010: New Job, Old Faces

Elodie stared at her belongings as she thought of what to do. Finally, she called her second job, the one where she sometimes worked events, hoping for any sliver of hope.

But the voice on the other end was curt. "Elodie, didn't you get the termination email? And your last pay went toward replacing the mascot uniform you ruined. It wasn't even enough."

The line went dead before Elodie could argue.

She felt like the ground beneath her was crumbling. Everything was slipping away.

She sighed, picked up her stuff and began to walk away.

Minutes later, Elodie sat on the creaky bed of a budget motel, staring at the peeling wallpaper. The room smelled of cheap air freshener, trying and failing to mask the scent of dampness. She dropped her bag onto the floor, exhaling slowly.

'This is it. This is my new life.'

Her fingers brushed against the ring pendant hanging from her necklace, a painful reminder of the past. She had once lived in luxury, surrounded by wealth and privilege. Now, she was counting every last cent, calculating how long she could stretch her savings before she ended up on the streets.

She couldn’t afford to waste time.

She pulled out her phone and searched for jobs.

Hours passed before she found something.

A luxury shoe store sales associate. Elodie became excited and hopeful too. If she got this job, she could pay her rent and take care of other needs she had. As someone who used to wear luxury brand shoes, it would be easy for her to perform very well and make a lot of sales. She applied immediately and jumped for joy when her application was accepted an hour later.

___

Two days later, Elodie tightened her coat around her as she walked through the bustling city streets, heading toward Storm Enterprises.

Williams' company.

Her fingers curled around the neatly folded coat in her arms. She had spent hours debating whether to return it, but deep down, she knew she couldn’t hold onto it. Not if she wanted to move forward.

She halted just outside the towering glass building. Storm Enterprises loomed above her, a testament to Williams' ambition and hard work. She remembered the late-night conversations, the way his eyes lit up when he spoke about his dreams in the past. He had painted pictures of this very place... a sanctuary where his visions would come to life.

A soft smile tugged at her lips. Pride swelled in her chest, mingling with an ache she couldn’t quite place. He had done it. Her Williams had turned his dreams into a reality. She felt a rush of warmth, a quiet joy in seeing his success up close.

But as she stood there, the glass doors gleaming in the winter light, a trickle of anxiety slipped through her composure. The sleek, modern façade felt like a portal into a world she no longer belonged to.

She took a slow breath, her fingers brushing the cool surface of the glass door as she pushed it open. The lobby enveloped her in muted elegance, marble floors stretching beneath her feet, soft lighting casting gentle shadows.

Her pulse quickened. She felt like an outsider...someone stepping into a home that was once hers but had changed in her absence.

'It’s just a building, Elodie. Just a building.' She whispered to herself, though the tremor in her voice betrayed her. Each step forward felt like wading through water, slow and deliberate, as if the weight of the past held her back.

And yet, she moved forward. One step, then another. Each footfall a quiet echo in the grand space, pulling her toward whatever waited ahead.

The receptionist greeted her politely.

“I need to return this,” Elodie said, placing the coat on the desk. “It belongs to Mr. Storm.”

“Would you like me to let him know you’re here?” The receptionist asked.

Elodie forced a smile. “That won’t be necessary.”

With that, she turned and quietly walked out.

___

It was Elodie's second day at the luxury shoe store, but she already loved working there. She felt fulfilled each time she helped a customer find what they wanted and bid them goodbye with joy on their faces.

She had just finished helping an older woman when a new customer arrived.

“Elodie?”

Her body stiffened at the familiar voice.

She turned slowly.

A woman in designer heels, a silk dress, and flawless makeup stood before her. Her former friend from college.

The same one who had smiled to her face while gossiping behind her back.

A slow smirk spread across the woman’s lips. “I can’t believe this.” She laughed. “So it’s true. The great Elodie Richards, working a retail job? Wow. Life really came at you fast, didn’t it?”

Elodie’s stomach churned, but she forced herself to remain calm. She had nothing to be ashamed of.

The woman picked up a pair of stilettos, inspecting them. “Since you work here, you must know the best ones, right? Why don’t you help me try these on?”

She sat down and extended her foot expectantly.

Elodie smiled and knelt down. "Of course, ma'am."

She slipped the shoes onto the woman's feet and exclaimed. "Wow! These are stunning on you. You have incredible taste and this shade brings out the undertones of your skin beautifully.

Honestly, these look custom made for you. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were meant to own them.”

The woman scoffed. "But of course. I've always had good taste, unlike you. You used to be richer than me, Elodie but look at you now, kneeling at my feet.

Meanwhile, I'm married to one of the richest men in the world and can afford anything I want. You know what? I'm not taking this.

If they have you working here, then these shoes must be inferior in value."

Elodie smiled. "Oh come on, ma'am. You can question anything else but not the quality of our shoes. You do know I have a good eye when it comes to quality shoes, right?"

She rolled her eyes. "Oh, please!"

Elodie sighed. "It's okay, not everyone can afford our shoes. Look at this..."

She picked up a magazine and flipped it open saying, "look at these pictures....these are top models from around the world rocking our shoes. Even the wife of the president and top billionaires in this country come here because they are assured of quality, so what are you saying?

There's no need to pretend that you are very rich just to fool me. You can't afford our shoes and that's fine. Our shoes are too pricey for you, so forget it. Those who can afford these shoes will come for them."

The woman scoffed. "How dare you look down on me? Do you know who my husband is? Who told you I can't afford these shoes?"

Elodie sighed. "Ma'am, I'm just saying...."

"Shut up!" The woman yelled. "Do you think I'm a poor church rat like you? I will show you the difference between the both of us, Elodie.

Here's my card, I'm buying four pairs, the most expensive ones."

Elodie's eyes widened in fake surprise. "Ma'am are you sure? Four pairs of shoes are quite expensive."

The woman chuckled. "Only to you. To me, it's chicken change."

She threw her card at Elodie and Elodie picked it up. She gestured to the cashier, Maria, and the young girl received the card from Elodie.

After the payment had been processed, Elodie exclaimed. "Wow! Ma'am, I'm sorry I underestimated you. I had no idea you've become so wealthy. I'm going to include your name in our lists of VIP customers."

She smiled smugly. "Now you know you are nothing before me. Next time I come here, I expect exceptional treatment from you. Don't forget, I'm one of your VIP customers."

Elodie nodded. "Of course, ma'am. I won't forget that."

As she left, Elodie sighed in relief.

"Wow, Elodie!" Maria exclaimed. "You are quite smart. That woman wanted to humiliate you but ended up increasing your commission."

Elodie winked at Maria, then turned and began restocking when someone else walked in.

Without looking up, she said, "Welcome to Grand Luxe Soles. You’ve come to the right place for timeless luxury. Are you looking for something specific, or would you like to explore our latest arrivals? Let me know if I can curate a selection for you."

The next thing she heard was a chuckle. Low. Deep.

Elodie instantly recognized the voice and looked up.

She froze.

The man standing before her was tall, broad-shouldered, his tailored suit hugging his powerful frame effortlessly. His dark hair was neatly styled, sharp jawline defined under the warm store lights.

His deep blue eyes gleamed with amusement as he watched her.

He tilted his head slightly. “That was quite the show,” he mused. “You’re smart and quick-witted. Even as a sales associate, you stand out.”

Elodie narrowed her eyes at him.

He took a slow step forward, his gaze flicking to her hands, then her face.

“You’re a natural at business,” he continued, his tone smooth. “No wonder… you’re my wife."

Elodie's grip on the shoe she was holding tightened.

Her lips parted, but no sound came out.

The man smirked.

“Did you really think you could run forever, Elodie?”