Chapter 33: Is the Quarters still Available?
Chapter 33: Is the Quarters still Available?
Nancy decided to speak to her boss concerning the accommodation he had earlier offered. She had
thought that he would repeat the offer but he had not, leaving her to chose the way she wanted to live
and where.
Her pride had been in the way and she had resisted giving in and had even thought of renting her own
little apartment but she knew that she would spend have to spend some good money to get a passable
place, if the amount she was paying in her hell hole was any indication.
She felt that it would be wiser keeping all the money she could for her baby's upkeep when she
eventually had him or her. She hoped it would be a girl because she didn't want a boy. They were
known to be very troublesome but girls were adorable and she would protect her from this cruel world
and teach her never to be too trusting especially of the male folk. Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.
That day, after telling her boss the appointments awaiting him for the day, she decided to speak to him.
'Sir, I would like to have a word with you', she said.
If Jason was surprised, he did not show it but he did wonder what she wanted to talk to him about. Had
she got another place she would rather work or had the run away lover decided to take responsibility?
'You can come into my office because from the tone of your voice it sounds like something you would
like to discuss in private', he deduced.
'You are right sir. I will come right away', she said and arranged her desk to look tidy before knocking
on the adjourning door and walking briskly in.
It was already the end of the month and Anna had left her to carry out the duties herself, as agreed
though Jason had been skeptical. Not because he doubted her capability but because he didn't want
her doing too much and hence stressing herself in her delicate condition. But Nancy had been too
stubborn and he had given in, believing that she would soon of her own Accord ask Anna's help again
when the time came.
'Good morning sir, I, well... you see...'
She did not know how to start it. Her pride was still holding her back brut she thought of all the
explanations that had led her to the decision to take him up on his offer and gained courage.
Meanwhile, Jason was busy looking at her, not knowing why she was flustered. He was sure his
assumption that she was about to leave the establishment or her lover had decided to stand by her as
a man was the cause. He decided he was not going to make it easy for her. So he just stared at her
while she struggled to get the words out.
'Well sir, you did say that I could come live in your staff quarters ', she blurted expecting him to affirm
the statement but he did no such thing just continued to stare at her and she started thinking that she
may just have made a mistake and the accommodation was no longer available.
'I was wondering if the quarters is still vacant or is it no longer available?'
Jason was surprised at the question.This meant that she had decided to take the up his offer. But he
did not even flinch.
'It depends. Why do you ask?'
'Well, it is already end of the month and the greedy landlord is already asking for the rent of the
following month. I felt that it would be better taking up the quarters you offered than paying him to stay
in that slum. Moreover, like you have rightly said, I could use the money for something else and I felt
that I would rather pay you the rent than the man
He had even annoying lately, making slide and lascivious remarks at me.
I felt too that it would be a waste of time and energy looking for a good place that would also be close
to my work place so that I do not go late to work or spend extra money on transport's, she said and
took a deep breath.
She wanted him to know that she had considered all the available avenues open to her before reaching
the decision to live in his quarters so that he didn't think that she was accepting charity from him
because she would never do that.
'So you are saying?' Jason asked wanting her to come out plain with the request.
'That I would like to park in, if it is still available and if you would have me', she said humbly.
'Of course it is still available and if I didn't want you to have it, I would not have offered now, would I? At
the close of work today, you can come with me to see the place and decide when you would like to
park in, is that okay?'
'Very! Thank you so much for being this considerate' she said happy that she had got it off her chest.
Jason waved off her thanks dismissing her and she went back into her own office happy that she would
live in a better place from thence onwards.
The rest of the day went quickly. When she saw, Anna, she told her what the outcome of her discussion
with their boss was and she was happy for Nancy.
'You see? Was it that hard and did it make you any smaller than you are to accept help from someone
who had willingly and wholeheartedly offered?'
Nancy smiled and Anna continued,
'I am really happy for you. Even after you had given birth,there will be people around you to care for
both you and your baby because no matter how strong you think you are, you will definitely need help'.
At the shocked expression on Nancy's face, she wondered what she had said wrong and rembered
that Nancy had not told her of her pregnancy and must be wondering how she knew.
'You know?'
'Of course I do. I am a woman, remember? I have been there. My only regret is that I was not bold
enough to keep it the way you are doing'.
There was a fleeting look of pain in her eyes which could not have been a mere pretence but which
disappeared almost immediately as Anna smiled wistfully.
'But like I said, that is a story for another day. Now, we should talk about how to get your things to the
place because forget about seeing the place first, you are going to like the place. It would definitely be
far better than where you are currently living. Though I have not been there but I can guess'.
'Nancy knew that she was right and remembering that anguish she had seen pass fleetingly in her
eyes,she also recalled Anna telling her that she had been hurt several times but that had not made her
give up on life or on love.
She felt pity for the girl she had come to consider not just a friend but a sister and wondered what pain
Anna had had to go through before finally finding joy with Bryan. She sincerely hoped it worked for her
this time because she would not want her to be hurt again.
'You are right. But since the boss has offered, I shall have to go and see just for formality sake and then
tell him when I shall move in', she told Anna.