Marissa was jolted out of her thoughts as Emma kicked her feet excitedly.

"Oh shoot, baby, mummy will be late for work!" she exclaimed as she glanced at the clock on her bed stand and realized that it was already 7:30 a.m.

"Let's just hope that we get a cab on time today; if not, the power that be will not be happy at all!" She said this to him as she zipped up her dress and scooped up his blanket with the other hand.

Emma just gurgled and looked up at her with a "What are you talking about, mummy?" expression.

She smiled. It seemed she was getting more and more fanciful these days. She just couldn't stop the joy that bloomed in her heart whenever she looked at him and held him, and whenever she had anything she normally shared with Evelyn, instead of getting sad at the fact that her friend was no more, she simply shared it with Emma, and he always had this intelligent, intent look in his eyes that always made her believe that he understood her even when he couldn't reply to her.

She picked up the baby carrier as she carried him from the bed and said, "Let's go, Kiddo. A new day awaits."

She got to work 2 minutes past 8 am that morning and she heaved a sigh as she went to sign in. This would be the third time this week; she needs to up her game, especially since each late arrival attracts a penalty of a salary deduction.

She groaned "I really cannot afford to have my salary reduced again; Emma's necessities can't allow that," she thought.

She just needed to drop the baby off in the nursery section provided for nursing mothers and their kids by the company. Then she could start her day in earnest.

"Marissa"

She turned swiftly as she recognized the sound of the head of operations. She groaned inwardly and turned to the woman with a smile that, on closer inspection, was nothing more than teeth clenching. Whether the woman couldn't tell or chose to ignore the insincerity of the smile was another question.

"Good morning, Mrs. Martins." Marissa greeted brightly

"Ehn, good morning, Miss Ayobami." She scrunched up her nose as she peered at Emmanuel, who chose that moment to let out a short cry.

"I see you are still bringing the baby to work despite our conversation the last time; might I deduce that you found my advice unworthy of listening to?" She said this with a condescending smile as she moved back a bit, as if a child's cry were contagious.

Marissa shuffled her legs and patted Emma's bottom to calm him down while thinking, "Who could have thought you were a mother as well?"

"His name is Emma ma, Emmanuel actually and of course, I am still bringing him to work since that was what the nursery was meant for and I had cleared this with the MD who specifically signed on the clearance which you accepted earlier on ma, yes if my memory serves me, that was exactly 3 months ago" she checked herself when she realised that her voice was rising and pasted a sweet sweet smile on her "So in answer to your question, ma, or rather your insinuation; yes I am still bringing my child to work ma and I can assure you that he's no hindrance to my work whatsoever. Ms Margaret at the nursery can testify," she finished sweetly

"Don't you take that tone with me, miss." Mrs Martin snapped

"What tone, ma?" Marissa asked sweetly

"That sarcastic tone of yours"

"You wouldn't know sarcasm even if it hit you on the head," Marissa mumbled

"What are you saying?"

Marissa sighed"I am saying, dear ma, that I need to go drop my child off at the nursery so I can start my day in earnest. So if you will please excuse me, ma, I need to go." She bobbed a curtsy and turned to leave.

"Ah, what insolence! Can you believe this, this arrogant display?!" Mrs. Martins could be heard saying nothing to anyone in particular.

Marissa ignored her and hurried off to drop off her baby at the nursery.

****************************

"Marissa!"

Marissa nearly dropped her glass of water at the loud voice of her colleague.

"Henrietta, I swear one of these days you will be the cause of my heart attack," she said in a mockingly stern voice.

"Na, that is never going to happen, and you know it. Moreover, what would you do without your favorite person?" Henrietta asked as she snatched her glass of water and gulped it down.

Marissa looked around like she was looking for something.

"My favorite person? Where is she?" Marissa asked in all innocence

Henrietta patted her chest delicately while fanning her face. "Oh, you wound me; you broke my heart."

"Right, as if that's a thing—if you have a fragile heart to break, then I am Celine Dion's twin. I believe once you have a taste of cook's porridge at the cafeteria, your fragile, breakable heart will be mended instantly." Marissa laughed at the mock horror on Henrietta's face. "Speaking of which, why are you not at the cafeteria eating instead of bugging me here?"

"Bugging you?! Oh, I can't believe this. I can't believe it. My heart cannot take this; no, no, no! To think I risked indigestion to come to give you this important and critical information Wait, what do you have there?" She peered into Marissa's food flask

"Oh, this? It's mashed cocoyam and garden egg stew; want some?" Marissa invited

"Of course I want some! The little I managed to take in before rushing down here is not worthy of the term "lunch."

Marissa took out her extra spoon and gave it to her after rinsing it in the sink.

"So what was this oh-so-important information that could make you miss your lunch?"

"Hmm, this is delicious! Please come and adopt me." Henrietta folded her hands like a praying mantis and batted her lashes

Marissa laughed, saying, "No, thank you; you will eat me out of the house and clothes. What's more, I already have a child; I don't need a grown, 5-foot child."

"You are no fun." She drank water "Where is your child?" She looked around.

Oh, that new lady that was helping Ms. Margaret at the nursery had taken to him; after feeding him, she volunteered to stay with him till he had his siesta; that was why I could leave the nursery early." She looked sideways at Henrietta and asked, "Are you putting off the information you were so worked up about because it is something I wouldn't like?"

Err, well, I just wanted to know if you had an altercation with Mrs. Martins today."

Marissa laughed. Is it possible for anyone not to have an altercation with that woman in a day? Babe, that woman believed every other person was lucky to breathe the same oxygen as her. She thinks she is the next best thing that happened to the world after toast bread, and you know it."

Henrietta sputtered, Oh, Marissa, you sure got that woman's number. Talk of arrogance personified, and to think... She looked back to make sure no one was eavesdropping. "I saw her the other day with the new MD," she whispered.

"Oh? Where?" Marissa asked

At the Chrisland hotel!" Henrietta said gleefully:

Marissa's smile dimmed as she realized what that meant! She just sassed the woman who might be...

Oh crap!