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~[CHAPTER ONE]~

"I'm a wreck!"

I took a sip of the glass held in my hands, gaze beholding the wavering figure of Tara.

"How many cups have I had now?" I was forced to ask, right after seeing another outline of my friend appear before my eyes.

My stomach said to stop, yet my body craved for more. At this point, I could only tell she kept up with me, and just had to stand my wailing form in the mini apartment we both shared.

For the past hours, she tried putting me to a stop, yelling to keep my voice down even though I had done enough in cracking the peace of the night.

"I won't let you wallow in pains, all because you were fired from a job that never respected you" The Calm voice of my friend followed.

"It's their loss, Jane" She followed.

"Is it really?" I coughed.

"I have a year's rent outstanding, not to forget the bills the house bear"

"And what do I tell mother when she asks for money to settle her bills?"

"We'll have all this sorted out, Janet"

"Well how?" My voice soon broke out, the tears stinging my cheeks.

Now, dear reader, let me take you back to how it all started…

(FLASHBACK)

"You're fired!"

My jaw dropped at the break of those words, eyes gaping on at the hot liquid streaming down the shirt of the man who in minutes ago, had been my employer.

I had spilled coffee on him.

Hot coffee!

What luck befell a lady as me on a fine Monday morning?

But I tell you people, it was the end of a path I had taken for the past eight years, and the beginning of my search for a job.

Sometimes, one would think life would hit you with warning, get you prepared for what was to come. Have you anticipate whatever was out there.

But no, not this time.

It struck me hard. Leaving me with nothing, but the fact that all my years of working here, had been an utter waste—Years of me toiling to have a better stand.

My things had been tossed out my office in less than a minute.

Come on, now.

I knew Corrine never liked me, but was this how fast she was at getting rid of me?

She had slipped the letter into my sweaty palms, eyes registering the shock on my face.

That letter which bore the writings of the department's director telling me never to step foot in the company.

There must be something more to this, cause clearly, it can't be coffee. I mean, I've worked here for eight years, and never had problem. Why would a spill of a cup of coffee, suddenly resort to me being relieved of my duties?

It was absurd!

Still that never stopped them from escorting me out, leading me to the elevator, and right past the exit.

They were done with me!

Simply put, they had had it enough, and that sure was the end of my role in an office that I had found joy these past few years.

END OF FLASHBACK…

The alcohol had done enough suppressing those tears, but only now did I realize nothing could stop the pains from showing.

I didn't resist, knew so well I couldn’t. So I did what I knew best. I let it all out.

"Come on, Janet. I know you better than this" She called softly.

"You will fight through. You always do" How soft those words were, yet they bore much weight in my ears.

She was my only comfort at this point. My only push. And in her arms, sobbing my heart out, I had soon fallen to a night I hoped would drown my pains.

~~~

-A WEEK LATER-

"Your Marketer just quit" I stated like that wasn't the reason there was a job opening in the first place.

"You should have a look at my Résumé if you're in search of the best marketer in town"

"And according to our research, you were fired from your last job"

Those words slapped the glee off my entire being, with gaze left gaping on at that figure before me. His grey eyes did so well examining mine, body relaxing back in the black, rewinding chair, while he beheld the fright that had crossed my profile.

"You didn't resign like you stated in the application" He followed.

"You lied to us, Miss Parker"

"And if you haven't been oriented already, Holden Inc. holds honesty as their core value" His utterance was a hit to me.

"Well you guys must think again, cause your father has been dishonest his entire life, stealing from the masses, protected by the government"

That was a blow to him. A real challenge it ought to be.

It worked for my last employer, of course it did, yet, what should have been a frown on that striking face of his was barely made eminent. His lips tugged into a grin, eyes filled with levity while they peered on at my shaken form.

"Give me one reason why I should employ you, Miss Parker" He called in a breath.

I searched around the office, eyes trying to have a go at what kind of person he was.

If he was the calm type, he needed fury, if he was the raging type, he needed understanding and lots of distractions, but I tell you, I was left with not a clue to what I sought.

I couldn't read this man.

I, Janet Marie Parker was very good at reading people, at this point, it was only fair to be considered a gift, but for some reason, this stranger before me had all of that crushed in a second.

Not for a moment, was I given an insight as to who he really was. It was hopeless trying to figure him out.

And only at that moment came the words that stumbled out my mouth.

Those words that would either be the beginning of a new job, or the end of a search.

"Let me please you"