FIVE-Blue!

CHARITY

 "Oh my freaking God! "

A shriek.

Clearly not the kind of greeting I expected as I walked into the stuffy company for the first time. I wasn't even in a good mood to say the least. My favorite and only car completely broke down and I had to wait a whole thirty minutes for my godforsaken uber!Not to even mention the loud music from the other apartment that kept me up all night! They were pretty loud for people who hated noise.

My new work place might not really please me but I was never a tardy person and so that's why I am still rooted to a spot, in shock, not only from the shriek that broke out but the tight embrace I was locked in.

I slowly disentangled myself from the chubby arms that held me so tight I could break and I come face to face with a lady with fiery red hair and makeup that looked like half the paint my new apartment had. It  didn't help that she was grinning from ear to ear like a Cheshire Cat.

"Um-"

"I can't believe you're actually here! "

She squealed again before I could say another word. I knew they were expecting me, I mean they clearly stamped hired on my application without an interview but this much excitement? It sent chills down my body. It didn't help that the lobby in which I was currently in with the unknown woman was as silent as a grave and the echo of her voice bounced back and forth. A memory of people hustling and bustling in the Nations news lobby  sprang into my brain. Things would never feel the same here and the thought saddened me.

 " wait till the others meet you! They'll be all over you, I need to get you away before Constantine finds you! "

The woman said again. Who were the others? Who was Constantine? I wanted to ask badly  but before I could and before she could drag me away, another figure appeared in the lobby.

"Trying to scare our new reporter away, Julia? "

The smooth velvety voice came from the figure that had appeared in the lobby. She had her arms crossed on her chest, tall and emanating authority. Her Brunnete hair was perfect pulled into a pony tail and her face, with just a little makeup was petite and beautiful.

Julia snorted childishly and somehow, I found myself taking a liking for the new woman already.

"I'm sorry about that miss Everton–" The tall woman paused and glared at Julia "Julia is clearly overexcited to meet with you"

Tell me about it.

"This way miss Everton, my office" 

I instantly decided that she was the Constantine. The owner of the company. I follow her trying to ease the crease on my pants suit. She took me down a hallway and finally into a room. Her office.

"Have your seat miss Everton, it's a pleasure to have you here"

I sat cautiously looking around the office. For a small news house, they sure had a lot of  awards.

"I'm Constantine, CEO and editor-in-chief " She said smiling sweetly. I nodded, wanting nothing but to ask the question that's been on my mind for days

  "Is this how your recruitment process is done? Hiring people without as much as an interview? "  If that's how this is done, then I don't need a logical explanation for Julia's behavior.

Constantine chuckled mildly before her eyes settled on me again.

         "If that's how this works I wouldn't have a company to call my own again"

        "So why---"

        "Why you? Your resume stated that you worked for the Nations news for 5 years! Are you kidding me? I'd be crazy not to hire you "

Oh... So this was about my previous company's  popularity .

  "I would never turn down such an application, save for the part that you've even worked at some prestigious place before,your resume is absolutely amazing"

Constantine said as if it's the most obvious thing. Her gaze turned curious right after.

  "I assume all didn't go well at the company again? " She asked quietly. I looked away and she only smiled gracefully, nodding in understanding.

"A Nations news former employee will be a great asset to us miss Everton, we might not be able to meet up with your usual quota but as you know, we'll try our best"

She said smiling all through.

Isn't she the sweetest person?

"Common!  You need to meet the others, I'll call Julia up and she'll take you to meet the crime team" I stood and muttered a thank you to her. I was indeed grateful for her kind and loving demeanor.

"Welcome to Empire miss Everton"

✧༺♥༻✧

If I thought Julia was totally weird, I thought wrong. The so called team was all over me like a swarm of bees. At first, it was uncomfortable, having to be under their thorough scrutiny and the multiple questions I had to answer; mostly about my previous work place, but it didn't take long to realize they were just overly excited people happy to meet a new person. I felt happy at that present moment and warmed up to them.

They were  seven in all. For a small news company, I didn't expect much anyway. Julia as crazy as it sounds was the team leader, I clearly didn't imagine her leading a group of people and writing about crimes. She looked to me like someone who would rather write gossip articles. I guess looks can deceive after all.

Timmy was the group playboy, I knew it even before been told,he was literally oozing gorgeousness. Mike and Henry were the talkatives, the ones who threw the most questions. Alyssa was nothing like Julia , she seemed to be concerned with her work but asked little questions so as not to feel left out.

Liam seemed younger with a glint of excitement  in his eyes as he watched me speak. And of course, every team has a gloomy and brooding Tony who is probably the brains and techie of the team.

In all, they are a great team who slightly put my worries to ease. Things can actually work fine here.

And on that note, I left the company for the day , not before getting a goodbye hug from Julia anyways.

And now, as I stood in front of my parents condo, I sighed, realizing I couldn't chicken out any more. I was really doing this.

I knocked and it flew open almost immediately.

"Charity my child! "

My mother pulled me into a tight warm embrace. I hugged her back instantly, realizing how much I've missed her warmth and vanilla scent.

"Common! I've been waiting for you all day"

She pulled me in and the usual smell of Jasmine coupled with the aroma of my mum's special food recipe welcomes me. Home.

"I cooked your favourite! " She squealed her beautiful brown-black hair—the one thing I got from her  bounced across her face. The excitement and her show of affection didn't do anything to ease my worries, if anything, it increased the guilt I currently felt. I forced a weak smile as she led me to the dinning table.

"Where's father? "I asked and I couldn't help but hope he wasn't home. My sour mood could go past my mother but my father can read me like a open book.

" Here he comes " She said heading over to plant a kiss on his cheeks. My father's tall intimidating figure appears and I run to hug him, just like daddy's little girl.

"You didn't look that excited to see me "

My mum pouted at me. My father's laughter rumbled in his chest as he pulled my mother in too. The show of affection almost made me cry knowing  I disappointed this two doting people. My father was the quiet calculating type and said little, I only hoped he didn't notice anything different as he quietly watched me.

  "I'll be staying in Riverdale for a while"

I blurted out as we start to eat . My father looked up to me immediately and I gulp

"What do you mean? Is anything the matter? " The concern in my mum's voice is evident. I chuckle lightly trying not to sound nervous. Here we go. The big fat lie!

"Everything is fine mum, I know I said I just wanted to come stay to see you but it was just to calm you first, something big is coming, it would rock the whole of the this city and beyond , our biggest story! And I'm taking it. I have to be here for a few days so as not to give others a hint, you know how others are always hot on our trail, if this comes out before we get to publish it, it will ruin a whole lot of things".

Smooth talker. I didn't know I had that much of a talent.

My mum's eyes brightened with a smile and I knew she was so proud of me.

" So you're staying with us? " My dad spoke his first words.

"W–hat no! I told you it's something big I have to work on alone , no distractions. I have an apartment ready for my stay,the company's cost of course" I quickly said silently hoping my dad buys it.

He said nothing nodding In acknowledgment as he returned to his food. I heaved a sigh of relief, smiling back at my mum who has the most adorable smile on her face. Damn the guilt was killing, I need to get out of here.

I hurriedly eat my food and prepared to leave. My mum's face fell and I smile pulling her for a hug.

  "You'll be seeing more of me mum, I'll come over frequently I promise" I say before looking at my dad who draws me into a hug

"Stay safe" He whispered and my heart

warmed.

Nothing could stop my mum from wrapping up a portion of the left over dinner , telling me to warm it up  when I arrived home.

Things went better than I thought... I guess.

✧༺♥༻✧

The walls were thin, no shit.

So thin that I could hear every movement coming from the apartment next door.

Every. Single. Sound.

Except for human voice or sound.

What I could make out was mostly furniture moving around and large heavy footsteps. My neighbor was no old man or woman, no kidding, save for the fact that whoever was in there disrupted my first sleep in my new home with crazily loud music; old people can't move things about like that.

It annoyed the shit out of me. I got home hoping to warm my mother's tuna casserole and get some work done but the little sounds that came every five minutes made me lose focus on the paperwork In front of me. So much paperwork about my new workplace.

As much as it annoyed me, I was curious. Call it reporter instincts but I really wanted to know who my next door neighbor was.

The sounds subsided for almost ten minutes and I assumed they were asleep. Finally! Some peace and quiet.

Just as I was about to continue studying, loud music that almost shocked me to death blared from the other room.

You've got to be kidding me!

That's it!

I'm going to give whoever's in there a piece of my mind. Whoever it is has to respect other people. As I make for the door, I figured it was a bad idea to just barge in on them. I have to make a good first impression no matter how angry I was. We could end up being good neighbors.

My mum's tuna casserole lying innocently on the kitchen table gave me the perfect idea. I grabbed it and walked out my apartment, heading for the last door on the floor .4C.

I knocked hard on the door. The song was still blaring hard.

Shit! They can't even hear a thing!

I knocked again, this time harder and more determined.

I swear if  this door doesn't—

The door suddenly swung open and my hand hangs mid air. My breath hitched as I looked up at a tall and domineering figure and the first thing I saw was his eyes as they Pierced into mine with a look so icy I could swear I felt my self shiver. The eyes!they hold me in a trance. And fuck were they familiar!!

      I wanted to assume that they weren't something from my dream. The Coldness they held felt all too familiar to be something in my dream, my mind processed something but I couldn't help the word that tumbled out of my lips next.

"Blue! "