Chapter 2

Elina's Pov

“I had a very bad day. Are you almost done with work? I can come pick you up, then we can have dinner together,” I said to Lily, my best friend.

“I will be done in an hour. Buy Starbucks on your way. Love you,” she said before ending the call.

I should change from my work clothes and put on something comfy. I stood up from the couch and walked inside my room. 

This was one of the biggest rooms aside from the dining room. Nanny gave me this room when she realized I wouldn't be going anywhere. 

I stripped from my work clothes and went under the shower. I let the water wash away my stress from work. 

After 10 minutes, I cleaned up and pulled on an ash jogger and a black polo. I braided my hair in a French ponytail, grabbed my card, and left the orphanage. 

I had to wait outside Lily's workplace for about 30 minutes, waiting for her. She was working in a law firm. Yes, she is a lawyer. A very good and crazy one at that.

“Have you been sitting here for a long time?” I heard her voice and I looked in her direction. A smile lit up my face as I hugged her. 

“For about 30 minutes,” I said giving her the Starbucks I bought for her.

“Thank you. I have been starving,” she said, hugging it. “By the way, you should have called me. I needed an excuse to get away from Ben's talk,”

I laughed at her tired expression. Well, Ben has been asking her out for months, but my friend here wasn't interested.

“I needed the space,” I said and she stopped walking.

“Are you okay?” She asked, her eyes staring at me with worry.

“I was fired,”

“What? Why?” She screamed, gaining us some lookers.

“He was making sexual advances, and I declined, so he fired me,” I shrugged my shoulders and continued walking. She fell in line with me.

“I knew he was a pervert. I don't know how you managed with him for so long. I could use him, you know.

 “Just let it be. I just need a job right now.” We stopped in front of an eatery and entered inside. 

“I could talk to Ben for you. I heard him talking about a company one time,” 

I hugged her tight. “Thank you,”

“I probably will just go on a date with him,” she groaned and I smiled. 

Honestly, I don't know why she isn't accepting the guy. I mean, I have met him and he seems nice. 

After having dinner together, we talked for a while before she hailed a taxi and went home. 

I wasn't ready to go back home so I decided to walk about for some while.

I stopped by the park. The park was filled with the sweet scent of blooming flowers and the sound of children's laughter. I sat down on a bench, watching as kids played on the grass.”

A smile braced my lips as I remembered when I was little. Nanny would bring me and some kids from the orphanage to play. We would play till dark and Nanny would have to beg us to go back.

We were a handful to manage. I chuckled at the memory. Just as I got up from my seat, a body slammed into me and almost knocked me off my feet.

“Can't you see?” I shouted in anger but the man didn't turn, he kept walking. 

The man's rudeness sparked a familiar frustration within me. I had dealt with enough entitled people at work to know that sometimes, it is best to just walk away. But today, I wasn't feeling so calm.”

Before I knew what was happening, I found myself running after him.

I stopped when I saw the two kids from earlier today. They were with a middle-aged woman. The man stopped In front of the woman and scouted to the kids’ level. 

I took a step back to turn away before one of the kids saw me, but just then, I stepped on a toy, which squeaked, and Camilla's eyes snapped at me. 

“Damn it, Elina” I muttered to myself and turned abruptly, walking fast away from there.

“Daddy see, we found Mummy,” I heard the little girl say before I went out of earshot. 

Immediately, I hailed a cab and entered inside. 

Why the hell did I run from there? I should have just cleared up the air. 

Why did I even bump into them again?

The driver's voice interrupted my thoughts. “Ma'am, your destination please?” I gave him the address of the orphanage and the cab drive from there. A sense of relief washed over me as I leaned back against the seat.

My phone beeped in my pocket and I took it out. Lily had sent lists of interviews for me, and they were all the next day but at different times.

I can't wait to secure a job and pay my debt. I know my salary can't pay it all but they accepted a monthly payment so that I can do it till I pay it off completely.

The next day, I woke up early, dressed well, smelled nice with a broad smile, and went off for my interviews, hoping for something good.

The first interview was a blunt “no”

The second interview response was “We will get back to you,” which I know they won't.

The third interview was a disaster. The interviewer seemed more interested in checking me out than discussing the job, so I politely excused myself and left.”

Exhausted, I took a cab back home to rest.

Why is it so hard to find a Job? I had work experience and good results but it seemed like there wasn't a job for me. 

I slipped out of the cab and gave the cab man his money. 

The sight of a well-polished black car stopped me in my tracks. 

Who owns the car, and why was it parked in front of the orphanage? 

I looked around the car to have an idea of who it was.

Did one of Nanny's relatives come to look for her? But she doesn't have any children.

I opened the door with my key and entered by shutting the door behind me.

“Welcome back, Ava.” I heard a deep man's voice and I screamed as I jumped back in fright.

A tall, broad-shouldered man with a suit, his back facing me, stood in my sitting room, looking through my pictures.

“How did you get in?” I asked in fear as I reached inside my bag to take my pepper spray.

I asked again, louder this time. “Who are you?”