******
Samantha stares at him..
“can I help you?’’ she frowns
He is taken aback , “Well it depends. The last time we saw you spilled coffee on my suit and had the tabloids gossiping for days, took a whole lot to kill the story and an awkward interview to state that…the mystery girl was non other than an intern whose stay was brief and unsettling . Good thing I kept your name out of it. It did cost a lot too, some media houses can be quite the leech and-“
“I am sorry but is there a point to this?’’ she cuts him off rather impatiently
He smiles “You haven’t changed much, you just added a bit of arrogance to your stance, how original”
“Mr Jake Bass I believe you-“
“Oh you do remember me. For a second there I thought you were a robot and –“
“Oh make no mistake Mr Bass I do not only remember you but I do remember that I never liked you. And again, my question, why are you following me?’’
He is taken aback again..
“Well, I just wanted to make sure it was you”
“And you have, is there anything else I could help you with?’’
“Yes… can you put your guards down, this doesn’t fit you… I mean the dress is beautiful on that body of yours and I’d say you did clean up nicely “
“Flattery Mr Bass doesn’t work for me, and how I look shouldn’t be your concern”
Okay now this was rather strange, he didn’t believe his eyes when he saw her. That once nerdy looking girl that had been a pain in his neck on her brief stay in the company.
She had always had that sharp mouth, always trying to counter things but now, even her tone was different, she even looked different, more sophisticated oozing with class and confidence, which she had always had but now it was even more annoying. Maybe he thought if he walked up to her, she was going to be …well, submissive seemly the fact that she made him lose an opportunity, embarrassed him in front of staffs and guests. She should be apologizing about now, maybe even asking on how she could make it up to him for being … incompetent and un-mannered ..but here she was..being the typical her, only this time…an extra dose of “I-still-don’t-bend-to-your-rules-Mr-Bass’’.
Okay maybe he should try another tactics
“Hey relax, no need to be on a defense, I came in good faith. Okay, I looked for you when you left.”
“Why? To fire me … oh you did that already. Why did you look for me, to get back to me for ruining your suit? “
“oh no, actually, that file, the one you forgot to bring along …”
“Right, I apologized for that and it’s what.. over three months ago, are we still on that?’’
He smiles “I just wanted to let you know that I ran into the head of Council of leaders about a month ago after you left and I gave him the file, he was impressed… more impressed about the addition you made to the project, it was quite revealing. I had a sit down, it took a few weeks but I finally got it, the approval, now I would have waited another year, I guess they liked it too much… I got it. Work commenced 3 weeks ago.
Something that would have taken another year for a sit down, within three months, I had my baby project up, and soon…it’s going to be a great place for innovative minds and the best professional engineers in the country. “
“Is this the point where I say congratulations?”
“If you will yes. But I had hoped whenever I see you again I would say thank you and apologize. Who knew I would run into you today”
“I didn’t do anything out of the ordinary. If you gave your staffs half the chance at things, I am sure even your secretary would have come up with something better.. I just took what you had and made it into something more… your ideas… my expertise and added knowledge, pure semantics”
“But still..thank you. I believe I still owe you for your duration of time you spent at my company, there was no forwarding address or account number, I actually kept it for you… well hoping to give it to you. I don’t owe people, and if you would give me your account details I would have the accountant do justice to it” he brings out his phone, she raises an eyebrow
“When I left and closed down my accounts it’s because I didn’t need your money, so there is no need for that now… if you would excuse me” She began walking away, he stops her by holding her elbow
“we are having a conversation… besides I am being polite even talking to you. I don’t even know why I am thanking you, in fact you are right, it was my ideas you just expanded. It was all mine not yours. Plus it was because of my persistence that got me back into the good graces of the council of elders and made him push for approval. I only came here to say hello, because when you left you left without your due pay but if you don’t want it, it is fine, but you will not walk out on me like that while I am talking Miss Samantha Brookes”
She looks at his hand on her hand,
“You will let go off me right this minute Mr Bass or I will call security on you”
He laughs “You wouldn’t dare. Do you know who I am?”
“No the question is, do you know who I am? Out there in your company you may be Mr Bass and everyone bows and kisses your feet and throws themselves on the floor for you, but in here… I am Boss and I can have you thrown out for disrupting my event. And before anyone could query me for embarrassing Mr Bash, the multi-billionaire, the big sponsor of this gig, the damage has been done. I do not work for you any more Mr Bass and you are not the Boss of me. And if you don’t let go off me you are going to regret it, and I mean reputation-wise.. I am sure you can be able to spare some loose cash to rid the tabloids of such an unfortunate incident that would happen, now I won’t be that mysterious girl anymore, I will be the huge frown on your face… I know you don’t like to be on the other side of the divide, or the coin or when you are not the calling the orders, but at the moment I think what I want right now is way bigger than your over sized ego..so now, let me go!!!” he lets go off her, shock on his face
“And by the way of speaking, it was an honest mistake when I forgot that file back in the office and costed you that opportunity, but I am glad you got it back. But you Mr Bass had left me stranded in a city with no means to come back at all. How I got home, I am sure you had no idea, and that is worthy of my anger, yes I made a mistake which was unknown and unplanned but you made a graver one by choosing to kick a girl out of your car just because, did you ever think that I might have come to harm’s way, I was your employee, you already sacked me then, I get it, my fault, I was trying to apologize but in anger I was put on the streets and literally had to make a call I had promised not to do unless it is to make the person happy.., and the coffee spill was only a light dent to your ego. Now, all that is past and over, you do not need to seek me out for talks or for us to reminisce on past times… it was a Boss and Employee relation gone bad, and severed, I left and all went well. I do not see why you are standing here and talking to me Mr Bass, surely I believe there are more important things for you to do… like never leave your lady unattended to and talking to another, that is very ungentlemanly of you Mr Jake Bass” she says
“What lady?’’ he frowns
“Typical, still very typical Mr Bass” she replies shaking her head
“Bass Honey I have been looking everywhere for you” Veronica purrs coming behind him and hugging him, he tenses, then she turns to Samantha
“Oh hi, Samantha Brookes is it?..this..the event is so beautiful, you did a great job, your boss must really be happy to have such a gifted mind and hands in his fold, everyone wants to meet you, they all seem to want to organize something ..I mean WOW!!!…but wait, have we met before today, your face looks familiar?’’
Oh yeah we have? About a couple of months ago when you were practically throwing yourself on Mr Bass despite him telling you that you were nothing but his bed mate when he feels like and on other days you mean nothing to him..
