FOUR

ELLEN

I sat in Lily's living room, hugging the throw pillow and staring at the TV but not really listening to what they were saying or watching the program. My mind was somewhere far away. It's been two weeks since I was suspended from work because of Oliver Monero, the heartless man who happened to be the father of my precious little Sophie. How had I been that stupid and careless? That question had been ringing in my head any time I thought of him.

Sophie was in bed now and Lily was not yet back from work, so I had some alone time thinking about my life and Oliver Monero. I was thinking about him a lot and all I wanted to do was shove his thoughts out of my mind, but they kept nagging. I sighed at the same time as the front door beeped.

"I'm back!" Lily announced as she came into the house, her heels clicking on the hard floor.

I didn't move or reply to her until she came into the living room and stopped for a while staring at me. When I got uncomfortable with her scrutiny, I sighed.

"You are home," I said in a tired voice.

"I thought you would never notice." She pulled her shoes, walked up to the couch, and slumped down beside me. "I have news. Good news and bad news."

"Start with the bad news," I urged.

She screwed up her face. "Who goes with the bad news first?"

"Well, what's the use of the good news if it would be ruined by the bad? Just tell me what you've got."

"There is a job— a better one." She stopped to get my reaction.

My eyes lit up in excitement. I had decided I wasn't going back to my workplace again. Brad can kiss the job for all I care. So, I submitted applications in a couple of places and got rejected or simply ignored.

"That's the good news."

"And the bad news?"

"It's in my company and you will be working directly under Oliver."

I sighed and waved her off. "Forget it."

"I know you don't want anything to do with him, but... just look at it as if you are working for another arrogant boss. You don't need to bring sentiment to work. I already submitted your resume."

"Lily, thank you for looking out for me, but I will look somewhere else. I really appreciate your efforts, but this time I will have to decline your kind offer."

Lily hitched her shoulders and stood. "If you say so. I guess I will tell Julie about it then."

"Yeah, give it to someone willing to stomach his arrogance. I've got Sophie to worry about."

Lily typed on her phone as she walked towards her kitchen without answering me. I sighed again, grabbed the glass of water on the table, and gulped down the bitterness in my throat. She had just raised my hopes only to crash them again. I could hear Lily's voice from the kitchen as she spoke to whoever Julie was.

"Yeah, let's say I saw this assistant job in a really big company and it pays $60 per hour and you are working fourteen hours and get extra pay for each time you work outside your working hours? If you graduated high school, you are qualified for the job."

I quickly did the mathematics in my head and gasped at how much I would be making in a month. I have never made that kind of money from any job I worked. The five-star restaurant paid well but was not close to what I would be making in a month at Monero Empire. I bolted from the couch like I was pushed by a force and dashed into the kitchen.

Lily turned when she saw me but it was too late as I grabbed the phone from her hand.

"You didn't tell me this part of the job!"

"You didn't even what to listen. Give back the phone." I quickly shoved the phone behind me and shook my head. Money was the only thing that could motivate me right now and Sophie needed her medicine.

Lily explained everything I needed to know about Monero Empire and the stranger that had charmed me five years ago. He had hired two assistants in two weeks and they all quit after the second or third days. How arrogant was he? But I was willing to take the job as long as it provided Sophie with a comfortable life.

Lily was still bent on me staying at her place and she even wanted us to split the rent and bills if I didn't want to feel indebted. Maybe, I will consider the offer, but after I knew if I would get the job or not.

I woke up very early the next morning and woke Sophie, who whined and cried for waking so early. It broke my heart, but I needed to do this to put us in a better place. I fished out my clothes from the closet as Sophie ate her breakfast, still nodding from sleep. I was still not a very fashionable person, but I had some good clothes for an interview.

I drove Sophie to school and made some arrangements with her teacher about dropping her off early and picking her up so late. I drove straight to the Monero Empire, California and once I was out of my car, all the confidence left me. My excitement turned to anxiety as I recalled the incident that happened at the bar two weeks ago. What if he rejects me for being clumsy? Will he remember me? Questions and doubts kicked in as I stood across the road looking at the building towering over me.

After so much contemplation, I turned back to get into my car and drive off, but I remembered Sophie's health.

He is her father and should take responsibility, too.

I turned back to the building and marched forward, clutching my file under my arm. Lily told me that he was doing the interview himself and everyone that went the previous day failed. I didn't feel I could get it— I already had something that could disqualify me, but I needed to give it a try. With those thoughts, I walked into the large reception of the Almighty Monero Empire.