Another Day In Hell
1282 Words
Mila's POV
Ugh.
I groaned as I slapped my alarm clock off, only to check the time on my phone for good measure. My thumb hovered over the screen for a second too long, as though staring at the numbers would somehow make the day disappear.
7:12 a.m.
Another day.
Another chance for the universe to laugh at me.
The temptation to stay in bed all day was overwhelming. Who needed a job anyway? The thought of crawling back beneath the warm sheets and pretending the world didn't exist made my heart ache with longing.
But unless pigs started flying or money started growing on trees, that wasn't an option.
Reality had a way of dragging me out of my little cocoon.
Dragging myself out of bed, I shuffled toward the bathroom. The cold tiles beneath my feet made me wince, but a shower was exactly what I needed.
A long, hot, soul-cleansing shower to wash away the remnants of a restless night and the memory of him.
The warm water hit my skin like a blessing. Steam curled around me, and for one fleeting moment, I let my shoulders relax and my mind drift. The water cascaded down my back, easing knots I hadn't even realized were there.
I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply, trying to soak in the warmth and forget everything else.
Then my mind betrayed me.
Him.
Mr. Angel Harris.
The man who kissed me and walked away as though nothing had happened, leaving my heart in pieces.
My stomach twisted as I replayed that moment over and over again.
The electricity of his kiss.
The way he'd looked at me.
The way the world had seemed to shrink until it was just the two of us.
My heart had raced that night, only to shatter when he avoided me afterward, as though our connection had never existed.
I clenched my fists, trying to force the memories away.
Not today.
I had to be strong.
I couldn't let him have that kind of power over me, even though every instinct inside me screamed otherwise.
I stepped out of the shower, wrapped a towel around myself, and quickly dried off before heading to my closet.
Getting dressed for work felt like preparing for battle.
I chose a red lace blouse and paired it with a sleek black skirt that showed just enough leg to make me feel confident without drawing too much attention.
A little power dressing never hurt anyone, I thought.
I finished the look with my favorite red lipstick.
My reflection stared back at me.
Equal parts nervous and determined.
If I were going to face him today, I would look good doing it.
Downstairs, the smell of pancakes greeted me before I heard the cheerful voices of my mom and sister.
"Good morning, dear! Come join us," my mom called, her smile as warm as the pancakes sitting on the table.
"What... how... when?" I stammered, blinking at the sight of both of them.
They burst into laughter.
"I got in late last night," Mom explained as she placed a plate of pancakes in front of me. "You were already asleep, so I didn't want to wake you."
"And I'm just here to grab a few things before school," my sister added with a grin. "But Mom roped me into breakfast."
I rolled my eyes at their easy banter but couldn't help smiling.
Whatever storm was waiting for me at work, at least I had this moment.
The pancakes were warm, fluffy, and perfectly sweet, grounding me before reality came crashing back.
I ate slowly, savoring every bite as though it were my own tiny act of rebellion against the day ahead.
After breakfast, I grabbed my bag and headed outside.
Instead of taking the bus, I hailed a taxi.
I couldn't deal with crowded public transport today.
My mind was crowded enough already.
Thoughts of him.
His lips.
That kiss.
And the confrontation I knew was waiting for me.
As the towering office building came into view, a knot tightened in my stomach.
This was it.
The day I finally faced Mr. Harris.
He couldn't just kiss me and pretend none of it had happened.
I refused to let him.
Walking through the lobby, I plastered a smile on my face and greeted my coworkers with practiced cheerfulness that felt painfully fake beneath the weight of my anxiety.
My heart pounded with every step.
Something told me today was going to hurt.
"Hey, girl!"
Marie's cheerful voice broke through my thoughts, bringing with it a brief sense of normalcy.
She joined me at the elevators, her presence strangely comforting.
"Hey, Marie. How was your weekend?" I asked, forcing myself to sound normal.
"It was great! No complaints. What about yours?"
I hesitated.
Everything that had happened over the past few days threatened to spill out of me.
Instead, I swallowed it down and forced another smile.
"Same as always."
Marie's expression changed.
The brightness in her eyes faded.
"Oh, Mila... you haven't heard, have you?"
"Heard what?"
A sinking feeling settled in my stomach.
Before she could answer, the elevator doors slid open, revealing Olivia, the HR manager.
"Miss Brown, I need a word," Olivia said in her usual no-nonsense tone.
Her expression was as cold as ever.
Calling her the Grinch almost felt too kind.
Marie quietly stepped out of the elevator, mouthing an apologetic I'm sorry before the doors closed behind her.
I nervously fidgeted with the hem of my skirt, stealing glances at Olivia.
The silence between us felt unbearable.
My thoughts spiraled.
What could she possibly want?
When the elevator doors opened again, Olivia led me down a hallway I rarely visited.
Her heels clicked sharply against the polished floor.
Each step sounded like a countdown.
My chest tightened.
My throat went dry.
Finally, she stopped outside a small office and turned toward me.
"This is your new office, Miss Brown," she said matter-of-factly. "You're the new office clerk."
Her words hit me like a punch to the stomach.
"No... that can't be right," I whispered.
"I work directly under Mr. Harris."
"Not anymore," she replied without emotion, scrolling through her tablet.
"You've been replaced. Consider yourself lucky you weren't fired altogether."
My mind reeled.
Replaced?
By who?
Why?
"What did I do?" I asked, my voice cracking beneath the weight of my shock.
Olivia sighed impatiently.
"This decision came directly from Mr. Harris. I suggest you get used to your new position."
Without another word, she turned and walked away.
Her heels echoed down the hallway until the sound disappeared entirely, leaving me standing there in stunned silence.
He had done this.
The man who kissed me.
The man who made my heart race.
The man who'd turned my world upside down.
He had just torn it apart all over again.
Anger.
Humiliation.
Betrayal.
Every emotion crashed into me at once.
I wanted to march straight to his office and demand an explanation.
Instead, my legs refused to move.
Eventually, I stepped inside my new office.
It was tiny.
No floor-to-ceiling windows.
No view of the city.
Just a desk shoved into a corner and a single chair waiting for me.
It felt as though I'd been erased.
Reduced to someone invisible.
Someone insignificant.
I slowly sank into the chair and buried my face in my hands.
The tears I'd been fighting all morning finally escaped.
The salty taste reached my lips as I struggled to steady my breathing.
Whatever this was... Punishment, Rejection. Or simple cruelty.
Mr. Harris had made one thing painfully clear. I was no longer part of his world. And maybe... I had never been.
- Writer
