CHAPTER 1

MILLIE POV

 I walk down the busy streets of Los Angeles trying to get to work before Cassie has my head sitting pretty on her desk, watering my tendrils every morning. Wasn't just ready to receive taunts and remarks about my choice of clothes, brand of shoes and how I look like a trash lunch lady on a gloomy summer morning, type of lip gloss I wore and whatever nonsense that she spews out from those brains of hers. It is a mystery how she got this job, well apart from her dad’s connections. Her brain is literally the size of a pea in a pod.  By 1am, she sent an email about this impromptu meeting which is to be held by 11 am this morning. I went bananas when I woke up to the notification by 10:35.

  Like who does that!!

 I thought beauty queens value their night sleep more than chocolates. How the hell does she expect me to be awake by 1am after the workload she dumped on me. Heck! I slept by the foot of the kitchen door because I was too tired to drag my ass to the bed.

I rounded the corner of the company’s building, greeting the head security, Cole.

“Good morning, Ma'am” Cole tipped his head, swiping the hand-held metal around me.

I nod digging into my bag to get my ID.

“No no no” I cried, “nooooo”

“You forgot your ID again, Miss Ariel,” Cole asked.

“Yes,” I sigh. “Yes, I did”. Could this day get any worse? Not again. Please do not today. I searched again but nothing. Yep! Definitely left it on the kitchen aisle again.

“Would you mind waiting for a few minutes for me to head to the security room?” Cole proposed.

“No, I'm good”. I said, standing up trying to balance the workload, my purse and the cups of coffee Cassie ordered me to get.  “I'll just use the back door and go through the stairs.”

“Okay if you say so ma’am”

 I scurry right back to the corner of the company, down the side of the building. I sneak up, timing the camera to turn the other way then dash straight for the back door when it is all clear.

    “Fuck!” A tall guy with golden hair and deep brown eyes looked at me with fury. I look at the brown hot liquid soiling down his t-shirt onto the floor. There goes my share of coffee.

 “Can't you say anything mate” he said. I click out of it apologizing profusely trying to wipe away the stain.

“Get your hands off me, you pimp”

Um… excuse me. “I'm sorry’ I apologize. “I wish I could be of more help but I'm in a rush. So sorry”.

I bolt for the stairs.

“What about my shirt girl, who's gonna pay for that?”

“I'm sorry” I yell back.

Pimp. Is he serious? I spill coffee on him, not some drugs or slime. I'm glad I bought two cups of coffee though; my clumsiness has been through the roof these days. I wonder what excuse I could have given Cassie.

I enter the hallway sliding through like a maniac. Everyone cleared the path for me, giving me nasty stares and glares. Not that I care, I've been receiving them all my life since high school. Besides, it keeps a lot of people away and nasty Barbie dolls out of my way. I don't think I can handle one more Cassie giving me hell in this company.

They gossip, yes, but no one will be wanting to talk about me. I guess my worth is not of much value to be spewing out of people's mouths.

 I click on the button of the elevator repeatedly till it finally dings. I rushed in. People scurry out.

Rude.

But do I give a fuck?

Nope.

Besides, it gives me alone time to freshen up and look more presentable for the day. I take out my lipstick, rubbing it vigorously on my lip. Trying to bring it life. I run my hands through my curls, putting my locks into a tight bun. I arrange my skirt. Pick up my bag and face the door, watching as the number of the elevator counts down.

Ding!

I breathe out. Let's do this.

  “Millie Ray you are late”, Cassie bellow as I enter into our work space.

Okay I lied. I cannot do this.

  “You better have a good explanation on why you are late,” Cassie continued sashaying her hips round the table over to me “And don't you dare drag your kid into this. It's pathetic”.

 I close my eyes for a few seconds trying to calm my nerves and let the sting slide.

 “I…I…. I. actually…”

“You…you...what? Speak! Why are you sounding like my grandma's broken record?”. The whole table burst out laughing at Cassie's statement.

“Umm .... ummm” I cleared my throat. “What I meant to say is I saw the notification late actually. But I was not able to make it because these…umm…new real estate contractors thought it would be a wise idea to block the road”.

“Do I look stupid to you Millie? Cassie asks.

Yes. Yes, you do. With your pancake-shaped face and your boobs looking like swished foil paper.  Your doctor did you wrong. So wrong that now your body looks like a pair of scissors.  So YES. In everything pure and just, you look stupid.

 “No, you don't” I reply, wiping away my silly thoughts

“Good, because next time. I won't be so lenient with you. Understand?”.

I nodded.

 I walk to my seat, which is besides Cassie's. Placing the cup of coffee neatly by her MacBook, I set the remainder of my things on the table taking out my pen and book to jot down points.

“Now moving onto the next thing guys”, Cassie continued “I want everyone to look at the next slide. Tell me what you see?”

   The chart of the new product we launched displayed. The red lines dropping low shows that we are making some serious loss.

   “Have you seen it? We are losing people. Damn freaking losses. Why? Why? The marketing team says not one-third of the population has bought our product. That's way worse than anything in this world”.

“I have something to say”, Alec, a ginger haired lean guy with double glasses raises his hand.

“Yes, go on”

“I think if we reduce the price just a tad bit and target not only the high and affluent but also the middle class. Then maybe the sales will be massive this time”.