Chapter one

   "I don't care how you're gonna do it Anna, all I know is that I can't keep feeding you at the same time with your siblings because I know that you're a grown woman and you can fend for yourself and equally this family." In my quiet moment, I had remembered my mum bashing me earlier that day at home like she always did. She always found apparently everything I did very disgusting including the ground I walked on. I had series of thoughts going on deep inside my mind because I was totally confused on the next line of action to take. 

  Just then, my best friend Kelly entered the room.

  "Hello babe, sorry I couldn't come earlier enough to keep you company, the thing is I had to run up to the grocery store for some emergency shopping. Meanwhile, you look very moody and sad, what's up girlie?" Kelly asked me sympathetically as she pouted like a little baby. She had been a great friend to me a long while since childhood and she's been the one making me feel like a human again. She knew about everything I was passing through and she was always there for me. On several occasions, Kelly had planned confronting my mom but I felt it was very much unnecessary. "I'm fine girlfriend, I'm very much okay."

  "No, you are not okay Anna, I know you very much and I love you as my sister and best friend. Please, don't ever try to hide things from me or try to pretend because I do genuinely care about you my love and I would never want you to be hurt. Please, talk to me." Kelly has a compassionate and big heart, she had the ability to comfort people. I had grown fond of her that I barely keep things aware from her. "Kelly, my mum is gonna kill me with her terrible words, she has been making life unbearable for me, she even goes around telling people how I killed my dad." I cried out really hard as I stopped Kelly from trying to wipe the tears flowing down my cheeks. I couldn't bear it anymore especially with the constant nagging and hatred from my mum. I couldn't possibly think about any other thing other than running away or better still ending my life so that I could just have peace. "I understand everything you're passing through Anna, that is why I once asked you to move in with us. I won't wanna loose you because I can't bear it. This time around, I insist that I'm gonna talk to your mum anytime I see her again. I can't always be watching you feel bad and hurt like you're some robot or toy. You're my best friend and I would do my best to always fight for you and make you very much comfortable and happy." Kelly said to me comfortingly as she drew me into her warm embrace. She had been the one that had always fought people most times doing our childhood because she was an extrovert and she hated being intimidated or bullied by anyone at all. I held her tightly while we embraced because she was the only reason I felt true and genuine love. We finally disengaged from each other and she made me go take a bath and we headed out to stroll.

  *****

  STAR ESTABLISHMENT AND GROUP OF COMPANIES.

  HEADQUARTERS.

  "Why is this office building looking so unkept and dirty, I pay you'll every month and yet you are still nonchalant with work. The thing is, the whole cleaners are fired." The young boss, Luke Walter barked real loud. The richest young dude in not only America, but the whole world at large. He wasn't only self made but he was also the heir to the world's largest winery company with its headquarter in Paris, France. He had an egocentric attitude and always behaved very rudely to people and that attracted a whole lotta enemies for him. "Sorry sir about the administrative office, I had informed the cleaners earlier about a thorough cleaning, I didn't know that they would ignore me after all." The secretary, a short slender lady probably of Asian decent complained to Luke, the boss about the misconduct of the cleaners. "You scum, I never asked you a damn question about anything and I don't need your lame excuses but I assure you, when next something like this repeats again, I won't hesitate to fire you too. Now leave my office immediately and get those paper work and documents done." Luke fired at his secretary who made sure to leave immediately after he issued his command. She knew better than anyone that Luke won't hesitate to fire her immediately if she tried to stay a bit longer after he had asked her to leave. Luke was a force that no one of his staff would love to dare because the outcome won't be pretty much beautiful to hear about.

  AT THE GENERAL STAFF WELFARE OFFICE.

  "Our boss is such a scumbag, you can't imagine how he yelled at Secretary Kate like some piece of trash. I believe he needs to be thought a lesson by some people because the guy is so rude and baseless and I dislike him for that. I just hope he learns his lessons soonest." Pitch said scornfully while taking some coffee. She was known as a notorious gossip who would always get out of the trouble she cause but would make sure she implicated the other person involved.  

  "I so much detest his rude attitude too. He feels he's rich and he can talk down on anyone. Insolent." Anita the new project manager said annoyingly. She was a newbie and she couldn't understand why everyone kept quiet but she chose to talk. Pitch was fond of talking a whole lot and equally backbiting everyone. "You must have really had a terrible encounter with him. No one wants to talk about the almighty boss but deep down, you'll hate him very much. Bunch of hypocrites." Pitched hissed as she walked out of the office. Everyone knew that it was a big mistake for anyone to try interfering in the matter that concerns the boss. The old staff had a way of communicating with their eyes as they even tried to signal Anita to shut up and avoid the temptation of joining the conversation that could cost her big. "Listen to me Anita, you're still a young girl with prospect and future, don't ever try to back bite or talk I'll of our boss because it cost the people who did it earlier this job and equally other things. I'm sixty two years and I began working with Luke's father even before he married, so I will definitely tell you the truth. Their are moles that could go behind your back and put you in trouble with what you must have said. Cameras are also everywhere and I just hope you learn this time." Mama Lulu admonished Anita who was evidently nonchalant about what she was saying. She believed that nothing was gonna happen. "Thank you for your concern madame, I'm not some of those people who must have lost this job earlier. Mind your business and stay very clear off my lane. Miserable old witch." Anita cursed Mama Lulu angrily as she walked out of the office proudly. Everyone of their staff were filled with rage and anger about the mannerless and uncultured attitude that Anita had displayed. Mama Lulu tried her possible best to conceal the shame, pain, humiliation and embarrassment that Anita's words had caused her but she just decided to let go and forgive. She knew and understood that it wasn't easy to correct everyone so she decided to ignore like nothing happened.

  THE NEXT DAY.

  AT THE BOSS'S OFFICE.

  Pitch was seen cleaning the office to the shock and bewilderment of everyone. She was actually in the welfare department and apparently had nothing to do with cleaning. As usual, everyone decided to ignore and rather watch out what Pitch was up to. Anita saw Pitch inside the office building and decided to walk in and greet her. "Good morning ma'am, I can see you're doing a good job in this dirty miserable looking office of our boss, that guy is such a lazy dude." Anita blurted out annoyingly as she made sure she continued bashing the boss. Pitch was obviously enjoying the words that Anita was throwing behind Luke's back. "Phew. It's a pleasure having you here my darling, I know you had a perfect and beautiful night too. That stupid secretary of ours forcefully assigned cleaning this office as part of my job description. I decided to equally take up the job because it could be the beginning of beautiful things for me. Our boss is such a lazy foodie, I've spent almost the whole time cleaning and packing the debris of food particles. Such a strenuous task though." Pitch was almost crying out as she lamented over her new assignment. She immediately went back to order as she sighted the presence of her boss Luke from afar. Anita was so engrossed in her talking that she could barely notice the presence of her boss Luke in the office room. "That guy is so terrible and delusional, I dislike and hate him a whole lot and I equally hate even seeing him around. He's such a lazy young man that solely depends on the work of others. You're doing great sweetheart, I'll leave you right now." Pitch was inwardly happy that she had sighted the boss earlier and shut her mouth if not, she would have been in a big mess. Luke kept trying his possible best to restrain himself from doing something nasty because he was filled with extreme rage and anger. Anita turned to leave the office as she met the shock of her life, her boss Luke had been standing behind her all the while that she was speaking ill of him. It was unbelievable for her because she could only imagine the ground opening up immediately and swallowing her up.

  *****

  DAWSON AVENUE, LAS VEGAS.

  JAMES GROCERY STORE.

 I had gone to the grocery store to do some little shopping and equally get my toiletries and other basic needs. There was absolute tranquility in the store until a fight broke up between the cashier and a customer. The bone of contention was probably that the customer had been owing the cashier a whole long while and refused to pay the money. I watched them closely as they exchanged words until a huge fight broke out between them. It wasn't a good one as the cashier was already bleeding through his head as the supposed debtor broke a bottle of whiskey on his head. Curiosity took over the greater part of me as I forgot to leave the scene immediately. Soon the cops arrived the store, by then I was the only customer left with the two brawlers. "Hey ma'am, you under arrest and you have the right to remain silent unless what ever you say right now would be used against you in the law court."