ELLEN
I sat in Lily's living room, hugging the throw pillow and staring at the TV but not really listening to what they were saying or watching the program. My mind was somewhere far away. It's been two weeks since I was suspended from work because of Oliver Monero, the heartless man who happened to be the father of my precious little Sophie. How had I been that stupid and careless? That question had been ringing in my head any time I thought of him.Sophie was in bed now and Lily was not yet back from work, so I had some alone time thinking about my life and Oliver Monero. I was thinking about him a lot and all I wanted to do was shove his thoughts out of my mind, but they kept nagging. I sighed at the same time as the front door beeped."I'm back!" Lily announced as she came into the house, her heels clicking on the hard floor.I didn't move or reply to her until she came into the living room and stopped for a while staring at me. When I got uncomfortable with her scrutiny, I sighed."You are home," I said in a tired voice."I thought you would never notice." She pulled her shoes, walked up to the couch, and slumped down beside me. "I have news. Good news and bad news.""Start with the bad news," I urged.She screwed up her face. "Who goes with the bad news first?""Well, what's the use of the good news if it would be ruined by the bad? Just tell me what you've got.""There is a job— a better one." She stopped to get my reaction.My eyes lit up in excitement. I had decided I wasn't going back to my workplace again. Brad can kiss the job for all I care. So, I submitted applications in a couple of places and got rejected or simply ignored."That's the good news.""And the bad news?""It's in my company and you will be working directly under Oliver."I sighed and waved her off. "Forget it.""I know you don't want anything to do with him, but... just look at it as if you are working for another arrogant boss. You don't need to bring sentiment to work. I already submitted your resume.""Lily, thank you for looking out for me, but I will look somewhere else. I really appreciate your efforts, but this time I will have to decline your kind offer."Lily hitched her shoulders and stood. "If you say so. I guess I will tell Julie about it then.""Yeah, give it to someone willing to stomach his arrogance. I've got Sophie to worry about."Lily typed on her phone as she walked towards her kitchen without answering me. I sighed again, grabbed the glass of water on the table, and gulped down the bitterness in my throat. She had just raised my hopes only to crash them again. I could hear Lily's voice from the kitchen as she spoke to whoever Julie was."Yeah, let's say I saw this assistant job in a really big company and it pays $60 per hour and you are working fourteen hours and get extra pay for each time you work outside your working hours? If you graduated high school, you are qualified for the job."I quickly did the mathematics in my head and gasped at how much I would be making in a month. I have never made that kind of money from any job I worked. The five-star restaurant paid well but was not close to what I would be making in a month at Monero Empire. I bolted from the couch like I was pushed by a force and dashed into the kitchen.Lily turned when she saw me but it was too late as I grabbed the phone from her hand."You didn't tell me this part of the job!""You didn't even what to listen. Give back the phone." I quickly shoved the phone behind me and shook my head. Money was the only thing that could motivate me right now and Sophie needed her medicine.Lily explained everything I needed to know about Monero Empire and the stranger that had charmed me five years ago. He had hired two assistants in two weeks and they all quit after the second or third days. How arrogant was he? But I was willing to take the job as long as it provided Sophie with a comfortable life.Lily was still bent on me staying at her place and she even wanted us to split the rent and bills if I didn't want to feel indebted. Maybe, I will consider the offer, but after I knew if I would get the job or not.I woke up very early the next morning and woke Sophie, who whined and cried for waking so early. It broke my heart, but I needed to do this to put us in a better place. I fished out my clothes from the closet as Sophie ate her breakfast, still nodding from sleep. I was still not a very fashionable person, but I had some good clothes for an interview.I drove Sophie to school and made some arrangements with her teacher about dropping her off early and picking her up so late. I drove straight to the Monero Empire, California and once I was out of my car, all the confidence left me. My excitement turned to anxiety as I recalled the incident that happened at the bar two weeks ago. What if he rejects me for being clumsy? Will he remember me? Questions and doubts kicked in as I stood across the road looking at the building towering over me.After so much contemplation, I turned back to get into my car and drive off, but I remembered Sophie's health.He is her father and should take responsibility, too.I turned back to the building and marched forward, clutching my file under my arm. Lily told me that he was doing the interview himself and everyone that went the previous day failed. I didn't feel I could get it— I already had something that could disqualify me, but I needed to give it a try. With those thoughts, I walked into the large reception of the Almighty Monero Empire.ELLENThe reception was large and there were many people walking around, paying no attention to who came in or went out. Security cameras were mounted at different angles. Lily explained everything about the office to me. She didn't want anyone to know we knew each other until I got the job. I took the elevator by the right which she had told me led to Oliver's cubicle. Once the elevator chimed, I stepped out into another reception. Four other women sat on a bench looking tensed. A young, handsome man approached me. "Are you here for the interview?" I nodded, suddenly losing my voice. He looked at his wristwatch. "You are ten minutes late." They were time conscious. "I am sorry." "What's your name?" "Ellen Knight." He glanced through the paper, pronouncing my name as he looked through. I stood there looking all firm, but I was crawling on my hands and knees inside. He looked up and smiled. "It's your lucky day, Ellen Knight. You are next. Have a seat." "Thank you," I breathed a
ELLEN I jerked up at the sound of the alarm, stretched, and yawned. It was still dark, but if I wanted to keep this job, I would have to sacrifice my time. Sophie was still asleep when I checked on her and it broke my heart to wake her up so early in the morning. I did not want to bother Lily with my responsibilities, so I did not bother to ask her for help in getting Sophie ready for the day. Sophie whined when I shook her and went back to sleep. She was still enjoying her sleep, and I did not want to disturb her. So, I let her sleep while I prepared breakfast and packed her lunch. It was the mistake I made because when I was done with finally getting Sophie ready, it was 6:30 a.m. on the dot. The driver was already there since 6:00 a.m. and I was not done by 6:30 am. I dragged a half-awake Sophie across the lawn to the waiting driver. "I am so sorry," I apologized without looking at the person. I got into the backseat and placed Sophie beside me, her head fell on
ELLEN The first day in the office was pretty hectic but I was not permitted to complain. Oliver had me everywhere and I could hear the whispers from the other staff members in his cubicle sympathizing with me, but I was not bothered because I was there for a purpose. My desk was directly opposite Oliver's office, and he had floor-to-ceiling glass walls, so he could see me through his office— that meant I was not allowed to have useless chatters when he was around. Nothing much happened on the first day. Oliver did not yell at me, nor give me much attention, he only acted like I was not there. The next day, I woke up earlier than usual and got Sophie ready for school. I am not sure she will ever get used to being awake so early and my heart broke each time she whined and sobbed, but I had a goal I wanted to achieve. It was for her medicine, and I needed health insurance for her. Lily offered to take Sophie to Ms. Maggie, her guardian. I got to Oliver's place at exactly 6:00
ELLEN "Eight, nine, ten, eleven..." I heard Sophie's voice as I walked into Ms. Maggie's apartment to pick her up. I was knackered from work. I worked tirelessly today, as I was also supposed to run some errands for the HRM department. An important event was coming up next week, and we needed to prepare for it. I did not know what it entailed, but the day was hectic for me. "Mommy!" Sophie squealed and ran to me. I quickly squatted and spread my arms and she flew into them in a fit of giggles. "You are late," she announced. "I am so sorry, baby. How was your day?" "I became the queen of our dance today." "Oh, that's superb." Sophie had always liked dancing and had said she would become a ballet dancer when she grew up. She won the queen of her ballet class back in New York and led the dance. Now, she was pulling weight here in her new school in California too. I have never been happier. "Our annual ballet dance is coming up next week," s
ELLEN That day after work, another man home drove me. This man was stone-faced, just like Oliver, and never spoke to me on our drive back home. For the next couple of days, he picked me up and dropped me back. Sophie's annual ballet dance was fast approaching, and I was getting worried as the day went by. I was scared I would not be able to make it and I did not know how I would her in the eyes and explain that I had to work and forfeit her dance. I do not want to be a terrible mom at all. The intercom rang, jerking me out of my thoughts. I looked through Oliver's office, he was looking down at a file. I stood and went over to the door, knocked, and went in. He did not look up when I got in. I was used to him not giving me attention. I do not feel anything else for him now except resentment and I kept wondering what I saw in him. He was not wearing a tie as usual, and his first two buttons were left unbuttoned. I do not know why he always dressed like that. He did not
OLIIVER I walked out of my office, it was late and every person had left including my assistant. I stood in front of her desk for a while with my hands stucked into my pockets, watching her desk. So far, she had been the only asistant that had survived me since I came. The first two girls were colossial disappointments. The first one kept making passes at me, hinting that she wanted me to fuck her and had grabbed my erection one day in my office. I had to expose her in the office and she packed up and quitted the next day. The second always ogled at me, although she did not make passes at me. She alsways made mistakes and expected me to rub her furs. But I did not add anyone to my payroll to pet them, they worked for me and should know what they should do. She packed up and left too and I found Miss Knight. When I called for an interview, I made sure to know the women's perspectives about falling helplessly in love and her answer impressed me the most. While other women fant
ELLEN I stood there helplessly with my cell phone in my ear. How was I going to tell Kennedy that I needed to go to work? Everything Oliver Monero said replayed in my head. Kennedy had flown in from New York to visit Sophie and me for the weekend and we decided to have the best weekend of our lives. Kennedy was a lover of steak and I decided to treat him to it that night. Sophie and Lily were on their own little date, and we were all having fun on that Friday night until my phone went off and Oliver flashed on it. I was surprised at first and stared at my phone like it was something foreign to me, wondering why Oliver Monero was calling my line. He has never called my phone and always reached me through Dante. It was that curiosity that made me answer the phone and I regretted it immediately. The first thing he asked was where I was, I told him I went out and was not in the house, but that did not stop his wicked heart from requesting my presence. "I need you at
ELLEN My heart hammered against my chest. I was so engrossed in the thought of Oliver's death that I forgot the symptoms of an asthma attack. My mother had asthma and Sophie has it too, but at that moment, I forgot the severe shortness of breath, chest pain, coughing, and wheezing. Tears were now streaming down my eyes as I was oblivious about what to do. I had to gently stand and search for his phone to look for help, but it was locked and there were no numbers in his emergency contact except for one saved with a heart emoji. I was not interested in what it meant at that moment, so I dialed it. It rang and I heard the sound upstairs. I looked up toward the stairs and looked at the man wheezing on the floor and that was when it hit me. He was asthmatic. With the phone still in my hand, I ran back to him and searched his pockets, but his reliever inhaler was not there. I quickly dropped the phone on the table and went to help him sit up. He was a heavy man, but I tried to