Red Alert

Chapter 2: New Job

Ella's Pov

I was woken up the next day by the sound of the busy street. I stretched a bit as I got up to my feet and looked around. The sun had risen and it was probably early morning as most people were jogging and exercising in the park. 

I slung my bag over my shoulder as I headed over to the bank. I checked how much money I had in my bank account and figured it was enough for me to survive alone. I withdrew some money from my account and used it to eat a proper meal. I purposely passed by the neighborhood my siblings were living in as I made my way around. I had no idea what to do or where to go but what I needed the most was a job. I was walking around the streets, checking to see if they were any posters about a job.

"Ella? Ella! Is that you?" A voice suddenly reached my ears as I turned around to see the person calling my name. A big part of me was hoping that maybe it was my siblings but how could I be right. 

A woman wearing a white shirt with blue jeans came into view as my eyes widened, recognition flashing across my face. It was my aunt, my dad's sister who I used to live with when dad was in prison. She wasn't alone though because right beside her was my uncle, my aunt's husband. I felt tears filling my eyes as I ran forward to greet them.

"Aunt Janice!" I exclaimed as I jumped at her, pulling her in for a hug.

"Ella! oh, Ella. It is you." My aunt said as she returned my hug before pulling away and looking at me all over. "You've grown so much. You're so beautiful. Oh my...it's been too long. How I've missed you." She said as she pulled me in for yet another hug before pulling back and hitting me on the shoulder. "Where the hell have you been? I looked for you and even went to your sibling's house but they wouldn't tell me a thing." Aunt said

"It's great to see you too." I simply said as I smiled at her. "Uncle Jack, how have you been?" I asked as I went toward him and gave him a short hug.

"As usual," Uncle replied.

"You have a lot to tell us, young lady. Come on." Aunt Janice said as she looped her arm with mine and started walking as Uncle followed behind us. I didn't know where she was leading me until we arrived at a restaurant. During lunch, I told aunt and uncle everything, the full truth. Honestly, it felt amazing to be able to confide in someone and tell them the truth accept I didn't tell them about the killing. I never mentioned anything about Hayden or I killing anyone, I skipped that part.

••••••••••

I ran down the street being careful not to bump into the other pedestrians. Yesterday, when I had met with my aunt and uncle, I told them my situation and they were more than helpful. Uncle invited me to stay with them in their apartment as soon as he heard I was homeless and aunt recommended me a job. Today, I was heading over to the place where I would be working and the best thing was that aunt also worked there. 

I was rushing a bit since I didn't want to be late on my first day. I was going to be working as a cleaner in a mall. The head of the cleaning team is my aunt but I know that even though we're related she will not cut me any slack. I guess I was paying more attention to how fast I was running instead of the roads and because of that as I was crossing a street, I didn't notice a car coming towards me until it was too late.

Luckily, the car stopped in time and I wasn't hit very badly but instead just fell back, possibly hurting my leg. I picked up my bag that fell in the process as I tried to get up. I was just helping myself up when someone offered me a hand. 

I looked up at the person offering a hand as I had to hide my surprise. I had never met this man before but all I could say was that he was quite handsome. He didn't look that old, I would say about my age or a few years older. He had distinctive features and by the look of the fancy suit he was wearing and the car he was driving, this guy was a rich businessman. I smiled a bit as I took the strangers offered hand and pulled myself up, wincing a bit as my leg made an impact with the ground. I surely hurt something.

"Are you alright?" The guy asked me as I brushed off my clothes feeling self-conscious. This guy was wearing such a fancy suit while I was dressed in old rags, not a good impression.

"Yeah, I'm alright," I replied as I looked at the guy who had not only hit me with his car but also made me late.

"Are you sure? We can go to the hospital if you hurt your leg." The guy insisted, sounding frantic.

"It's alright. You don't have to worry. You didn't hurt me." I smiled assuringly as I looked into the gray eyes of the stranger standing in front of me. If I knew one thing, it was that eyes were the key to one's soul and right now this guy's eyes held a lot of emotions. I didn't say anything else as I clutched the strap of my bag and started walking towards my new workplace.

I arrived at the gate of the tall mall as I looked up at it. Let's hope this job goes nicely. I reached a few minutes late but surprisingly aunt Janice didn't scold me. I got off with a small warning as I headed towards the locker room. I got dressed into the cleaners outfit and tied my hair before grabbing the cleaning materials and going out. I started by sweeping and mopping the first five floors while the top floors were assigned to different people. After that was done, I was given the job to clean all the window which I did. I was just finishing with the last window when I passed by a huge store and accidentally overhead a conversation.

"Have Ms. Dawson sent here immediately. There's been a problem with one of the orders." I stopped and looked at who was speaking. I couldn't see who it was but by the back, it was certainly a man who was speaking into his phone. "She only to adjust the end of the trousers. Changing the stripes on both will be enough." The voice of the man sounded rather frustrated as he ended the call.

"Comment pourriez-vous faire ce type d'erreur?" The voice of a woman spoke from inside the room as I almost jumped. That was certainly not English. 

"Je suis désolé. C'est ma responsabilité. Comment puis-je vous aider à trouver une solution?" The guy spoke as my eyes widened. Whoever he was, he could speak English and the language the woman was speaking. Talk about talent.

"Je n'ai pas le temps. J'ai un vol à midi." The woman's voice replied as I was getting really curious.

"Je suis désolé." The man said as I saw him switch on his phone and call somebody again.

"Mr. Chris, have Ms. Mount sent here as quick as possible. Some adjustments need to be done to the trousers we sold last week." The man spoke into the phone. "This is bad."  The man said as he turned off the call. I thought over what he said and decided to try out my luck as I spoke out.

"Excuse me..." I said as the woman and man both turned around to face me. To my shock, the guy who had been standing there was the same guy who had hit me with the car earlier today. I hid my shock and put on a smile, which I seemed to be doing a lot. "I couldn't help but overhear your conversation. You said adjustments to the trousers end can be made with both stripes. I think I can do that." I spoke feeling their eyes on me as I smiled.

"You can...?" The guy questioned as I nodded. 

The man gestured for me to follow as he headed towards a room on the back with a sewing machine. I was allowed to do what I could as I immediately started the machine and got to work. It wasn't very hard to adjust the end of the trousers since I only had to make them thinner. I could feel the guy in the suit and the foreign woman watching me which made me a bit uncomfortable but I ignored it.

"Ella?" A familiar voice called but I didn't look up as I continued to work. "Ella, what are you doing here?" Aunt Janice asked as she stepped forward.

"Do you know her, Mrs. Connor?" I heard the guy ask my aunt.

"Yes, sir. She is my niece." Auntie replied to his question. I was glad that at that moment I finished adjusting the trousers because I didn't want to hear them talking about me.

"C'est parfait." The woman said as I handed her the bag with all the trousers I had fixed. "Je dois partir maintenant. Merci de votre aide, M. Rhodes." The woman added as she smiled at me before leaving the room.

"Ella...where did you learn that?" Aunt Janice asked me as she approached me. I looked at the ground feeling a blush creep up my cheek, a bit embarrassed. 

To be truthful, I learned how to sew and draw while I was in the mansion for ten years. Sometimes I had nothing to do and with all my free time I found a sewing room. I would often go there and try stuff which led to excelling my skill and well now you can add stitching and sewing to my list of capabilities.

"Well...thank you for your help. How much would you like me to pay you for that?" The guy asked as I blinked, not sure what to say. I certainly didn't do this for the money and it just didn't seem right to ask him for money.

"I-I don't need any money," I spoke, fiddling with my finger.

"There must be something I could do for you." The guy said as I thought about it. Something that he could do for me...what could he do for me? I questioned myself and thought about for a good two minutes until an idea suddenly popped into my head. 

"Um..." I started but felt a bit awkward just going out and asking.

"Go on." The man urged.

"I was wondering if maybe...I could work here." I came out and said it looking at the ground. 

"Here? As in the shop?" The guy questioned as I meekly nodded. "I guess you could. You can also sew which is a great asset. Fine, you're hired." He said as I snapped upward looking at him almost surprised by how fast that was done.

"R-Really?" I asked, unbelievingly 

"Yeah, is it so surprising?" The guy said with a smile as he started walking out of the room. I followed him as my aunt followed me. "There are two shifts. Morning shift is from 9 o'clock to 6 o'clock, in the evening and the afternoon shift is from 6 o'clock to 4 o'clock the next day. You can choose which shift you want. Both pays are different." The guy said, picking up a clipboard from the counter.

"Could I work both shifts?" I asked.

"Wouldn't it be tiring? Besides, if you're tired you will do a sloppy job which could lead to customers dissatisfactory." He said as I thought about it but I was determined. I wanted to collect enough money for my siblings. I know that they're fine on their own but I still can't help but worry about them.

"If that happens, you can fire me," I said confidently as the guy raised an eyebrow.

"Alright then, as you wish." He said.

"Ella." My aunt gestured for me to follow her as she walked out of the store. I followed her wondering what she wanted to say. "Are you sure you want to work here? Do you know who that man is?" She asked me as she held both my hands in hers. I simply shook my head as an answer to the last question not sure what she meant.

"Who is he?" I asked.

"He's the youngest son of Rhodes Internationals CEO. They hold a very high position in the business world. He's going to become the next CEO in a few months and this guy is especially known for his cold behavior and stone-hard heart. If you even make the slightest mistake you could get fired and even kicked out from the mall." Aunt Janice explained. Maybe she was right but I had to give it a shot even if I would fail, I would fail after trying.

"I'm sure, auntie." I simply said as she gave me a grim nod. I looked in the store and noticed the guy gesturing me over as I waved to aunt Janice before heading inside.

"Let's start with simple introductions. My name is Dylan Rhodes." He said as he held a hand out for me to shake. I looked at the hand hesitant but then smiled and shook it.

"Ella Jamison." I introduced myself.

"Well, Ella. You can start working here tomorrow but first I have a few questions." Dylan said as I nodded. "Do you have any experience in selling?" He questioned.

"Yes, when I was young," I replied fastly.

"When you were young? What did you sell?" He asked.

"Anything," I answered.

"Ok...so, which high school did you graduate from?" He asked as I mentally gasped, not wanting to answer that question. I knew that my answer would not be good enough but I still answered truthfully.

"I only graduated from primary school..." I mumbled hoping he didn't catch but he did.  

"Why?" He questioned but I didn't answer. "It's alright if you don't want to answer." He added as I nodded. "Oh, I will also need your phone number. It's just in case of an emergency or for work-related stuff." Dylan said as I looked at my fiddling fingers and bit my lip.

"I don't have a phone," I spoke.

"What? Nowadays almost everyone has a phone." He said as I gave a tight smile. I could feel him staring at me for a few seconds before he got up. "Wait here." He ordered as he exited the store while I stood by the counter. After about ten minutes he returned as he handed me a rectangular box.

"What is this?" I asked.

"Think of it as a business perk. I didn't activate it since I don't have your identity information. You have to do that by yourself." Dylan said as I opened the box and looked inside not being able to hide my surprised expression. It was a brand new phone. I took the phone out as I looked it over fascinated a bit since I had never had a phone before.

"Yes, sir," I said, getting back to hiding how excited I was about getting a phone.

"You may go now." He said as he took out his phone and dialed someone's number. I gave a slight nod as I headed out. I walked downstairs and towards the cleaners locker room. Luckily, there was no one there as I took out the phone and switched it on. I explored it a bit as a huge grin spread across my face.