Chapter 4: A Ray of Hope

Avery

'Don't cry, Avery,' she steeled herself, heading to her boyfriend's condo. 'They lost you, not the other way round. You didn't get employed, and so what? More opportunities will come, and you'll be able to save your mother.'

On getting to his apartment, she punched in the passcode at the door. It's only right to have her boyfriend's passcode in case she happened to stop by at any time.

Tyrone had tried changing her mind about her choice of celibacy, but she'd stood her ground to wait until marriage. Her mother married her father a virgin, and she planned to toe the same steps.

On second thought, she changed her mind. She'd let Tyrone have his way. Her boring, empty life was taking a heavy toll on her, and she's not even thirty.

"It's about time, Tyrone. Fuck my worries away," she sighed, turning the door open. "Today's your lucky day."

The first thing she saw was a familiar green purse on the glassy center table.

"I know that purse."She lifted the purse from the table, examining the untidy living room. "What happened in here? Did a tsunami waltz in here, bringing Natalie's belongings with it?"

Pieces of clothes were strewn about the living room. A crumpled black thong and bra lay idly beside the center table.

Her breath stuffed her throat, as her steps faltered. They belonged to her.

She knew her friend's sparse wardrobe like the back of her hand. Sharing clothes and make-up was a norm with them.

"It can't be. I'm- I'm imagining things. Mr Brown is messing with my head."

A moan tore through the silence, and her confusion sharpened into conviction. It's really happening. Her pulse paused. Tyrone had lost his patience.

Dragging her tired feet to the bedroom, she pushed the bedroom door open to satisfy her curiosity. "Natalie!" She crumbled to the floor in tears beside the door frame.

"Oh, shit!" Tyrone and Natalie covered themselves with the blanket. They were shocked to see her, and even more shocked that they didn't hear her come in.

"You told me she wouldn't be here until late at night," Natalie muttered loudly to Tyrone without any shame in the world.

"Just shut it, okay. We'll talk about that later," Tyrone answered, swinging his gaze to Avery.

"Tyrone." Natalie half-yelled, scrunching her brows.

"What are you doing here, Avery?" He asked, throwing his legs into his briefs in haste, without paying Natalie any heed. Natalie wrapped the blanket around herself, since her clothes were scattered about the living room. "You were supposed to be here late. What a...urm...what a pleasant surprise."

Avery wiped her teary eyes. They were not worthy of her tears. Recoiling, she made her way to the girl who was supposed to be her best friend, and slammed her five fingers across her face. Before Tyrone knew what, Avery sent another resounding slap on the other side. Natalie yelled and rolled to the ground.

"Stay away from her! Don't lay your filthy hands on her!" Tyrone yelled at her, coming between Avery and Maddie. Her body stiffened, watching Tyrone's sudden change of behavior. He'd never raised his voice at her. "She's everything you're not and will never be!"

Her stance weakened. She rested her weight on the nightstand to save her weak knees from giving out. "How could you?" her voice caught, "If you'd cheated on me with someone else, I might have forgiven you, but with my best friend?" Her eyes welled in tears again. The tears she swore not to shed.

"Forgiveness?" He scoffed. "We've been together for two years, Avery. Two solid years," he emphasized. "I shared the little bucks I made with you and stood by your side while your mother is almost dying in the hospital. I asked you for just one thing in return, Avery. Just one thing. You know what? I'm tired of waiting. You can keep your stupid virgin body to yourself and get the fuck out of my life and condo!"

It was as though a cyclone passed through Avery. She slumped to her knees and buried her face in her palms. Her only place of consolation had given up on her.

"Are- are you breaking up with me?" She stuttered.

"What kind of question is that?" he frowned. "Stop playing cute and dumb. Now, leave before I do something you're going to regret!" he shouted, pointing at the opened bedroom door. Natalie crouched behind Tyrone, wearing a contemptuous smirk. "You know your way out."

Avery ran out of his apartment in tears, leaving the entrance door unlocked. She got into the open air and plonked into a nearby bench, burning her face into her hands.

"Why is everything bad happening to me? What have I done to deserve this suffering?"

Just about then, her phone rang in her purse. With trembling hands, she fished out the phone and picked on the third ring. No caller ID.

"Hello," she forced a neutral tone, wiping her face with the back of her hand.

"Am I on to Ms Avery Sallow?" She recognized the gravelly voice at the other end of the line, but her boggled mind couldn't place where she'd heard it.

"Yes."

"You've been granted provisional employment at King's Fashion House as the personal assistant to the CEO. You're to start effective immediately."

It seemed like a dream. No, like a lightning bolt from the sky. Barely an hour ago, she whacked Mr Brown across the face for trying to spoon her into an office romance. In fact, she didn't apply as a personal assistant to the CEO!

"Is this a prank?" She needed to be sure. The last thing she wanted was extra garbage tossed at her feet.

"Mr King is expecting you in the next ten minutes, " he said, waving her question. "Your job starts today."

And he hung up.

For a split second, she felt light-headed. It happened so fast that she looked at her phone to be sure it wasn't a dream. It's not a dream; Mr Brown did call her.

As realization dawned on her, she shrieked with excitement. "I got the job! I got the job!"

Fortunately for her, a taxi drove by. She hopped in, forgetting the stab Tyrone and Natalie had dealt her heart.

She got to the establishment within five minutes and found herself at the reception desk the second time that morning. "Hi, it's me again," she waved nervously.

This time, the receptionist glanced up. She was pissed. "What do you want?" She sniped.

Avery had urgent matters to attend to than guessing why the unwelcoming receptionist woke up on the wrong side of the bed.

"How can I get to the CEO's office?" she asked.

The receptionist eyed her suspiciously. "What business do you have with the CEO?"

It's none of your fucking business. "I have an appointment with him."

The lady reclined to her chair, returning her eyes to the monitor in front of her, typing away. "First floor."

Avery made a dash for the elevator without a word. Her curt attitude didn't deserve a thank you. Within a minute, the elevator opened onto a large floor with floor-to-ceiling glass walls. The CEO's office was the entire floor!

Damn!

Cloth hangers were arranged in orderly rows on the left wing, displaying various designer wears, all of which were latest designs by KFH. She hoped her dream of becoming a designer would come to fulfillment with KFH.

To the right were mannequins draped in previous designs, some of which were still in vogue. Her eyes caught the attention of one of the dresses. It was the royal blue long sleeve bodycon she fell in love with from the latest issue of a fashion magazine. On seeing the price tag, her smile vanished. The money would pay the mortgage on her father's property.

In the middle of the office was the CEO's desk. He sat on a rotating chair, backing her. His eyes were fixed on the billboard across the street that advertised one of his latest designers he modeled with Nicki Sandalwood, his top model.

"Hello, sir." She stood in front of his desk, controlling her pacing heartbeat. "I'm Avery Sallow, your new personal assistant."

Finally, the chair turned to face her. Avery almost suffered a cardiac arrest, seeing the face staring back at her.

"You?!"

He smirked maliciously, his blue temptation waving off him effortlessly. "Yes, me. Surprised?"