“Catherine, my name is Catherine”

Catherine woke up by 4am to get a head start. She knew it was going to be a long day.

She went by her usual routine, never breaking out of it. Ruby was also dressed. She had a flight to catch by 6am.

“You ready? You sure you can do this”

“I’m sure!” Catherine nodded in affirmation.

The two girls exited the apartment and got on the train.

Day two at ‘Zenith Inc’. Like Gale said, he was on duty this morning. It was 6:45, and this time, Catherine dressed the part. Even though the clothes weren’t here’s, she wore them well.

“Hi, Gale,” Cathy greeted warmly.

“He’s in there, but he’s really busy. You can go in anyway. You have an appointment, right?”. She nodded comically, walking through the revolving doors.

The entire office building was filled with angst. Catherine observed how people huddled up in groups, talking with low voices.

“Yeah, this one girl was crying “, a staff said.

“I saw two of them with mascara ruined,” the other one continued.

What could they have been talking about?

She mooched aimlessly through the lobby, approaching the first lady she saw. “Mr. Smith’s office please,” she looked so good, no one would refuse a word from her mouth.

“Which Smith?”, the young lady asked politely with a smile spread across her face.

“The younger Smith,” she answered hesitantly.

“Donovan? Take the Elevator, top floor, first door on your right,” she walked swiftly with precise steps.

“Hi, I’m here to see Mr. Smith, Donovan,” she approached the secretary. It seemed like Mr. Smith liked his girls in pencil skirts.

“Umm, are you here for the Secretary’s position?”.

“Yes,” she nodded, even if she didn’t know what the girl spoke of.

“Sit there,” Catherine was directed to a small waiting area. There were five ladies seated. They looked incredibly weary. Even with the trench coat she wore, she was freezing. Cathy couldn’t tell whether it was from the air conditioners or the girls she sat beside.

The office door opened, and a lady came out sobbing.

“Next,” the lady with the thin skirt gestured towards the office door. Everyone sat quietly, looking at each other.

“Me!”, Cathy raised her hand. “This way,” the secretary said.

She walked in slowly, calculating every step.

“Hello,” the office was so dark, she found it difficult to see. Silence filled the air.

“I’m not in the mood for pleasantries. What’s your name?”

“Catherine Flora,”

“What is your educational qualification?”

“I have a college diploma“

“And why are you here? What did the major in? “, his tone became aggravated fast.

“Literature in English, sir,” Catherine was more than irritated.

“I can’t even say you’re underqualified. You don’t meet any requirement by professional standards. Leave now!”, he growled.

“No,” she responded firmly.

“Kenny, turn on the light,” he demanded. “Say that again!”, his eyes had now darkened from amber to hazel.

“I said, No! I’m not leaving till you hear me out!”, she was resolute.

“Lily,” he spoke through the intercom on his desk. In a second, Lily appeared.

“Send everyone home.” He waved his hand in irritation.

“Yes, sir,” she answered. He faced Catherine, holding her eyes firmly. “And who do you think you’re talking to?”

“It’s a bad thing you didn’t wear your name tag, Donovan”.

His eyebrows formed a crease. He never forgot a face.

“You!”

“Catherine, my name is Catherine. You got my friend fired! She really needs her job—”

“Shut the fuck up! Do you really think I give a shit? I was willing to forgive her, but when you showed up, the entire game changed. Maybe you should have kept quiet,” he yelled.

“You are an egotist sociopath. How can someone be so cruel?”

“It’s life, sweetie. Now get out of my office,” he pointed towards the door. Catherine was enraged. He couldn’t even listen to her plight. She had made up her mind that he wasn’t someone worth talking to. She had to take matters into her own hand. She texted Teresa.

“Do you have any of the videos that were taken yesterday?“

“Yes, why? I hope you’re not planning on doing anything stupid. “that was exactly what she planned to do. With Ruby in Philadelphia for the weekend, she was home free. Catherine took the video to an online forum. She decided it was best to ruin his reputation, since talking wasn’t going to work.

She waited for a couple of hours, after a while, she started getting responses. People liked and shared the post. An hour later, it went viral. Social media was buzzing with the news of the most desired business man who controls one of the largest international conglomerates being a monster.

Catherine sat down in her apartment with the sweet taste of satisfaction on her lips. Her joy was cut short after a call from Ruby.

“Cathy, Tessa told me you asked for the video. What happened?”

“What happened is justice. I put that jerk in his place”

“You know you could get arrested for this, right?”

“How?“

“Stop asking me stupid questions and take down that post before it’s traced back to you.” Cathy was thorn. She remained reluctant. Instead, she stood her ground.

A few hours later, she received an email demanding she take down the post. After careful contemplation, she ignored. Instead, she edited the post, typing a huge block of text and adding her full name to the end.

A minute later, another email was sent. This one was less friendly than the last. It even had a few claims of arrest sprinkled here and there.

***

Cathy woke up to a tone of missed called from a number of people, including Ruby and Teresa. She knew that couldn’t be good. When she finally checked her post, it was no longer there. What she did notice was an email demanding for her presence at the police station.

She began to panic. Cathy picked up her bag and stuffed some clothes into it, getting ready to head to Tessa’s house.

“What have you done, Cathy?”, she whispered. On opening her door, she realized she had company.

***

“I can explain. It’s not that deep,” she explained to the policemen who walked past her. This was the first time she was at a police station for committing a crime.

She was filled with angst, waiting patiently for someone to talk to her. They were all purposely ignoring her.

“She’s over there sir,” for the first time, she heard someone speak. From behind the bars, she struggled to see.

“So we meet again,” a familiar voice spoke.

“Unfortunately. I wanted to see for myself that you were behind bars, that’s where people like you belong”.

She held the bars as tight as she did her tongue.

“What happened, sweetie? Cat’s got your tongue?”, Donovan taunted.

“No, I’m just wondering”

His expression showed confusion. “You still have time to think. Maybe I was wrong about you after all,” he chuckled in a mocking manner.

“I’m wondering how a guy like you sits on an office chair and hands people’s checks,” she scoffed.

“You know what I’m wondering? How someone of your status found your way into my office,” he emphasized each word, grinning widely.

“Dony, Mr. Stanford’s been calling non-stop. He wants to know about the secretary status,” Kenny explained. Donovan held the bars tightly. “shit!,” he mumbled.

“Fuck! You know you screwed me over, right?”

She chuckled, “I’m glad I could help”

“You know what? You actually can. You’re coming with me,” Donovan spoke softly after carefully sizing Catherine.

“I’d rather rot in jail!,” she scoffed.

“Be my guest,” he responded, turning away.

“Wait!”, she shouted. He smiled, Turing back slowly.

“What?”, he said curtly.

“I had one last request”

“That is?”, he smirked.

“Rot in hell, sweetie,” she smiled mischievously.

Donovan was confused. He expected a heartfelt apology, but got this instead. He was agitated. It got her excited. He and Kenny made their way out of the station.

After a while, they were back. “I’ll get out of here! You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours“

“I’m listening,” she was intrigued.

“Your job is simple. It’s just for a day. You have to show up and shut up. You think you can do that? Given your umm…history,” Donovan mocked.

“Yes,” she nodded.

“Use your words sweetie,” he grinned with delight.

“Yes!”, she yelled. Kenny walked over the one of the desks. He whispered something in the officer’s ear. The next thing Cathy knew, she was out of jail and in his car.