Lucas had said he didn't have many friends, but the number of children running around Gabriel's house right now rivaled that statement. I don't know if it's the cake making all of them hyper, but they all suddenly decided it was time to play.Most of the children are playing hide and seek and since Gabriel doesn't mind, I don't mind as well.Apparently, Gabriel's sister came to visit her family, so he invited her to Lucas' party. She is fun to be around and the children love her as well. They love her a little too much which is why she is currently playing hide and seek with them. At least, there's an adult with them to make sure things don't get out of hand.Lucas has been acting mischievous all day, so it's a good thing she's with them.My parents are also present, along with Gabriel's two friends. Since they're very busy people and won't have time in the near future, he invited them so I'd meet them.It's Lucas' party, but there are a lot of adults present. All my friends are prese
'One more time and you're fired.'The last words my boss said to me the previous day play in my head repeatedly as I run around like a headless chicken.'I arrived at work fifteen minutes after the expected time and I ended up running into my boss. The glare he sent me was enough for me to flinch. "How come you're late again, Aria?"It was the same excuse, and even if he knew said excuse, he still wanted to see me squirm. "I had to drop—""I don't care." He interrupted and I had to bite my tongue to stop myself from retorting. I needed my job as it was what I lived on. What we both lived on. "You keep on coming in whenever you like and making silly excuses."Since his voice was quite loud and we were in the reception, everyone around us heard him and I knew he wanted it so. He enjoyed embarrassing me. Fighting back the not-so-nice words threatening to escape my mouth, I settled on. "I'm sorry." I didn't promise him that it would be the last time because I'd be lying.He looked at me f
I blink once, twice, repeatedly just to make sure I am seeing right. I am. I lift my head and when I do, I lock eyes with the one person I simultaneously want to see the most and not see at all. My boss.I'm a hundred percent sure my face portrays my disbelief as I push open the doors and walk into the building. Does he despise me that much? Firing me when he could see that I was only outside the glass doors.I'm pretty sure he did it just because he's trying to get rid of me. That, or it was just a power play. I can't tell with him.Shawn, my boss—ex-boss actually, what a fucking joke—expels a sigh at my arrival and speaks before I even get the chance to get a word out. "You got my text, didn't you? Why are you in here?"I don't know whether to scream at him or plead with him, but then I think about Lucas and how hard it'll be to find a new job in record time. It's not like we'll suddenly go broke if I don't get my paycheck this month, but I don't want to have to start chirping at my
I stare at the building before me in distaste. This is what I've resorted to because it's always the same result. I sent out my resume to a few companies. They were all hiring, just not looking for an advertiser. After three long weeks of looking for a noble job, I started searching for any kind of job. At this point, I can work as a waiter or a bartender, which propels my decision to enter the building.Lucas doesn't know I've lost my job. He still thinks I go to work every morning because he asks how work went every other afternoon and I smile and lie through my fake smile that my day and my boss were great.The building before me, 'Ecstasy' showcases a signboard that says they're looking for waitresses and cooks. Most places I've stopped by don't even have an open position. I don't know how to cook enough to apply as a professional cook, so I decide to settle on waitressing.I can be working as a waitress for the time being until a company finally accepts my application and reque
This day can't get any worse.I decide to get a drink. I don't go with any of my friends because they're not as miserable as I am at the moment and because it's a weekday. Every normal adult has a job.For the first night in a long while, I leave Lucas in the care of a babysitter and I go to a club. I'm still putting on my attire from earlier, the black and white outfit. But immediately after I step into the club, I bump into an intoxicated girl who spills her drink all over my white shirt.As if that's not bad enough, she gets frantic trying to clean off the stain. I end up pleading with her to stop apologizing since she's not helping.That should deter me, but it doesn't. I really need that drink. I need to drown out my situation in alcohol. I need to forget about everything for a night, so it doesn't come crashing on me full force later on.So, I just swallow all I'm feeling, visit the ladies' room, remove my shirt and try to wash out the drink stain from it. Since I have no way to
"A game?""Yes, a game." He smiles. "Are you in?"I don't have to think about it for too long. I'm interested in whatever he has to do. "Sure."Gabriel nods delightfully. "I know you said you're trying to forget your problems, but you know how ranting helps ease the pressure you're feeling?" He doesn't wait for me to answer as he keeps speaking. "Well, I was thinking we should tell each other why exactly we came to this bar. After all, we're not gonna see each other again, are we?"I mull over it for a moment. I haven't had any time to rant to my friends because they're all so busy with their work life and their families. It will be nice to let everything out. And what better person to talk to than a stranger? "On one condition."He smiles widely. He knows he's gotten me already. "Anything."My lips twitch up in a smile. Maybe, he's not just eager to learn about me. Maybe, he also wants someone to talk to. "You first."For the second time this night, I see his smile fall, and like bef
I wake up the next morning with a bad case of hangover. I'd forgotten how annoying hangovers were.Luckily for me, the babysitter is still present and she helps prepare Lucas for school.I don't get up until I hear a knock on the door. I groan. "Don't come in."The person comes in anyway and I open my eyes slowly when I hear the light footsteps coming toward me. It's Lucas. "Hi, mommy."I sigh internally, hoping he doesn't ask questions that I can't give the answer to. "Hi, baby.""I picked out my outfit myself." He grins proudly. He's putting on a grey undershirt, grey shorts, and a blue striped flannel shirt, complemented with his blue converse. I chuckle. He does have an eye for good things."You did, didn't you?"Lucas frowns at my lack of enthusiasm and peers down at me. "Are you sick?""Something like that. Don't worry, I'll be okay."He looks at me like he doesn't believe me and leans down to place a kiss on my forehead. "Feel better."I can't help but smile at the gesture. Eve
I am in shock. I am riddled with shock. I can't even move my feet further.My mouth falls open at the sight before me. When I inputted the address of Double H Tech into my GPS, I didn't think it would take me to this place.Heather told me they were big, but they aren't big. They are huge. I can't even try to guess the number of floors in the building, but I know it is over twenty, and it isn't just a square building. It is curved so it is U-shaped."Close your mouth. You'll attract flies."I snap my mouth shut, looking beside me, my eyes falling on a woman the same height as me. When I take her form in though, I realize her heels are a lot higher than mine.She has wavy blonde hair and sharp green eyes. Her makeup is perfectly done, accentuating the color of her eyes and she's putting on a dress that hugs her body and stops at her mid-thigh. It is the perfect combination of classy and sexy. I envy her."What are you doing here?" She asks, probably realizing I'm definitely not a clien