CHAPTER 5

Maya's POV:

“On my way to your house Vi, I have so much to tell you!” I gushed on the phone as I left my house by 10 in the morning.

“Okay my love, let me know when you get here”, my best friend giggled excitedly as I ended the call.

I hailed a cab and we drove to the fancier part of town.

The yellow taxi pulled over in front of a fenced white and grey two story house.

The front lawn was beautiful with neat grasses and a wide range of exotic flowers on display.

Violet lived with her brother and single mum. They were well to do and lived comfortably.

Her mum was a nurse and her brother a lawyer. He owned his own law firm and was almost never around.

Violet lost her father to cancer five years ago, it was a dark time for the Williams household.

Violet's mum, Kate, is a sweet middle aged woman who always had a smile on her face. She looked like a younger version of her mother, the late Doctor Sarah, and was another angel God blessed this wicked world with.

Kate never failed to treat me like her daughter and I was eternally grateful for that.

I walked up to the front door and lightly knocked three times with my closed fists.

“Who is it? I’m coming!”, a cheery sing-song voice called from the other side of the door.

My eyes sparkled in anticipation as I held my gift bag with a firm grip - It contained a red wine I got from a local store and cheap chocolates.

I hated coming empty-handed to the Williams household cause Kate never failed to feed me till I couldn't move and always gave me food to take home.

She really is the sweetest.

The wooden door opened and revealed a brown-haired woman with a Cheshire grin on her red lips.

“Mayaaa, where have you been?? Come give me a hug sweetie” Kate squealed and opened her arms wide.

I immediately jumped into her arms, the Williams women gave the best hugs and there was no denying that.

“I missed you too Kate, I've been so busy looking for a new job. I didn't have time to come visit” My reply came out muffled as I was still in her warm embrace.

“Come in, you have to tell me all about it!”

“Violet!! Maya is here. Get your lazy butt downstairs”

I chuckled at Kate’s dramatic outburst.

I had always adored the bond that Violet and her mother shared. It was both beautiful and amusing to watch. They acted like sisters sometimes.

I handed the gift bag to Kate as I took off my shoes and hung my coat by the hanger close to the door.

“This is for you, it’s nothing much so you’ll help me manage it” I gave puppy dog eyes to the woman in front of me. I wished I could do more

“Manage? That’s nonsense talk. Thank you sweetheart, you’re too kind” She smiled genuinely and I felt so good at that moment.

I could smell something delicious so I knew Kate was performing one of her wonders in the kitchen.

Kate loved to cook and she was amazing at it. I've always teased her about opening a restaurant but she never listens and says she doesn't want to make it a profession.

The mother of the Williams household walked in the direction of the kitchen and I followed.

I plopped my Jean clad butt on the stool by the counter and swung my legs as I watched Kate stir something in a big aluminium pot.

“So tell me darling, how’s the job hunting going? Any luck?” Kate turned to me with a warm smile and leaned on the white kitchen counter, waiting for my answer.

Violet in all her beautiful and dripping glory decided to stroll in at that moment in a robe and a towel wrapped around her head. She looked like she just walked out of the bathroom.

“Hi Maya boo, how are you?”

“And mum, can you not scream when we STAY IN THE SAME HOUSE?!” Vi let out with a frustrated huff as she gave me a side hug.

“This is my house so no, I can do whatever I want boo”, Kate looked at her daughter with a playful smirk on her face.

Violet resorted to rolling her eyes and plopped on the stool next to me.

She suddenly jerked upright, clapping her hands excitedly and turned to me with a wide grin.

I was starting to get scared. What is happening?

“Sooo, I heard mum’s question when I came in. Spill the beans immediately! How did the interview go? Did you get the job?”

I couldn’t help the excited squeal that came out of my mouth as I wiggled on the stool,

“I got the jobbb!”

“Yayyyyy! I knew you were going to get that job!”

“Oh thank God, I’m so happy for you sweetie”

I felt two pair of arms engulf me in a group hug and I instantly melted in the peace it brought.

“Thanks guys” I said with tears in my eyes.

These women were my everything.

“We have to celebrate. Food is almost ready, grab wine glasses from the shelf Violet”

Kate did a little happy dance and popped open a bottle of sparkling wine.

She poured wine in our glasses and we made a toast to my new source of income.

We ate, drank wine and caught up on things we were missing in each other's lives.

Kate was apparently seeing someone from work so she had to leave to go on her little date.

Vi and I fell into a comfortable silence and simply enjoyed each other's company.

While scrolling through her phone and lying down on the living room couch. Vi turned her head in my direction and said with confusion in her voice,

“That reminds me, didn't that job opening come with a free apartment?”

I rolled my eyes at my forgetfulness.

I can't believe I keep forgetting about my new apartment!

I hissed and turned my attention fully to Violet.

“It does!”- I cried out -“I'm so foolish sometimes”

I facepalmed and shook my head, immediately going to my bag to bring out the key and address.

“You said it, not me” Vi said with a smirk on her nonsensical face.

I simply just glared at my best friend as I brought this insult on myself.

I handed the card with the address to her and she grabbed it with scrutinizing eyes.

“That's the address. The apartment is apparently mine for the duration of my stay at the company. I'm to keep everything as it is or I'll have to pay for damages when I want to quit or leave”.

Violet murmured, “hmm, that's not so bad”, looking at the address as if trying to figure it out.

“I know this area, it's not so far from here and even closer to your workplace”

I clapped happily, doing a little dance.

“I knew you'd know where it is! Can we go there together? Pretty please Vi? With a beautiful cherry on top?”

I unlocked all levels of my puppy dog eyes on Violet as I knew getting her to leave the comfort of her home unexpectedly would be a struggle.

Vi groaned and stared at me with annoyance in her blue eyes.

She eventually sighed and stood up to go change,

“Okay but I want strawberry ice cream after, deal?”

“Deal!” We shook hands and giggled, I loved being around my best friend.

Violet and I headed out to my new home for the next few years.

I definitely don’t plan to abandon this job anytime soon, no matter how difficult it is..