Chapter 1 Chaos: The day I lost everything…

“Amber!!! Get your ass out of that bed!” Vee said, dragging my legs.

I groaned, dragging a pillow over my head.

“Your job is the only thing keeping us afloat for now, and you are not about to lose that job because of your reckless sleeping habit,” Vee, my best friend shouted.

Okay, maybe she had a point.

Yawning, I sluggishly got out of bed and shot her an annoyed look.

Yes, I have a bad sleeping habit, but she was being dramatic.

“Alright, Vee, I’m awake. I’ll just freshen up,” I mumbled.

“Better,” she said.

I could still hear her voice from outside my room, and I just shook my head.

One minute she’s my best friend, and the next she acts like a mother who would whoop my ass if I misbehaved. If Vee didn’t drag me out of bed every morning, I’d probably be homeless by now.

“Vee, I’m leaving. Take care of yourself!” I called as I hurried out of the house.

I got to the office, hoping the supervisor wasn’t there yet then I saw people gathered at the notice board.

Wondering what was going on, I moved closer and saw Sarah, one of the best employees moving out with a packed up bag. She saw me and gave me a sad smile.

Walking past her and wondering what that was about, I saw the board.

LIST OF LAID OFF EMPLOYEES.

My heart started thumping so hard, I thought it would jump out of my chest,hands trembling.

I scanned the list and there it was.

Amber Peters. Number five.

“Why”? I asked no one in particular. I could feel my eyes become blurry, I wrapped my arms around me as if trying to comfort myself.

“I heard the company is running low on funds. They can’t keep everyone anymore,” John, one of the laid-off employees, said quietly.

“It doesn’t make sense. There has to be something that can be done, right?”

Without waiting for an answer, I stormed toward the manager’s office.

“Miss Amber Peters, don’t you know how to knock?” he said.

“I’m sorry, sir. I just saw the list. Why am I on it?” My voice came out tighter than I intended.

“I’ve devoted everything to this office. You can’t just lay me off like that.”

“So because you were devoted to the job you were being paid for, does that mean you co-own the company?” he snapped.

“You only did your job, Amber. Stop whining. You’re not the only one we laid off, there are other people who were better than you too.

“Sir… is that all you have to say?”

“Well…there might be another way to keep your job.” His eyes dragged over me slowly.

“If you’re willing to cooperate, of course.”

I froze.

“What do you mean?”

He stepped closer.

“You’re a smart girl, Amber,” his voice dropped.

“I’m sure you understand how these things work.”

My stomach churned.

His hand lifted to her face, too close.

“Spend some time with me, and your name disappears from that list.”

“You disgusting pig.” I shoved him away. “Even if you were the last man on earth, I would never touch you.” And yes, keep your damn job. I don’t need it, asswipe.”

I slammed the door behind me.

I sounded brave but I knew if I spent any more second here, I would break down.

I grabbed my things and left without saying goodbye to anyone.

I didn’t want to go home plus I didn’t have any friends except Vee of course.

Calling Vee wasn’t an option, she would be at her interview by now.

“I could really use a hug right now and if anybody could help me, it would be my boyfriend, Aaron.

So I headed to his place.

*****

Loud music blasted from inside his apartment. Not wanting to waste time outside, I used my key.

The moment I stepped in, the smell of weed hit me. Bottles of alcohol were scattered everywhere.

Then I heard it. Voices from the bedroom.

My stomach dropped.

“Aaron…?”

I pushed the door open. I froze.

I saw a woman with her legs raised up while my boyfriend rammed into her with much gusto. Even with the music so high, her moans were all I could hear.

“What the fuck, Aaron?” I shouted.

They both turned. He looked shocked for a second… then annoyed.

“What are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be at work?”

I blinked. “Is that what you should be saying to me?”

“You should have called first, Amber. Then you wouldn’t have seen this.” He said

“Called first? I laughed hollowly.

“Should I have asked permission to see my boyfriend cheating?

You don’t even have the dignity to apologize, but you’re trying to blame me?” I queried.

“Don’t start, Amber. Stop overreacting and try to understand where I’m coming from.”

It was bad enough that I caught him in this position but he wasn’t even moving. The woman stared at me with a smirk on her face, she was enjoying this.

I blinked again. “Understand what?”

“You pushed me to do this”

"I pushed you? We could’ve talked about whatever this is, Aaron.”

He looked at me, and for the first time, I couldn’t read his expression.

Thankfully he had the decency to cover himself although I believed the only reason he untangled himself from the woman was because I had ruined the mood.

“Amber, just go. I’ll check on you later. I have a guest.”

“What do you mean? Are you chasing me out?”

“I’m done with whatever this is. I can’t continue anymore, so just leave. You’re making my guest uncomfortable, I don’t appreciate that.”

“I won’t leave, I’m going nowh…”

The words died in my throat as he suddenly appeared in front of me and shoved me out of his apartment.

I stumbled outside, the music fading behind me. The night air was cold but it couldn’t cool the fire in my chest.

I was so stunned at his behavior that I could only crouch down to cry my heart out.

Two years.

Late-night calls, promises, plans that suddenly meant nothing.

And just like that… it was over.

All for what, sex.

When things got rough, I stayed, even when Vee had repeatedly warned me. I didn’t listen. I was in love or so I thought.

And now… this.

I laughed.

The sound echoed down the road, hollow and strange.

I was jobless, probably homeless soon, and my boyfriend, gone.

I stumbled to the nearest bench, hugging my knees to my chest. The world felt impossibly loud, the music from Aaron’s apartment, the distant sirens, the honking cars,all mocking me.

“Great… just great,” I whispered to the empty street.

My voice cracked.

“What a day.”

I felt something vibrating in my pocket and realized it was my phone. Looking at my screen, I could see several missed calls from Vee which I had missed because of that scumbag.

I immediately picked the call and her angry voice came from the other side of the phone.

“Why do you have a phone when you don’t use it?”

Vee screamed.

“I’m sorry Vee, I just had a lot.”

Well, hurry up! There’s a job offer for you.