chapter 2

Tyra immediately dropped the bat. Her minions who were also recording, turned to see a bunch of men and women staring at them. The man in the middle walked up to where they stood, each step echoed loudly in the room. They felt the coldness exude off him as he neared them and instinctively stepped back. He slightly hovered over them. His frame seemed to be so well built it almost popped through the suit and his proportions were amazing. His handsome face has the coldest look currently as he stared at Tyra and her friends. However, that was the least of Tyra’s worries at the moment.

“Who the hell is this man" she drooled in her mind, lusting after him.

As she drooled over him in her mind, she also feared for her life, she watched as he walked up to where Ashleigh was tied and untied her hands, and how Ashleigh fell into his embrace.

“This opportunistic skunk ” she mocked, as she looked at the both of them.

Ashleigh on the other hand, let out a huge sigh of relief as she held onto the man. The amount of fear she felt before he walked in was insane, when she was untied she had no strength in her legs. She gazed at the man with starry eyes; he had deep set eyes that seemed to draw her in, a beautiful yet rugged face and his hair seemed to tip over despite the gel he used to slick it back up. However this was not the time or place, as soon as she felt strong enough to stand she tapped him silently to help her stand, but he was still somewhat lost.

He felt her fingers prodding his shoulders and he immediately helped her stand up. He then turned to his envoy which consisted of Mrs Smith, who immediately walked up to him.

“I am yet to get an explanation and you....” he said, turning to face Tyra who was shocked by the attention.

“They were bullying me, as they usually do” a voice spoke out, all of them turned to see Ashleigh who stood at a reasonable distance. She looked at their surprised faces and also saw Tyra’s eyes narrow into slits.

“No sir, she meant to say that....”

“You wanted to beat me with a stick. That’s what I wanted to say right?” She continued, ignoring Tyra and her friend’s fierce look. Mrs Smith immediately walked up to Ashleigh and checked if she was alright, sighing in relief that nothing was wrong.

She then moved to the man whose face had gotten colder as time had passed and knelt in supplication.

“I apologize Mr. Cagliari for this great error on my part. I will take responsibility for this ignorance” she apologized, at the mention of the name Tyra and her friends felt chills run down their spines, more fear filled them as they saw his smouldering gaze on them.

She then turned to face the man who looked down at Mrs Smith begging the man frantically, her eyes went over his features once again: the maroon coloured suit he wore looked exquisite and seemed to compliment his shoes, he controlled the room without saying much and his aura is outstanding. Her eyes widened in realization that this man might be the CEO of the company, if it is so then this would not pass over easily. Mr Cagliari glanced his secretary and he nodded in understanding. The man stepped out to stand besides Ashleigh, and spoke up.

“Mrs Smith, you will have to give an explanation to me at the disciplinary board meeting later today. The same goes for the employees involved in this case. Our CEO Mr Cagliari will be overseeing this meeting” he said with a tone of finality and the mood of the room became solemn.

Mr Cagliari began making his way out, stopping at Ashleigh, who put her head down immediately, he gave smirk and left the supply room. Once he left with the other employees, Ashleigh turned to leave the room, ignoring the calls of Mrs Smith. She ran to the break room and gathered her things afterwards she exited the building. Mr Cagliari stood at the window of his office, watching the girl leave quietly from the office. He felt a presence behind him which was his secretary and asked him to speak.

“Ashleigh Hartman. She is 22 years old and was raised in an orphanage from birth. No information on what happened to her parents, but she recently was taken in by her aunt who coincidentally works here” he handed the tablet to Mr Cagliari who scrolled through the profile information and then he swiped to the see a head shot of her, he looked at her face once again and felt a slight sense of familiarity. He shook it off and gave the tablet back to his secretary, walking to his desk with his secretary in tow.

"Find out more about this girl" He instructed as he sat down on the exquisite leather chair and leaned back contemplating on finding out more about this girl. He then gave more instructions to his secretary concerning the disciplinary board meeting, who nodded and quickly left to carry out his orders. In a while Mr. Turner came back to inform him of the meetings commencement, and he stood up and left the office.

At the disciplinary board meeting, Tyra and her accomplices had tried twisting the story to portray Ashleigh as being provoking, but on recalling her frightened and relieved face on seeing him in the room. His anger brewed like a storm, and soon when the security footage was played he was livid. He ordered that Tyra and her accomplices be fired and thrown out of the building with immediate effect. Mrs. Smith was placed on probation, while Ashleigh will be duly compensated for the damages caused.

Ashleigh Hartman on the other hand was furiously making her way to a small apartment. She fished for her keys and opened to enter the small apartment. It was moderately sized for her and her aunt and could allow for two rooms. She walked past the living room to her bedroom and ran to her bed crying. She sobbed as she recalled the events of the day and how pathetic her life seemed to be. She now stood at risk of losing her job, because of Tyra’s antics and she knew how hard she struggled to get in the first place. After she called down a bit, she sat up on her small bed and held her pillow to her chest, her mind ran in a million circles.

Even if she was to be spared, Mrs Smith would definitely have to pay the consequences. All this boils down to her helping initially, and Tyra being mad at it. As she stayed in the silence her ears picked up faint movements around the house which she knew was Mrs Smith who just arrived. Mrs Smith made her way to Ashleigh’s door and knocked on it, Ashleigh came to open the door for her, and Mrs. Smith stepped in.

“My dear, why didn’t you tell me what was happening with you and those girls?” She inquired, moving to sit besides her on the bed.

“I didn’t think it would get this serious. I only had to bear their taunts and do their work” Ashleigh replied quietly, Mrs Smith tapped her head in a scolding manner.

“Foolish girl, no matter how little you think it is you have to let me know. I felt bad having to find out that they bullied you in that manner; in front of the CEO and other staff members”

“That man that untied me was the CEO?”

“Yes, he is the CEO. He was taken on a tour of the supply stores today and he met a surprising sight. Why is that important right now?” Ashleigh’s face contorted to embarrassment on finding out that Mr Cagliari was in fact the CEO as she had suspected.

She grabbed her aunt’s hands in worry and asked

“Will I lose this job ma'am? I really don’t know what I would do next”

“No you will not. We just finished the disciplinary board meeting before I came home and the CEO wants to compensate you for the damages caused by Tyra and her friends. They were also fired with immediate effect” she informed and Ashleigh cried tears of happiness in relief.

“Wait. Aunt, what of you? Was there any punishment ” She asked and her aunt waved it off, on Ashleigh’s constant pestering she revealed she is currently on probation.

“It is my fault, you wouldn’t go through this if you did not help me in. I’m so sorry aunt" Ashleigh apologized profusely.

“I will be fine Ashleigh, it is my fault for not paying close attention to you my dear” She quelled her fears calmly. Ashleigh was grateful for her aunt by her side. Mrs Smith looked at her in a doting manner; her heart bled as she saw her struggle daily with working long hours since she left the orphanage and not being able to do what she wanted, she would have made provisions for her to go to college but she was not financially buoyant.

She however felt it was best Ashleigh stayed by her side while she gave her as much love as she could having that she grew up without her parents. She called Ashleigh “dream girl” because she knew within her that Ashleigh was made for much more than she is living in right now, it broke her heart to see her live a life that is nothing like a dream, rather it was a nightmare. She silently hoped and believed that this nightmare would come to an end soon.

“I know all that worrying has worked up an appetite. Let’s find something to eat" she said, placing her hands on Ashleigh’s cheek.

Ashleigh nodded in response. They stood up and made their way out of the small room hand in hand. They went about it quietly, each with their own reservations and after eating they retired to their rooms for the night, praying for the following days to go as smoothly as possible.