Chapter 5

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Chapter 5

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I brushed my hand across the keyboard of my laptop and sighed as the message i sent to this anonymous life saver ticked– notifying that it had been sent.

It didn't show read, so i waited for a little while, hoping that the letter R would pop up and the typing at the far end of the profile would pick up, but it didn't.

I wanted to know if there was going to be a certain dress code or if one could just throw on anything and it would do.

After waiting for over thirty minutes, i gave up and resigned to bed, maybe they'd reply later in the day.

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"Wake up Allie! You are going to be late!" Mandy gurgled out with her brush in her mouth dragging the sheets from me and throwing it on the only worn out chair we have.

I shrunk and curved into a ball position as the cold breeze of early august morning swept across my skin, "What the h*ll! Mandy!"

I whined, stretching my hand in search of the blanket.

"Don't stress yourself, it's on the sofa. Get up!" She advised, disappearing into the bathroom to clean her mouth.

I groaned out in frustration, i felt like i had been hit by a truck. That's usually how my body reacts to lack of sleep, and worse that i had to go to work to submit the evidence of my "lack of grace".

I sighed and rolled out of the bed, taking my time to booth up and figure myself out before i stood up.

Mandy came out, all dressed in an above the knees plaid skirt and a white sleeveless top tucked in an equally dapper female suit. Her black 4 inch stilettos gleaming in the dull rising sun that filtered in through the small window.

Her swollen eye had reduced a bit and had been covered with concealer and eye makeup successfully, although it still showed slightly.

I gaped at her as she swirled around, eyeing her from head to toe. Mandy has always been the prettier one of the both of us– or so i like to think.

"What do you think?" she asked excitedly, waiting for my feedback.

I swallowed back a grin and frowned instead. " I'm thinking, why?" I say, grabbing my towel from the small hangar on the wall.

"Where are you going to so early this morning and why?" I queried, hands akimbo.

She frowned too, disappointment flashing in her eyes.

" Uhm.. well.. i have this appointment, with a uhm.. a new clientele, they promised me a job." She stuttered, nodding as if agreeing to what she just said, which could possibly be a lie.

I narrowed my eyes at her, " Don't lie to me Amanda, you still haven't been left off the hook." I reminded her, " besides, you should be resting, wouldn't you agree?"

She rolled her eyes and grabbed her purse from the chair.

"You can't stop me," she let out, determined– and made her way to the door.

I rushed to her and held her hand softly, " I'm not going to stop you, I'm just worried about you baby sis." I admitted, dusting a thread off her collar.

She softened up, embarrassment taking over her countenance at that.

"I'm sorry, I'm.. I'm just tensed. I don't want to mess this one up, i only have half the chance with this bashed eye. But i need to do this, i know. I need to pay you back." She confessed, shaking her head as if to shake off all her prodding thoughts.

"Mandyy, you don't have to, it's okay, okay?" I tried to reassure her. " I will work something out, besides, i had a little chat with anonymous and they've given me an address and a date for the interview." I said, watching her eyes brighten with excitement.

"Really?! This is so amazinggggg. I love you!" She screamed, and drew me in for a hug.

I hugged her back and muttered an I love you back to her.

I skipped to the bathroom after she left, my mood having positively increased. Even if I lost my job at SERAMICS, i still had a fair chance with this proposal.

And i was going to give it my all.

I cringed at my reflection in the mirror, i had dark eyebags and my eyes looked puffy from all that crying yesterday– my hair also hanged in different directions from sleeping.

I took my time in the bathroom as i knew i would be having breakfast at work.

I brushed my hair into a low bun and made sure to apply some makeup to help the bags under my eyes. I threw on a white woollen longsleeve shirt over a pair of stonewashed mom jeans, threw on the only white kicks i had– a gift from an admirer a year ago, picked up the brown box with it's ruins in it from the old wooden dresser and headed out.

The day felt good already even though i knew i still had to report myself to the boss.

# # #

For once, the SERAMICS header written in bold at the top of the building didn't seem to intimidate me, it had taken on a much softer brown today... even welcoming– i thought to myself as i walked in. A skip to my step, the box in my hand.

" Why so early, too excited you've gotten a chance to see the boss?" Becca sneered, eyeing my outfit condescendingly.

I flashed her a wide grin, "of course, and it's also a beautiful day to add to that." I agreed, flipping an imaginary lock of hair.

She scrunched her face in disapproval and busied herself with her desktop. Noting that she didn't stop me this time, i sauntered further and knocked on the boss' door. His name template had a shiny sheen to it, must have been cleaned. I thought.

"Come in." I heard his deep voice say from the other side and my heart skipped two beats.

Up until this moment, i had not been as scared as i was now. What if i actually lost my job, and i didn't qualify for the marriage contract? Was that it? What then would i do??

I hesitated, gripping the door knob hard as my head ran miles with these questions.

"Just breathe Allie, breathe." i said softly to myself to help calm down my breathing. I took in deep breaths after that before i opened the door.

I stepped in tentatively onto the plush dark rug that started from wall to wall, and traisped past the luxurious, dark, three seaters sitting adjacent to each other. Two purple Lava lamps decorating their sides.

Although his space wasn't a typical massive CEO office, it maintained the same ambience as it was decorated with similar style.

He sat back straight, yet aptly focused on the paperwork on his sturdy, intricately designed mahogany desk.

He flipped through pages as he motioned for me to sit.

"Yes? The secretary said you were here yesterday." He stated, his deep voice reveberating through the dark themed walls of his office. I felt my heart quiver, intimidated by the entire scenario.

I stare at the brown box intently, scared of making eye contact with him and even more afraid of presenting this tragic loss to him.

Although I've always wanted to really see what he looked like, having only seen his backview twice when he visited his new branch to talk to Hassan– i maintained the eye to box contact i was having.

"Ye...yes, sir. I came to see you about something. A uhm.. small issue." I said, biting my lip immediately after i realized my mistake.

'SMALL ISSUE?? ALLIE! ARE YOU INSANE?! this is a BIG PROBLEM, NOT SMALL!'

God! Please help me, i prayed as i gently placed the box on his desk.

"Ah, my test pieces." He exclaimed satisfactorily, standing up enough to draw the box close to himself.

"But if i remember vividly, i asked Hassan to bring them in, why did he send you?" He asked curiously, trying to peek at my face as he sat back down.

I brought my head even lower as my eyes widened. 'This wasn't supposed to be me?? How did i end up here then? That sneaky sneaky man!' i screamed inwardly.

"I'm sorry sir, maybe he didn't get what you said. It was a mistake, all of it." i realized, more to myself than to him.

"What do you mean? It's okay, as long as they are fine." He said casually, waving it off.

I clapped my hands together in plead-like fashion and dropped to the floor.

"Please please please, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, i didn't mean for it to happen, i swear! I was just picking the box off the van when i was startled and i lost my balance.

I was very careful, i swear!" I rambled on, my eyes closed tight, i was too scared to check his expression.

I opened an eye slowly, and then the other, to gauge his reaction– but he looked at me as though i had grown two horns out of nowhere.

His thick brows were bent in frown lines even though his lips seemed to be fighting off an amused smile.

"What are you going off about?" He asked again, clueless.

I blinked, realising that in all of the drama i just let on, the crucial information wasn't passed.

"I.. i.. i uhm, it.. it's broken, all of it." I confessed slowly, stuttering as the words choked my throat.

"What's broken?" He queried doubtfully.

A sob/hiccup escaped from my mouth.

"The test pieces." I let out.

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