CHAPTER FIVE - Contemplating
1107 Words
I was wondering if I could have some time to think about it?”
REALLY, HEATHER??
“Whatttt?? I can’t just upfront accept his offer!” I argued, looking at a furious Alice.
“Umm, WHY NOT???”
“Because I have to think about the pros and cons of working for that asshole.”
“Girl, you’ve been wanting this kind of opportunity forever!! You’re going to let a four-minute encounter change your mind??”
Well, now that I think of it, Alice does have a point. But I can’t risk going to work for a bigger dickhead than Ted just for some extra money.
“Alice, I think I need to sleep on this.”
“Okay, fine then. Go home and get some rest. I’ll see you tomorrow, my love.”
“Okay, bye Alice.” I hugged her, grabbed my stuff, and left the office.
⸻
Derick’s POV
“I was wondering if I could have some time to think about it?”
I froze. How could she not accept an offer to work at one of the best companies in the country? I was about to retract my offer, but I needed her close if I was going to get to the bottom of my suspicions.
“Okay. Fine. I’ll give you two days. If by then you’re still ‘thinking,’ I’ll make it easy for you and retract my offer. Then you can stay working for your pervert of a boss.”
I grabbed my stuff and looked to Kamal.
“Um, thank you everyone for the presentation. Miss Mayers, you did a wonderful job, and we hope to hear from you soon,” Kamal said, getting up to leave as well.
“Two days. Nothing more,” I said, making sure there was no confusion.
“Yes, sir,” she said, looking anywhere but at me.
Good.
“What was that?” Kamal asked immediately after we left the office.
“What? I can’t ask someone to work for me?”
“You know that’s not what I’m referring to.”
“Then what?”
“Why would you offer Heather Mayers a job at your company when, as of this morning, you hated her? And why give her time to think about it?”
“Because, Kamal, she looks familiar. I’ve seen her before—I know it.”
“Where would that have been?”
“I don’t know yet. But I saw her bracelet, and I know you did too.”
Silence. I knew he noticed the bracelet too—his silence confirmed it.
“That bracelet could be from anywhere.”
“Really, Kamal? You can’t make an enchanted bracelet without the help of a—”
“Mr. Benjamin, wait.”
My words were cut off by Ted.
⸻
“Mr. Benjamin, I would like to know what that was back there.”
“What? What was?”
“Why would you offer Miss Mayers a job when you barely know her?”
“I don’t need to know Miss Mayers personally to know she’s good at what she does, and her full potential isn’t being put to good use here.”
“But sir, you barely know her. She’s incompetent and just another young woman who thinks they can go places by seducing everyone. I saw how you looked at her today—I know you’ve been trapped under her spell.”
“Firstly, don’t ever in your life downgrade a woman in front of me the way you just did with Miss Mayers. I do not tolerate such misogynistic comments, Ted. And if you don’t want this whole encounter getting into the hands of the press and losing your job, you will let Miss Mayers go when she turns in her resignation letter. Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Good. Now get out of my face before I do something you’ll regret.”
With that, Ted went flying into his office.
“See? The rumors are true,” I said to Kamal while walking toward the elevator.
⸻
Heather’s POV
“I’m home,” I said, announcing my return. I was met with silence.
“Mum?”
“MUM!!”
I walked upstairs and into my parents’ bedroom to find my mum wrapping a bandage around my father’s knee.
“Oh my God, Dad, what happened???”
“Nothing, honey. I’m fine.”
“You’re fine??? What do you mean you’re fine? There’s blood all over you!!”
“It’s fine. It was just a little accident.”
“Accident??? Then why aren’t you at the hospital??”
“A hospital bill is not really in our budget right now, sweetheart. But there’s nothing a bandage and some whiskey can’t fix, right?”
“Dad, this isn’t funny. Mum, why didn’t you call me??”
“I knew you were busy with work and your meeting, and I didn’t want to bother you.”
“Bother me?? Mum, Dad was in an accident!!”
“It was just a little hit from a car, sweetheart. I promise I’m fine.”
“Oh my God, Dad, this is crazy… Wait—what do you mean a hospital isn’t in our budget right now?”
“Honey, your father’s office isn’t really doing well right now, so they cut their salaries.”
“And I’m only finding out now??”
“We didn’t want to bother you. You work so hard already, and with what happened to your apartment, we can’t imagine what’s on your plate right now.”
They were right. With what Antonio did to my apartment, I had to replace all the rugs and repaint the walls—not to mention the new bump on my car I still have to fix.
“Well, you still should have told me. On the bright side, I got offered a job that could change our lives for the better.”
“Really?? That’s wonderful, sweetheart.”
“And until I can get us back on our feet, I’m not moving back into my apartment. I’ll stay here and make sure everything’s okay.”
“Oh honey, that’s unnecessary. We’re fine here.”
“Please, Mum. Just let me take care of this. Now I’m going to get some rest. Tomorrow, we’re taking Dad to the hospital to get checked and make sure it’s just a minor injury.”
As I walked out of my parents’ room, I thought about the events of today.
“Two days. Nothing more.”
Derick’s words played back in my head.
“Gosh!”
- Writer
