Chapter two

Daisy noticed that her phone had stopped playing the music she assigned it to. She frowned, wondering what put a stop to it.

She kept the fork she was using to eat on the plate, got up and headed to the room where her phone was. By this time, she could hear her phone ringing. "Who dares disturb my peace this early afternoon." She said, in a loud voice.

As she left the kitchen to the room to go check out the caller, she heard the doorbell ring.

"Oh damn it." She whispers, under her breath and moves to the sitting room instead.

"Hold on, hold on. I'll be right there. Please, the bell is just too loud, can you stop!" She yelled, hoping whoever was at the door would listen, but the reverse was the case.

She got to the door, unlocked it forcefully and yanked it open.

"Ohh! Stacy." She said excitedly, now reducing her voice and acting so gentle.

Stacy walks past me into the sitting room and sits down. "Seriously, are you deaf now? Geez, like I literally stayed out for almost 10 minutes even after knocking and using the bell. Damn, what's with you today? She asked, making gestures with her hands as she spoke, like she was giving a presentation.

Daisy not knowing if she was annoyed or not kept mute, to watch her reaction to avoid making the issue worse.

Stacy removed her shoes and sighed lightly in deep relief. "Ohh, that was really painful. Gosh. Sometimes I wish I can go barefoot in the office. This is tough." She complained to no one in particular.

"Sorry about that. But, I guess you'll have to bear this for a little while, because this is just Monday. You have the rest of the week to go to work. Maybe, you'll have to change it, for something more comfortable." Daisy opined.

Stacy sighed. "That's the problem." She said, hissing loudly. "I can only wear heels to the office because I need to appear classy. I'm really getting tired of it."

"You don't have a choice now, do you?" Daisy asked in a more calmer tone. She wished she had a job at all, would she be complaining about what she is being asked to wear? Not when it makes her look like she's a rich working class lady.

"I wish I do have a choice seriously. I'm glad my boss is not so tough. That's one of the reasons I vehemently refused transferring from my department to a different one. Some of these top workers think they have made it in life by bossing people around."

"Hahahaha. That's very normal really. You might do same when you're in their shoes as well, so don't blame them so much." Daisy replied.

She shrugged lightly, then turned towards me

Daisy abruptly, like she just remembered something.

Daisy stared back at her, like, what is it? Using her

body gestures.

"Yeah, uhm, how about the job interview you went for? Stacy asked, letting go of what she was doing and kept staring at her like she was expecting something new this time.

"What about it? Daisy asked, not ready to bring up the fact that she flopped her job interview again, this time, the fact that it was evident that it was all het fault made it quite difficult for her to spill it out.

Confused, Stacy shook her head. "What do you mean? You, you didn't get the job? She asked, wide eyed.

Daisy nodded casually at Stacy, then walked to the sofa and sat right across her. She knew Stacy would feel bad for her and maybe try to make her happy by offering to lend her some of her fancy dresses, or perhaps offer to take her out to see a movie or buy food for her, just to make Daisy feel like nothing happened. But, Daisy felt she was really over all that. She had gotten so used to it that it has turned like a constant ritual. She wanted something good for herself, something that would make her feel like her days in college weren't a waste.

"Oh no. Not again." Stacy said, giving that unpleasant look. "What happened this time around? Did you miss a question? We practiced almost all night? What got bad this time? She asked in total disappointment in her voice.

Daisy shrugged lightly, not even knowing what to say or how to say it. "It's past already girl. I just, I just." She stopped talking, trying not to cry as she could feel the tears forming in her eyes already.

She came to where Daisy was sitting and sat beside her, holding her left hand gently and tapping her calmly on her back.

"Hey, it's okay alright. It's gonna be fine. I know we've said this exact words a lot but, I know something big will definitely come." She whispered in Daisy's ears, to relieve her of the pains in her heart.

"Stacy, I'm tired of waiting for so long. It's so disheartening and frustrating. I have tried what I can do, but it looks like what I'm doing will all go down to the drain. What do I do? I'm slowly losing it? Daisy said, sobbing uncontrollably.

Stacy tried to calm her down, but it wasn't going as she wanted it. Daisy was really down in tears and pouring her out heart out to her, but there was nothing she could do about it.

"Daisy, Daisy come on. You know crying won't solve the problem right now. Let's figure out a way to work this out. Please stop crying." Stacy pleaded, not comfortable with the way her friend was acting.

"What do you think I should do? I'm thinking of going back to that restaurant to know if Mr. Joash would take me in. At least, I was making little cash there and I could add to the bills of this out. It's not..."

"Stop it Daisy." Stacy cut in with annoyance and got up. "Have I complained a single day about the bills? Have I ever? Haven't I made you feel so at her home ever since you joined me?

Daisy nodded in tears, as she used the back of her palm to wipe it.

"Daisy come on. You are my friend and I love you seriously. I don't want you to feel like you are a burden to me. Honestly, since you came here I've become more alive. I would come home from work and have someone interesting to talk to. You make me feel more lively than my usual self and I can't trade it for anything." Stacy confessed, becoming very emotional.

Daisy stopped crying by this time. "I'm sorry Stacy. I know all of this, but I feel you'll understand better if you were in my shoes. I want to be responsible for what I do, for my bills, for my siblings, for my mother. I want to be that lady my mother would be proud of, I'm not asking for too much." She answered calmly.

Stacy nodded and wiped the little tears that had fallen on her cheeks. She cleared her throat and spoke. "You're right Daisy. Perhaps, I'd understand better if I'm in that position. So tell me, what do you think you want to do this time? I will gladly give you the support you might need."

"Well, I'm thinking of taking back the job at the restaurant, if it's still vacant." Daisy repliy without thinking about it.

Stacy frowned when she said that. She didn't like that kind of job and felt Daisy was too big for that job and it isn't worth trying. "I don't want that for you, say something else."

"Come on, I have been idle since I stopped it, I can't even think of something else. It's the easiest I can get around here. Or, do you have one for me? Daisy asked.

"Well." Stacy said and paused for a while, before speaking up again. "A job came in today, but I don't think you can actually do it. I have a slot for it though, but, damn, it's quite, urghhh!

"What job is that? Daisy asked, in curiosity.

"You know Mr. Dash, the CEO of this company I work with.."

Daisy cuts in, "the tough one that hardly smiles at people? The sadist?

"Exactly. The stone hearted sadist, damn! That man is the most scariest person I have ever, ever seen. His presence alone gives me goosebumps. I swear that I have almost wet myself the day he mistook me for one of his direct staff. I'm just so glad I don't work directly under him, I would have resigned myself."

"Geez, is he that bad? Hmm, I would love to meet that monster of a human." Daisy said in amazement.

"He's that bad girl. I can't even stand him for a minute. He's that bad."

"So, what about him? Daisy asked, inquisitively, wanting to know why she brought him up.

"Well uhm. Today, his contract with his secretary Joan, expired. She, I mean Joan said she does not want to renew the contract with CEO Dash, so she left after getting her end contract pay. So, as it stands now, Mr. Dash the sadist doesn't have a secretary and he's in dire need for one." Stacy finished.

"What do you think? Should I try my luck this time around? Perhaps, I might be lucky." Daisy suggested smiling calmly to herself.

"Daisy, the problem isn't about the job, it's about the person you'd be working with. Guess what?

"What?

"He changes secretaries every three months and since two years and few months I've worked with him, none of them have worked more than one contract. They all disappear after their contract expires." Stacy explains

"Disappear? Like, they do not exist again or something? Like they get killed or what? Daisy asked in shock and fear.

"No no no, not that. I mean, they never come back for a second contract. That's a proof that, the man is just so evil. Now, if you're really planning on working with that type of a being, you should be ready to do all sort of rubbish."

"When you say rubbish, what exactly do you mean? Can you give me examples? Daisy asked.

"Like, sleeping over at the office alone, just to make sure you complete the day's job before resuming for the next day. Because, he does not tolerate seeing any unfinished jobs." Stacy answered.

"And what if he does?

Stacy widened her gaze like she had seen a ghost in one corner. "He'll break your neck and feed you to the swine."

Daisy frowned, knowing she was playing with her mind. "Come on, be serious. This is business we are talking about right now."

"You mean you are serious about going to take the job? Stacy asked, sitting down close to Daisy and staring at her in shock.

"Yes, I don't mind. What's the duration again? What was that you mentioned?

"Three months." Stacy answered less concerned.

"Cool, not bad for a beginner. So, what is the pay like? Any idea?

"Well, it's actually the pay that attracts a lot of them who have worked with him. But, just few weeks of working for him, they are screaming their lungs out."

"Just answer me Stacy."

"Okay okay. It's $2000." Stacy answered.

"Oh my goodness. That's twice your pay. Damn, that's like five times of my salary in Mr. Joash restaurant. I think I'll take it, I'm not going to sleep on this."

"Well, be ready to pay the price though. Anyway, that's weekly pay, not monthly."

"Are you f**king kidding me? Daisy exclaimed in amazement. Totally flabbergasted by the amount of money she mentioned.

"I'm not. Since, you are interested in it, you can go for it. Meanwhile, don't bother asking for help when you start facing a lot in there, because, I'll be busy doing my job." Stacy replied seriously.

Jumping up from the sofa with force, Daisy started dancing around the sitting room with so much excitement and happiness.

"Gosh Stacy, I feel I'm going to get this job. Oh my goodness, I can see myself swimming in money, damn damn damn. Mom would be so happy for me when I finally get this job Stacy. You know, I wouldn't have to be avoiding mom's calls again. I will have some cash to pay for Janet's classes and for Daniel's school as well. Oh my goodness, I'm definitely getting this job." Daisy said hitting the air and screaming happily at the top of her voice.

"Are you sure you are ready for this job? Hope you can fulfill all the conditions that would be required of you, right? Don't forget who you're dealing with, the sadist we all hate. Wow, I can't believe you'd like to work with our enemy. Well, that's the choice you made for yourself. Don't forget how I tried to talk you out of it."

"Stacy, Stacy. Let me try it come on. Don't be so negative about it. There's a possibility that he might even change when I start working with him, you know I'm that kind of a person." Daisy said with the idea to melt Stacy's heart.

"Hahahaha. That won't happen even in your dreams, so don't just go there. Anyway, I've told you the part I know well about him, just make sure not to do anything stupid when you start facing your bad moments with him."

"I've heard you, I've heard you. I'll try my best not to do anything stupid. So, uhm, can I apply for the job tomorrow morning? What do you think?

Stacy paused for a moment, then replied. "Well, yeah. I think that will be just the best for you. Since the lady's contract expired today, the job hunt could start from next week. So, if you go tomorrow, you'll be at a more advantage than the rest of your competitors."

"Hmmm, is that so? That means, I'll prepare for tomorrow then. But, why should the job hunt start next week instead of this week, if the CEO really needs a secretary as you said? Daisy asked, quite confused.

"Not much of a big deal. The CEO gives all the employees a slot each to find someone within this week. The truth is that, no one has ever come from the employees. Of course, we all know how he behaves and no one would actually love to bring anyone to that position. As a matter of fact, we'll have to act like we don't know each other, because, I won't want anyone to term me a bad person when they find out that, you're my friend." Stacy finished.

"Hahahaha. Oh my gosh, that was so hilarious. Really? You know I can be crazy at times. Even if you decide that you'll pretend not to know me, I'll make them know." Daisy said, laughing uncontrollably.

"You silly girl. Anyway, we are likely not to stumble on eachother, because, my office is quite different from where you'll be. Remember, you'll be working very closely with Mr Dash the sadist."

"Whatever! Just help me with the documents I should need for tomorrow, so I don't miss out."

"That won't be a problem."

Stacy listed out all the documents she would need for the job application. Stating that it usually takes about two days for the job application to be reviewed, so that means that in two days, Daisy should be expecting to return for a job interview.

That evening, Daisy prepared all the documents Stacy mentioned and made sure that they were all intact for the next day. Stacy gave her one of her fancy classic wear, so she can look presentable and with high taste to whoever she would submit the job application to.