As she walked passed the elevator, Isma'il stepped out of it and collided into the manager, Mr. Fred Benson, the owner of Benson's shoes company. Being an old business friend of Mr. Fred, they both exchanged pleasantries. Glamouring and complimenting how each family had been. Meanwhile, Meryl met up with Modupe who had already heard the gossip of the day.
"Have you heard?" Modupe started.
"Heard what?" Meryl's brows twitched.
"That we've got a new director." Dupe put in.
"Oh, that. I've heard." Meryl nodded in affirmation.
"Cause you're the secretary?"
Meryl scoffed at that.
"Have you seen him?"
"I don't need to."
"Because you'll be seeing him." Modupe giggled delightedly.
"Just stop it, you're being childish."
"Indeed!" Modupe looked around, Ivan was walking out of a corner close by the elevator. She oddly noticed how he was hugging his strap bag close to himself. "I better go." She muttered to Meryl as she grinned half way.
Meryl returned a tired smile then she watched Modupe go who didn't hesitate to throw herself in Ivan despite the fact that he had begged her not to do so at their work place. Just in time, she met with the manager, greeted him warmly then she walked on.
"Who was that?" asked Isma'il as he joined Mr. Fred, he had stopped earlier on greeting a familiar face.
"You mean that lady?"
"Yes." Nodded Isma'il.
"You'll get to meet her soon. She's to be your secretary."
"Her face is quite familiar."
Mr. Fred stopped to look at him surprisingly then he bursted out in laughter. "Why won't she be familiar?" He knew how attracted Isma'il could get to beautiful women.
"I'm serious though."
"She's Meryl Jackson, if you say you know her." Mr. Fred put in.
It was Isma'il's turn to look surprise when he heard the name. "Did you say Meryl Jackson?"
"Yes, you heard right."
Mr. Fred who was almost six feet tall had broad shoulders. He was from a wealthy family but he was an atheist. He studied fashion designing in New York. After school, he started a company of his own making exquisite unisex shoes. His father was a family friend of Isma'il's family. Isma'il who had also had interest in the fashion world was given an opportunity to work in Mr. Fred's company although he wasn't planning on staying for too long.
****
Meryl was tidying up her files on her desk when she heard a knock. It must be David, the sales department head. She had been expecting him. She looked up at once, picked up two files as the door went ajar.
"Ok David, I have the files ready......" She froze when she saw the intruder. Isma'il! What was she doing here? In her office for that matter?
"She recognized him!" Said Isma'il to himself. She was the one afterall. Definitely she must be the one he collided into at the market. He could never forget those eyes of hers, the way they squint to have an intent look. Or those full lips of hers only that they were more refined. He looked down at her body and noticed that the years had been quite good on her as she seem to have gained more weight.....
He began to walk towards her.
"What are you doing here?" Her voice stopped him right on track.
"How could I ever had watch you go?" He asked as he took each stride of his carefully. His gait hadn't faltered. They were the same as always....she didn't want him here, she cut her thoughts short. Her heart was thumping as it had once beat in the time past almost twelve years ago. Was it fear? Was it hatred?
"Leave my office, please." She found her voice this time.
She was dressed in a silky, cream dress that had a lazy sash tied around her waist. Her monstrous braids was tied up in such an African style. Her face had little makeup on it and it brought to mind how he had taken her shopping a long time ago.
In a flash, he pulled her arm closer and her lithe, robust body bumped hard against his. A surprise gasp escaped her mouth as a shocked face stared up at him. She was certainly lost of breath, her lips had parted to say something but nothing came out.
"It is you." He said softly.
An eternity seem to have crawled by as they remained thus so, staring for ages.
"Miss Jackson." A young David opened the door abruptly. He stopped short when he saw the awkward sight.
"So sorry. I'll return shortly." He shut the door behind him.
Meryl pulled herself out of Isma'il's grasp, gnarled at him as she picked up the two files she had intend to give David then she walked out. Isma'il smiled lazily at himself, brushed down his goatee as he did so.

At the board meeting which took place at the company conference room, Isma'il was introduced as the director. Isma'il kept on staring at Meryl hardly believing his eyes. It was still a shock to him that he would meet Meryl at such a place. It was quite unfortunate that they didn't end on good terms. She had just disappeared into thin air after that horrible incidence twelve years ago.
Was it twelve years already? He laughed at himself. He had kept thinking about her, he had wish he would see her just one more time. It had been so long, he would be seeing more of her. She was going to be his secretary afterall.....how amusing.
Why was he feeling all giddy? Surely, he was only excited to see her. He doesn't have any feelings for her, that was clearly out of the picture. He had someone in his life already, soon to be married, he smiled foolishly at himself. But the sight of Meryl thrilled him to core. He wanted to know everything about her, she wasn't that Meryl of yesterday. If he had to win her trust, he would do just that. He would love to hear a tale of once upon a Meryl. He smiled as he continued to smile at her directly.