2. GOODBYE…

CLARISSA

I was all dressed for work that Monday morning after the incident on Thursday, but I could not bring myself to move an inch out of the door.

Denise was not making it any easier, too.

"I mean… never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that you would go down with your boss. You, of all people! You're the most reserved person I know, you slut!" She teased, whilst hitting the coffee maker over and over just to get it to work. It was a bit faulty, but we knew how to work our way around the thing.

The sweet scent of French toast and sweet potatoes wafted across the living room from the kitchen and the coffee followed through. Denise was heavy on breakfast; I, on the other hand, could not care less.

Besides, I had no appetite for food today.

I leaned back against the couch, deep in thought. Should I just quit? I asked myself.

"It's been days now, Rissa, come on, get over it. I'm sure he's even forgotten about it. He was drunk and he has a wife, even if he remembered, I do not think he would risk his marriage to meet up with you." Denise said, coming out to lean against the wall that separated the living room from the kitchen.

Her short, ginger hair was neatly tucked away in a bonnet and an apron wrapped around her small waist which I was really jealous of. She stared at me with big, river green eyes as she awaited a response.

"You do not understand, Denise. This could be my last day working. I’ve barely worked there for a year, it's the most well-paying job I have ever had. I mean, they pay a shitload of dollar bills for a mere cleaning job. I would not be earning half of my paycheck in a different company. It would be hard to find, if another company like this exists…" I moan, worry raising my eyebrows.

She sighed, then went back into the kitchen. I glared at the wall she'd leaned away from; she should have just told me she did not have a solution for me, instead of simply walking off like that.

Sighing, I stood and was about to start leaving for work, determined to avoid my boss at all costs today, when I heard her call out behind me,

"Hey! Did I say you could leave yet?" She asked and I turned around. In her small hands was a plate of food, carefully covered. It was small enough to fit into my work bag but big enough to leave me full.

I silently drew her in for a hug which lasted for minutes until she pushed me off her and yelled at me to be on my way.

Laughing, I exited our apartment, catching a bus to work after a short wait.

By the time I got to Frost Luxury Hotels—my workplace, my heart was almost beating out of my chest.

For days, I had felt him inside of me. I had a feeling that was what he wanted. Whenever I closed my eyes, I recalled how he moved inside me, how good he had made me feel… And then, in the midst of my reminiscing, I would see the face of his wife, a slender, beautiful woman whom I had wronged so bad.

My parents would be so disappointed at me up there in heaven. So disappointed.

As I walked down the hallway, I could not help thinking that I was being watched by everyone. I mean, everyone seemed to be looking right through me, everyone seemed to know what I had done. I walked faster toward the changing room section of my work area.

"Okay, you need to be quick. He usually arrives by 9am. This is 7:32am, you can clean his office and floors in an hour, can't you? And then resume with the night cleaning after today…" I prepped myself as I changed into my work clothes in front of the mirror.

I slipped my apron over my neck and tightened it, securing it to my body and I picked up the bucket and mop, my other hand grabbing the broom. I made my way through the hallway, hurriedly heading towards his office. I dropped my things in front of his office, taking a deep breath.

My hands wrapped around the handle and I pushed, clicking the door open. Much to my dismay, he was seated on his chair peering at me through his square framed glasses. I swallowed the lump that formed in my throat and stepped in, closing the door behind me.

Why was he here so early today? Of all days? I have such bad luck.

I mumbled a small good morning as I lowered my gaze, ready to begin working. "We need to talk." His deep voice sounded, making me flinch. I raised my head, my eyes reluctantly locking with his.

Did we really have to do this?

I stared at him, waiting for him to make the first utterance, afterall he was the one that wanted to talk, left to me we could just pretend this never happened.

He removed his glasses and placed them on his mahogany desk, then interlocked his fingers. "What's that your name again?" He started.

"C-clarrisa," I stuttered.

"You're fired."

The words resonated in my head as the world around me seemed to blur. My head was spinning, no God please no. Not when I was just getting my life together.

The clattering of the brush on the tiled floor reminded me that I was still in his office. I snapped out of my trance. "Sir p-please—"

He extended his palm, gesturing that I should pause my speech. "I'll give you money to start afresh, two hundred thousand. That should be enough to get you going."

My heart skipped a beat. Was he being serious? Who in their right mind would even be willing to pay this kind of amount just because of sex? Or maybe he thought I'd rat on him to his wife?

He brought out his cheque book, not even waiting for my feedback before he drafted the check. He ripped it out of the page with practiced precision.

The thin piece of paper hung between his index and middle finger as he shoved it towards me. My body was stiff, my eyes lingering on a piece of paper that had the potential to change my life forever. But another part of me felt humiliated, first I slept with a married man and now I was collecting money for it like some high-class escort.

My arm twitched as I finally stretched to collect the check. My mouth felt numb, I didn't even know what to say. "Take this cheque, go to the bank and cash it out. When you receive the money, I don't want to see you anywhere around me, or this city. No matter what happens, I don't care if you're dying, kidnapped, in danger… I don't want to hear it. You'll never try to contact me, or anything related to me, understood?"

I stood there, chest heaving. Only the sound of my sharp breath and throbbing heart filled my ears. All the possibilities came rushing through my mind.

My throat felt dry, I couldn't bring myself to uttering a single word, so I just nodded meekly. He leaned back against his chair, "Good. You don't need to tender a resignation letter, I'll have that all sorted out, you may leave."

I turned around and exited his office, gently closing the door behind me. Why did I feel so dirty? So used?

My strides carried me to the break room. "Oh Clarrisa, are you done cleaning Mr Cole’s office, I have something I need you to do." My manager's voice rang in my ears. I faced the mirror, looking at my troubled reflection as I slowly undid the knot holding my cleaning apron to my body.

"I no longer work here," I finally managed to say.

He raised an eyebrow, "Why? You quit? Well you have to give us a notice—"

"The boss fired me," I clarified as I removed my cleaning gear. I slapped the gloves on the table beside me then turned to face him.

"Why? What did you do? I can talk to him."

"Don't bother, I'm fine. Have a great day sir." I walked past him and picked up my small handbag by the corner, then left the hotel building. I waddled aimlessly on the sidewalk, still a bit confused by what just transpired. I lazily stuck out my hands to hail a taxi.

As soon as I arrived at our apartment and stepped into it, Denise shot a questioning look my way. "You're home pretty early," she said casually before she paused, her expression morphing into a more concerned one. "Wait a minute, don't tell me he—"

I nodded slowly. She immediately dropped what she was holding and pulled me into a tight hug. I quickly pulled away, "but that's not the main issue Denise," I stated.

She arched her eye brows, "is there worse bad news?"

"It's not exactly bad news… he gave me $200,000 to go away and never come back."

Denise guided me towards the seat. "Hold up I need to sit down, he actually gave you that much?"

I showed her the cheque, which she took off my hands. "He did, and he said to leave the city."

She squealed like a little girl, bouncing on the sofa. "Girl that's more than enough! You're rich! So how'd it happen?"

I scooched closer to her as a narrated the tale all over again.

"I was kind of worried you'd think I was selfish and inconsiderate taking such an offer without informing you."

She placed a hand on my shoulder, "look I totally get it, it's not like you had much of a choice, he's a billionaire, he can quite literally evict you from this city if he felt like. I'm here with you every step of the way."

I wrapped my arms around her frame as we hugged, "remember what we said to eachother at the orphanage? It's me and you, wherever you go, I'll be there," she said over my shoulders.