The Offer

Fate looked at her reflection on the mirror. She’s a wreck.

With her hair in a messy ponytail and her make-up a mess, no wonder people in the club had been looking at her weirdly since earlier. Not that she can helped it, nor does she care. Actually, these days she’s finding it hard to care about anything else after what happened to her last month.

After one last look at the mirror, she made her way out of the lady’s comfort room, intending to go back to her friend and mug of beer to drown in sorrow.

She was already a little drunk then, that she didn’t notice she was about to collide with someone.

Fate was about to fall on her butt if it weren’t for the person she collided with catching her just in time and holding her steady on her feet.

“Hey, are you okay?” The guy said, showing genuine concern.

“Don’t touch me!” Fate said to him crossly as she tried to push him away.

He was taken aback, but still didn’t let go of her until she could steady herself.

“Okay. Alright. No need to get upset.”

She just glared at him as he finally let her go and she started heading back to their table.

The guy actually followed her with his gaze until he was sure she got to her table alright. He shook his head and smiled at her direction then.

‘She must be going through something bad for her to be in that state. A broken heart, maybe.’ He thought to himself, not that he can relate. It’s usually him who causes a broken heart after all.

The moment Fate got back to her seat, she started crying and chugging her mug of beer again. Her best friend sighed heavily, wanting to stop her and yet knowing that she needs it after what had happened to her. Still, it's already been awhile...

"Fate that’s enough, that’s already your seventh mug. We should really head back."

"I spent the last five years of my life in that company! I built my entire career in that company! And yet... and now..." Fate sobbed. 

"Well, what did you expect after you assaulted the new CEO on his first day?"

"But he was the one who harassed me first, not even five minutes after we got introduced."

"Yeah well, Fate I'm sure you already lost count how many times you had to kiss-ass even after you got harassed over the years. You know you had it coming."

"I know! I know... but..."

"And from what you told me, I'm pretty sure you don't regret what you did." She smirked.

"I don't!" Fate sobered a bit, and even looked really miffed. "Still he fired me and swore that I won't ever get a job in this industry. I'm ruined!"

"Hey, you still have me. I'm sure we can work something out." Rhine really felt bad for her friend. Being a secretary is all she wanted to be since she was a kid, and now this happened to her because of some perverted jerk.

"I love you and all, Rhi. But I don't want to drag you down with me. It's better if you stop associating with me from now on."

"Don't be such a drama queen." She rolled her eyes at her. "Besides, we've been friends since forever, there's no way I'd leave you alone."

"You... are such a good friend." Fate reached over their island table to give her a hug.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm the best, I know." 

"I can't believe the president can have such an asshole of a son. Using his position and connections just to ruin me! How dare he! I've been in this industry way longer than he was!" 

Rhine looked like she wanted to cry as well as Fate continued to bawl over her mug. 

"Oh, Fate..."

It had been a month since the incident. True to his words, somehow he really did manage to blacklist Fate on all the Secretarial position jobs she tried applying to in the city, they had lost count how many rejections she had received in the last month and every time she would want to drink, just like today. If this continues she's afraid that Fate might turn into an alcoholic sooner than later.

"I'll go ask for a cup of coffee to sober you up, okay? Stay here and don't order another mug, you hear me."

Not long after Rhine left to ask the bartender for coffee, a dashing man in suit sat on her seat just opposite of Fate's.

"A pleasant evening, beautiful." 

"Who're you?" 

Fate looked at the stranger suspiciously. She is in no mood to talk to strangers or flirt for the matter, not that she willingly did in her life. Which is why she never had a boyfriend before. As Rhine puts it, she can't help acting like a bitch in front of others outside work.

"It's Williams. Kurt Williams."

Kurt smiled charmingly and even tried to offer his hand for a shake, but took it back when Fate just looked at it blankly seemingly unaffected by his charms and didn't look like she had any intention of taking it.

"Look, if you're here to flirt or something, then you better get your ass off. I'm not in the mood." Fate glared at him. She's already in such a bad mood, she can't deal with anybody's nonsense.

Kurt chuckled at her words. "Oh, I wish I was. You're such an interesting young lady, Ms. Lestrange."

Now, that made her frown. "How do you know my name?"

He smiled mysteriously. "I know how capable you are as a secretary, Ms. Lestrange. And I am also well aware of your predicament. I'm here to help if you'll let me."

He handed her a black card. And this time she took it, sobering up at his words. The recognition in Fate's eyes upon seeing the card is enough to let him know that he had already accomplished what he came for. He triumphantly smiled to himself.

"When you're ready to give us your answer, just give us a call."

Fate looked at him confusedly. Answer? Call?

"Excuse me?"

He leaned forward and whispered to her ear. "I'm saying that 'The Mask' is offering you a position where you can start over."

Fate gaped at the man, not really knowing how to respond. It's not every day that you get approached by someone from a company whose existence everybody thought is just a myth. Unless...

"You're not just making this all up, are you?" She frowned.

"Am I?" He grins. "You're a smart young lady, Ms. Lestrange. What do you think?"

What does she think?

Well, as suspicious as he is and his offer, it can't be all bull. Not a lot of people know or even really believe the existence of this company; and those who actually do are always a somebody. So it's either he's telling the truth and is really giving her another chance, or he's sent by her ex-boss. In the past weeks after he had unjustly fired her, he had sent a couple of people to harass and make a fool out of her.

"Anyway, that's all I wanted to say. It's up to you whether you believe me or not. Just know that this is a one-time offer." He stood up and grinned at her direction charmingly. "We're looking forward to your call, Ms. Lestrange."

Fate just looked at his retreating back, not really sure what to think of what just happened. It all seemed surreal.

"Who was that? A friend?" Rhine took her seat again as she pushed the cup of coffee towards her friend. "You seemed to have sobered up after talking to him. What happened?"

"I... He... He offered me a job, Rhine." 

"Huh? Really? That's great, Fate! Now you job hunting is over. Why aren't you happy? Wait. Is it because it's something suspicious?"

"He said he's from 'The Mask'."

"'The Mask'? Is it a theatre group act company or something? Well, you do have the face and can act when you really want to. It shou- "

"It's not something like that." She shook her head furiously and showed her the card she received. "Look."

"Uh, what am I looking at?" She raised her brow.

"It's the company's calling card."

"Okay..." This time she inspects it more critically. "Are you sure it's a calling card? All I see is a black card printed with a funny looking mask."

"Exactly!"

"I don't quite follow."

"'The Mask' is said to be the company behind all the big names in the business world. As in like a backer, and not a lot of people know about their existence."

"What, like some sort of black government?"

"Yes, you can say that."

"Well that really sounds suspicious."

Fate took back the card, all sorts of things going through her head.