Collins. " Have you realize how Collins is getting closer to the boss these days than before?" started Alice as she folded her hands about her chest and reclined comfortably to her seat.

" It. seems like he's getting to become an assistant to George I see." commented Susan equally aroused by the topic.

" And he's currently blowing my mind with his new outfits! " echoed Alice while throwing a playful eye on Susan.

" Don't tell me the feeling of that thing is creeping in you Alice!"

" We're alone just say it. What's the thing you're talking about?"

"You're in love with him eeh!"

"Stop it ! stop it Susan ! How could I.. How could I ..."

" Love him." completed Susan chortling playfully at her.

"It's okay I love him anyway! No! Not love him! I'm just infatuated!"

"That's the thing now . But did you realize that he's living a quite expensive life?" Susan added while trying to switch onto another topic swiftly.

" Ya ! His suits are quite expensive and he has a new phone nowadays."

" Could this be from his earnings only?"

" I'm made to doubt. Just imagine his normal bills. And where he live. I think nothing can remain in his pocket after the salary."

"No! Leave alone with him... and George?"

"He also has more contact to that Arabian than he should. It's more of a secretarial work I guess."

"Let time tell us more of this after all it's theirs and not ours..." . Susan was cut off by a loud revving as a hatchback that carried Kim and his colleagues sped out of the gate.

George and Hussain were still conversing as they threw their hands in the air for emphasizing their points. They were unaware of their surrounding until Collins appeared from a corridor between his office and the main warehouse. He was belching and rolling his tongue in his mouth mannerlessly to reveal how he had treated himself for lunch. He then cleared his throat loudly offending George and his boss. He didn't expect a angry and authoritative look from Hussain who sneered at him when he finally joined the discussion. Unfortunately, the talk was ending and Hussain only reminded him of the impending task of the 14th.

Embarrassed and down spirited, he lazily waked back into his office. He found Susan completing the sweeping just in front of his office. He stood for a moment and his feelings over took him. Again , Susan was out of the knowledge of Collins standing behind him. She was now sweeping with vigour and renewed energy after the lunch break. Her posterior was shaking attractively to the rhythm of her body and this left Collins speechless and rooted to the ground. This woman was really shaking his world as much as she is gyrating her hips. He unconsciously whistled in contentment and clearly overpowered by his manly drives.

Susan stood abruptly and deeply shaken by his quiet presence behind her. She submissively stepped aside to let him pass but he didn't. She certainly felt an immense embarrassment as he ran his eyes all over her body. She couldn't bear any more and walked passed him and out of his vicinity as he still stood there foolishly.