05-unexpected situation

Laila Moore

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I traveled back to California overnight. I aimed to be at the FitFood building very early in the morning to secure my job.

When I ran away from home back three years, the pain never felt this immense. The heaviness I was feeling in my chest as I left New York was unbearable. Many were those who pitied me while on the plane, maybe from how dead I looked.

I wanted to give up. I was on the verge of drowning myself to death. But some words kept chiming in my brain. They were Mister Ross' words. 'Never give up'

There must have been a reason why everyone in my family hates me. I hoped just a day would come and I would at least know, because it was really hard to bear it all without knowing why I deserved it.

I hated everyone, and I was close to changing my name and living like they did not exist.

I deleted everyone's number and blocked them from every social media. It was not easy, but it was for the best. They were not gonna hear from me ever again.

I had just arrived at work. Everyone seemed to be back to work. That included Oliver who was now the new boss. He was seated behind the boss' office table. He was busy on his laptop, as well as busy ignoring that I had walked in.

He hated my existence, that was certain, but he needed to explain to me why I got fired.

I had a killing headache and I was sure I looked pathetic. My eyes also felt so heavy, I had no idea when I last had a nice sleep, but who would even need sleep while in such a situation?

I closed the door and strode inside.

It was quite amusing to see him clad a bit neatly, a white shirt which of course was not fully buttoned. The sleeves were folded exposing his forearms. His hair, like always, was in a low ponytail though this time, there were some hair strands neatly set to fall on each side of his face.

If you ask, he was relatively not suitable for a person to represent a company to anyone. I preferred his father, who always looked professional.

I decided to break the ice because, after all, I was the one who had an issue.

"I have worked for Mister Ross for three years. I have been his assistant and he can testify that I adhered to the regulation of this organization." I paused and breathed.

He did not look at me once or stop typing. Chances were he never gave two fucks about my grieves.

"I know Mister Ross is in a critical condition and I am his PA, but that doesn't mean I am fired. He will get well and I will continue working for him. Right now I am required to do some of the work that I used to do without him."

A vibrating sound caught me gazing at his phone on the table. He never hesitated to answer. He listened for a while then checked his wristwatch.

"I will be there." He spoke to whoever was on the call and then hung up.

I was caught by him getting up. He grabbed his car keys and his phone then began leaving.

Ignoring me was like his favorite game aside from hating me. What I did not come all the way from New York, straight to his office, was to get a silence treatment.

"Oliver." He stopped, luckily. He had gripped the doorknob, almost leaving. "I re–"

"Since when did we get to a point of disrespect?" He dropped his hand from the knob and got back to where I stood rooted. "Who do you think you are? My mother?" I kinda shivered at how heavy his voice was. "To call me by my name, you must be my mother or sister!" He thundered.

"Mister Castillo." I swallowed. "I really need this job."

"Now hearing the manner you would address me, I am convinced that you were not offered the right education." He roughly uttered and that touched a part that always ached. "From now on, pass through the company secretary if you want to speak to any of the employees in the organization. Book a proper appointment."

"Sir, give me a reason why I was fired." I stood my feet. The nerve of this moron.

He scoffed. "Are you sure you want one? Where is your resume which should be in your file at the HR office?"

That, I was fucked because Mister Ross did not find it necessary to ask for my resume. Like I said, the company was operating without a PA but for whatever reason, Mister Ross offered me the job.

"I guessed so." He noticed my silence. "This is not a dumpster where unskilled people will just walk in and think they can offer knowledge that can grow a company." He gazed on his wrist watch again and continue. "All job vacancies are on the company website, follow the right channel and apply for whichever vacancy suits you."

He gripped the doorknob and pushed the door open. He was about to step out when he stopped and turned to me again.

"And now that you are here, make sure to clear this desk."

Right outside CEO's office was my desk. It was quite an equipped office with a comfortable brown leather seat and a working computer which I rarely used because I had a laptop and an iPad.

Behind it was an enormous window that I used to view the city when I was bored. There was no customer seat because I used to direct clients directly to the boss

Once client's booked appointments with the company secretary, she would send to me a daily schedule and I would handle the rest as she took care of the company.

Susan never used to enter the boss's office except on Tuesdays, during my off day.

I loved my job. It got me to travel around and meet other prominent people. I was always beside Mister Ross. A day never came when I thought I would stop working for him. But now I was fucked. Fired.

I wished I had finished my education. It could have at least made my life easier. Now I couldn't even apply for a PA position. I lost it in a snap.

I sank into the chair that I loved a lot. If anyone could have seen me a week ago, the smile I had on my face, they could have said I was a different person.

I was required to pack my things and leave, but I was tired for that. I rested my head on the table. My tired eyes were voluntarily shutting, but I did not know that the moment I closed them I would immediately break down into tears.

Silent sobs began fleeing my throat. As much as I tried to control it, I was aching. I realized I had a lot in my heart that I was avoiding.

Dad passed away. He was after all my father despite that he hated me. But he was gone for good.

Mister Ross was in a coma. I couldn't even pour to him the problems I had in my heart like I used to.

I was now jobless and broke. I had no good papers either. In short, I was an idiot.

I did not have any friends. Silly how Mister Ross and Mike were the only friends I had. If it was for drinking, we used to do it together, if it were for vacations, we would go together.

We were so close that I forgot I had a life. But God knows that they were the only people who understood me.

It's the way Mister Ross treated me like his only child. He spoiled me and now he was not here to tell me that I needed to keep fighting.

I had no idea how much I cried or how long I had been there, but I suddenly jerked up when I felt some cold fluid gushing down my hair. I was drenched when I lifted my face to the culprit. Susan.

"What the–" I shook the water off as it dripped down my shoulders.

"How long do I have to call you!" She always had bitterness when speaking to me

I stared down at my wet top which was now exposing my bra underneath.

"Why would you do that?" I questioned. I was losing it, and God knows I was close to jumping on her.

"Well, I am supposed to lock the boss's office, care to leave?" She slammed the glass she had carried the water with on the table.

I checked the wall clock and boy oh boy, I slept for hours. I didn't even realize it until that moment.

"Well, you didn't have to wet me." I sniffed and I felt some irritation in my throat, a feeling that only emerged when the fever was knocking.

"Oh, so it's my fault you slept off here! It always is my fault right?"

"I did not say that. I said you are rude to pour water on me."

"Rude?" She scoffed. "Oh, who is rude? For a person who showed up in this company and got employed through the back doors, denying other people opportunities, that's rude!"

I stared up at her. "You don't know shit, so shut up!"

"Or maybe you sucked his dick, who knows." She scoffed mockingly and what got me was for her to insult Mister Ross.

I got up abruptly and without a second thought, I attacked her cheek with a sound slap.

"Don't you dar–" I never completed my sentence when the door flew open. Oliver walked in.

His eyes were on me, my hand was still held up ready to give Susan what she deserved, and for her, she was busy breathing heavily as she rubbed her cheek. I could see tears in her eyes.

"What's going on here?" Oliver asked.

I dropped my hand, and he saw it.

Susan hoofed away with fake tears spewing down her cheeks.

"I've worked in many organizations, and no one has ever dared to touch me." She sobbed.

"You insulted mister–"

"I thought I made it clear that you should leave!" Oliver barked. "Now you dare to slap employees here?"

I scoffed while staring at him. "Really?" I asked. "Yes, I slapped her and do you know why? She insulted your father."

"Oh please, don't lie–"

"I am lying?" I nearly jumped on Susan. "You were never happy with me working for Mister Ross! But for you to say I sucked his dick to get employed, that's beyond!" I barked.

She shook her head and then turned to Oliver. "I did not say that. She is lying."

"That's what you said!" I screamed.

"And maybe she is right!" Oliver interrupted. Susan and I gasped.

I froze. For a moment I thought I misheard him but from the cold gaze he gave me, he seriously said it.

"Leave this building." He declared, "And if you need a job, apply!" He thundered before walking into his office.

None of my body cells were functioning. Even when he slammed the door shut, it did not alarm me. At that moment, I hoped he just blurted it out because he wanted to take Susan's side, but not that he thought I had an affair with his father for me to get the job.

I just hoped.