I watched in horror as the plastic cup of coffee flew out of my hands. I knew where it was headed but I hoped that by some miracle, it would land somewhere else. Sadly, it didn't.
“Oh my goodness!" My boss yelled as she sprung to her feet. The unpleasant surprise on her face slowly turned to disgust when she realized I was responsible. She turned to me with the scariest eyes I had ever seen. “I'm so sorry ma'am." I scrambled for the box of paper towels seated on her desk, quickly pulling out two of them and rushing to her. The brown liquid was already soaking her grey coloured jumpsuit and spreading fast. “Do not come close to me!" She yelled, simultaneously snatching the paper towels from me. I halted and lowered my head. I couldn't dare to look at her, no one in the office could. “I'm really so sorry ma'am. I don't know how I tripped and the cup slipped off my fingers.” I mumbled hurriedly. My intestines were in a knot and I felt sick to my stomach. If only the ground could open up and take me in. “Get your things, and get out of my office." My head snapped up in shock immediately I heard her words. I was expecting some kind of punishment but I would never have imagined that losing my job was it. “I never want to see your face at my company ever again." She gave me a stern look indicating she was convinced that was what she wanted, but I couldn't leave. I couldn't lose my job. I immediately fell to my knees with tears that I didn't know were even there. “Please ma'am, it took me so long to get this job. I would be thrown out into the streets if I leave.” Through my teary eyes, I could see how unfazed she was by my actions, which didn't surprise me in the slightest. She was a cold woman, feared by everyone in the building. “I said leave, Raya." She hissed and turned her back to me. Tears continued to roll down my cheeks uncontrollably. There was no way I was about to lose mine and Anna’s only means of survival. “I'll do anything!" I blurted out in desperation. The thought of my sister, Anna dying in the hospital, scared me way more than being homeless. She was the only family I had left. “I'll do anything ma'am, just please let me keep my job." I lowered my head and continued to sob quietly, hoping that she would have a change of heart. “You're as desperate as a pig that hasn't been fed for days." I looked up when I heard her demeaning tone. I didn't care whatever she called me, or however she treated me, all I wanted was to keep my job. She continued to stare at me in silence. By now I had stopped sobbing, quietly sniffing as I awaited judgement. “Alright," I heard her say. I instantly looked up with a faint smile. The moment my eyes met hers, the sickening feeling in the bottom of my stomach grew worse. She had a sinister grin, glaring at me with piercing eyes. “You want to keep your job?" she asked again. I nodded repeatedly, anxious to hear what she was going to say. “I'm going to give you four months to seduce my husband and get him to sleep with you." My jaw immediately dropped but I was quick to recover it. I didn't know which shocked me more, her casual tone or the quagmire request she was asking of me. I watched the grin on her lips grow bigger. “You'll do anything won't you?" She asked again, maintaining the calm tone. She walked casually to her chair, sitting behind her big desk full of paperwork. “Ye… yes.” I mumbled hesitantly, resting my eyes on her, dreading the next words that would come out of her mouth. "So then you'll do what I just said or you'll lose your job.” She took a piece of paper and a pen, and began scribbling some words onto it. “Deliver yourself to this address on Monday morning, exactly a week from today, if you decide to do it,” she slid the paper across from her. "But if you don't, never show your face here again or I'll have you beaten up." I scrambled to my feet and walked to her table, taking the small piece of paper she handed out to me. It was her address. I know this because I had earlier delivered some packages to her doorstep. I also knew she meant what she said about having me beat up. She had done it before. “Now get out." She spat. I turned and started slowly making my way out of her office. “One more thing Raya," I heard her say. I quietly turned to meet her glaring eyes. "If anyone hears of our little agreement, I will make sure you regret it.” women were supposed to be warm, loving creatures, but this woman, she was evil personified. Too stunned to speak, I silently nodded my head, turning around to leave. “Tell June to get in here,” her unfriendly tone echoed in the air again. “I need some change of clothes.” She mumbled irritatedly just before I walked out the door. I looked at the piece of paper in my hands once again and let out a small sigh. This had to be a very bad dream.I stood outside the big house. I was almost hyperventilating. My hands were sweaty, and I was nervous. No, I was terrified. I had on a peach, lacey, short gown. It stopped a few inches away from my knees, holding my body rather tightly. It had a cute little V neck that showed a bit of my cleavage. I didn't know why I chose it, but I figured if I was to take up the job of a prostitute, I should at least look like one. With shaky hands, I rang the doorbell. I waited for about thirty seconds but there was no response. I knew because I was counting. I rang it again and counted another thirty seconds, but there was no response. I silently counted from one to ten again, telling myself if no one came to the door when I had finished, I was going to walk away. And no one did. I turned around to leave after my pathetic count, but I had barely made it past the first step when I heard the door open. “Yeah?”I heard a calm deep voice behind me. Sl
I arrived at the Tetra household, taking a while to admire the view. It was a really big house, with an even bigger yard and a pool out back. I couldn't help but wonder what Mr David did for work. I walked through the gate and rang the doorbell. Unlike the first time, I didn't bother counting. I knew I had no choice but to wait until someone came. Thankfully, I didn't have to wait for long.“Raya, you're here early."Rain looked as handsome as he should be, holding the door and grinning at me. I felt flushed, shy even.“Your mother asked me to be here, and here I am."I mumbled with a shy giggle. My eyes widened when I heard him giggle as well."Well, come in. I'm guessing you'll wait." I followed quietly behind him until we got to the living room. I got a whiff of his coconut scent and my eyes closed for a second to take it in. “Do you want me to keep you company while you wait?"My eyes flung open
I wrapped my hair in a towel, taking another one around me as I stepped out of the shower. I always found the art of perfectly wrapping a towel around oneself and moving around handsfree, very fascinating. I never got the hang of it. Instead, I would hold up the end of the wrap tightly under my arm. Basically making myself handicapped in one arm.I made my way to the living area of my small apartment, one arm holding up the towel wrapped around myself, the other hand drying my hair with a smaller towel.“Hello Raya."I jumped at the sound of someone in the living area. I looked up quickly to realize Mr David was standing before me. I noticed his eyes were not looking at me. I followed his gaze to realize I had unconsciously let go of my towel and it lay on the floor. He was staring at my completely naked body. “I'm… I'm sorry.”I scrambled for my towel, rewrapping it around myself. I could feel tears welling up as I looked at my feet.
I made it to the Tetra mansion once again by morning. I didn't go to work anymore, trying to seduce Mr David became my only job, and it seemed it wasn't going to be a difficult one. The night before, he whispered to me about having a beautiful body. It made sense as to why he didn't look away when my towel dropped to the floor. I didn't know if I was to feel relieved or scared, but a part of me was also happy. All my life I have never experienced what it felt like to be rich, to be spoiled, even when my parents were alive, we were a middle-class family who could only afford the basics. Now suddenly, I was in the midst of wealth. I was feeling confident today so I put on shorts and a T-shirt. I was just about to ring the doorbell when the door flung open, startling me a little. “I'm sorry," Rain's voice and smile quickly calmed me. He had on shirts and a T-shirt as well, although my shorts were shorter. With a smile on his face, he stepped out,
Rain's parents were too stunned to say a word when he insinuated that I keep him company while they are away. I was too stunned to speak as well. It didn't sound like he was asking, it was more of a subtle demand. An assertion. A sexy one at that. I just couldn't say no. Rain drove his parents and I to the airport. Rather uncomfortably, I sat in the passenger seat, occasionally receiving death glances from his mother through the rear mirror. She was telling me not to mess up, not to screw things up, and above all, not to forget why I was even here in the first place. Her death stares were definitely working, because I started to second guess returning to the mansion with Rain. Finally, her eye harassment came to an end. More to my relief than hers. Before Rain could properly park the truck, I hurriedly unbuckled my seatbelt. The moment he turned off the ignition, I hastily jumped down as carefully as I could. I didn't want him to repeat the action he performed earlier in f
Even with the loud music, I could still hear the loud grunts emanating from each man. It was getting ugly, and it was getting ugly fast. “Get off him, Rain!" My yelling seemed to be futile because the punches didn't stop. Both men were drunk, but Rain continued to hit him right in the face while the other guy missed two out of three punches. Maybe it was the little alcohol I ingested from the guys mouth, but Rain was beginning to look more and more sexy with sweat, mixed with alcohol, soaking his T-shirt as he violently threw his fists around. Not long after the fight was getting intense, it was brought to an end. Other slightly drunk men pulled both men away from each other. One of them was bleeding profusely from a broken nose and it wasn't Rain. Rain snatched his arm away from the men who held him, spat out blood before cleaning the corner of his mouth with the back of his palm. “Get out of my house," he growled, immediately stopping the mu
By morning, the maids came back to the mansion. The shock on their faces when they saw the pile of rubbish that littered everywhere made me feel terrible. They were suffering for the mess a bunch of reckless young adults created, but then again they were paid heavily for it. Undoubtedly, Rain was also compensating them, heavily, to keep their mouths shut. As I walked around the house, trying to render as much help as I could to the maids, my mind traveled far and wide. Actually, not far at all, it was within the mansion, dwelling on the actions of the night before. I was torn between myself, struggling between regret and satisfaction. Kissing Rain was almost heavenly. His lips were soft and he knew how to work his hands around my body. He treated my body as if he knew it like the back of his palm. I was completely lost in the moment, yielding to his trap, until I instantly got a wave of guilt that rushed over me. That was when I pulled away. I ran, like a coward, out of hi
After Rain informed Tess we were going into the mountains, we headed out. As usual, he took the truck. I had no hiking gear so he had to take me shopping. I also had no idea what to get since it had been ages ago my dad and I went hiking, so he ended up buying all I needed. From water bottles, to shoes, to clothing, to other essentials, Rain got them all. He even got a few extras. Whenever he saw something and said “I think this would look good on you", he threw whatever it was into the cart and paid for it. It took us about an hour to get out of the city and to the foot of the mountain. He was mostly chatty during the car ride and we even did a little karaoke whenever a song we both knew came on the radio. He spoke mostly about his favorite movies. When he noticed I was only listening and not imputing, he asked me what my favorite movies were. I was honest, although shameful, and told him I hadn't watched anything that wasn't shown on Anna's hospital television. After a f
“Maya, could you fetch the diapers on the next aisle?" The bubbly bright eyed blonde turned to me with a charming smile. “How many of them?" At her question, I looked down at the little human strapped to my chest. She slept peacefully, oblivious to the troubles of the world, or her mother's indecisiveness. “I honestly don't know,” I mumbled when my eyes reconnected with Maya's. "Anna has been eating a lot lately.” Pushing the almost filled shopping cart in my direction, she laughed. "She's a healthy baby, healthy babies poop a lot.”I glanced at my sleeping baby again. Fighting with the urge to rub my fingers over her chubby, smooth cheek, I smiled widely. I absolutely adored her. She was perfect. Ever since she came into my life, I couldn't imagine ever wanting to get rid of her. She was my whole world. “Well, this healthy baby needs to hurry up and start paying some bills." Maya burst into a loud laugh at my joke. I laughe
The miserable seconds turned into miserable minutes, that turned into miserable hours, that turned into miserable days, as I laid on my bed in my dark, smelly apartment. I didn't know when it was day or night since the drapes were shut tightly. My heart was as dark as the rooms, my stomach as empty as my fridge. I lay quietly, waiting for death, hoping it'll come any day now, but it didn't. Somehow my eyes kept opening each time it seemed like they were going to close forever. I stared at the small Urn that stood on the other side of my bed. I couldn't exactly see it, but I knew it was there. Its shiny body occasionally glistened in the darkness. It was Anna's new body. I spoke to her. Every time my eyes opened, I sighed and said hello to her. I told her about everything I did. I told her about David, about Rain. I told her about Chyna, about Katy. I told her about Maya, about Devin. She didn't judge me. She didn't cuss at me or remind me how much of a terrible person that
The loud, rapid beeping sounds from Anna's vital monitor pierced through my subconscious, instantly waking me up from my deep slumber. My heavy eyes flung wide open, my weak legs pushing my aching body to my throbbing feet. The intense panic that clawed its way to my windpipe was enough to numb every other pain that my body felt. I noticed Anna laid completely still, her chest wasn't rising and falling like it did before I slept off. “Nurse!" I screamed so loudly, I hoped it would wake her. She remained still.In a heartbeat, my weak legs mustered up enough energy to run. I headed straight for the door, pushing through it like a hurricane. “Nurse!" I called again, louder. Two worry stricken nurses ran in my direction. I didn't wait to be asked what was wrong. “Her monitors are beeping." We all ran to where my sister lay. The nurses quickly started pulling plugs, pressing buttons, grabbing stuff. Their hands moved so fast, I
My legs were shaking, back and forth, up and down, while I sat in the waiting room of Anna's hospital. I rushed in less than five minutes ago, hoping to see the doctor but I was told she was in surgery, Anna's surgery. I was told that her blood pressure spiked, again, causing some implications as well as internal bleeding, resulting in an emergency surgical procedure that needed to be carried out. I begged the nurse to let me wait in Anna's room, but she didn't let me. Too weak for a struggle, I yielded to her offer, landing in the waiting room with other nervous family members or friends waiting for their loved ones. My insides were in a knot. I had felt so much anxiety in the past few days, my brain couldn't register the feeling anymore. I was numb. I couldn't cry, I could speak, breathing was a chore, and my eyes sometimes closed on their own. While I waited, the sudden urge to consume food came over me, but the uncertainty of Anna's situation was enough to suppress the
The past few days had been miserable. I was cut out of David's life, as well as his finances. I was cut out of Rain's life, as well as his finances. Since I couldn't afford her salary, Maya moved out of the apartment. I was running low on food and money. If David hadn't paid a year's advance for the apartment, I definitely would have been homeless as well. All I did was cry, day in, day out. I couldn't bring myself to eat anything. I had a baby growing inside of me that caused me to be sick every morning, but I had to drag myself around the house because I was by myself. I had tried to reach Rain so many times but after so many tires, I realized he had blocked my number. The same went for his father. Both men had blocked my numbers and I couldn't bring myself to show up at the house. I didn't know if the witch was still living there and I knew she could very much hurt me without hindrance from any one. The only person that showed me care was my sister. We spoke e
At the sound of the intruding voice, my legs spun me around. I felt my heart beating again, thumping loudly, when my eyes met David's. He looked pale, as if he had seen a ghost. I tried to breathe but it was continuously caught in my throat, hanging halfway. “Dad," Rain whispered behind me. I didn't need to look to know he was on his feet. David's eyes shifted to his son behind me. When they shifted again, I knew they rested on the diamond ring in Rain's hand.“What are you doing here?" Rain's voice dragged his father's gaze to him. After a second, he shifted his eyes to mine. He quietly moved his feet towards me. I wanted to step backwards but my legs were numb. The closer he got, the harder my heart pounded, creating a feeling of dread that traveled through every cell in my body. “Are you pregnant?" He asked again. His low, bloodcurdling voice sent ripples down my stiff spine. I struggled to push down the lump in my throat
From the minute Rain started the ignition, pulling out of the hospital parking lot, my heart pounded. I was completely distracted, unconsciously spacing out when I wasn't being spoken to. Rain was especially chatty while he drove, and Maya happily indulged in his conversations. She also seemed unusually excited which made me conclude she was in on whatever Rain had planned. When we drove into my building parking lot, I was relieved to finally be home. I hated every minute of breathing in that hospital and everyday I begged to be allowed to leave. When Rain brought the car to a stop, Maya was the first to jump down. Before I could undo my seatbelt, throwing my legs to climb out of the truck, there was no sight of her. “Where’s Maya?" I asked when I walked around the back of the car to meet Rain waiting on the other side. He took his left arm around my waist, pulling me forward. “She went up first." he answered, pressing the lock button on the car remote.
After two days of imposed bedriddeness, I was finally being discharged and Rain was to take Maya and I back to my apartment. When Rain called, letting me know what time he was going to be coming, I sent for the nurse to request that I be taken off the tubes before he arrived. She initially refused but after my insistence, the determination to cause a big scene although it was intercepted by my doctor, I was let off the hook. Without hesitation, I was freed, after which I headed straight out of the room and down the hall. I hadn't forgiven Maya for picking Rain's call a few days ago. She was the reason I was in a difficult predicament. If she wasn't such a tattletale, I would have instantly gotten an abortion and no one would know about it, but with Rain as excited and involved as he was, the chances of getting away with that were zero to none. I was either to have the baby, or lose it in an unfortunate situation. What amused me was how clueless she was to the way
My eyelashes slowly fluttered open. Instantly attacked by really bright light, I closed them, giving it a moment before trying to open them again. The painful feeling of its intense impact reduced as my blurry vision adjusted to reveal images of things around me. After a few more blinks, I noticed the familiar arrangement of a hospital room. The sterile white walls, the bright overhead lights, the small TV hanging on the wall with the small fridge directly beneath it, all seemed to stare back at me. As my eyes traveled through each item, they fell on the person who sat by my bed. “Rain?" I managed to mumble, my voice raw and weak, unsure that he was going to hear me. He did. He looked up from his phone. When his eyes met mine, they immediately lit up. A smile of relief crept onto his face.“Hey beautiful." He said, his voice filled with warmth. He leaned forward in his chair, taking his hand to delicately stroke my hair. It then occurred to me