Chapter 4: A Ray of Hope

Avery

"Don't cry, Avery," she steeled herself, heading to her boyfriend's condo. "You didn't lose them, they lost you." Those were the words her mother always told her whenever she faced disappointment.

On getting to his apartment, she punched in the passcode. Tyrone had given her the passcode in case she happened to stop by at any time. His main reason was to convince Avery to change her mind about her choice of celibacy. She'd turned him down every time, and she thought his patience was wearing thin.

"It's about time Tyrone pops my cherry," she told herself, turning the door open. "Today's his lucky day."

The first thing she saw was the scattered pieces of clothing strewn about the living room, followed by the moans and grunts coming from the bedroom. Her pulse paused. Tyrone had lost his patience.

She recognized that bag. Could it be...?

Dragging her tired feet to the bedroom, she pushed the bedroom door open to satisfy her curiosity. "Maddie!" She crumbled to the floor in tears beside the door frame.

"Oh, shit!" Tyrone and Maddie covered themselves with the blanket. They were shocked to see her, and even more shocked that they didn't hear her come in.

"I thought you said she wouldn't be here until the evening," Maddie muttered loudly to Tyrone.

"I don't know what happened," Tyrone answered, swinging his gaze to Avery. "What are you doing here, Avery?" He asked, throwing his legs into his briefs in haste. Maddie's clothes were in the living room, so she wound the blanket around her chest. "You were supposed to be here in the evening."

Avery wiped her face. They were not worthy of her tears. She recoiled and made her way to the girl who was supposed to be her best friend, making out with her boyfriend. Before Tyrone knew what, Avery sent a resounding slap across her face. Maddie yelled and rolled to the ground.

"Don't lay your filthy hands on her!" Tyrone yelled at her, coming between Avery and Maddie. Her body stiffened. Tyrone had never raised his voice at her. "She's everything you're not and will never be!"

Her stance faltered. She rested her weight on the nightstand to save her weak knees from giving out. "How could you?" Her voice caught, "If you'd cheated on me with someone else, I might have forgiven you, but with my best friend?" Her eyes welled in tears again. The tears she swore not to shed for them.

"Forgiveness?" He scoffed. "We've been together for two years, Avery. Two good years," he emphasized. "I shared the little bucks I made with you and stood by your side while your mother was almost dying in the hospital. I asked you for just one thing in return, Avery. Just one thing. You know what? I'm tired of waiting. You can keep your virgin body to yourself and get the fuck out of my life and out of my condo!"

It was as though a cyclone passed through Avery. She slumped to her feet and buried her face in her palms. Her only consolation in her troubled life had given up on her.

"Are- are you breaking up with me?" She stuttered.

"What kind of question is that?" he frowned. "Stop playing cute and dumb, Avery. Now, leave before I do something crazy!" He shouted, pointing at the opened bedroom door. Maddie crouched behind Tyrone, wearing a contemptuous glare.

Avery ran out of his apartment, crying on her way out. She got out into the open air and plonked into a nearby bench. Just then, her phone rang in her purse. With trembling hands, she fished out the phone and picked up the third ring.

No caller ID. "Hello," she forced a neutral tone.

"Am I on to Ms. Avery Sallow?" She recognized the gravelly voice at the other end of the line, but her boggled mind couldn't place where she'd heard it.

"Yes."

"You've been granted provisional employment at King's Fashion House as the personal assistant to the CEO, and you're to start effective immediately."

It seemed like a dream. No, like a lightning bolt from the sky. Barely an hour ago, she'd whacked Mr. Brown across the face for trying to spoon her into an office romance. In fact, she didn't apply as a personal assistant to the CEO!

"Is this a prank?" She needed to be sure. The last thing she wanted was extra garbage tossed at her feet.

"You're expected to resume in the office of the CEO within the next ten minutes, " he said, waving her question.

He cut the call, and for a split second, she felt light-headed. Immediately, she shrieked with excitement. "I got the job! I got the job!"

Fortunately for her, a taxi drove by. She hopped in, forgetting the stab Tyrone and Maddie had dealt her heart. Now, she could take care of her mother.

She got into the establishment within five minutes and found herself at the reception desk the second time that morning. "Hi, it's me again," she waved nervously.

This time, the receptionist glanced up. She was pissed. "What do you want?" She sniped.

Avery had better things to deal with than guessing what went wrong with the receptionist. "How can I get to the CEO's office?"

The receptionist eyed her suspiciously. "What business do you have with the CEO?"

It's none of your fucking business. "I have an appointment with him."

The lady retracted to her chair, facing the monitor in front of her. "First floor."

Avery made a dash for the elevator without a word. Her curt attitude didn't deserve a thank-you. Within a minute, the elevator opened onto a large floor with double-paned glass walls. The CEO's office was the entire floor!

Damn!

There were cloth hangers arranged in rows on the left wing, displaying various designer wear. To the right were mannequins draped with the latest brands. She recognized the royal blue strapless bodycon she saw in a fashion magazine she outrightly fell in love with. The money would pay the mortgage on her father's house she lived in, so she forgot about it.

In the middle of the office was the CEO's desk. He sat on his rotating chair, backing her. His eyes were fixed on the billboard across the street that advertised one of his latest designers he modeled with Nicki Sandalwood, his top model.

"Hello, sir." She stood in front of his desk, praying silently under her breath. "I'm Avery Sallow, your new personal assistant."

Finally, the chair turned to face her. Avery almost suffered a cardiac arrest, seeing the face staring back at her. She was sure it was a prank after all.

"You?!"