Chapter 3

AYALA

After the worldwide announcement of Papa’s company declaring bankruptcy, I decided to stay off social media. I wasn’t the type of rich of Lily-Rose Deep, Blue Ivy Carter, Blake Lively, etc whose parents’ influence had a kick start in their wealth and influence giving them the “no baby“ title. I and my friends failed to see them as the truly rich, this of course came with envy on our path because while we were trained to take over large empires and advised to stay off the media's eyes, they had the liberty to literally run into the media.

I logged into my I*******m and so a ton of messages from my old friends asking if I was good and if I needed money or a place to stay. Now, this is the reason I decided to stay off the internet, we declared bankruptcy and not that; we are currently living on the streets, I sigh at this thought.

Though I am touched by their niceness, I needed none of it, sitting around reminiscing the old times doesn't help one bit, and looking daily at all my designers doesn't help either, I consider a yard sale and maybe a job, I cringe at this thought, but I know it's something I need to do. 

I majored in business at Cornell University, so I was sure finding a job wouldn't be a hassle, but the only problem was that I had no business experience, haven worked anywhere all my life. I was however passionate about painting, but Papa saw it as a mere hobby and dismissed my proposal to go to an art institute rather than business school. I however still painted in my free time and in secret because Papa wasn't a fan and I dumped most of my artworks in the basement.

I scrolled through the net looking for job applications, I would have never thought that finding a decent job could be so hard. I then saw an opening that caught my eye; “ Secretary needed at The Igor's Inc.”.

The secretary's proposal was the most decent of all the applications I had seen, and the pay was generous. The pay was enough to fund my designer skincare and cosmetics, plus fine dinings, and would still have some spare left. The only problem I had now was my pride and maybe my lack of qualifications, but having Yuri as my brother's friend felt like an added advantage.

I scrolled further to check out every information I may need as regards the job. The day of the interview was to be on a Saturday, which was two days away!! She barely had time to prepare and get herself with some aptitude questions she may be asked and most importantly; she had to choose an outfit that screamed, “I am perfect for this job”.

Nothing screams perfection like a pair of red bottom Louboutin heels, a slender A-line mini-length skirt( everyone knows it's a fashion catastrophe for a short person to put on a mid-length skirt…yikes!)  in color brown, a Ralph Lauren white T-shirt and a sleek ponytail for the hair, nothing too much. 

I checked my phone  when I was done putting my fit together and it was already a little bit past 5:00pm

and I was yet to have breakfast. I really did need to work on my eating habits.

I quickly made a sandwich, that was the most I could prepare after we made away with our cooks, and mummy wasn't totally used to the idea of cooking for the family. For a while, we had taken a lot of already-cooked food and ramen, it became so tiring.

I decided it was better to retire to bed early as I would need the whole of Friday. Studying has never been hard for me, I graduated among the top five from business school and had a 4.0 GPA in high school, so studying for this, won't be much different.

Once Saturday had come, I had a bath, packed my hair in a rough bun, put my iPad, laptop, sticky notes, highlighters, jotters, and an aptitude test practice book in my Prada Re-Nylon Tote bag, and headed up to my favorite coffee shop just opposite the drug store.

While people study at the library, I rather here, I love the smell of coffee while reading and it being a high-class coffee shop, they don't entertain noise because the rich don't talk much. I ordered a Cortado, I like my coffee milky. I also ordered a croissant as this was to form my breakfast.

I stayed there till the sun had begun to set, but I enjoyed here than home and I wanted to cover up as much as I could. The store had been empty for a while because most people had ordered their coffee to go. 

Around 7:20pm, a beautiful man walked it with so much aura I could feel it from my table. He was at least 6’3, his jet black hair was slicked back beautifully and his Ralph Lauren suit didn't do much to hide the sculpt of his body. I strained my eyes to try and get a closer view of who he was.

…oh no! Not himmmmm I couldn't believe this was the man I was ogling at, then almost immediately his hard eyes turned to face me.

VLADIMIR

“We need to talk, 9:00pm. Don't be late”.

“Tell me whatever you want to tell me through the phone” I replied. My dad's method of inflicting fear was through physical meetings and I didn't have time for his petty games, I'm not 17 anymore. 

I immediately switched my phone off and went for a run. Sleeping was not something that came easily to me, my doctors had withdrawn my melatonin pills to prevent overreliance and an addiction possibility. I can't get addicted, it would mean I can be controlled and the only thing that controls me is success, this may sound clichè, but my records speak for themselves.

I came back from my run around 11:45 pm, had my bath, and decided to prepare dinner. I had ordered for my pantry to be stocked up, upon my return and it indeed was. Cooking was actually I side of me I had never shown, not even to Irina, who knew almost everything about me, and it is something I really enjoyed doing.

Cooking was never a problem, but deciding what to cook always was. I later settled for, baked potatoes and roasted chicken, today felt like a white wine day, so he had that, continued working, and ended up going to bed by 2:00am.

I woke up by 5:00am for my daily run. As I reached Jump Rock Estate, I remembered the petite brunette I had picked up earlier and the look I saw in her eyes before fighting my initial conviction to drive past. I pushed past her memory in my mind and continued to run, I intended to be at the gym so as to be done before 7.

I always try to leave the gym before the females get there, not to sound misogynistic but most of their acts are either for their social media page or to watch ripped guys workout and fan girl over them, the later was mostly among the older women and it never got less disgusting. I had my own fair share of the “fangirling” from the younger women, either them offering a handkerchief or water, which eventually follows them asking me to have breakfast with them or trying to show of their socials or their acts of charity…not like they care for the needy. 

I get home, have my bath and decide to step out for coffee. I immediately receive a text

“ Tomorrow at the office is the scheduled day for the selection of your PA and secretary, Master Vladimir “.

Yep, just another thing my dad does behind my back. I decide to be less fanciful with my car choices today , I decided to go with my Maybach Exelero. I decided to get an Americano today when my gaze caught the sight of a familiar-looking brunette. She looked like she had a lot on her table and this is not figuratively, there were lots of books on her table and she had this nerdy looking glasses on with an exasperated look.

She looked up and her eyes met mine, she quickly looked away and after a few seconds looked up again, she had probably thought I had looked away, but I have never been one to shy away from a stare, people do that when looking at me, I never do that, that's for weak people.

It was the Shomer girl I earlier picked up…again, but I rather than feel pity for her this time; I felt like laughing, not with her but at her because her distraught face had to be the funniest and most innocent I had seen. She knocked over the little coffee remaining in her cup and muttered a cuss, I couldn't help but smile, and that was rare for me.

I told the waiters at the counter to get her ever type of coffee the had in the biggest size, 30 once( 850ml), she didn't seem like a black coffee kind of girl but I rather not assume and of course I told thr waiter that my gift should be anonymous, they could make it sound like a free random gift they decided to give a regular customer, I didn't even know if she was a regular, but I had a kick that she was.

“ Are you free? Should I come over? I'm sorry I stormed off the way I did” was a text a got from Irina, I didn't bother to reply and I'm sure my silence was enough message to her. 

I guess she didn't, because as I got to my apartment, I saw her dressed In an elegant chanel dress and Rene Caovilli heels. Irina was truly elegant, with a model height of 5’9 she stood a taller than most females and a tad bit taller than some men. She was a blonde with a slender figure and beautiful blue eyes, she was indeed a beauty and I was once immensely attracted to her, but right now, all I could see her was as an intruder I needed my space from.

“Hey, I was waiting for you, I got a little present for you” she says as she hands me a 1945 Chateau Mouton Rothschild red wine. Irina and I always shared our love for good wine, but regardless of the touching gift, I still didn't want her here. I gave her a slight kiss regardless and told her a needed space before proceeding to my room. I didn't wait to see her reaction, but I knew it couldn't be good, the next thing I heard was the bang of the door…I probably deserved that.

Later that evening, I went to the drugstore to pick up an aspirin as my head had been banging. As I was about steping into my car, I saw the Shomer girl again, I wonder what's with the universe and making our paths cross, she looked exhausted but rather than listening to my guts, I zoomed off and left her to find her way, herself. I had an interview to get ready for

By 7:00am, I was already at the office, I was very kin on punctuality and I expected who ever that was going to work with me to do same. I needed both a secretary and a PA, but I won't mind having one person in which we could both maintain a fudiciary relationship that could do both, it might be more stress to the person,  but what I will pay would definitely be worth it.

The interview was scheduled was scheduled for 8:30 but I was impressed to see people at the reception waiting upon my arrival. I told the company's secretary that once it was 8:30, only the first 20 should be allowed, I did not have time communicating with tardy people, my work was serious and it should be treated so.