Nancy had been impatiently waiting for the man. She had allowed herself to hope that she could get lucky when it seemed like her luck had turned against her. Nobody to help, her so-called love had deceived her and made her pregnant and she was stranded with no job in a hell hole not suitable for any human let alone a pregnant woman.

The walls were soaking wet and she had no bed just some think cartons, she had torn and spread on the floor and placed some of her wrappers on it as a makeshift bed, believing it would serve till she got a job and better her housing conditions.

But she had been impatiently waiting for the man. Maybe she could have shown him where she was residing, that would have made him realise just how urgent she needed the job.

No! That may have put him off or insisted on charity and she would not have that.

She was Wella le to cater for herself and not live on charity. She had her pride and dignity to protect.

If the man was not going to fulfill his promise, then she would just have to look for a place to be their housekeeper or cook or any such menial jobs since getting an office job was proving difficult but one thing she would not try again was to take her own life. She owed it to her baby to keep alive and stive to survive because she was a survivor.

She had already got herself ready since morning hoping that the man, what was his name again? Campbell! Yes, Campbell something or the other would come but maybe she had just got her hope up for nothing or maybe it was still too early.

'He has to speak to the friend of his and wait for his feedback. It could definitely not be as fast as all that and he had his own business to take care of too'. How did she expect him to forego his own commitments for her? He would definitely help her but after he was done with his engagements and it might take a week at the earliest and she didn't have that time. She could do something else in the meantime.

She put on the only good foot ware she had that was sensible given her delicate condition and stepped out of the house.She walked purposefully, she had glanced at some papers but found no one advertising for a house keeper but she was going to go to the big houses, she found and make enquires. She was sure that before she asked ten of them, one would definitely require her services.

The first apartment just banged the door on her face rudely asking her to look elsewhere.

The second and the third apartments she tried did not bring her better luck than the first except that they spoke a bit politely asking for her cell phone number so they could contact her when there was any need for her services.

Her cell phone was a thing that was long gone. She had had to sell it to feed herself when things got difficult.

What was the use of a cell phone when she could not recharge it and nobody called her anyway except her parents who she was trying her utmost to avoid until she sorted herself out. So, the phone had been sold for less than it was worth. It was one of the gifts Robert had given her and she didn't want to keep it in any case since it reminded her of his betrayal. It was still very fresh in her mind and extremely painful.

It was stupid of her to think that selling the cell phone would help. her get back at Robert and forget him when the perpetual remembrance of the most costly mistake she had ever made was implanted in her womb.

She was not going to blame an innocent child who never begged to be conceived for her stupidity and gullibility.

She had no contact number to give them and promised to check back in about a week.

Indeed how was she going to get employed now, if she did not have anyone to refer her nor a contact number to give and no postal address as well. It was hopeless. She was losing hope. She didn't know what to do. If any one of them offered her employment and it came with accommodation, the better for her.

Her only hope now was for the man to contact her. She hoped he would be successful in convincing and persuading his friend to give her a job. Any job. If she had rembered, she would have also asked him if he knew any family who needed a housekeeper

That might have been easier.

Then a thought occured to her. 'What if he had gone to the house to look for me? Or where he assumed that I am living? That would be a disaster'. She decided she would have to get a little phone. It did not have to be a sophisticated one. She wondered why the thought had not occured to her before then. With the phone, she would be contacted by prospective employer s and the Campbell man would contact her easily of he had any job information for her but how to get hold of him and give him her number when she bought the phone was another problem which she didn't know how to solve.

At the fourth house, they were really very friendly.

'Oh, what a pity dear, we just employed a housekeeper because the former one relocated. If you had been here yesterday, you would have started with us today but just give us your contact number and we shall get back to you if there are any developments or vacancies'.

The same issue again. Nancy decided she had had enough. She went to shops where used phones were sold. She felt she would get one auctioned at an affordable rate so that she would still have some money to care for herself.

She actually got one. It was small and had limited apps in it but that was not her problem. Provided it would help her call and answer calls, she was okay with it. She got a sim and fixed it. She stayed at the shop and charged the phone to it's full capacity.

Then she went back to the houses that had asked for her contact number and gave them especially the fourth apartment.

By then, it was getting quite late and she was hungry and getting really dizzy.

She bought some canned foods and took home, happy that she had accomplished something that day.

Jason drove to the part of the town where Nancy had alighted from his car.

He searched for her asking questions about her and describing her but no one seem to know her or have seen her.

He was getting frustrated. He realised that Nancy had lied to him about the place she lived and wondered why. Did she think that he would come and harass her if she told him exactly where she lived?

He could not believe how impossible the damn girl was being.

How was he doing to locate her now? She refused giving him her contact number and didn't also give him her real resident address. How was he going to locate her?

'Well, that is her business. I have other pressing matters and cannot afford to waste time trying to help someone who is not ready to be helped'.

He was going to get into his car and drive off when he decided to look around again, he went into the slumy part of the neighbourhood. He knew that if those who knew him were to see him, they would wonder if he was still in his senses but he had never cared about that and was not about to start.

He asked a few of the people he saw there. The place was indeed repulsive and he wondered how people could lice in such a place. The health of such inhabitants was definitely not assured.

He felt that for someone who didn't have a job and any source of sustenance, this might be the place she would live. A place where she would pay less. But it was abhorrent given her condition. Yet she was so stubborn that she didn't want any help from him that might be tagged charity.

'Foolish girl'.

one person he asked remembered seeing such a girl.

'I do not know much about her. She always keeps to herself. I believe I saw her going out this morning. But I haven't seen her since then'.

'Thanks alot'. Jason said offering the lady some money which she grabbed immediately.

Jason decided to wait for a little while longer for Nancy to assure himself that he had done all he could.

He could not believe the girl. How could she live in such a place as this? And she had refused his help too.

After about an hour waiting, he got tired. He would have to come back tomorrow to check back on her if he had the time.

He had so many other things to take care of. He just wanted to handle this himself else he would have sent some employee of his to do this for him.

He was not comfortable leaving his number with the woman who had agreed that she had seen Nancy that morning but he left her with the message that Nancy should wait for him the following day because he had news for her.

After promising to relay the message, Jason walked to where his car was parked and got in.

He had just got into his car when Nancy came back through the opposite route.

The woman was just about to go in, when she heard some noise and looking back, found that it was the girl, the gentleman had come looking for.

'Did you see him, girl?' she asked.

Nancy at first did not know that the woman had been referring to her. She was just too exhausted from the day's exertion and very hungry and she just wanted to get into her hole of a room and prepare something for herself to eat before she started feeling nauseous and faint.

'Girl, did you not hear my question?' the woman asked again.

'Sorry, were you referring to me?'

'Is there anyone else within hearing distance?' The want countered.

'Oh, I'm sorry what was your question again?'

'The gentleman who came here looking for you, did you see him as you came in?'

'What gentlem....' Nancy was already asking before she remembered Campbell. Could he be the one this woman was referring to?

She had assumed that he would not get in contact with her this quick bit maybe she was wrong.

'Please could you describe him?'

'You mean, you have more than one gentleman? Girls. Anyway he was tall and dark haired. He looked very wealthy. You had better hold him tight. Though I must confess that I do not know what you are doing living here if you have such a friend as he and from your question, you seem to have more than one of them What do you do with the money they give you?'

'Forget about that. Has it been long since he left?'

'No. He just left now'.

Nancy wondered how she could have missed him, except of course, he went in the opposite direction.

'What direction did he take?'

The woman pointed and Nancy ran as her strength would allow her but as she got to a bend and heard a car start and drive off. She shouted, waving, trying to stop the car but it zoomed off.

She knew it must have been him. If she had come home a bit earlier, she would definitely have met him. How was she to see him now? Given what she encountered today, she didn't think she was up to it again just yet.

She walked back to her rathole discouraged. Her luck seemed not to be favouring her

Why was she this unlucky?

When she got back, she found the woman still there.

'Did you see him?' She asked hopefully, thinking that she might just get another financial reward for sending the girl to the gentleman which was why she had waited patiently thinking that the gentleman would come back to the place with the girl and reward her for a job well done.

'No, he drove off just as I got to where he had parked his car', Nancy said sorrowfully.

The woman was disappointed but something the girl had said caught her attention. 'Car'. That would explain it

She had felt that such a man should have come in a car but obviously, he had parked his car some other place and trekked to this slum.

'Did he say anything else before he left?' Nancy asked hopefully.

'Yes. Before he left, he said to tell you not to go anywhere tomorrow as he would be here again because he had news for you'.

Nancy could feel the creases in her face let up. There was hope. She was not planning on going on such a venture as she embarked on today, anytime soon, So, yes,she would stay home and wait for him. And since he said he had news for her, she knew that it must be good news else, he would not have come all the way to tell her that.

'Thank you. Thank you so much'. Nancy said profusely to the woman and went in to take care of her basic needs.

Nancy felt nauseated after the meal she had prepared for herself. She knew it was not just her condition acting up but probably because she had stayed for a long time that day without food and had not eaten it easily but had eaten it in a rush.

She took deep breaths be ause she didn't want to throw up. She might feel hungry afterwards and weaker in the bargain.

'Why hadn't I eaten the food slowly knowing it wasn't the best meal to have chosen in the first place but I had chosen it because of the available money?'.

The nauseous feeling finally subsided and she decided to sleep. It had been a long day and she was completely exhausted.

The last thought she had before sleeping was that the Campbell gentleman had found out where she lived. All her effort at concealing it had been in vain.

The next day, she was reluctant to get up early.

'Afterall, I'm not going anywhere today', she thought to herself. Her joints were aching and she just wanted to just lie in and stretch and sleep till she was satisfied. She also felt the baby in her womb weightier than normal.

'All this is because I stressed myself too much yesterday but not anymore. I believe my luck is about to change'.

As soon as she thought that, she remembered Sarah's message yesterday about the gentleman coming over that day and that she was not to go anywhere but to stay indoor and await him.

It was like adrenaline was pumped into her. Her body was suddenly infused with strength and she got up and started getting herself prepared. She did not want to be the reason for her not to get the job she was sure he was coming to offer her curtsey his friend who she was sure he had spoken to on her behalf.

She dressed herself after bathing, the best way she possibly could and made herself something light to eat, she did not want to look faint in case she would have to answer a few questions when being interview for the job whatever the job description might be. Then she sat to wait for him.

****************"**********************

Jason could not sleep that night. He could not believe that such a place existed in Lake District. He. had heard that there were living waters that were not supposed to be inhabited by humans but we're by the poorest of the poor but he had not thought that it could be as bad as he had seen for himself yesterday. She was really annoyed but didn't know what to do. When he had asked the woman how much they paid in such a cluster of holes with no ventilation and smelly dirt everywhere, he had been surprised at the amount she had mentioned.

He had mind to due the owner of the place to court for providing such a place and charging such an amount without taking care to make the place more habitable for his tenants.

He had not even gone in but he was sure that if he did, he would throw up. If the exterior was as repulsive as he had found it, then the interior would definitely be worse off.

He had seen the outside walls soaked up and knew that the walls inside would be in the same or even a worse condition.

He felt that he was troubling himself overmuch but he just could not help it. He just hated injustice.

He knew that though he may not help all the people living in that hellhole, he was definitely not going to allow Nancy continue to live there no matter her objections and talk about charity. She was stubborn but so was he. He would never allow an employee of his to be seen inhabiting in such a place.

His thoughts drifted to Sandra Amos, his late secretary. He did not know if he was going to be able to get another that was as efficient and reliable as she had been.

He felt a pang again The pang of guilt. If he had gone to find out that first day she had not reported for duty why that was, he probably would have been able to saved her but no he had been so tired from the shock of nearly killing a pregnant woman who had a death wish and wasting more time trying to convince her to accept help from him so that the death wise would at least go off her mind.

He had made his heart easier there at the detriment if his secretary's life.

A little voice said to him,

'But you could not have been at both places at the same time. You could only have been able to help or save one of them and not both, you are not clairvoyant to have been able to predict what would have happened!'.

He knew all that but it didn't help his conscience at all. He felt that he could have been able to save the both of them if he he had only tried.

He was so overwhelmed with thoughts and with pity for Sarah's daughter and how heartbroken she had sounded on the phone that he felt the beginning of a headache. It grew in intensity and he had to take some pain relievers and fell asleep instantly.

He woke feeling better and got himself prepared for work. He had to get to the office and make arrangements about who would take the place of Sarah while Nancy was being groomed. Or should he go to her hole and pick her for the office at once rather than going there later? The later seemed to be the better option as it would be time saving. He only hoped that she would be ready when he got there.

He drove to that part of the time he was begining to detest with every fibre of his being to take Nancy with him to his office. He called his human resource person to intimate him that he would be late for the office that morning and that he should take charge and endure things were running smoothly.

'Done sir!' was his response and he continued his drive to his detested destination.