CHAPTER 5

ALINA’S POV

“Oxygen wants Alina Monroe on the project. And only Alina.” The words echoed in my ears. Loud and clear. Crystal fucking clear! And with it came my panic.

“No,”

“Drop every crazy idea that doesn’t align with this contract, Monroe. We’ve got a new order, and lots to do. YOU have work to do.”

I stared at him, not a trace of unseriousness to be found in his features. Meaning this was not a joke?

“Sir,” I started, stepping closer. “Sir I can’t-

“First up is the signing!” he cut me off, “Which I’m doing right now. After that, we check with their team to ensure no issues, and by Monday, you resume work at Oxygen. Good talk! Out.”

What?

No, no, no.

“No. I can't do it, Sir.” I said strongly now, pulse racing with panic. “Appoint someone else, Nicole, Cleo, anyone. I’m not up for this anymore.”

He stared up from his laptop, smile diminishing. “You’re hell bent on spoiling this good mood, aren’t you? What’s your excuse? Yesterday you fought for this project when I explicitly wanted otherwise. Somehow we've landed the contract, and now you're pulling this stunt? Explain it to me Monroe cause you look really stupid right now.”

I swallowed the bite at that insult. Breathing slow to collect my thoughts, “Sir, don’t want our agency to lose this deal. I’m not against it. I just don't want to be a part of it and I have a right to do so. Don’t I? You can’t force me.”

“Oh?” He scoffed. Loud, mocking, pissed. “You’ve got some nerve, you little bitch. Because i let you off easy last time, you think you’re something special? You have a right here? Better fall in line before I'll have you tossed out a thousand miles outside this building. Along with all your crap and so-called career!”

W-what?

He’s threatening to have me fired? Over this?

I laughed in disbelief, “Are you threatening me right now? You’re trying to oppress me over a mere contract?”

“Not a mere contract,” he corrected, sneering. “The biggest one there is. Do you have any idea what will happen to Boldlines if we lose this? We’ll be treated as fools! The damned joke of the city for losing a contract every agency is dying to have! You want to ruin it? With your stupid womanly hormones?? This is the reason women shouldn't be given important tasks.”

“Get out of my office, Monroe. Go prepare to resume at Oxygen by Monday, and you better not disgrace us.”

I just stood there, gawking. Emotions of all sorts raging inside of me; anger, panic, confusion, frustration and some real heavy dose of helplessness.

But I wouldn’t give up. Not now, not after coming this far in my life, in this company.

I won't be cornered. I refuse to be cornered by that son of a bitch!

“I apologize sir,” I called out, composed. Chin high. “but I won’t be doing as you want. I got the contract, but I won’t be moving forward with anything concerning it. Thank you.”

He glared at me, angry. But I turned to leave anyway. I’d made my decision. He had no right to force me into anything.

But just as I pushed open his door, “Harrington Globals,” he called, halting my steps. “Sound familiar Monroe? They’re some serious shit loan sharks, people you don’t want to mess with. And somehow, it’s written here that you have over $30,000 in interest to pay.”

I turned around to him. The door sliding shut, my nerves failing. “How- how did you-

“Find out?” he cut in, smirking wickedly. Like he finally got the key to life. My life. “Ava did a little digging about you, back when I wanted Nicole to take over the project. Didn’t need it then, but I do now.”

“Sir,” I stepped closer, leaving the door now. My heart pounding.

“Alina,” he said, using my first name. “You’ve been going on about not wanting to be on this project, and yet, you have this kind of debt? I hear your mom keeps adding more. Don’t think I don’t know that as well.”

Oh God… mom. She wasn’t here and yet was still causing me more problems. Always finding ways to place me in impossible situations!

“You don't want this project? You'll lose your job. You lose this job? You won't find another. Not in this industry, not after what I'll say about you. How will you pay your loans then? Feed? Help that mother of yours? Think long and hard about that Monroe, cause there will be no turning back.”

He leaned back after that. Satisfied at my speechlessness and defeated stance. I stared at him.

It was one thing to live a life like mine. Having no breaks, for your life, to just live. Breathe. Without feeling the weight of impending problems and more debts to pay.

But it was another, for people like Joe to dangle it in front of your face like a weapon. Grinning confidently like he’d won a medal and sat high up on his throne while I kneeled in the ditch looking up at him for mercy.

It was all over, I knew it.

Felt it, like the tight knots in my chest. Helpless, frustrated and above all, angered.

At everything.

At myself! The way my life had turned out. Begging for scraps to survive, enduring under an overly egoistic bastard! Barely even having a reason to smile everyday if not for the little ball of light back at my mom’s.

But he?

He lived well. He lived so well, made a name for himself! Owned an entire lounge, made money, slept peacefully! While I…

While I paid the price.

And now. Now when I had the chance to fix my life, have something worth holding unto, he shows up. Becomes the boss of it all and already raining on my parade.

Why?

Why does it always happen this way?Whenever something good was about to happen for me, something worse comes up.

Why? Was I under a curse or there's actually something fundamentally wrong with my life cause I want to know right now!

“So what’s it going to be, Monroe.” Joe snapped me out from my thoughts. “We don’t have all day here.”

There was no way out now. No way.

Had to choose the lesser evil.

So with a shaky breath, “I’ll… I’ll do it.” I said quietly, “I’ll take the project, and all the benefits attached.”

He grinned, “Now that’s what I’m talking about! Good choice.”

Yeah right.

Deciding to handle a man's project I’d vowed never to have anything to do with again was the right decision.

Roman Ward. The most selfish, cold hearted bastard on planet earth, surely he did this. He definitely did this, else why would my name show up on the contract? As a condition.

“Evil bastard,” I muttered. He didn’t mean well for me, back and then. Only difference now, he’s not bothering to hide it and reveal his actual self after 4 years.

“Bastard!”

“What? Me?” Joe looked up, offended. Could work though.

Still, “Nothing, sir.” I forced a smile. “Can I leave now?”

He just waved me off, nonchalant as ever. Typing away on his laptop, to inform Oxygen I agreed for sure. Could already picture the smirk on that stupid face when he sees his plan worked.

But this won’t be like last time though. “You won’t get to ruin me twice, Roman. Over my dead body.”

**************

The rest of the day was a blur. Cleo happily cheered. Others congratulated, some mocking. Especially those that laughed when I'd mentioned I would land the Oxygen project.

Well I got it. Who's laughing now fuckers? Huh?

“This will also ensure you get a promotion too” I kept reminding myself. “No more buses. No more unpaid overtime. No more sitting beside that damned noisy printer.”

No more worrying about repayment deadlines, tolerating mom's excesses.

I’d get my own apartment too. A bigger one, with enough space for my ball of light to finally move in with me.

“It’ll all be good soon,” I whispered, laying in bed. “It’ll all be good.”

Could feel sleep slowly tugging at my eyelids. The silence of my room making it easier, thoughts of that dream coming again. And it better not happen tonight, not after today!

“Don't you dare betray me, okay?” I spoke to my body, “I own you. You don’t own me. I'm in charge.”

But just then a dinging notification sound came from my phone. A text probably, and my eyes popped open. Reluctantly reaching for it.

And as I swiped it open, preparing to see yet another message from the bank, something else stated in my face.

“We meet again.

See you on Monday–R”

Huh?

R? What's–

Roman.

“Bastard!”