Chapter 4- Stupid Last Name

I slammed my phone down onto the coffee table, distraught. Stupid Cupcake shop, who even likes cupcakes anyway? 

Despite there being hundreds of ads for jobs in the newspaper it seemed that nobody was hiring. Either that or nobody wants a washed up, dead, abusive, criminal billionaire’s daughter working for them. I’m surprised it’s taken me this long to even think about changing my last name. 

“ Mia.” Emma’s stern voice snaps me out of my trance. “Don’t” She wags her finger in front of my face. 

“ What?” I whine. Dropping down next to her on the coach. 

“ You have that look in your eye. That fire, we do not want another incident like last spring."

“ Emma that was an accident!” I protest. I grab a pillow from behind me attempting to hit her over the head with it but she swiftly dodges my attempts, pulling a face. 

“ Tell that to the sweet kid who worked with you, who somehow caught on fire along with the top floor of the department store. How in hell did you do that?” 

I shrug my shoulders carelessly and pick up the newspaper once again putting a huge line through the cupcake ad... in bright red. “ I have a way with people.” 

“ Ha ha, yet somehow getting a job seems to be impossible for you, or even keeping a job-” 

“ Yea well people seem to have trouble with my last name. I wonder when I’m ever going to stop paying for my father’s mistakes.” I reply bitterly.

My brain sends me a reminder of the time most newspapers had my last name spread along the front cover. First for fame, then a lasting tragedy.

Emma didn’t reply immediately leaving a nice awkward silence to hang in the air with the mention of my father. Emma grabs the newspaper off me hastily trying to distract from what i had just admitted to her. “ Why don’t you apply for a clothes shop. Retail is more your area, It would look great on a resume and you would probably enjoy it more... “ She suggests. 

My heart drops at the reminder. “ I’ve already tried them all and none of them were willing to hire me even when I don’t give them a run down of my family history. I needed a really good recommendation and i ain’t gonna get that anywhere...” 

".... Or you need a new last name." Emma finishes. I can feel myself turning a bright red, i use to be proud of who i was and now all this! My fucking father couldn't make a good choice even if he tried and i still seem to be living with his consequences. Its like it can feel him mocking me from my grave. I mean my rebellion phase possibly didn't help. It's not my fault the media seems to love my life, well did. I managed to get them off my backs a few years ago when my life become 'boring' and I began to hide from them. 

But anyway I don't think changing my name would ever work, for that exact reason. If the media ever found out they would never leave me alone again. Even if it did do it, I would only dig myself deeper into this hole I continuously seem to be stuck in. Maybe my name isn't the problem, maybe its just how inexperience I am, how little education I have and how horrible I am as a person overall. Maybe I'm not good enough.

But you never know, I'm at pit bottom and there is only up from here so I guess its worth one more try. 

"Emma did you still have the number of that guy at your work that's hiring? I know you don't like him, but i really really need a Job." I begged her. 

Emma's boss Mr Williams had just fired his last PA. I have only met him once or twice but he is obsessed with Emma and she absolutely hates his guts, I guess he gets on her nerves a bit too much. She only has eyes for one particular guy, not that she would ever admit it. 

At first when Emma told me about the opportunity to work at the same place she does, i was so relieved. Only she begged me not to Interview because she absolutely hated the guy and 'wanted to save me from him'. I knew she had already turned down the job. It didn't matter how desperate i was, if Emma warned me it must be for a good reason. 

Although Emma is one of the most talented people I know and could probably afford to find another job, she doesn't. She's worked way too hard to reach her position. Plus the fact she's still working for Mr Williams pisses Leo off.... a lot. He absolutely hates the guy, with a fierce passion. More than Emma does and...well that’s saying something.

But if it means keeping off the streets, honestly i'll do anything. Plus i may not even get the job, at this point I kind of have no other options.

Unwillingly Emma types a number into her phone before handing it to me. She sighs and mutters something along the lines of 'you've been warned' before walking into the kitchen. 

I watch her leave feeling a little guilty, but Harding Industries is a huge deal and a big opportunity. I would be stupid to not even try. 

I push the phone to my ear, listening to the ring that seem to drag on for hours. I was nervous, did i really want to do this? If I got this job, i would be allowing myself to become apart of that world again. The one I had gone through so much to stay away from. 

I can't do this, i prepare myself to end the call but the ringing stops and...

" Emma such a surprise." A cocky voice comes from the other end of the phone. " Have you called to finally take me up on my offer?" 

I mentally puke at how creepy that sounded coming out of his cocky mouth. I really don't want to know what he means by that. 

" Uh no, i'm so sorry to bother you but this is one of Emma's friends Mia-" 

Mr Williams cuts off my introduction with a loud groan. " I don't have time for Emma's petty friends to be giving me prank phone calls. I'm a busy man, goodbye now." 

" Wait!" I shout into the phone, clinging onto it for dear life. I cannot loose another opportunity. " Please Mr Williams, I promise you this is no prank. I was just wondering if i could apply for the PA position that just got made available? I don't have that much experience in business-" 

" I don't hire amateurs. I work under the Mr Harding, he's very very demanding. I can't afford any stuff ups or fakes."

" Please Mr Williams, just an interview. It would mean... so much to Emma." I plead. 

" Really?" Of course the mention of Emma spikes his interested, i mean the poor mans obsessed. " What's your name?" 

" Mia...Rose." I said carefully, opting out of using my own last name. My mother stop using her maiden name after she married my father, nobody would think about it. This was the last stop, if i had to start playing those sorts of games again then at least it will keep me and my mother off the streets. I'm so sorry Emma.

" Im even sure i could convince Emma to go for a drink. I mean since your doing her such a huge favour...." I finish. My stomach tightened, I didn't like that i was using Emma but i felt like i was stuck between a rock and a hard place. I know Emma has managed to avoid all that drama and scandal that flunks the news, however surely she wouldn't mind.... just this once? 

" You can come in tomorrow 10am, lets just skip the interview and just do a trial instead. One week, if your good enough i will give you the job. If not.... Emma's friend or not, you would of been a fucking waste of time." 

" Ill see you then." I said before ending the call. 

Let the games begin. 

---

I hand Emma's phone back to her. Her hands are shaking, something is horribly wrong. I wonder if it's Leo, oh god he was on a date last night, I hope she didn't call him. But then again I know Emma is smarter than that. 

"I got a trial!" I tell her a huge smile plastered across my lips, trying to cheer her up. 

She returns my smile, but it doesn't look genuine at all, in fact she looks frightened. " Mia I'm so happy for you." she grasps her hands together in glee and gives me another smile, but I'm not fooled. 

" What's wrong Emma?" I ask her, concerned. 

She sighs and sits down at her dinning table. She looks defeated, like she had just lost an endless battle against herself. 

" Mia I'm worried about what might happen if you enter this world again. Last time you tried it nearly ruined you..." 

" I assure you Emma this is nothing like my rebellion phase. I'm not sleeping with actors, I'm not flirting with the media. I'm simply working a respectable job-" 

" In a place filled with people you hate. I just don't want you to get hurt. I don't want this to destroy you." She pleads with me. 

" Emma I want to thank you for this opportunity, I really do. Please don't worry about me. Nothing is going to happen." I reassure her. 

She doesn't look convinced at all. She's so kind, my best friend and I know that she only ever wants the best from me. But I need to do this job will give me way more than it will take. from me. 

I cannot tell Emma about the deal that I made, not while she is so hesitant about me entering the upper class business world again. Once I prove that everything is alright I will tell her. 

But I just need to prove to her, Leo, my mother, myself and the whole fucking world that I am going to be okay.