Another chance

Marissa's point of view 

I fluttered my eyes open immediately as I sat up on the bed. Where was I? 

My head throbbed as the memories of last night resurfaced—the bar, the whiskey, a group of men trying to assault me. I didn’t remember any other thing; I held my breasts while taking away the strand of hair that covered my face. 

"Yes! " Then the stranger who came to my rescue. Oh God, the stranger. I tried to remember what had happened—every single moment; however, it felt like nothing brushed through my mind. 

"Damn!" 'I sighed in frustration, simultaneously massaging my temples. How come I couldn’t remember anything that had happened? I soliloquized. 

My eyes roamed around the room, but he was nowhere to be found. The bed was empty, and the sheets rumpled and tangled from our encounter.

“Wait, it wasn’t like I didn’t remember; I did remember, but there was something about his face that I couldn’t catch. I tried my best to remember what he actually looked like. 

My phone rang again, interrupting my train of thought. I stared at the screen as the double-ed letters caught my attention. 

“Chimp, I wasn't wearing my glasses; how would I even have seen the face of the man not to talk of remembering if I didn’t have my glasses on? My sight has been terrible from a very young age; thus, I can't really see anything without my glasses on. 

I jolted into reality as I stared at my phone, which had been ringing for quite a number of minutes. I answered without looking at the caller ID.

"Hello"

I said grudgingly 

“Marissa, it's Monica,” came the voice from the other end. 

I wondered why Monica was calling. I already got fired. What business could she have with me?

“Good morning,” I replied, my voice hoarse.

“Uhm.. Mr Thornhill called to get you back. Be here in an hour." I ended the call without hearing more of what Monica had to say. 

 "You must meet up for the presentation. Don't be late," Monica’s message came seconds later.

 Panic set in as I threw off the covers and scrambled out of bed.

I couldn't afford to make a bad impression on myself again. I already screwed up the first time. This is my chance for redemption. 

I scanned the room frantically for my bag, and I spotted it lying in the corner of the room. 

My car!

I spotted it in the parking lot, and I heaved a sigh of relief. The stranger must have brought me here himself because I have no memory of me driving myself here. 

I hopped in and drove to my apartment. Once I got home, I sprinted to the bathroom to splash some water on my face, trying to shake off the remnants of the previous night. "You got this," I lied to myself. "Just pretend you're a functioning adult, not a hungover mess who lost her virginity to a stranger last night," I soliloquized.

I walked out of the bathroom and hastily grabbed my clothes, yanking them on as I smoothed out the wrinkles. 

I rushed out, entered my car, and started the engine. 

The car came to life but died almost immediately. 

“What, please don't do that? I cried, starting the engine again. 

The same thing happened, and I angrily got out of the car. After kicking the car, I ran out of my compound.

I hurried to the road, hoping to get a taxi real quickly.I didn't even have the time to look at my appearance in the mirror before rushing out.

I took a deep breath every 30 seconds, trying to calm my nerves.

' I got this. I am a professional.'

I chanted those in my head as I ran along the street.

I waited for the pedestrian crossing light, and when I saw it was green and no car was passing at the moment, so I decided to quickly cross.

But while crossing, a car suddenly appeared out of nowhere, almost hitting me. At that moment, I could only bend down and cover my head. I was in shock, I couldn't even move.

Luckily for me, the person driving pulled the brake on time, though very close to me, it avoided hitting me.

I was still bending down, cowering in fear, and when I looked up, I saw a huge man towering over me.

As the man adjusted his impeccably tailored suit, his hands casually slipped into his trouser pockets, exuding confidence. Yet, his gaze hardened as he glanced at me. He bent down before him, a hint of confusion mingling with his undeniable charm.

He cleared his throat. “Are you blind?” He asked as he pulled me up aggressively.

“Wow! I can't believe a handsome man can be this rude,” I uttered out loudly, hiking my arms away from him.

He bit his lips. “This is the problem I have with lower-class people,” he said, a thin line forming between his forehead.

‘Did I just hear him saying low-class people?’

With fury in my face, I confronted him, “Why won't you utter that statement, since people born with a silver spoon are arrogant and proud like a peacock. You are nothing but a peacock.”

He removed his hands from his pockets and pointed his finger at my forehead, letting it touch my head.

“That's why people like you roam around the street trying to motivate the rich that they are too proud. It is only a homeless girl like you who has nothing to do that would say so,” he uttered.

I bit my lips in anger. ‘Who the hell was he talking to too?’ I said to myself.

I watched as he turned back and got into his car. I quickly called him back.

“Hey, you!” I said, pointing at his back.

I managed to get his attention as he turned back, facing me and, without giving him any opportunity to say anything, I spit on his face.

He was really shocked. I saw as he looked at me, bewildered.

“You are nothing but a jerk,” I said before crossing off.

I can't let anyone rubbish me like that. I was so pissed off because the jerk made me later than I was. I started walking faster, and it made me look awkward.

After a few minutes of walking, I finally got to the company. I looked up and took a deep breath, blowing my hair that kept coming to my face.

I rushed to the restroom to adjust my appearance. I really looked awful. No wonder that jerk had the right to insult me, I sighed.

Leaving the restroom, I rushed into the elevator while it was about to close, and squeezed myself in right on time.

After entering the elevator, I sensed someone familiar, so I looked at the face of the guy who was beside me.

It was that same jerk I saw on my way here. He noticed me too and his expression also changed.

“Don't you utter any statement, you jerk. I don't want you to ruin my mood,” I said, pointing my hand to him.

I noticed that he had changed his suit to a white one.

He did not say anything for a while and only adjusted his tie while looking at me.

“You work here, right?” he asked.

“Yeah. Are you surprised that I work in a big company?” I said to him and the elevator opened. He walked out arrogantly, letting out a weird smirk.

I also came out of the elevator and walked behind him.

“Where was he going?” I thought. 

‘If he were to be a client I would make sure I disapprove of his proposal,’ I thought as I walked elegantly beside him, swaying my hair and making sure he got obstructed as I entered into Thornhill's office.