Hope at last

                       ~JESSICA~

    “Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr” Grace's alarm rang on a Monday morning and I groaned out loudly in frustration. It's an alarm she set to enable her to wake up early and prepare for school.

I just started sleeping after staying all night applying for jobs and now, the alarm is disturbing my sleep.

“Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr” the alarm rang again and I felt like smashing the alarm clock to the wall. I mean, I just started sleeping and this alarm chose the right time to wake me up.

Grace was still fast asleep. She's sleeping through the alarm and it got me pissed. 

How dare she sleep through the alarm she set herself while I can't sleep??

And so, I tapped her and shook her on the bed roughly.

“Get your ass off the bed and go prepare for school” I yelled. “And oh, please do well to off that alarm or else I smash it to the wall”

She stuck out her tongue sleepily at me and stretched her hands to turn off the alarm, then resumed sleeping again.

I sighed, she's always like that. It's because of this she always ends up going to school late. I was tired of complaining and forcing her to go to school early. She's too stubborn and has refused to change. Such an eighteen year old stubborn girl!

I was about to go back to bed myself when I heard the beeping of my phone. I picked my phone up to check what it was, then I saw it!!!

“Yesssssssssss!!!” I screamed loudly and began jumping on the bed happily. Grace sat up forcefully as she's surprised at my action.

“Yessss, yessss, yess!” I kept screaming and jumping around happily.

“What the hell, Sis? You almost gave me a heart attack!” She yelled.

“I'm so sorry, I'm just so happy” I replied, now panting for air.

“What are you happy about?” She eyed me curiously.

“I just got a job! I've been accepted to work as the secretary to the CEO of one of the biggest companies in America—Sutherland enterprises” I screamed happily.

“Really?? Are you serious right now??” Grace asked. Her eyes shone with so much excitement and happiness.

“Yes, Grace. Finally, I have a good paying job” I giggled happily.

“Yesss” she screamed happily, then surprised me by jumping on my body for a hug.

“I'm so happy for you, Sis,” she said, still hugging me tight.

“I'm so happy too. Finally” I said and burst out crying.

I was happy I would be able to save some money for my stepmom treatment. 

“You're such a cry baby. Why are you crying now? You should be happy” Grace reprimanded me.

“It's tears of joy, Grace. I'm just so happy” I said, amidst sobs.

“When are you going to resume work?” Grace asked as she disentangled from the hug.

“Today, as early as seven o'clock. It's a bit far as the company is in California” I replied.

“Then you better start preparing. You wouldn't want to go late on your first day at work right?” Grace asked and I shook my head.

“You're right. I need to start preparing” I said and came down from the bed.

Then I pulled Grace by the arm and dragged her to the bathroom. “Let's bath together, I really want to see you go early to school today”

Grace laughed as I pulled her toward the bathroom. “Alright, alright. Let’s get ready,” she said, clearly amused. “But don’t think you’re getting out of helping me with my morning routine. It’s a two-way thing, you know!”

I grinned, the excitement of the day ahead mingling with the warmth of our shared moment. “Deal. Let’s make this a morning to remember.”

*****

          I was done bathing and I was already dressed up. I stood in front of the mirror and was staring at myself.

I was putting on an ironed white shirt and an ash suit skirt with a black flat shoe and a black presentable bag. My hair was tied up and I wore my glasses.

“How do I look, Gracey??” I asked.

“You look the perfect way you should look for work. You look great” she replied and I smiled.

“Thank you” I replied and did a 360 turn in front of the mirror.

My skirt wasn't exactly short but it still exposed a great deal of my long, slim legs. 

“It's time to go now, Jessy. You've been standing in front of that mirror for a while now” Grace said.

“Yeah, let's go,” I agreed.

Grace took her school bag and we stepped out of the house and I locked the door.

Grace's school wasn't far from home so she always walked to school, but I needed to board a bus to take me to California.

I walked down to Grace's school with her. We stopped at the front of the school gate and she hugged me.

“I wish you luck. Do great today. Fighting!!” She said and did the “fighting” sign. I also made the sign and we both laughed.

“Go on now, see you later” she waved.

I nodded and waved back at her and watched as she entered the school gate before I resumed walking again.

I walked down to where I'll board a bus and was lucky enough that a bus came by almost immediately. The bus stopped and I entered the bus and paid with my card.

          We finally arrived in California and I came down from the bus. I flagged down a taxi and entered it, then gave the driver the address of Sutherland Enterprises.

Within a few minutes, the driver stopped at a very huge company.

“We're here” he announced.

“Oh, alright. Thank you” I replied, paid him and came down from the cab.

He drove away and I stood outside the company staring at it for a while. I was suddenly feeling very nervous and anxious.

It's almost seven and I needed to go into the company, so I gathered courage, took a deep breath and walked into the company.

I made my way through the doors and was now inside the company.

The first person I came across was the blonde haired receptionist at the entrance of the company.

I walked up to her and smiled.

“Good morning,” I greeted politely.

“Good morning” she returned my greeting with a sweet smile of hers. “How may I help you??”

“I…ummm… I'm Jessica Adams” I stammered, then took a deep breath before I continued.

“I'm a new worker here. I've been given the position of the secretary to the CEO of this company” 

“Oh, you're the one boss talked about this morning. Nice to meet you, Miss Adams. I'm Wendy Wyatt” she said and brought out her hand for a handshake.

I shook her stretched hand. “Please call me Jessica”

“Alright Jessica, he'll take you to see the boss” she signaled one of the security guards standing at the door.

As he walked over to us, I asked her “Is the boss in??”

“Yes, he's been here since six” she replied and to the guard, she said “Take her to see the boss. She's his new secretary, Jessica Adams”

“Okay ma'am” the guard bowed and led the way. I smiled a gratitude smile at Wendy and followed the guard.

We walked to a door after the elevator dropped us on the last floor. The guard knocked on the door and I heard a deep voice ask who it was from within.

“Your new secretary is here,” the guard replied.

“Let her in,” the deep voice said from within again.

The guard opened the door for me and walked away. I slowly walked into the office and shut the door quietly behind me.

My new boss was sitting on his office chair, his head bent towards some papers on the desk. He's fully engrossed in whatever was in that paper. 

I quickly scanned the table and saw that there are lots of papers littered everywhere. How does he cope with so many papers like that on his table??

I discovered that it wasn't just on his table that they are plies of paper but also underneath the table and besides it. They surely need an arrangement.

I cleared my throat and greeted him. “Good morning, Sir”

“How do you do, Miss Adams? Please, have a seat,” he said, his eyes still locked on the stack of papers in his hands.

I hesitated for a moment, my fingers hovering over the chair, when he suddenly looked up. 

His eyes widened, and he shot to his feet, pointing an accusatory finger at me.

“You!” he blurted out, his voice laden with shock.

I froze, my mind racing. Who was this? Did he recognize me? 

“You! You’re the woman who insulted me and slapped me at the club!” he thundered.

What?!

I stared back at him, a mix of disbelief and horror dawning on me. As the realization hit, I felt my stomach drop. 

“Oh no, no, no!” I screamed inwardly.

The last person I ever expected to see again, and he’s my new boss? Perfect.

“Just great,” I muttered under my breath, rolling my eyes in exasperation.

I was trapped in a nightmare. All I could do was stand there, silent and helpless, waiting for him to deliver my fate. I took a deep breath, bracing myself for the impending confrontation while something in me kept telling me I was back to being unemployed.