CHAPTER4
1305 Words
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That was it.
It felt like my whole world had ended. All I could hear was the deafening silence that rang in my ears as he took intentional steps towards me.
Everyone in the room watched as the scene unfolded, each of them, a trace of fright laced in their looks.
I gulped in apprehension as I took a step back in self defense.
Then another,
And another,
And another. Until there was no other place to run to. I had collided with the walls.
Swallowing and downing my saliva, I tasted it.
Fear.
That one feeling, that held a lot of power. That could make the proud humble, that could break even the bravest of men. Yes it existed and I felt it flush through my body as I stood still.
I could feel my knees weaken and I fought with everything in me to keep my body standing upright.
That once radiant, good-looking face now looked like a strikingly gorgeous devil.
I knew he couldn't kill me nor harm me but something about the beast he had turned into made me flinch at every movement he made.
He came close, close enough, so close that he placed his both hands on the wall, trapping me in between them.
"And who do you think you are to impose my rules?" he said, every word holding its impact.
I tried to muster all the courage in me.
"You… you can't just make a decision on someone's life like that. You have no right". I stammered.
If there was any ounce of bravery in me, his next reaction sent them all crawling to the ground.
Slowly tilting his head, he stared at me. Looking like a lion gently analyzing its prey.
"Who would stop me? You?" a hint of mockery laced in his tone.
"Fred!", he called out and one of his employees ran forward.
"Since Miss Collins here doesn't seem to like the punishment, why don't you do this" he stated. “After reaping the scandal of his home, make sure nobody in the city gives his wife a job. Right from working in a high end company like this, down to sweeping the streets of New York city".
On hearing this, the man immediately fell to the ground and fainted.
"Do you prefer it now?" he asked Isa, a smile so evil, that passed his eyes built at the corner of his lips.
At this point, I was puzzled. I saw this man's true face.
Heartless. Inhumane. Cruel. Callous. and any other word that could describe how damn cold-hearted he was.
He stepped away from me, standing in the center of the room, not looking in anyone's direction,
"Leave" he uttered.
Nobody moved, everyone seemed to be anxious, unsure of what to do.
"I said leave!!" he screamed angrily as visible veins popped up on his forehead.
Everyone hurried out of the room, not wanting to have to deal with an already-angry Alexander.
As I stepped out, I fell to the ground. My tears got the better of me.
“It was all my fault!!” I screamed, scolding myself.
Scenes of his wife and innocent children walking on the streets homeless, filled my head. I pushed my hair back off my face as I screamed in agony.
The lady from the interview laid a hand on my back. Giving me some kind of comfort, she patted it, slowly caressing me.
"My dear, do not think that you are responsible for that man's misery. President Ford is never kind to anyone that poses a threat to his company" she said, a trail of care tied to her voice.
"But why is he so cruel?!...... Why is he so heartless?!" I cried in her arms.
"Dear, being one of the oldest employees in this company, I can tell you that he was not always like this……..That's one incident, that one misfortune changed everything, for good”.
She knelt there gazing at the air, staring at no one. It was like she was recalling the past event like it was happening before her eyes.
Before you knew it, tears came crawling down her cheeks.
Isa felt a hot liquid drop on her shoulder as she released herself from the hug.
"Are you okay?", she asked, a bit concerned.
"Look, go home and resume work tomorrow prepared okay?" she replied, sniffing in and wiping her tears, ignoring Isa's early question.
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I lay on my bed, my whole mind occupied as memories of the earlier incident flashed into my head.
After what I witnessed, I kept on contemplating on whether to work in that company.
After reasoning it throughout the evening, I realized that I had to teach that man a lesson.I would have to give him a heart.
Throughout my life I've lived under the shell of Amaya and my Father. Now I've gotten a little bit of freedom, I can't just throw it all away because of fear.
*********
I woke up around 6:30 am, hurrying as fast as I could to go to work early. I didn't even have time to eat breakfast, jogging through the stairs as fast as I could, like a puppy being chased.
I almost ran through the door when I heard someone call out my name.
"Isa!", the feminine voice called.
The way in which I halted abruptly, almost made me almost trip and fall to the ground, but thankfully I gathered enough stamina to keep myself up.
I turned to see who it was and met Amaya’s gaze.
"Yes?" I answered.
"And where do you think you're off to", she asked.
"I'm going to work".
"Work?, dressed in this seductive outfit of yours?"
"Amaya please I'm running late. what exactly do you want?" I retorted, not ready for any of her tantrums.
"You know me too well, little sis. I want you to do something for me………”.
“Take me to your boss".
***********
I didn't even know how to react to what I just heard. Whose boss? Mine? No way.
I knew that Amaya was always messing around in the city. Fvcking several big fishes in the state all just for money and status but this plan? With my boss? This was just a NO!.
I didn’t even dare to refuse her demand as flashes of what she might do to me ran through my mind.
"Hey, puppy dog!!" she exclaimed as she snapped her fingers to my face causing me to jolt back into reality.
"Are you taking me………or not?" she asked and I could feel the wickedness in her tone.
Without any further hesitation, I nodded in agreement.
"Yes, I'll take you".
"Good girlll", she smiled as she patted my head. "Well come on now let's go!". She walked out and I followed closely behind.
During the entire drive, I just stared out the window.
I wondered what I might have done in my past life to deserve such an inconsiderate sister and a negligent father.
Back in my father's house, before he got remarried, Amaya would always beat me to a pulp on every slightest mistake I made. I didn't know if it was because she was older than me or she just derived joy in bringing me pain. I sighed.
I stared at the happy people in the road, the joyful children, the jovial folks and the cheerful elders, hoping to find peace in them. Which I did.
After a few minutes of driving, the car finally stopped in front of the company.
I opened the door. About to step out when I heard Amaya scream.
"Ahhh!.... Oh.My.Goshh!!" she yelled.
I immediately jumped out to know what was wrong as worry filled my nerves. But calmed down as I saw she ran to hug a man.
"Alexx!!" she exclaimed.
- Writer
