Amanda sat in her car watching as reporters crowded the entrance of the company; she was so furious and scared at the same time. As Amanda observed the hovering reporters, she realized that they were ready to devour anyone who was unfortunate to walk through that entrance.

Amanda locked herself in car instinctively, sought out the dark sun-shades and scarf she made sure to always carry in her bag in case of emergencies like this. Amanda immediately lowered her head to avoid being spotted, wore her sun-shades and wrapped her scarf around her head. From what she met, she needed no one to enlighten her on the impossibility of passing through the entrance so, she hoped for an immediate divergence. Instantly, she felt her phone vibrate in her purse; she dipped her jittery hand into the purse and took out her phone.

“Very convenient.” She sighed as her eyes recognized the caller’s name on her phone screen. She picked it up without hesitation “Hey Nelson!” she said to it, her head still lowered.

“Where are you?” Amanda could hear the urgency in his voice.

“In my car, parked in front of the company.” She replied.

“Don’t get out. Drive to the back, I’ll be waiting outside for you.” He instructed.

Amanda started her car and did a U-turn to the back of the company. She packed close to the warehouse when she saw Nelson standing in front of a small door.

Little did Amanda know she was followed by two camera men who had identified her Car the moment she sped towards the back. Amanda stepped out of her car and felt flashes of light on her face. She quickly turned to the direction of the light and immediately recognized both shutterbugs from before. She couldn’t tell why those guys were on her tail but, she was very determined to find out.

She walked over to where Nelson was and went through the single door with him. They climbed a flight of stairs and seconds later, they were inside the company.

Amanda thanked Nelson a lot for his help; she couldn’t imagine how it would have been for her if he hadn't saved her from what would have resulted to her worst nightmare.

“Did you see those guys that followed me to the back?" Ignoring his perplexed expression, she inquired again "Did you notice the one on blue shirt from the cafeteria?"

“Yes I do.” He sighed, the replied

“Does that warehouse have a camera installed?” Amanda was desperate to know.

“Yes. You want me to send their pictures to you?” Nelson could already tell what she was thinking so, he asked quite steadily.

“Yes please if it’s not too much trouble.”

It was too much trouble. Nelson had more than recognized them, be he was scared to bring the truth to Amanda. He had ignored he one from he cafeteria but as it is, the trouble as only getting closer to his favorite actress. “Hmm, ok. I’ll send it to your email but, are you sure you are ok?” He ask concerned.

“Yes I am. I just need to speak with Kate.”

“Ok, I’ll see you later then.” He told her, flashing her a harmless smile to conceal his worry

“Thank you again for today. I owe you one.” She said,  returning his smile.

“It’s alright Amanda.” Nelson replied.

Going their separate ways, Amanda walked hastily to her office and almost in front of it, she halted when she heard a notification beep from her phone. She took out her phone and saw it was an email from Nelson. “That was fast” She said to herself. Nelson had already sent the picture to her. She glance a while at the picture and without delay she forwarded it to Kate.

Still standing on the pathway to her office, she took the initiative to dail Kate’s line.

And as soon as Kate picked up the call, Amanda exploded. “Kate, what the hell is going on here? Why are there reporters in front of my work place? Are you aware of what this could do to me? Isn’t my well being your fucking priority?” She asked so angrily that she didn’t realize her boss was already standing at the door of the office, about to step out.

“Calm down Amanda.” Kate said from the other end of the line. She was well aware of the fact that whenever Amanda was angry the whole world kind of implode. And just like Kate, the media agencies were aware of this fact too, they try so hard to get her into this state so they could make news out of it.

“Don’t tell me to calm down. Fix this. I sent some pictures to your mail, find out who they are or trust me, I will rain myself on you.” She yelled and ended the call.

“This must have destabilized her greatly” Wright Junior said within him from where he stood. He raised his head a bit and saw one of his dad’s bodyguard walking towards Amanda.

“Miss Udoh.” He heard the bodyguard call to her when he approached her.

“Yes,” She replied, struggling to put her anger in check.

Junior didn't interfere but remained rooted where he stood. He knew by now whatever was happening outside had offended his dad but,  he was more concerned about Amanda.

“The chairman will like to have a word with you.” He informed her in a somewhat soothing voice but, the tone of his voice didn’t make Amanda feel any better yet, she wasn’t ready to open her fears in front of the man. She braced herself, relaxed her hands and wore something that looked like a smile on her face.

Wright Junior watched as Amanda followed the bodyguard then, he went back into his office and sat in front of his computer.

He logged into the company’s security cameras, played back the video to when Amanda drove to the company’s warehouse and followed Nelson in. Junior noticed the two guys behind Amanda; he Swiftly pursued the video on the two men and then printed out the photo of the men

Junior placed the printed photo inside his briefcase and stormed out of his office.

Amanda sat quietly feeling the hot chills running down her spine as she watched the news in Mr. Wright’s office. This was her first time inside the chairman's office and being in it gave her a glimpse of judgment day. She sat speechless, watching on T.V how the Chairman’s security guards made way for Mr. Wright through the chattering reporters.

He went through angrily and without saying a word to the reporters. After which one reporter said on air;

“We’ve confirmed that Amanda Udoh now works at the Wright Publishing. What we don’t know is if she has quite acting or just running away from the incident that happen between her and her ex, Troy Humphrey.  No one is—"

Mr. Wright turned off his T.V set with the remote control in his hand. He slapped his hands furiously on his desk terrifying the already petrified Amanda who flinched the moment she heard the slapping sound. This action was like a habit for him whenever he was angry but Amanda didn't know that. What she obviously knew was, presently, Mr. Wright was really upset about the whole thing

“Do you know how old this establishment is?" He asks trying to contain his anger “Thirty years and nothing as embarrassing as this had ever happened in this company. I should have listened to Tony when he had his doubt about hiring a celebrity.

“I’m sorry sir, I’m working on it. I didn’t know it will turn out like this.” Amanda immediately apologized.

On hearing her apologies,  Mr. Wright exhaled slowly, sank back in his chair and cleared his throat.

~~**~~**~~

Tony sat in his office smiling, wickedly as he watched his computer screen. Seeing how his Uncle poured out his anger on Amanda amused him. “Everything is going according to plan, Dan. All you need to do is to operate carefully. Soon we will strike but for now we only stir the water.” He told his clipper while still smiling at his computer screen.

“Yes boss.” Dan replied, seated at the opposite end of Tony's arc shaped desk.

Suddenly, Tony asked frantically “What’s going on, what’s happening?”  punching the keys on his  keyboard trying to rectify he issue..

“What’s wrong boss?”

“I can’t seem to hear them anymore.” Tony voiced sharply. He couldn’t hear the conversation between the chairman and Amanda. The video was playing on but the volume was muted. Tony need to hear what they were saying in the office. That was the whole point of his plan but now, he couldn’t.

~~**~~**~~

“Wright Junior, you wanted to see me.” Detective Debby said sitting across the desk from Junior.

“Yes.” He replied shortly then,  he opened his briefcase and took out the picture he had printed and handed it over to the detective “I saw this two taking pictures at the company’s warehouse they looked suspicious and I thought I should bring it by you.” Junior told her, excluding the part that they were stalking his colleague.

Detective Debby took the picture from Junior and after taking a careful look at it, she immediately typed something into her computer.

“This is Daniel Lopez.” She said pointing at the man wearing the blue shirt in the picture he had given to her. “Come, take a look.” She invited him to her side to show him the man on her computer screen.

“Is this the same person?” Junior asked inspecting the man a second time.

“Yes. Last year he was a suspect on a murder case but we didn’t have enough prove to detain him but we’ve been keeping an eye on him ever since.” She continued.

Junior went back and took his sit feeling scared and angry at the situation and knowing that a murderer was following Amanda made him very uncomfortable. Thing was getting complicated now that Amanda was in the picture and he wasn't going to ever forgive himself if anything should happened to her.

“You shouldn’t let people like that walk freely, people could get hurt.” His voice raised a pitch higher, reflecting the worry in his heart.

“He has been off the grid until now but don’t worry we will look into it.” Detective Debby assured.

“Don’t just look into it, do something about it.” He ordered. Sounding more like his father when he was angry. He took to his heel and left the precinct.

~~**~~**~~

Amanda stood for a while outside the Chairman’s office, trying to catch her breath. She inhaled and exhaled gradually till her heart jolted once again after hearing a door swung open.

She turned and saw Tony standing outside his office but blocking her view was the security guard who had led her into the Chairman’s office, walking towards her from Mr. Wright office.

“Miss Udoh, you forgot your wrist watch.” He said in an almost whisper voice, handing her the brown, leather wrist watch.

“I didn’t realize it slipped from my hands. Thanks.” She said then collected the wrist watch from him.

She watch him head  back into the Chairman's office and her gaze fell back on Tony,  beholding him in a clear view.

“Are you ok?” He asked walking closer to her.

Why was he asking her if she was ok? That was the question ringing in Amanda's head and it was weird hearing him say that “Yes thanks.” She replied, reluctantly.

“Please, let me walk you.” He offered “I hope the chairman didn’t scold you too much?”

“He has every right to be angry.” She said back sternly.

“Of course you—”

Rudely interrupting Tony, without an ounce of care, she spoke, “Please Tony. You and I know you never wanted me here so, don’t pretend to be nice to me. You should go back to your office, I’m fine from here.”  And without giving him a chance to say anything else, she stormed out of his presence.

______________________________________

~~**~~**~~

Words (2018)