Chapter 4.

Lillian

 I have been staring at the mail I received this morning for the past one-hour now. I cried my eyes out yesterday thinking I was now fired and had to continue my job as a dishwasher at the bar.

           Yesterday I managed to go to my shift after crying at my parent's grave. I had been so moody until I returned home by 3am this morning.

 My boss reduced my pay, saying I was late and there was no wine glass to serve the customers. But, at least I've got some extra dollars to spare. 

    I came home looking like a ghost about to drown myself in self-pity then start another job hunt when I received the mail. For once, it seems like the earth was in my favor. 

“Are you not going to go ?” Jade asked as she got dressed for work.

I sighed. “ If I don't I'll continue to be miserable”.

“Exactly!” She exclaimed, making me chuckle. “ Girl, this is the highest paying job you've gotten in your lifetime. Yesterday was a mistake and that's that. Today is a new day”. 

I screamed Into my pillow. “ I should get dressed ”.

“Yes you should!” Walking over to her side of the closet, she tossed me a black dress. “Wear this, and don't get kicked out this time”.

“Thank you”. I whispered, teary-eyed. 

Jade was very generous, she had been covering my debts for the past three months now and for that, I was extremely grateful. I just hoped this dress would work.

 Jade was Skinny, very Skinny, while I was a little less skinny, but the dress should fit. Even if it doesn't, I'll make it fit. 

******

I stood in front of Mr. Kent, staring at my shoes. He had scolded me for running away yesterday and said he was going to punish me by deducting from my salary and giving me extra workload.

I wanted to ask him how he went about the document, but I was too scared to ask and since they were no longer on my desk than I supposed he must have done something about them. 

I didn't wear heels today, and I don't intend to wear them any time soon. 

“ Now you're dressed like you're going clubbing”. His voice roared.

I swallowed. It wasn't my fault, the dress was too small, and it hugged my body like jelly. I had passed a few employees as I entered the building, they were either wearing suits or blazers.

“It's a decent dress”. I retorted, my voice low.

“ Don't you have blazers, or pencil skirts?” He sounded annoyed. 

My jaw dropped. Blazers were for rich people, I barely have a proper jacket or sweater, let alone a goddamn blazer. I had never bothered spending my little cash on a decent dress, I'd rather I ate healthy food than wear expensive clothes.

He growled.“Close your mouth, Mrs. Ace”.

I snapped my mouth shut immediately.“No, I don't have blazers”. 

He seemed confused.“ Then what do you have ?” 

I shrugged.“Jeans, tank tops, a few hoodies, and beach dresses”. 

The office fell silent, with him staring at me like he was seeing a ghost. He shook his head from side to side, then reached for the drawers. 

Tossing a black card at me, he said.“Get proper clothes. I have a conference in two days, and you are not coming with me in one of your clown dresses.”

 I was holding the credit card, staring at him in shock. Did he just offer me his credit card to go shopping?

 I bit down on my lower lip.“ I … I can't accept this ?” 

He raised a brow.“ Do you want to lose your job?”

I shook my head violently.

“I thought so. Spend as much as you want, as long as you get yourself a proper dress.” 

I swallowed the lump that had formed in my throat. I never knew he was capable of such kindness, he had been cold and rude since the first day we met, so this ......this was so unexpected.

“Thank you ”. I whispered. I should be ashamed that I couldn't provide for myself, but right now, I needed as much help as I could get. 

He snorted but didn't reply. “ I have a meeting to attend in 10 minutes of which you almost ruined yesterday”. 

    He stood up from behind his desk, closing the distance between us. I then realized how tall he was, I didn't even get up to his shoulders. I took In his facial features. His face was extremely flawless.

He was beautiful.

“I'm sorry”. I apologized for the hundredth time.

His left brow twitched.” Stop apologizing,it's annoying.The meeting should hold for at least an hour, be back before then. The company driver will drive you”. And just like that, he was gone. 

 Few minutes later, the driver came to escort me to the parking lot. I had been pinching my cheeks all the way to the first floor. Mr. Kent gave me his credit card ,and he said I could spend as much as I want.

 But then again, he probably didn't want me humiliating him by my shallow dressing during the conference. Doesn't matter now, I'll get proper work clothes for the conference, then spend a little cash on food.

 At least I'll finally have enough food to eat before I get my first paycheck. The driver took me to one of the biggest shopping malls in the city, one that I had never stepped foot in. 

 I didn't waste time, I found a gray blazer that I liked and a pair of black stilettos. I almost fainted when I saw the price tag. Not only that, but I would have run out of the mall if the driver hadn't threatened to tell Mr. Kent. 

   I ended up buying it, convincing myself that it was for the conference. I spent the next half hour shopping for groceries. Likewise, I bought enough foodstuffs that'll last more than a month. 

 I had never been this lucky in my whole life, so at the first sight of luck, I'm grabbing it by the neck.

 We returned to the company an hour later. The driver promised to drive me home at the close of work along with my provisions. 

 I was on cloud nine, I swore, I would try my best not to upset Mr. Kent. This one kind gesture had saved a soul from starvation. This meant that I didn't have to go to my night shift at the bar anymore. I could survive on this until the month ends, and I get paid. 

 Mr. Kent was already in the office when I went in. His burning gaze scrutinized me again. “ Why are you still dressed like that ?” He asked me.

I reached over and placed the credit card on his desk directly in front of him. “ I'm saving the blazer for the conference, wasn't that what you wanted ?”

He crooked his brow.“ It's just a three-hour conference, I'd expect you'll change your clothes before coming back here “. 

I blinked at him. “ But, if I wear that now, then I'll have to repeat the same clothes at the conference”. 

He frowned. “ Repeat the same clothes ?...that was precisely why I gave you my credit card, to get yourself enough clothes for work”.

I took a sharp intake of breath, fidgeting with the sleeve. I had only bought one blazer, and matching trousers. There was no way on earth I'd tell him that. 

Sensing the sudden change in my demeanor, he walked over to where I stood. 

“ Mr. Ace, did you get yourself enough clothes for work ?” I could practically feel the temperature drop in his voice.

Shifting on my feet, I cleared my throat.“I thought you said to buy just one dress for the conference”. 

He stepped closer, I could now feel his breath on my temple.“ If you bought just one dress, then why did such a huge sum leave my account."

Silence followed. 

“Mrs. Ace?”.

Silence .

I heard him take a deep breath.“ Mrs. Ace, what did you spend my money on ?”

I remained silent. How in the world was I supposed to tell him I spent thousands of dollars on expensive food?