Chapter Two
1930 Words
“Melissa, don't go”
Williams, Melissa's fifteen year old brother protested.
“I promise to be back soon, brother. I need to get this job.”
Melissa cajoled him.
“Julio will come over and take care of you, but I'm very late at the moment.”
She said, hurriedly, kissed him on his forehead and ran out of the house before Williams could protest further.
Melissa stepped out into the damp morning, the air thick with smells of burnt coal, wet earth, and something sour that she couldn't place. The air outside her door felt narrow yet comfortable. Broken cobblestones made every step uneven, but she knew them all by heart. The alleyways were tight, like a press on her, yet they had a rhythm—a life.
She stepped around puddles she had jumped a thousand times, her gaze straying to the chipped brick of houses that seemed to lean in too close, sharing the weight of the world. Children, barefoot and huddled in mismatched layers, ran, their eyes watchful, faces far too weighted for their years. Melissa smiled at old Mrs. Kelly, who unfolded her meager stall with a dramatic sigh. It was the same every morning, yet coziness lay in that routine.
Soon enough, she found herself at the bus station where she she hustled to get into the next bus to have her job interview with Stalling Corporation.
“s**t!”
She freaked out when she saw the time on her watch. She was to have her interview by nine am and it was only ten minutes to nine am. If only she could have ordered Uber! But she knows that the cab drivers will never want to come to that part of the city.
By her calculations, she will be a little late for the meeting. She clamped her hands together and silently prayed that she will receive favor and her tardiness will be unnoticed.
The coach hissed as soon as it came to a stop, Melissa stepped off, her feet hitting the clean pavement with a sense of urgency. The city around her was sleek, towering glass buildings reflecting the morning sun, everything polished to perfection. The air smelled different here—crisp, sterile, free of the grit she was used to—but Melissa barely noticed. She tightened her grip on her worn bag and hurried across the street, her reflection flashing in the glossy windows she ignored. She was so late.
She weaved through the crowd of polished shoes and tailored suits, feeling out of place but moving like she belonged. The corporate building loomed ahead—tall, spotless, with gleaming marble steps leading to wide glass doors that parted smoothly as she approached. Inside, everything was bright and immaculate: marble floors, abstract art on the walls, and the cool hum of air conditioning.
Melissa kept her eyes straight ahead, her heartbeat quickening. She felt the eyes of the receptionist, the echo of her footsteps against the pristine tiles, but she didn’t slow down to admire any of it. She slipped into the elevator just as the doors closed, exhaling sharply, her focus already on what lay ahead.
“Alright, Mel. You can do this. You are strong, focused and smart! You will ace this interview.”
She said to her reflection as she pulled her hair backwards and packed it into a bond. As soon as she stepped off the sixth floor where she was to have her interview, she was welcomed by the sour face of the head of the HR.
“You are fifteen minutes late!”
She said, curtly.
“I know. I'm sorry, Mrs. Summers but I…”
Melissa was about to defend herself, but she was not given the opportunity to do that.
“I'm sorry too, Miss. Stone. We don't condone tardiness for any reason. You were given a time to be here and when your time came, you were nowhere to be found. So, I'm sorry, you are out!”
Mrs. Summers was about to move, but Melissa helped her back by touching her on the arm. The look of disgust that Mrs. Summers gave Melissa could kill someone if possible.
“Please, ma'am. I really need this job. I promise you that I'm very good at what I do and I will never be late. Please, just give me another chance.”
Melissa was practically begging her.
“Young lady, if you don't get a grip of yourself and respectfully leave my sight, I will call the security to get you out of here!”
She said and immediately called out.
“Security! Please get this filth out of my sight!”
In a few minutes, Melissa was thrown out of the magnificent building, with tears in her eyes.
It has been over six months that she has lost her job as a local waitress in her neighbourhood. Ever since her parents died, it has just been her and her autistic brother. Things have been really hard on her lately because she has been trying to juggle finding a job and taking care of her brother.
Julio, her closest friend and neighbour have been filling for her but, with the needs of an autistic child, there's only so little he can do.
Melissa stood up and wiped her behind. She's not ready to go back home to break the sad news at all. She just needs a place to blank out from everything that is around her. She needs a place where she can drown her sorrows and forget how messy her life is for a while.
She picked up her heels and walked across the street not bothering about getting hit by the busy traffic. She spotted a bar after walking for twenty minutes and decided to go in there even though it's barely eleven am.
………
It didn't take long for Evan to realize that he had no idea where he was storming off in his black Mercedes. He just left the mansion because of the decree of his father.
“Who the hell cares about my marriage at this time and age?”
He vented in frustration.
He has been very loyal to father and the corporation, and now that it's time for his reward, father still insists on him bringing home a wife. No! His dreams and goals are too important to lose focus like that.
He realised that he was almost at his father's company. He sighed. He has worked so hard that his subconscious mind was already taking him there. But today, he's not in the mood to do that. He just wants to be alone this time. He will look for a good bar and just forget himself for the night. He'll probably have a one night stand with a stranger like he does when he is frustrated. He still has his premium membership in Pub & Motel Zero, so fingers crossed.
He drove away from the corporation and went to the closest bar. It was already evening. As he alighted at the park, the night lights shoned on his black and shiny car. He stepped out of the vehicle and immediately, he caused heads to turn. His black suit was tailor made, only from the best brand in Italy. His Gucci watch reflected on faces and everyone knew that Evan is not only stinky rich, but he's a man of elegance and style too.
He was of course used to the attention, so he walked into the bar. He wants a little competition today. He doesn't want the cheap sluts.
“If it isn't my rich customer and jefe!”
Hector, the bartender, hailed him as he approached the stool. He must be surprised that Evan came here after months of not showing up. Today is going to be a good day for him.
“So, what are we celebrating? That will determine the kind of drink for you, my amigo.”
He asked.
“We are not celebrating anything, Hector. The drink is not so important. I need your other expertise.”
Evan said and immediately Hector understood what he meant.
“Of course, my Casanova brother. I'm here for you.”
He teased him as he held him by the shoulder and he started pointing at different ladies who seemed to be easily vulnerable to get his attention. But Evan wanted a different game today.
“I don't want that today. I want someone who is as damaged as I am. I want someone that can share my passion as we fuck.”
It was when he said that statement, that was when Hector realised that Evan must have really had a shitty day. He was not so close to Evan, so he could not ask him to share it with him. So, he decided to do his job.
“Alright, then. There's this one that you will like. Although, she's not your taste.”
“Show me.”
Hector pointed to a lady in an official navy blue gown with ragged hair, looking so wasted without any care in the world.
“She has been here since morning and has refused to leave. I even doubt that she has enough money to pay for the drinks she has had. If you want to talk about damage, that's her.”
He said.
“Put her drinks on my tab.”
Evan told him as he gulped the last bit of scotch in his cup. He was getting a little tipsy too. There was no way he could do this with a proper mind.
He walked up to her and sat down opposite her. She seemed disinterested.
“I said that I don't want to be disturbed. Leave me the f**k alone!”
She yelled at Evan.
“Cool! I don't want to be disturbed. You and I have had a crazy day. I don't f*****g care what it's about and I'm sure you don't care about me. I just want to be distracted for this night and I have a room at the hotel ahead. So, why don't we go up ahead and distract ourselves and tomorrow, we will forget that this night ever happened.”
He was straight to it. There was no time for persuasion at all. That even seemed to turn her on.
“f**k it! Let's do this.”
She replied and downed her last drink.
In ten minutes, they were in the room, having the best s*x of their lives. It was as though they took their sorrows and poured it out on the s*x. Tears poured out of Melissa's eyes as she moaned when Evan was coming in and out of her. Evan grunted each time he heard his father's voice telling him that he will not touch his inheritance unless he married and he grinded Melissa harder.
This went on for about one hour. It was an hour of non-stop passion and release of emotions. They hardly looked into each other's eyes, but by the time they were done, their minds were calm already.
………
Six weeks later…
“You need to see the doctor, Mel. You have been unwell. And I don't like your aura.”
Her gay best friend voiced out from the other side of the toilet door.
“Oh no!”
Melissa gasped as she stared at the pregnancy strip that she was holding.
“What's wrong, baby doll?”
Julio asked when she said that.
“I'm pregnant.”
That was all she could say. The entire house quietened.
- Writer
