Ashley
I had enough reasons to cry. But I didn’t, because I wanted to give a last try to my job.
I packed my things as Lara wished for me to win. “Bye, Lara,” I said while taking my phone off the charger.
“Bye. Good luck, sis”
“Thank you” I left the house taking my suitcase and took a cab for the airport.
I am Ashley Jones. I had been a good girl, but not a lucky one. I had been kicked out of my last job and had voluntarily left the preceding one. Not that I didn’t like it, because I just care too much about my self-respect.
And that’s the only thing I am proud of.
I tried applying to many jobs in Russia, but none accepted me. My last boss had made sure that I didn’t get a place in any of them, at least not in this country. Consequently, I have to leave the country and am going to America. I am originally American anyway, I just settled in Russia four years back due to some issues, I really don’t wanna talk about.
“Okay,” I said to the taxi driver as I paid the money with my credit card. He left and I went towards the airport platform.
This is gonna change everything.
“Here” I handed my identity papers to the officer and after all the process, I sat down in the airplane seat. This is not the first time I am in a plane, but I am as afraid as ever.
I don’t know why, but if I can’t get a job in the US either, I will be completely jobless. When mom left us, we always depended on each other. Last two months had Lara working day and night. Now, I have to take this flight so that I can also do something other than eating her hard work.
Literally.
I waited for the plane to take off while I glanced at my wrist watch. 6 AM.
It is gonna take almost 13 hours flying from here to Los Angeles. LA has been my home for quite as long as I can remember and Moscow has been my second one, giving me equal vibes of my ‘own home’.
I almost slept and waited for LA.
I woke up and checked the time. 6:13 AM.
Of the next day, dude.
At least, I am finally reaching there. I had already applied for a job and it is quite an expensive company, but I can quite hold a chance for it because I grew up and was educated in the US, particularly LA, and that is where this awesome company stands.
It is internationally popular, but I guess they respect the citizens of their own state.
I am kind of relative to them, right? I belong from the same state.
If that makes sense.
Anyway, I waited some more, and as I reached there; I took a cab home.
This empty house can be even haunted.
Just kidding.
I went inside and keeping my suitcase down, the first thing I did was calling Lara and letting her know that I made it alive.
“Hey! Guess what? I am alive!”
“Well, that is some real sad news I got. You ruined my mood”
“At least I wouldn’t be there to disturb you and your boyfriend”“Aish, you are such a jealous girl” she sighed.
I am not, dear. I am happy that at least you have someone in your life you can trust.
“You know I am not”
“Whatever it is, sis. Take care and you know? I will miss you so bad. I’ll visit you on weekends”
“Oh we can’t pay for that. How can you visit me so much?”
“We will think of a way. Anyway, I gotta go. All the best for your job”
“Thank you” I cut the call with a smile.
I got this, Lara.
AshleyI woke up and checked the time on the watch that hung on the wall. It was still 6:55 AM and I could sleep peacefully for another five minutes. I swear I will wake up after 5 minutes, I am very sleepy.I dozed off for another nap as laziness took control over my brain and the next time I opened my eyes, fear engulfed me.God, please tell me that I slept only five minutes…I looked up at the same watch that showed me the time… 7:34 AM.
Ashley“Get ready for your task one” he smirked and I nodded.“Follow me” he ordered and I followed him as he led us to some distinct corner. He looked at the small sensor at the corner of the door and it opened. It was… iris recognition.We went inside and trust me, it all felt like I am doing some high-level FBI work.As I stepped inside, he stopped. “You have completely five minutes, find the 56th desktop, and write an email convincing Mr. Houston to agree to 6% shares other than 10%. Only one chance, no mistakes accepted and yes”, he looked at me. “I mean it”Before my brain was able to process any doubts, he left the room. Five minutes, girl.I looked at the room. It was very big, more like a
Ashley“Lower the blinds of the window, Ash” he ordered me.“Okay,” I agreed and lowered them.He called me towards him.“Here. See this. This is the most confidential document of this company, I am showing you this so,” I looked at him. “I trust you” I looked at the laptop screen.I nodded.“I am only showing you cause I need you to study this and know about our strengths and weaknesses. I want you to be aware of our capabilities. Only you are allowed to read and see this. No one, and I mean not another soul should know this”I nodded. “Okay, sir”“And Ash” I again looked at him. “Don’t lower the blinds just because someone told you to. You can’t possibly trust anyone, i
Ashley“The Brown Luxuries,” he said and I looked at the building astonished.The Brown… in the sense his company owns them?“Woah. It is so beautiful” I uttered as we paused in front of a building.He looked at me and I shut my mouth and came out of the car as he did.“I am gonna tell you about this all today. Here carefully. You have your phone?” he said while making his way inside a building.“I guess, sir” I replied.“Take notes if necessary. Or better…” he went to the receptionist.“Mr. Brown! How may I help you?” she asked politely.“Give me a Live Scribe 3 SmartPen”She gave him some pen and damn, it looked expensive.
AshleyI woke up and checked the time as usual.Nothing is as usual.I am definitely fired.I suck.I should die.I think I should stop cursing myself and call him to apologize.I took my phone and hastily dialed his number. I know he must be boiling in anger by now. Oh god, he is not even picking the phone. I am doomed. I AM TOTALLY DOOMED. It is fucking 9:17.He picked it up but the line went silent.“Um… sir,” I said in a low tone.He didn’t reply for a moment but then exhaled loudly. “In my cabin in 10 minutes”“Yes, sir” I replied and the call ended.Woah. Just when I thought that everything was going
Ashley“I apologize for that,” he said.Was it real!?Was the ‘rude’ boss really apologizing to me? The CEO of this heaven?“And trust me or not,” his vision lingered on my eyes for a small moment. “This was my first apology till… now. I never apologized to anyone”The sole sound of that sentence made shivers run across my body. He was here; he was apologizing. Maybe I shouldn’t be that stubborn anyway. Maybe it was just a misunderstanding and I shouldn’t make a big fuss and I should forget.I didn’t say anything as I was drowned in my thoughts and I didn’t even know how to react. I mean, the staff, the people, and Kate, I could feel everyone staring at us. He didn’t whisper anything, he said everything audibly. Everyone heard everything
AshleyI couldn’t believe my own ears. After everything was going fine, suddenly fired? This was pre-planned, wasn’t it?I went down, to save whatever self-respect I had left and I really didn’t want to co
AshleyI made my way towards the door as I heard the doorbell. I opened it and gosh, I think I am hallucinating.“A-Ash,” he said and I think I am not.“Why are you here? Not humiliated me enoug