MEREDITH:
Stepping on the gas, I drove as carefully as I could, trying to beat the time.
After a few red lights, a traffic jam, and listening to “Don’t Let Me Down” by The Chainsmokers ft Daya, I approached my destination. Still couldn’t believe that I was a terrific driver. I guess one's hidden talents come to light in times of distress.
As I approached the driveway, my mouth fell open. The place looked like a fortress. What kind of office needed such a location, and what work did they do?
I stepped out of the vehicle and buzzed the bell on the gate.
“Hello,” a male voice answered.
“My name is Meredith Tate, and I’m here for the interview.” To my surprise, the gate opened.
I went back into my car and drove in. When I least expected it, I hit the second gate. This time, armed men were lurking around the perimeter, all alert like they were expecting a third world-war. To say that I was terrified was an understatement. The last time I saw this was in a movie. I wonder if the President worked here. How could a vicinity need this many gates and guards?
While I tried to gain the courage to meet any of the men and ask for directions to the office I was meant to go to or, better still, find out if I was in the right place, one of them approached me. I must say that the selective process of these men had amazing standards on the list. Because they were astonishingly hot and tall, maintaining almost the same height.
“You must be Miss Tate,” his baritone voice said, ringing a sweet melody into my eyes. How could a man’s voice sound so heavenly? “You have two more gates to get cleared. When you get to the main gate, show a valid ID card and ask for Miss Devi Michael. She will instruct you further on what to do.”
The way he spoke was so beautifully distracting that I barely understood his words. If I had seen him elsewhere without him wearing this full military gear, I could’ve sworn that he was an athlete. Those---
“Did you hear me, ma’am?” his voice boomed, shaking me away from my analytic thoughts back to reality.
“Yes, sorry. Heard you loud and clear,” I said with a nervous chuckle. “Just out of curiosity, can I ask why there are so many gates? What or who is being guarded?”
Smiling, “I’m in no position to provide such information, Miss Tate.” His smile disappeared as fast as it came, and his face was emotionless. “But, I can tell you one thing, though.”
Leaning close to his mouth so that I could grab as many details of what he was about to tell, I mentally prepared myself for whatever heavy news he was about to drop.
“I would advise you to not stick your nose in unnecessary matters. It will save you from a lot of stress.” With powerful strides, he walked away and signaled with a wave of his hand, and the gate was opened.
I rolled my eyes so hard that it felt like I was about to lose them. So much for prepping myself for information. “Asshole,” I mumbled as quietly as possible. It would be a thing of shame to get thrown out because of what I said. However, I was definitely going to give him a piece of mine if I got this job. Little did I know that hell was waiting for me and I had just driven myself to it.
Successfully, I was able to get to the last gate following the hottie’s instruction. “I’m supposed to meet with Miss Michael,” I told another guard, who looked as ripped as the first one. “My name is Meredith Tate. I’m here for an interview.”
“Drive to the main building, ma’am.” This guard was not a bit friendly.
Finally, they opened the last gate. The outside did no justice to give an insight into what my eyes saw. The exterior looked like Heaven; adorned with beautiful flowers and trees of all kinds in two neat rolls, with one opposite the other. It was peaceful, soothing, and nourishing for the mind. There was a big mansion sitting in the middle. I didn't find it surprising to have found more guards in every corner too.
Getting out of the car, I was directed by a security guard to whom to meet. Going along the pathway I was instructed to follow, I saw a patio that overlooked the crystal-like pool. Continuing on the path, I saw a marble door that led straight ahead.
I kept looking around, trying to absorb the positive energy of the place as I approached a doorway that looked like an invitation to a new adventure, a new challenge, and a new chance to earn myself once more.
Lost in admiring the beautiful place, I missed a step and tripped, landing on an orchard of roses. I fell so hard that my body crashed into the orchard, entirely ruining it. The vase supporting the orchard of lilies lost balance and broke.
“Who the fuck let this wild human into my place?” an unfriendly male voice thundered.
With embarrassment, I managed to get myself up, dusting the dirt off my knees. “Excuse---“ The rest of what I wanted to say got stuck in my mouth as I rose to meet the eyes of the most handsome person on Earth. Literary, he was a walking demigod.
MILES: “We have a donor. We found one that matches your heart,” Grenada’s squealing voice boomed loudly over the phone. It was so loud that I almost lost my hearing. She was more excited than I was. “Good,” I casually said. I mean, wasn’t I paying ridiculously well to move Heaven and Hell to get me one? “When is the procedure?” “Oh, come on, Miles. You should be grateful. It wasn’t easy, but I guess the universe wants to give you a second chance.” True. But, I couldn’t come off as weak by showing my emotions. As a matter of fact, I don’t have any emotions to show. All the same, this only proved that my way of life was pure, and I had unfinished business with a lot of people. “We will need you to come in as soon as possible. I must warn you, this is a fifty-fifty percent procedure. We’ll do our best to take care of you. The rest is up to God." “The best is what I pay for. Make sure you do everything necessary to make things go well. I wouldn’t want to end up with improper stitches
MEREDITH: Things didn't end well for me as I got home. Already the day had been annoying and overwhelming, coupled with the fact that I had to deal with that homeless-robe-wearing guy. My goodness! I wish a bottle of wine would take away the discomfort. Before I even found my keys, trying to reach the source of joy, which was the wine, an envelope caught my eye. The caption didn't fascinate me. It reminded me of the reason I had almost drowned myself in tears today. It read, 'Eviction Notice!!!' boldly written in red. There was no point reading the rest of the content because it wouldn't change a thing. So, I shredded it into pieces and dumped it. I took a deep breath and prepared my mind to get all the sleep I could for tonight because soon, I would be losing a roof over my head. It felt like the alarm started blaring as soon as my aching body found comfort on the bed, but it turned out that I had slept for a long time. I turned the noise off and wrapped a robe around my body to go
MILES:"Mr. Pierce, you need to take it easy on yourself. Stressing out will only weaken your immune system. Take a rest and take your medication later. And consider hiring the assistant we recommended; it will be beneficial in the long run," Grenada advised as I settled down.The dizziness was fading, and I was regaining my composure. "Fire the HR and everyone who gave that girl access. Every single one of them!" I commanded."Yes, sir," Brandon replied promptly.I wasn't upset about being undermined, but rather by the audacity of the girl who dared to challenge me. She was not the type of person I would ever allow to be part of my team. I had specific preferences when it came to my employees, with Grenada being the exception. For women, I preferred tall, slim, model-like figures, blonde or brunettes, not someone with dark hair and curves, lacking in fear."Get me, Michael. Now!" I demanded. He was my lawyer, and with his help, I would make sure that girl regretted crossing me. He had
MEREDITH:My new boss was a constant source of irritation, a thorn in my side that I couldn't wait to be rid of once my debt was settled. Who would have thought that, instead of finding a job, I would end up paying off a debt? It was disheartening.He was impossible to deal with—laying down ridiculous rules, exuding pride, and always cutting me off mid-sentence, which was infuriating. But what could I do? I was stuck with him for the time being. Brandon reappeared to show me around the mansion.The mansion was undeniably beautiful, but it came with a multitude of restrictions. There were numerous areas I wasn't allowed to access. My routine became a familiar pattern: knock but don't enter Mr. Pierce's room, wait in the sitting room, and if, by some chance, I needed to spend the night, it had to be in a tiny room opposite his. And while there, I was to remain out of his sight. Did the man despise my presence that much?He treated me like I was a plague, but I held no ill feelings towar
MILES: The last business meeting ended in Waterloo, and I was forced to reschedule another. Although not pleasant for Grenada to hear, we didn't have much of a choice. Today, she had to come in and administer those tubes that ensured I didn't crash along the line. My strength level has been low recently, and I couldn't even manage a proper ten-minute walk without panting. Good health and a strong heart are underrated, my friend. We kept the knowledge of my condition as private as possible. Only important people knew about it; Brandon, the head of my security team, Isabel, the head maid, my nutritionist, and, of course, Grenada. My business partners and the press only knew that I was taking a break from work, nothing more. That was the key to success. Keep secrets and information at bay, or they will use that information against you later on. If they don't need to know, there's no need to tell. Meanwhile, having free time gave me the opportunity to learn more about how annoying and i
MEREDITH: My heart raced as Isabel prodded about the incident with Mr. Pierce. "You called him a cleaner?" Isabel asked incredulously, setting the scene for the juicy gossip. The girls, except for Britney, were interested in knowing what happened between me and Miles. They said that he came back ranting and so angry that he fired an entire team. While she made the food, I thought of keeping them entertained. The house was so boring and deserted for crying out loud. They were lovely and we rapidly became friends. At least now I have a place to hide and pass the time whenever I am in the house. “I didn't mean to, though. I mean, he came out wearing a robe and looking like a cleaner instead of like Miles Pierce.” Lowering my voice, “and, he was rude,” I whispered. Isabel burst into a belly laugh. “No wonder you've been on his bad side.” Cutting in, “he is always on his bad side. Grumpy and moody all the time,” Lucinda added, smiling. By the time the food was ready, I was salivating
MILES: Why the hell were business functions and meetings invented? It was just an avenue to show off and run into people you despise. Anyway, I got settled in my seat as the function began while I had a mini-meeting with my partner and his wife. We were looking into investing in an agricultural company, which seemed more sensible before they switched and brought up the hydro-electrical project idea. It wasn't a bad one. But, I wasn't looking at expanding my company considering my current state. Starting a new business was like giving birth. The procedures you go through in nurturing a newborn are what you apply to make a new business successful: groom, care, nurture, love, fight for, protect, and believe in it. And, it was best if you oversaw everything. That way, you could guide the path it took. Entrusting it to someone might not give you the satisfaction you crave when you see the result. I bent over the table, the din of the busy restaurant fading into the background as I strugg
MEREDITH: “Please, give me more time. I know that I'm late for the payments, but I promise that I'll clear half of it by the end of the month,” I lied. End of the month? That would only happen by a miracle. I couldn't let him know that. Couldn't let him drop the case because it would be wasted energy and abandoning my brother. I deserved to know what happened to him. To get answers. Whatever it took, I was willing to do. His voice was subtle, although I could hear the strain of him trying to control lashing out. “Miss Tate, I wish things worked like that. I would've been more than happy to help you. But, they don't. I need to facilitate the team and, considering that it's a very private investigation, that's why it's harder. I'm sorry.” My heart ruptured into a billion pieces. Who would I go to? How was I going to turn back now and let go? “How about you give me an extra week? If I don't get back to you, then you can drop the case.” The phone went silent for a while before his voic