I looked up at the building from which I came. Written boldly at the top of it is ‘ZENA’S DESIGN’. One of the most popular fashion houses in the city. I have worked here for six good years, and it has been for nothing.

I just quit my job, or you say I got fired. My boss Zena Thomas, the most despicable, wicked person that I put up with for so long. But not anymore. I had enough of her ridicule, unappreciative manners.

I put so much to this work and all my boss does was bad mouth all my efforts. I started with her as an office assistant then as her personal assistant, and I work very hard. In between my work, I got admission into a part- time fashion school with the hope that she will see my efforts and talent after I concluded my studies and make me one of her designer one day.

But all she does was walking over all my efforts just to make sure I don’t succeed. When my colleagues and other designers sees my work, they appreciate it and even tells me how talented I am, my boss will simply scoff at it and say it’s not good enough. She has a way of spoiling my mood and for six good years I put up with it. But not anymore.

Last week, I learnt about the house coming fashion week context and decide to take a shot at it. I worked so hard on it. Working days and having sleepless nights. I came to the office this morning and I showed my work to one of her designers, Becky.

Becky unlike Zena appreciates my designs and she told me to talk to Zena so she could make me her designer.

“You have talents girl. You can do more than being Zena’s assistant. Talk to Zena, show her your works. I’m sure she will be impressed and make a designer out of you.” Becky had said to me out of admiration for my sketches.

She gave me a hope of being what I truly dream of. I did as I was told and when Zena resumed to the office, I took my shot.

I presented my designs inform of sketches and asked her to make me a designer.

She started by laughing out loud, it embarrasses me. Then she picks one of my sketches and said:

“You call this a design? These are trashes Sofia. Pure nonsense. You should just stick to being an assistant. That’s what you are good at and that’s what you will remain.” I turned sore by her words. Zena did not only condemn my works, but she also trashed them. Tearing up my sketches, samples and this got me angry.

It was obvious she doesn’t have any plan to make me any better. All she wanted is that everyone remains her slave. She’s enviously of my work and I can see it. There is no better way to explain her sarcasm.

I lost it when I saw my works been trashed up and I called her names. I called her sadist, oppressor and that is what she really is.

“You are the most appalling person, Zena. I work for you so hard for the past six years and you never gave me a word of encouragement but rather condemns me” I pointed my finger at her and said it to her squarely. “You know what, You are a sadist, an oppressor, a ruthless son of a bitch” I said out of anger.

“You are fired” she said after listening to me calling her what she truly is. Truth hurts they say but she doesn’t even feel a bit of guilt. She’s like a devil.

By this time, her office was flooded with my co-workers and other staffs who must have heard us exchanging words. Brutal words. Most of them gasped in horror after seeing my trashed designs.

I did the unexpected and instead of crying and apologizing to her, I raised my head high and square my shoulders.

“I quit” I said. For a moment I thought I saw fear in Zena's eyes when she heard me but it disappear the next moment.

“Get out of my office. Get out you f**king ingrate, dirty thing. I don’t want to see you near my building. Someone call the security and throw the garbage out” she screamed at me “What are you looking at? Do you want to also lose your job, Do I pay you to watch….” She said to other co workers who are watching the unfortunate scene.

I picked up my trashed sketches and walk back to my workstation. I did a quick scan at my station and select important stuff and left the building for good.

*

My name is Sofia Williams, and I am twenty-two. I had a simple, calm upbringing with having a civil servant as a father and an seamstress as a mother. I unlike my parents, wish for something greater for myself. I have a big dream of becoming a successful woman so I started fending for myself when I was seventeen.

I work odd jobs, working in restaurants just to save money. When I turned eighteen I got job at Zena as an office assistant. Zena just started the company as at then so you can say I know the company so well. Working with her made me build interest in sowing and designing. It was easy for me because I have a seamstress as a mother. Most of all I have passion for creating and designing.

When I turned eighteen, while my age mates are getting admission into the university to study something like medicine and law, I insisted on a tech school to study fashion. With little support from my parents, I had to work and save to pay for my fees. Lucky for me Zena gave me a part-time job as an office assistant at the company. I took it happily even though it was hard to get along with her cruel words.

On completion of my studies, she made me her assistant. I was hoping for a designer as inline of my passion but when she didn’t, I accepted to work as her assistant and promise myself to keep working harder and maybe one day she will see how devoted I am and make me what I wanted but she didn't. Rather, she threw me out like a garbage.

I might be a nobody as I walk away with nothing but I have my dreams and I vow to make them come true. One way or the other, I am going to succeed.