Chapter One - Finally, Work.

"Well, since you broke every rule in the book, it would be safe to say you're officially fired from here. Wow, wow. Would you look at that? Was she fired on her first day at work? Wow."

       She sat motionless for a second, unable to process everything that had just happened. She'd tried to come here as early as she could. She even had to wear a fucking gown. Something she thought in her next life she would never wear. She had tried her best but yet, it wasn't working out as usual. She was nearly on the verge of crying. She slowly rose to leave the office.

                                      2 hours earlier…

         Dominique Linkin was late for her first day of work. She checked the giant brown clock in her room a few minutes after eight. She slept late last night because she had been preparing for this very day and was about to ruin it by going to work late. She wasn't an alarm person, making it hard to hear it ring at six-thirty.

         Inhale, Exhale. Ansel Incorporation Company was a well-known, reputable company, and it has always been her dream to work there. When she received the email from the company two days ago, she couldn't believe her eyes. She doubted that she could ever be selected to work there and that her best friend, Patricia, had told her that the company only accepts people of a noble background with good results. 

Good results, yes. She cleared her papers and had all as in Accountancy and Business Administration. But the aristocratic background, no. Her father was working in a mall three miles away from home before he died, and her mother? She was a teacher before her illness made her bedridden. They never really had lavish life, and as the only child, Dominique was contented. She never complained, never requested more. Everything went well until the day her father died. He had some debts to pay, and her mother had to take a loan to pay it off. Even with the loan, they had to sell most of their properties. By then, Dominique was in college and had no idea what was happening until she returned to see the empty house. Sooner after that, her mother fainted while cleaning the house and was later diagnosed with angina. Dominique's life was shattered. She had to skip classes to visit her mother and also do side jobs to bring money for the hospital bills. A year filled with pains, agony, sorrow, and anguish.

      She shook her head as to forget all that awful memories. Today, all that was going to change. She has a new job, a good one at that too. She pulled out the grey gown her mother got for her twenty-second birthday. Though she was not too fond of these types of dresses, she had to wear one today to look presentable to her co-workers. She pulled out her worn-out brown shoes from her shoe rack. She was okay with the state of the boots and how many stares she would get once she stepped into the company. She considered wearing a hat because of the sunny weather, but wearing one was most inappropriate for classy company. She then tied her auburn hair into a little bun. With that, she headed out with her simple style.

        She quickly rushed into the kitchen, grabbed a few cookies from the refrigerator, and patted her cat, Mitten, on her head. She stopped at the mirror in the kitchen and smiled brightly. Yup, she was set to take over the world. 

*****

"You are late, Miss..."

"Dominique Linkin. "Dominique abruptly answered and shifted uncomfortably on the chair.

"Mm-hm." The blond-haired woman snorted and went back to her papers. She then pulled out a file and handed it over to Dominique.

"Everything you need to know about Ansel Incorporation Company is written there, so please read it carefully. And I must admit, I didn't expect you to pass the interview."the woman said.

Dominique needed clarification. "What interview are you talking about ma'am?"

The blond-haired woman peered through her glasses and stared hard at her. "You didn't take the interview? Then you're not supposed to be here. The only people here are those that passed the interview."

"I didn't know that there was an interview. I just got an email a few days ago from here saying that I got the job, and here I am."

"Hmm. Let me check my list of candidates." The woman said and went back to her papers. She brought out a blue file and searched through it with her eyes.

"What did you say your name is again? Miss..?"

"Dominique Linkin. "

"Oh, I see. I see the problem. There was some misunderstanding."

"What do you mean? "

"There's someone here with the same first name as yours. Dominique Wilkins. So the email was supposed to be sent to her and not you. Sophie and always making silly mistakes. I apologize for any inconvenience."

      Dominique couldn't believe her ears. A mistake? She had never heard anything about any interview. So she wasn't even recruited at all. She wished she had listened to Patricia's advice. But there's no need for her to give up. Not when she has gotten this far. There was no way she would go back home just like that.

"So now, I'm supposed to start going back? All my fare wasted? It's unfair. "

The woman sighed exhaustedly. "I'm sorry about that, but there's nothing I can't do."

"Oh really, there's nothing you can do..? After I had left my house to come here. What do you mean by there's nothing..." Dominique had to pause to take a deep breath cause she was already raising her voice.

The lady stormed her hands on the desk and stood up. "Look here, young lady. I already apologized to you for wasting your time. You can't just come in here and start raising your voice at me when you don't even belong or work here."

      Dominique held the lady's hand. "Please, ma'am, I really need this job. I can't just go home like that. My sick mom is waiting for me to pay her hospital bills. Please don't let me go. With the fact that the other woman isn't around, that place can't be empty. Do consider, please, ma'am. I apologize for raising my voice earlier, but I really need this job."

      The lady frowned as Dominique said this. She sighed, removed Dominique's hand from hers, and sat down. She shifted her glasses uncomfortably and sighed again.

"Well, we could work something out. The other lady isn't here, but you are, so yes, we can work something out. All you have to do is disguise as Dominique Wilkins now, till I change the paperwork. And you must not tell a soul, okay?"

      Dominique threw her hands over the old lady. "Thank you so much. I promise to be punctual and diligent too. And also, no one is going to know, okay? Trust me." she winked at the old lady.

      The older woman cleared her throat for Dominique to regain herself. "Yeah, right. That's all they always say, but it is the complete opposite at the end of the day. I hope you're not like that. The most important thing I want you to do for me is to avoid the director. And ah, yes. You're welcome."

"Well, that's easy. I work in the accounts department, so yeah, he won't notice me." Dominique said with a wide grin on her face. She was very confident that everything would work out.

She sat nervously, waiting for the lady to bring some documents and her office key.

She finally returned.

"I arranged a little office for you to use. The guy over there-" she pointed at a curly-haired guy who stood in the hallway, grinning from side to side," he would direct you to your office."

        Dominique nodded and thanked the woman again. She grabbed the papers with her pouch and followed the guy. As he later introduced himself, the guy-Simeon had worked here for over four years. He explained how the company had enough profits this year than the rest of the years because of their new director. Rosette, the lady from before, was one of the first staff here, Simeon explained. He went on and on, rambling about things Dominique was too excited to hear. She wasn't paying attention to him. She was just too anxious to see her new office.

        They finally got there. It was a few meters away from the cafeteria. Dominique smirked. She could be sneaking off to get lunch anytime she wanted to. Simeon wished her luck and went away and promised to chat later. Dominique bid him goodbye, rubbed her hands together, and went for the door knob. 

        It was just as she wanted it to be. Small, but yet magnificent. There was a window at every end of the room. The wisteria carpet under her huge desk made the room look aesthetically pleasing. She placed her brown suitcase, and then there was a vast black seat just for her. 

    She excitedly sat on the chair and whirled it. It was dusty, meaning no one had entered here in the last few months. She wondered why. She shrugged it off and started arranging the desk and dusting the whole place.

And this is what is called "a dream comes true".

In a few minutes, she was done cleaning up. She slumped tiredly on the chair and wiped the sweat off her forehead. She checked her watch. Few minutes to eleven. A good time to call Patricia. She left the office to get enough air and headed for the cafeteria for a drink or two because she was hungry. 

      A scary-looking bald man with a scar close to his eye was behind the counter. He stared at Dominique with his emotionless eyes, and she shuddered. She gulped, took a deep breath, and walked towards the counter.

She faked a smile and started, "Can I order something? A burger, maybe?"

He hesitated a little before he answered her,

"I only attend to the boss's orders. " His deep voice sent shivers down her back. 

"But I'm starving..." she muttered. What exactly is this place? There's a cafeteria, but no one gets any meal there besides the boss. She clucked her tongue. That was the one thing Simeon didn't explain to her. 

"There's coffee for you, newbie."

"Of what use is coffee to me now? It's no good," she muttered under her breath.

"Did you say something?"

Dominique grinned. "Of course not. I'm grateful for the coffee. "

The man smiled and turned to the coffee machine. His smile was scary. Dominique gulped again. He presented a coral-designed cup filled with coffee to the brim to Dominique. That was the most beautiful cup Dominique had ever seen in her life. She thanked the man and started back to her office.

She sipped the coffee slowly as she dialed Patricia's number. They have so much to talk about. Starting from the mistaken identity to the coffee, yup. That was a whole lot. 

"Hey, baby girl. I've been waiting for your call."Patricia's voice rang in Dominique's ears. She sounded drunk too.

"Girl, are you okay? Are you drunk this early? "

Then came Patricia's hysterical laughter. "No, no. I'm okay, and I'm okay. I'm not drunk. Andy came over, so we just had a few drinks. So where are you, girl?"

I'm at work."

"Work? Don't tell me you got the job ."

"Yes, I got the job." Dominique squirmed.

Patricia screamed. Dominique had to put the phone away from her ear for a few seconds. 

"I knew you'd get the job. So proud of you."

"Oh really? You knew?" Dominique asked sarcastically. She pushed the door and entered her office. She placed the cup on her desk and leaned on the chair.

"Of course, I knew, baby girl. Just forget I said anything the last time I came over. I'm proud of you. I'm sure your mom is so proud of you too. Your dad also. I sound like an old man, Dominique. "

Dominique smiled. "Thank you, Patty. The next step is to make friends with people here."

She sighed, then asked," So how's France? How's Andre?"

      Andre was Patricia's junior brother, and because of his job, he had to move to France. His mother insisted that Patricia should tag alongside him. Sometimes, Dominique envied her. She had everything Dominique lacked. Fancy clothes, noble background, enough money. Even a car too. Regardless, their friendship was genuine, and they both loved each other.

She took another sip of the coffee. "Ah, shit. No sugar? Why didn't I notice this earlier?"

"What's wrong?" Patricia asked.

"There's no sugar in the coffee I got in the cafeteria."

Patricia laughed. "Who drinks coffee by this time, Dominique?"

Dominique sighed and explained everything to her. She took the cup and headed back to the cafeteria. 

"Like I can't understand why their director should be given such stupid orders.." She was saying. She didn't notice the small crowd walking towards her.

"I'm telling you. If I dare find who the boss is, I'll sit him down and have a nice chat with him on how to welcome his recruits..."She didn't finish her statement when she bumped into someone and accidentally poured her cold coffee on the person's white shirt.