The Lonely Devil

Chapter 3

It had been two days since Lyra had gotten fired from her job, she hadn't left her house since then. She had received countless calls from Vicky and Olivia but couldn't bring herself to answer them yet. She had no strength to fake a smile and put on a strong front. Life has just been so unfair. She grabbed the soda can by the side of her bed and shook it, ugh it was empty. She sat up from the bed, looking around her. Packets of chips, boxes of pizza, soda cans and takeouts littered the ground.

She groaned and slapped her face, this is wrong, why must she be in such a state? It's the company's loss and soon they'll go bankrupt. She decided she had to pull herself together and get another job soon. She got up and went to shower.As the water cascaded down her body in the shower, she made a decision to rid herself of the unwashed self-pity that had been clinging to her for far too long. With renewed determination, she dressed and set out to find a job. Her first stop was an employment agency where they assessed her credentials and provided her with a list of suitable job openings.

As she waited in the corridor with other job seekers for her turn, she noticed a lanky man and remembered he had been standing next to the CEO.

"That guy... he's the secretary to that narcissist C.E.O" She bolted up, She decided to follow him as he left the building.

Earlier that day,

"So you're actually going to resign?"

"Well... yes, I've made the decision to open my own law firm. I've saved up enough money, and frankly, you stress me out a lot. It's time for me to be my own boss," Damien explained to Ezekiel.

Ezekiel frowned, surprised. "I stress you out?" he asked.

Damien rolled his eyes. "Of course you would be oblivious to that. You're a workaholic," he said.

"Well, I was actually looking for a good vacant position anyway. I accept your resignation. Don't forget to inform the PR that your position is now vacant. And make sure to collect your last paycheck at the accounts department," Ezekiel said.

Damien huffed, clearly annoyed. "I wonder how I became friends with such an emotionless person, whatever, I'll go personally to even our employment agency and let them know" Saying that, he stormed out.

Ezekiel turned his chair to face the glass wall behind him, hiding the expression on his face.

Lyra pondered to herself, "Why did I even decide to follow him? I thought he would at least lead me to some secret I could use against his boss." They were now at a bar, and the lanky man seemed to be lost in his own world, drowning his sorrows in drink.

Lyra let out a long sigh and stood up to leave when suddenly their eyes met. She gasped and quickly looked away, hoping he wouldn't remember her. "Oh no, no, no. I hope he doesn't remember," she thought to herself as she grabbed her bag and bolted towards the exit. Once outside, she glanced back nervously before trying to hail a cab.

Damien emerged from the building looking around, scanning the area until his eyes finally fell on her. He recognized her face - after all, he had done quite a bit of digging into her. "Excuse me, Miss Lyra?" he called out, jogging towards her.

Lyra looked back and her eyes widened in surprise. "Oh no, he's caught up to me. Okay, let's just pretend it's a coincidence," she thought to herself as she turned around to face him. "Excuse me? Are you referring to me?" she asked, trying to play it cool.

"Yes, you don't remember me?" he asked.

"Am I meant to?" she asked.

"Well, not exactly," the man replied. "Did you come out for a drink?"

Lyra raised an eyebrow. "Look mister," she said firmly. "I don't think we know each other well enough to have such a casual talk. So please, if you'll excuse me, I'm trying to find a cab."

The man nodded understandingly. "Oh, I see," he said. "My name is Damien. We met at your former workplace. And just so you know, cabs are quite scarce around here. Why don't you join me for a drink, and then I can drop you off at home?"

Lyra hesitated for a moment, considering the offer. On the one hand, she didn't want to give him the wrong impression that she was here to drink away her sorrows after losing her job. But on the other hand, she did not want to wander the streets in search of a ride home.

"Fine," she said finally. "But just one drink."

Damien smiled, and Lyra followed him back into the bar, wondering what she had gotten herself into.

Lyra sipped her drink nervously, conscious of the damien's gaze on her.

She glanced up at Damien who seemed to be studying her intently.

"What?" she asked, a hint of irritation creeping into her voice.

"Nothing," he said quickly, raising his hands in surrender. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to stare. It's just...you seem like you're going through something."

Lyra sighed, "of course I'm going through something thanks to your boss"

"Oh..so you remember me"

She rolled her eyes, "maybe I do"

"I'm sorry about the job thing, it's quite hard to comprehend what Ezekiel is thinking most of the time. And actually I decided to resign today"

"What? Really? Why?"

"Well I'm planning on opening a law firm"

"Wow that sounds great"

"Yeah.. it's been a goal of mine and now I've saved up a lot"

"Well we might both be currently jobless but you're a step ahead"

Damien smiled,"I can employ you at my firm"

"A lovely thought but you don't even know me that well"Lyra replied laughing it off.

"I'm quite serious, you strike me as a hard-working woman"

"Well thank you "

"I will make you the head of my PR department and you can even be a share holder "

"Wow that's a lot, Why will you do all this for me?"

"I just kinda feel bad about what happened to you "

"But it wasn't even your fault "

"Yeah I'm doing this on behalf of my friend, just say yes please"

"Mm... how's the salary?" She asked sporting a smirk.

He leaned in and whispered in her ear "how about six zeros?"

Her eyes widened,"happy to serve boss, what's the next step?"

He laughed, "The building will be set up by next month so I'll contact you"

"Oh here's my number "

He passed her his phone and she typed it in.

He gulped down his remaining drink,"well let me take you home"

"Ah.. alright"