CHAPTER 3

“I got my job back!” Jessica screeched over the phone to her dad. 

“You deserved it love!” Her dad echoed from the other end of the call. 

“I was stunned. Felt so unreal!”

“Seems I'm still going to make you proud dad” Jessica added excitedly. 

“You sure would!” He responded. 

Jessica's front door opened with a munching sound and little soft barks. It was Mike. 

And with Ms Felicia's dog!

“Oh why. Hello Jess. Got fired?” He asked sarcastically. 

“Is that Mike?” Jessica's dad asked audibly that Mike could hear.

“Yeah it is.” Jessica responded with rolling eyes and her hand stamped to her face in sudden regret. 

“Hello Mr Willows! Jessica got fired!” He said loudly. 

“Is he drunk?” Her father asked. 

“I'd be surprised if he wasn't.” Jessica responded. 

“I'd speak to you later, dad” Jessica added and ended the call. 

She quickly turned her gaze to Mike, who was now seated on the couch, drunk and munching on a snack while he fondled the poor dog aggressively. 

“Why did you take the dog?” Jessica snapped at him. 

“Chill out Jessica. You might as well need to snatch whatever you can from the neighborhood while you're jobless.” He said, laughing silly and pointing at her.

“You need to return the dog!” She said, getting hold of the dog, securing it out of his tight grip. 

“What now Jessica?” He turned to look at her, bloody drunk in his eyes. 

“What now?”

“What now??”

“What now is you leave my couch and get a fix. You smell bad!”

Jessica said irritably. 

He laughed slightly 

“I meant what now that you're jobless.”

Funny how he kept calling her jobless. 

How he behaved just because of a notice from her boss was enough to know he didn't care. 

Jessica thought to tell him she wasn't dismissed but she decided to go along with his delusion. 

“I don't know. Try the menials?” She said, with her hands folded. 

He laughed again. 

“Well, you do that. I'm off.”

He stood up and grabbed his pack of snacks. About to grab the dog again, Jessica held it firmer and he let go. 

“Welcome to my life Jessica.” he spread his arms expressingly.

“Being jobless and broke!”

“You thought you were good enough?” he scoffed and Jessica just looked.

“You suck as well.” he laughed even harder but Jessica wasn't going to speak back.

“It was fun while it lasted.” He said clapping his hands while heading out of her apartment with his few belongings he picked, littered over her sitting room.

“You'd look miserable in no time!” He concluded with his heavy laughter as he finally went out of her apartment.

That was it?

Was Mike gone for good?

Jessica could scream for joy!

She could throw herself a party. Such heavy weight lifted off her because he thought she lost her job. 

Jessica made a quick fix to her apartment. Her house has never been neater!

At least not in the past 2 years.

She settled for dinner while she went through her case file again. She did some research and found the location of the company - TRIX. It was indeed a big company. The family didn't have much to reveal on the Internet so she had to get close to the family somehow. 

She has been given a clean slate on her state records, showing she's a recent graduate in need of a job. 

A new start!

While checking out for ways to get started with her case, Ann calls. 

“Hey girl! Let's toast to your new case at D-trips.” Ann said excitedly. 

“And Mike, out of my life!” Jessica added happily. 

“No — way!” Ann said in amazement. 

“Yes way girl!” Jessica affirmed. 

“OMG. This is a must-toast. You have to be out tonight!” Ann excitedly screams.

“D-trips, at 7.” Jessica responded swiftly. 

Looking at all her research, the TRIX company was in need of a secretary.

Who knows, that could be her go-to but it seemed so easy to be true. 

Already in the party mood, she made a quick application, ran a few errand cause the day was still young. Getting to 7:00pm, she showered and headed out to be with her best friend. 

Ann was a bold girl. She had all it took to toss Mike out of Jessica's life but Jessica wouldn't allow her. Ann was never laid back like her best friend, let alone allow a man move in to become a liability to her. She grew her wealth from the cosmetic shop she started at her house some years ago. 

The big collaboration with a major cosmetic company was jackpot for her. Not having a prince in shining armor come to her in her time of needs made her tighten herself up to be keen with the men to come her way after her success. 

“One more. One more!” Ann placed the shot cups on Jessica's lips. 

“Argh! That was — good.” She giggled from a squishy face to a soft chuckle. 

“... And two for me!” Ann took two shots of the American whiskey down her throat like it was water. 

“You're bad…” Jessica said as she watched her friend take that down. 

“I know” Ann laughed and Jessica followed suit. 

“You won't miss him, would you?” Ann asked.

“I'm glad he left. I had it up to the limit, it was high time. And he left on his own, so yeah, I'm good.” Jessica responded. 

“That's a good thing. Let's get you some dick for a fresh start.” Ann excitedly tugged her friend. 

“What? No….” Jessica responded laughing.

“Why not? You haven't had that in like months now.” Ann replied.

“I don't think I want that just yet.” Jessica responded again, chuckling.

Jessica's phone beeped with a notification from her email. 

“CONGRATULATIONS! YOUR APPLICATION HAS BEEN REVIEWED” The message read.

“Oh—my—God!”

“Annabelle Francis!” She called out.

“What's that? You called me by the full name.” Ann questioned Jessica as she tries to look at her phone's screen from where she was seated. 

Jessica was still stunned by how fast things were happening. All in one day. 

“Jess, what's that?” Ann questioned again.

“I just got accepted into TRIX —” Jessica said looking at her. 

“The TRIX?” Ann asked surprisingly. 

“Yes Ann, the TRIX!” Jessica concurred. 

“That was magical! Wow! How did you do it?” Ann asked with excitement.

“I just did it, I guess.” she replied 

“Wow!”

“This calls for more drinks!” Ann suggested.

“I think I might consider some dick now.” Jessica said chuckling with excitement.

“No no. Now,

you need drinks and your head in your job. No dicks” Ann responded and Jessica nodded in affirmation.

“More shots!” Ann signaled to the bartender.