Vera's POV:As I exited the bus, Bob assisted me in carrying the stroller. He leans forward and waves at Marisa. "Have a good day."She screamed out in sobs, prompting me to freeze for a moment. "Why are you crying?" I unbuckle her belt and grab her. Bob raised his arm and smelled his armpit. "I apologize. "Do I stink?"I rock Marisa over my shoulder before reaching for the milk bottle in the back, hoping she's just hungry. Marisa sucks against the tip right away, and I sigh, "She's probably just hungry." She refused to drink Lisa's milk this morning."Bob exhales and nods before wiping his brow with his sleeve. "Have a good day at work," he remarked as he jumped into the bus. I smile and close the door as I wave to Bob. The bus soon vanishes around the bend, along with the other soul-sucking corporate workers.I exhale and set Marisa down, fasten her up, and walk her into the company. Marisa sits there, her eyes still teary, her cheeks sucking on the bottle. The bottle falls, and I
Vera's POV: I dashed over to my assigned desk and rummaged through it for the phone. When I saw a black phone I swiped across the screen and dialed number one."Hello, my name is Moonbucks. "How can I assist you?""Hi. My name is Vera, and I'm Ms. Baker's new inter- I mean assistant. I'd like to or-""The coffee is coming right up," he cut me short. "Come downstairs and pick it up right now." The phone call ended.I dashed out the door after hearing Becca yell one of the many nicknames she bestows on me. I was crying in my head, wondering what I had gotten myself into.My heels were hurting my feet as I stumbled around the coffee shop. I took tiny breaths, aware of everyone's staring. "I'm the new intern/assistant of Ms.Bake-" I gasp when the guy turns around, recognizing it was one of my upstairs neighbors, "You."He smiles, "Oh, hello there, mama."If my cheeks weren't already burning, it would have been by his nickname, "I'm no- oh, nevermind. Where's the coffee."He raised it up
Vera's POV:Some things never seem to change.Here are a few instances:First of all, Sam Thompson still has a great appearance thanks to his perfectly combed back hair, which accentuates his tanned complexion.Second, Sam's friends are still attractive fools who don't care about other people.Three, my heart continues to beat for him. my ex-husband."Bro," Jackson called out, nudging Mauricio with his elbow. "The baby is white."Mauricio makes a crude move, narrowing his eyes and bending closer to Marisa. Who says you can breathe the same air as my fake baby? "I don't know... Jack...Perhaps—" He paused and then turned to face me. "He is Matt's baby."Matt was standing there with his hands in his pockets and a bit of gum in his mouth when Jack and Mauricio turned to face him. He gives up chewing. "Not my baby."Sam continued to gaze at me.The workers' light banter and the sound of their shoes were the only sounds that strolled between us. Every now and then someone would dart over to
Vera's POV: "What?" I was the first to mention it."What exactly do you mean? What are you saying? "At least one of us-" Gianni points to Becca and Agatha before raising his finger to himself. "One of us should be the one who says what," he hesitated, "What?" "Are you two married?""No!""So, you're not married?" Becca inquired."Yes.""Yes to no or yes you're married?" Agatha's question appears to be an attempt to follow the conversation."Yes to no," I replied."Then, why did Sam say you are married?"I shrug, "I don't know." I giggled, felt sweat stream down my neck.Gianni moves his gaze to Sam. "Why did you say, you and Victoria-" Vera "is married.""Who is Victoria?" Sam asks, cocking his brow.Gianni pointed to me, "She is Victoria.""Stupid," Becca said, crossing her arms. "Her name is Valentina.""Nah, her name is Vanessa." Jack waved his hand in the air, deciding to take part in this absurd circumstance."I thought her name is Vera." Agatha, the girl I met in less than 15 m
Vera's POV:As my head snapped towards the man, I couldn't help but laugh—a bitter, angry laugh. "You're seriously asking me why I left?"He tilts his head towards me, the veins in his hand popping as he tightens his grip on the steering wheel even further. I wouldn't be surprised if the leather faded."It's green. Go.""You didn't answer my question," he said. The drivers behind us honk angrily for us to proceed.As the cars passed us with a thunderous honk, I cast a backward glance. "Sam… Go, you're holding up traffic.""Answer me."A scream from deep within makes its way out of my mouth, but I bite it back. "Because we fucking agreed on a year of marriage. Did we not?" A few more honks. "Remember?" I asked, smiling sarcastically, "You threw a contract at me and said after a year of marriage, I should get the fuck out of your mans."Sam slams his foot firmly against the throttle pedal before I can complete my explanation. As my eyes expand, my entire body slicks against the car seat
Vera's POV: My brief, breathy giggles quickly develop into a hefty laugh. "Oh, I'm sorry, what is it?" "I don't say nonsense."I should have known better than to say it in front of my boss, but my mind is still in a hectic mood. For God's sake, I came to work wearing flip-flops and no one noticed anything."Are you wearing flip-flops?" Sam inquires, his gaze fixed on my rainbow flops. Of course, he has to be the one to point it out, out of everyone."Learn the native tongue of bullshitting because that's all we do here." Gianni enters the office with a big grin on his face. "Congrats, V," he said. I couldn't help but cast a sidelong glance at him. "Like your nickname?"At the very least, he isn't mispronouncing my name."I can't be Mr.Thompson's assistant," I explained as Gianni and Liam took the chairs in front of Becca."Why not?" Sam inquired."Because, Mr.Thompson, you're an investor in Vivus, not an employee."As one leg shifts above the other, he leans back against the chair. "
Vera's POV:I tap my foot firmly against the hard floor as my eyes scan against Lilly. After my wonderful day, I returned home and waited for her to arrive so we could discuss the horrible breaking news together.She storms through the door around evening, yelling, "Cut me off then, pita!" and she threw the phone across the living room. At that point, I understand that someone else, who happens to be my roommate, may have had a worse day than me."Your dad is cutting you off if you don't go back to India." I question her.She nods, pushing her face against her hands even more. "He wants me to go back and marry this guy," she grumbled as she ruffled her hair.I lick my lips, my heart pounding hard inside my chest."I'm so happy you got this great-paying internship, Behana." She clings to me firmly. "Or else, I wouldn't be able to tell Paapa off."I sat there with my arms around her, laughing along with her. I was laughing with a different emotion than Lilly.She sighs and wipes the tea
Vera's POV:"I don't know." She takes out her phone and begins tapping the screen with her thumbs. "I'll message her."I grab my purse and keys while slinging on my jacket. "I'm going to work," I said, my gaze fixed on the tennis shoes. I decide to go with a black pair, hoping no one will notice. "Tell her to contact me. It turns out that my company provides private medical plans for its employees, and I can schedule certain checkups for Marisa because she is my fake baby."Lilly raises her head from the television. "Can I be your fake sister?" "I need to have my teeth checked.""I'll ask."As I pushed my foot into the shoes, she gave me a thumbs up. "Bye!""Have a good day at work." I'm not so sure.When I arrived at work, I raised my head as high as my neck would allow. I wanted to cry as I walked into the lobby as if I owned it."Hey, there!" From behind the desk, Cheryl chirps. "How are you, sweetheart?" she asks as she taps a button, seemingly ending a call.I gave her a glum exp