HOW I LOST ANN

The company’s policy was quite clear about office relationships. “Fraternising of any kind, especially romantic, is prohibited in this corporation.”

Ann and I were hell bent on adhering to this policy. We had finally scored our dream jobs in the best workplace in town and were determined to maintain it.

So, the plan was simple. From 8am to 5pm, Ann and I are total strangers at work. But after those hours, we return to being two consenting adults who are crazy in love and on the brink of marriage.

It was not easy for me to see Ann so much and keep away from her at work. It wasn’t easy for her too but Ann is a brilliant actress. One thing I enjoyed about our new form of relationship was the endless hours we spent at night, talking about office stuff and funny things our colleagues did.

From her side, it appeared her male colleagues ignored the office policy and constantly tried to flirt with her. Ann is a very pretty girl but I didn’t expect people to break the policy and I also didn’t like the way she responded to them. Ann refused to report their misconducts because she didn’t want to bring attention to herself at the office as a whistle blower. I thought that was crap but I remained silent.

As weeks rolled into months, I made friends within the office. Terry Thompson, precisely, was my closest friend. He was my opposite in every way.

Terry was loud, extroverted and an outright womanizer. I don’t know why Terry and I are friends, the only thing we had in common was the department we worked in and our love for cappuccino. Terry had a zest for life; he partied throughout the weekend and managed to appear at work in top shape. I guess these his traits were the cause of our standing relationship.

It didn’t take too long for Ann to become popular at work. Not for whistle blowing but because the ‘eye-candy’ and most eligible bachelor at work had taken a liking to her. Ironically, I hated the guy.

If Chris Evans (Captain America) had a brother, it would be him. According to all the ladies in the department, Kyle Ross was the most ambitious and devilishly handsome employee in the company. Basically, everyone loved him. The boss adored him, rumours say he occasionally plays golf with board of trustees members and provides organic milk to orphaned kittens. I mean, who is this guy?

Bottom line, Kyle was the golden boy in the office and he was after my girl. Christ! Even his name pisses me off but I remained silent.

It is important to note, policy or no policy, I was in love with Ann and no matter how hard I tried, it was difficult to ignore her at work. It didn’t take long for Terry to realise I had a ‘thing’ for Ann.

Obviously, he didn’t know she and I were actively involved. Terry, being Terry, tried to get met to ask the ‘hottie’ in the Accounting department out. I declined politely and gave him the excuses I had given my friends before I started dating Ann. “She is too good for me.”

But my innocent friend was relentless. He did all manner of crazy things to try and get me to ask Ann out. He often played the Kyle card, although that got me pissed I never acted. Ideally, there shouldn’t even be a ‘Kyle card’ to play.

Ann and I got our kicks from laughing at Terry’s effort. We never talked about Kyle’s efforts. I wanted too, only for the fun of laughing at him because he would be deemed as pathetic. But that didn’t happen.

One Monday morning was quite odd for me. Usually, I would share a couple of jokes with the receptionist on the ground floor and those on my department’s floor. Mary, the receptionist on my floor, would ask me if I had eaten breakfast or if I had asked Ann out yet (remember, Terry has a loud mouth). After my little chat with Mary, I would enjoy cappuccino with Terry and then bury myself in paperwork.

Everything was normal until I got to my floor.

Mary did not wittily greet me and Terry brought the wrong coffee. The office was somewhat gloomy and I later realised why. Terry told me Ann and Kyle had gone out on an “awesome and romantic date” over the weekend, according to Kyle’s WhatsApp profile picture and status. I now understood everybody’s awkwardness. Thanks to Terry, everyone on our floor knew about my ‘crush’ on Ann. I boiled.

Kyle did not allow me to ignore his date with my girlfriend. In Kyle’s defence, it wasn’t on purpose and he wasn’t trying to upset me. He was trying to upset all the male workers by boasting about how he had scored the hottest girl in the office. I was flabbergasted though about the news and it was in fact news to me because I was with Ann over the weekend. We spent Friday evening, Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning (in church) together. Ann never hinted or mentioned Kyle was getting serious or pressuring her. Besides, this was a clear breach of the company’s policy.

After work, I confronted Ann. At work, I couldn’t say anything because that would cause a scene. But in the comfort of Ann’s small apartment, I had the freedom to shout. Ann and I rarely fought but when we did, it would be swift and loud. How we resolve our fights, I never know. They always seem to dissolve over time. I didn’t give Ann a chance, I launched straight into the issue.

“When were you going to tell me Kyle was pressuring you?”

“Excuse me?” She looked puzzled as she poured green tea into my mug. I hate green tea.

“You know exactly what I mean, Ann. I mean, seriously. Kyle asks you out. First you don’t tell me, your fiancé, and then I hear you’re going out with him? Who does that?!” I ignored the steaming tea. She was clearly trying to upset me further by giving it to me.

“You’re not my boss, David. I’m not tied down to you. And what is this about being my fiancé? I don’t recall you asking me to marry you.” She spat.

My face contorted with rage and it translated into my words. “What about the company’s policy? How could you say that Ann?! We’ve been together for three years now. Hell! I gave you a ring!”

She hissed. “What ring? You stuttered through the whole proposal and the cheap band you got me is laughable. Didn’t you say you’ll get back to me on that?”

I exploded. “Ann—”

“Get out! Get out of my house! You can’t even get me a decent ring. Leave!”

I left Ann’s house feeling ashamed and defeated. Ann was right but we had already fought the fight about the ring. We agreed back then I was too poor to get a decent ring, also we agreed to invest a lot of money in a wedding ring and ignore the temporary engagement ring. I guess that fight did not dissolve properly.

A few hours after our fight, I got a text message from Ann.

I couldn’t have rejected Kyle’s offer because it would be weird. After all, he is the most eligible man at work.

Again, Ann was right and her text hurt but I did not reply.

Due to our fight, Ann and I stopped seeing each other after work and during the weekend. This was normal for us. We usually gave each other space after a fight and then managed to fall back into our normal routine when we missed each other or when the quarrel dissolved.

However, according to office gossip, Ann and Kyle were getting really close and serious. They were constantly going out, in fact, someone caught them smooching in the printing room once. Everything seemed to be working out for them. Kyle was in line for a promotion, and some other people and I were as well, but it seemed too clear Kyle would get it. My emotions drove me to report Kyle and Ann’s inappropriate office relationship.

Jared, my boss, was not pleased at all with my confession. At first, my meeting with him was going well. He was open to my concerns and listened attentively. He made the occasional grunts of approval at the right times. When I was done, I looked at him with expectance.

“Now, David, I am shocked at this revelation. I did not think something like this could thrive in this prestigious workplace.” He leaned on his mahogany desk.

“I totally agree sir, I was shocked myself. I mean, such an outright breach of—”

“You didn’t let me finish. I didn’t think you had it in you, David. You never stroke me as the jealous and conniving type. Without a doubt, this whole complaint of yours is out of spite for Mr. Ross.” He said matter-of-factly.

“Excuse me, I—” I was confused.

“Listen carefully, David. I don’t have time for this and such conduct, bad-mouthing of colleagues, is not acceptable. You only forged these stories so you can get Mr. Ross out of the way and attain the promotion.” Jared’s eyes had never been so cold to me before, I felt hopeless.

“David, leave my office. And listen carefully, next time you feel like spewing nonsense, follow office procedures. Write a letter about your concerns with relevant proof and evidence.” Jared stood and nodded toward his door. That was my cue to leave.

Terry was waiting for me outside the boss’s office.

“I told you, David. Kyle is untouchable, besides you’re the only one in this company that follows the policy.” He shrugged.

“You don’t get it, Terry. Ann was mine, is mine. I did all this for her because we’ve been together for three years now.” I sighed. I was ashamed of myself.

“Well, that’s original,” was all Terry said in his nonchalant way as he strolled back to his desk. For a best friend, he didn’t seem to care about my current emotional trauma. I mean, I had practically just embarrassed myself in front of the boss. Most likely, Jared now thinks I’m a terrible person.

The weeks after my encounter with Jared were awkward. I tried to remain professional but it was difficult. I hadn’t spoken to Ann in so long and Kyle got the promotion. I admit, I became very jealous and withdrawn. Terry kept his distance from me. I suspected he didn’t want to be around me, the office’s whistle-blower. Jared was also trying to be professional but working with him was difficult for me so I decided to quit.

I figured if I quit, I would be able to focus on wooing Ann back and starting afresh. A new work environment was all I needed.

Telling Ann about my unemployed status was a little dramatic than Terry’s reaction. You would think the girl I had been crazy in love with for three years would show some empathy. All I got from Ann was a broken heart.

“You never fight for anything, David. You didn’t fight against the company’s policy, you didn’t fight for me and you didn’t fight for your job. I mean, didn’t you know that the CEO married his secretary?” Ann rolled her eyes and flipped her hair.

It was the last time I saw her, as an unmarried lady. Ann became Mrs. Ross a few months after we officially broke up.

I later realized I lost Ann to a corrupted policy.

 

 

 Photo: https://pixabay.com/en/autumn-lonely-leaves-ground-965117/ 

HOW I LOST ANN is used by permission of the original author, Ifeoluwa Ogúnyinka

Author bio:

Sinmisola Ogúnyinka is a pastor’s wife, mother, writer and movie producer. She has a university degree in Economics, and is a Craftsman of Christian Writers’ Guild. She lives with her family in Pretoria, South Africa.

Blog: www.sinmisolao.wordpress.com

Twitter: @sinmisolaog