Episode 2

June's POV

"I am the owner of the company." I heard a thick baritone voice echoing at my back, making me shiver and sending waves through me. I froze. I couldn't turn to see the person. I tried cleaning my tears when I heard the same voice again, this time his voice raising up a bit.

"What do you want?"

Okay, I have to say something; otherwise, I would be roasted here. I gently turned to look at the person talking to me.

Uh!! What!! Is that not Empire's son I see on our old rickety TV? All I can see is a heartbreaking dude standing with his hands dipped inside his pocket, looking so hot. Okay, June, you have to calm down. I said to myself.

"Uhmm, I...I... am looking for a job, sir." I said, taking a breath as I stood bowing down like a clown.

Seeing no reply coming, I had to look up, perhaps he had gone. I had to raise my eyebrows. Jeez, his eyes pierced immediately into mine. I forced my eyes down, cringing at my clothes and biting my lips, because that was the only comfort I had now.

"To my office," I heard him say as he turned his back to his exclusive car.

Huh? Who was he referring to? I wondered.

"Ma, you have to follow us to the company," those men standing with me said.

In the office, I stood like a ghost, not knowing what the future held.

"I ask again, what are you doing here?"

"Am sorry to invade here, sir. I don't belong here. I know I'm not supposed to be here, sir. Am really sorry, but I need a job." I said fearfully, trying hard to stay cool.

Thompson's POV

"I am the owner of the company," I said as I approached them. I looked at her with dismay. I couldn't look at her face because she was backing me. Is she mad or something? I kept asking my freaking head. She seemed like she wasn't ready to face me because I could sense water coming out of her eyes.

"What do you want?" I pressed further because I needed to see the person I was talking to and know if she was actually sane.

"Uhmm, I...I... am looking for a job," I heard her say. Did... did I just hear correctly? Looking for work? I stood dumbfounded. I saw her as she gradually faced me; my eyes refused to look away.

"To my office," I heard myself say, surprisingly. I turned, entered the car, and zoomed into the company. I alighted and stood, looking at the environment as everyone frightened at the sight of me.

"Good morning, sir. Your office is ready at all times. Come with me," one of the security men said as he immediately approached.

"I'm not crippled!!" I shoved him off.

 "Please, leave me!"

I heard a little scream from behind. Oh, the insane girl. I forgot I told her to come to where I stood. They held her back, not allowing her to come closer.

"Allow her!!"

"We are sorry, boss."

"Bring her inside my office," I said to no one, putting everyone in surprise.

"Sorry, boss, but..."

"I think your job is no more important to you." I growled with a red eye.

"Won't happen again," the bastard responded, bowing.

                In the office:

"I ask again, what are you doing here?"

"Am sorry, sir, to invade here. I know I don't belong here. I know I'm not supposed to be here, sir. Am really sorry, but I need a job." She said, her hand trembling with fear.

"You need a job, and you look like someone from a psychiatric hospital!! Are you high or something? By the way, who the hell are you!!?" I don't know, but my voice raised up a bit.

"That mixed feeling one has when in a confused state crept in. Is this a spy or something? I have never seen this type of appearance all my life. I looked intensely at her for something, but figured nothing.

"Please, the next time I see you in this vicinity, you have to tell me who sent you. Now, you move out of here within a second!!!" I thundered, making her run off like the wind.

I shoved my hand through my head frustratingly. I don't know why, but I'm very much angry with myself this minute, and I can't tell.

The office phone rang after a few seconds.

"You this bastard!!"

 "Come on, man. I have no time for this bullshit. You have to back down for the contract, or you'll contend with me." Joe Enterprise sounded mockingly.

"Oh, okay, this is really getting heated up. Ahh!! It's Joe Enterprise himself speaking, huh? I have no time for an old man who doesn't know how the economy works. A person who is always foolish and selfish. You know what, I've got no time for this. I think I fight with your son, not some soul who will die in a few days. I won't be happy if I didn't battle with anyone!!!"

"Ahh!! That's the son talking. Young boy. How are you?" he asked mockingly.

"Why did you call, or am gonna cut the call?"

"Relax, my boy..."

"I'm not your boy. What the hell do you want?"

"You already know what I want. You and your dad should back down for the contract from the government."

"You know what. Since I know you, you are all but good. A manipulator, a backstabber, and a devil's agent. I said, and I'm repeating again, I'm gonna work here for weeks. As I am here, don't you dare call this office line again. Wait till my dad feels like coming, then you talk this bullshit with him."

"More stubborn than his dad," I heard someone say from the background.

"Bunch of losers!!" I snapped out as I had already cut the call.

June's POV

"And by the way, while will the secretary collect your file, cos you look like a mad woman. And you must be one!!" Those words pierced through my heart. I was still nursing the wound when I heard his final voice....

"Please, the next time I see you in this vicinity, you have to tell me who sent you. Now, you move out of here within a second!!!"

I flipped out of the office with my legs hitting on my head while flying. I pressed the button for the elevator to bring me down so I could run home, but it seemed to take a whole year to get me to the ground. My head spinning, my legs wobbled, my heart ached. The only system working right now is the blood flowing through my veins, making me a little bit conscious of where I am.

Here we are, as I got to the ground, I fled like my whole life depended on it. I ran like an antelope with every energy in me to get out of the environment. I hopped till I was out of sight. Seeing the first cab, I hailed and hopped in.

"Where to?" he asked.

"Anywhere but here." I responded, sobbing my whole heart out.

"Mum!" I heard myself say out loud, but I didn't care.

"Hei, calm down. Stop crying, okay." I heard the driver say to me as he looked through the mirror, but I was not in the mood.

I leaned on my back. I became too weak to say anything.

"Do I look like a mad woman?" I kept talking to myself frustratingly.

"Nope, you are not. I'm sorry to say this, you are the most beautiful creature I have ever seen." The driver kept on choking his mouth in what's not his business.

"Exactly, I'm not mad. Then why did he call me a mad woman!!!?"

"Okay, I'm sorry. Who was that?" he asked, looking confused.

"Thompson's Empire, Oil and Gas!!!!". 

"Oh." He replied, chuckling.

"What's funny?" My anger tripled.

"You are really mad." This time, laughing out hard.

"You know what. Just stop here. I have reached my destination."

I quickly got down, straight to my home. In the house, I took a deep breath, wiping my eyes before creaking the door open. I saw her lying on the bed. She raised herself as soon as she saw me come in.

"Hi, Mum." I tried saying that with a strong voice, but I guess it betrayed me.

"Hei, come here." She said, opening her arms, but I shook my head in disapproval.

"You know, you don't have to be strong always. It's good to cry at my front because I know you are trying to be strong for me."

This time, I wholeheartedly hugged Mum passionately, crying like a baby.

"Am sorry, Mum, I didn't get the job." I said, sobbing.

"I know. Don't worry, even if I die, I will forever be grateful to you and your dad. You guys are the most amazing people I have ever met."

Oh, I remember I didn't see Dad this morning.

"Mum, where is Dad?"

"He went out to do a menial job early hours of the morning. He went out before you. He will be back by 11 o'clock so we can eat our morning food."

"Morning food indeed. I just wonder why we are still on this God-forsaken planet Earth!!" My eyes turned red with anger.

"Hei, don't say that, cutie. You are mocking God."

"Don't say what, Mum? You just told me he will be coming back late in the morning so we can eat. Not only eat, but start cooking and maybe finish by 1 o'clock. All our effort in vain, Mum!!! Dad is suffering day and night, yet we can't even eat enough for two square meals, let alone three. I had to drop out of school because of money!!! I'm watching you die slowly because of money for surgery. And you tell me not to mock God!!"

I fumed with anger.

"Hei, stop that, June. Watch your tongue!!!" I heard her say, making me hold my breath, but it didn't stop the burning anger in me.

"Am sorry, Mum. But look at us, Mum. Look at the house we live in. When will all these stop, huh?" I asked, waiting patiently for her to answer, because I really needed her to answer me.

Just then, the only phone we had rang. I ran to the corner where we usually keep it, because it's a family phone.

"Who is that?" Mum asked.

"I don't know." I had to quickly turn the receiver's button on, not saying a word. A few seconds later, I heard that voice.

"This is Thompson's Empire."