Chapter Five - Red Bills

        Sitting outside on the cold steps of St Mary's Hospital, Dominique sniffled. She checked the time on her cellphone and it was few minutes after eleven. It was really late to walk on the streets of New York. Either way, she didn't want to go home. Not when she needs over a two hundred thousand dollars for her mother's surgery. The doctor had told her that her mother's angina was eating her vital organs slowly and if care wasn't taken, in the next one month, she would be gone.

    She stood up slowly and started walking slowly away from the hospital. She started sobbing again. Where was she going to? What was she supposed to do? She lost the only chance she would have gotten that kind of amount of money. And she hasn't even applied for any other jobs apart from that particular one. She wished she had listened to Patricia when she told her to apply somewhere else other than that stupid Ansel Incorporation Company. 

    She stopped for a moment. What if she went back to the company and asked for forgiveness? Obviously no one was above mistakes. She thought of the Director's face and shook her head. Of course not. He would never forgive her after what she said before she left his office.

    “This place sucks. Who the hell makes a bunch of stupid rules like no cellphones or no eating or other shit like that? You also suck as a director. You feel because you're above everyone, you have to bully or order anyone around. Well, boy, I'm glad not to be working here, Mister. Goodbye.“

    She shook her head again. Nope, no one would forgive anyone for saying something so rude. And why did she open her mouth to say something like that? She was really angry, that was why. She sighed heavily. Now, she have to throw away her pride to go back there to ask for forgiveness. She really don't have any choice, does she?

    ***********

    Rosette didn't expect to see her today. She was lying down on the floor, close to the receptionist's desk. The security from outside the building didn't mention about anyone staying here or something. Maybe she snuck in without them noticing. She was still wearing the same clothes from the day before. She wondered why she was here. She heard from the company's gossip, Chloé that the boss had fired her. Rosette felt bad for the poor girl. But she was here again. She wondered why. 

    She gently tapped the young lady on her shoulder. The girl didn't budge. She decided to tap her again. But she didn't react, at all. Rosette sighed. She must be so tired or maybe a heavy sleeper. But either way, it wasn't advisable for her to be sleeping on the floor. What if the boss comes to work early today? How would he react? 

    She tapped the girl again but this time it was on her cheek. Startled, the girl woke up. She rubbed her eyes and sat up. For a second, she didn't say anything. Rosette realized that maybe she wasn't fully awake so she decided to speak up.

    “Dominique, what are you doing here? For God's sake, you were on the floor. What if you caught a cold or something?”

    Dominique yawned loudly. “At least, I got here before him, right?”

    Rosette widened her eyes. She didn't know what to say. “Poor child. I heard what happened yesterday...”

    Dominique cut in. “What ever happened yesterday, happened yesterday. Today's a new day. And I'm here to do my best to get my job back. ”

    Rosette pitied her. If only she knew what kind of man the boss was. He would never forgive her or anyone. 

    “Have you eaten anything for breakfast? I got bacon, cheese and eggs. ” She pulled out her lunch bag and brought out a small food hamper. She bent over to give it to her. 

    Dominique took a good look at the food. She gulped hungrily but she shook her head.

    “Don't worry, I'm not hungry. I'll be fine.” Immediately she said this, her stomach grumbled.

    Rosette laughed loudly. “Come on, don't be shy.”

    Dominique smiled awkwardly. She wasn't used to people gifting her stuffs and all. She gnawed the food hungrily like a stray cat. Rosette straightened her back and went ahead to start clearing her desk to start the day's work. 

    In a matter of five minutes, she was done arranging and Dominique was done eating. She was already standing with her hands stretched out, with the empty food hamper on her hands. Rosette smiled. She collected the food hamper and asked her to sit down in her office for a few minutes. She then went up to clear the boss's table before he comes. It was already few minutes to seven and by seven , the boss was going to be here. She thought about Dominique. How was she going to help the poor child? She knew how unconvincing the boss was. He would never consider to take back the girl. She sighed again. She hoped she could work something out.

    When she got back to her office, Dominique was reading one of the books that was on her desk. She cleared her throat to get her attention.

    “So how are you going to her back your job from the boss? You know how he is.”

    Dominique sighed. “I don't know, I just have to work out something. My mom is really in need of over a hundred thousand dollars and I don't know where to get such amount of money apart from here. So I have to get the job back anyhow.”

    She then stopped for a moment then continued, ”Did you tell him about the mistaken identity issue?”

    Rosette shook her head. “Of course, not. He didn't even say anything about sacking you. I heard the news from some other source. ”

    “I guess the news already travelled that far. ”

    Rosette smiled faintly. “This is a big company, Dominique. Any little talk here becomes a huge gossip topics for chatterboxes.”

    “I guess...”

    “And I want to ask you something? Why are you still on your old clothes? You didn't go home? ”

    Dominique didn't really want to involve anyone in her private life. She didn't want to be pitied by anyone but she had no choice.

    “After the whole incident yesterday, I went to visit my mom in the hospital. We had a little talk, no issues. But the moment I was about to leave the hospital, I was called back by her nurse and was told that she wasn't breathing.”

    Rosette gasped. “Your mom is dead? I'm so sorry..”

    Dominique interrupted. “Not yet. But soon if I don't have a hundred thousand dollars in my hands.”

    Rosette understood what she was house through. She too had had that near-death experience with her first son and back then she had nothing. Not even a husband. He had left her few days after she had their first child. They say he ran off with some chick. She didn't really care back then. Though things were rough with them. Luckily for her, someone had told her about this company. And at that time, Colin wasn't born. It was his father, Ansel Wilkins that ran the place with his wife. She had come to him, crying and begging for a chance to work here even if as a cleaner. She remembered how compassionate Mr Ansel was. He immediately paid for her son's surgery and he was still the reason she and her child was still alive to this moment. 

    But his son was an entirely different person. He wasn't as kind as his father. He ordered everyone around, irrespective of their age or status. And somehow, the company still prospered. Rumors had it that his father was actually the one who advised him to use iron hands on his employees. Rosette knew that this particular rumor was false. The Ansel Wilkins she knew wouldn't have ordered such a thing unless he too had changed. A lot happened after his wife had left him. Maybe that had changed him.

    She brought her thoughts back to Dominique who had her eyes fixed on the book she was reading before.

    “I'll help you, somehow. I'll talk to the CEO of this company. Maybe he could help get your job back.”

    Dominique widened her eyes in happiness and without holding back, jumped on the old lady and hugged her tightly.

    Unlike last time, Rosette hurriedly hugged her back and kissed her forehead. 

    “Save your thank yous till you get your job back. It's already seven. He'll be here soon. So stay here for some minutes and I'll be back soon, okay? Don't leave this office till I'm back, okay?”

    Dominique nodded.

    *********

    Dominique bit her fingernails impatiently. It was almost an hour since Rosette had gone to talk to the boss. The building was already buzzing with noises. Dominique was sure that by now, almost everyone was at their duty post working and it wasn't even nine in the morning yet. She wondered if she'd ever cope waking up that early to go to work then coming back so late in the night. She stood up and paced round the little office. It was smaller than her 'former' office. But more decorated. It had an old antique clock on the end corner of her desk and a Japanese painting of two fishermen hung on the wall. She walked towards the painting and studied it for a second. It was extraordinary beautiful. Surely, Rosette really had a good art taste.

    Suddenly the door swung open and Rosette walked in. She had this gloomy look on her face. Dominique rushed to her side.

    “Did it work out? Did he say anything positive?”

    Rosette heaved a sigh before she started. “Apparently, he knew about the mistaken identity because the person he was to supposed employ was one of his family members. A distant cousin. So he had suspected you right from when you entered into the cafeteria cause he knew that his father had told his cousin concerning the rules that coordinates the company. So he said even if he wants to give you back your job, how would he be able to ever trust you when you lied on your first day. ” Rosette stopped and wiped the little beads of sweat on her forehead and then continued, ”But still, I pleaded with him to let him have a meeting with you, even if it was just for five minutes so he later agreed but that cost me a month salary...”

    Dominique gasped. “Why? What do you mean? He's not going to pay you?”

    “He said I orchestrated every thing and the only reason he wasn't sacking me was because his father was the one that employed me.” Rosette finished and ended with another sad sigh.

    “What kind of man is he? He has always been this harsh towards you guys here?” Dominique asked.

    “Not this harsh. I heard from his driver that he and his father had a little argument last night and he's still grumpy about it.”

    Dominique snorted. “Other than that, he should learn not to transfer aggressions on innocent people. I'm really sorry, Rosette. It's my fault you don't get to eat for a month.”

    Rosette smiled faintly. “And who says that I'm not going to eat for a month, Dominique. I have some savings plus my son sends me a little tip every month. I can manage that till he decides to start paying me.”

    Dominique folded her arms. Was she really ready to work in this kind of place? As she was about to say something, she was interrupted by a voice she had heard before.

    “Miss Dominique Wilkins or should I say, Linkin? I need you in my office this minute. And don't waste my time. You know what happens to people that wastes my time, don't ya?”