Cinderella's Dead

Three

Only one thing was buzzing through Cindy Coleman's mind as she was getting ready for her day. She knew she had to face the music, she knew there was no way of hiding under the covers and hoping for the best. No, she needed to buckle up and get on with it. She needed to play her part in making sure Andrew didn’t propose. Her phone already pinged with the man's usual morning text message, but she couldn't bring herself to open it, much less reply, without feeling the need to hurl her bile out.

Again, the same phrase swirled in Cindy's hazy mind just as she was picking up the burnt orange pantsuit that she intended to wear.

The butterfly effect.

Right before her slender fingers touched the twill garment, Cindy's body turned on its own and her attention went to her smart dress section of the wardrobe.

Hoping that by choosing to wear something different this time, the events of the day will change, Cindy decided on a form fitting, navy dress that reached just below her knees. Pairing it with a tight, black leather jacket and one of her favourite four inch stilettos, because f**k Andrew and his height complex, Cindy felt a little more optimistic. Her idea of a butterfly flapping its delicate wings.

From the car journey to her office building, to the elevator ride and the same weather related conversations she had with both the doorman at her apartment building and also with the security guard and then the receptionist in her work building, everything was like the worst deja vu Cindy had ever experienced. It made her physically sick and anxiety snapped its jaws at her, threatening to give her one last push that would land Cindy in the arms of a full on panic attack. Something she knew she couldn’t afford. Her business associates are already sceptical of a young woman running this construction and building empire. The last thing Cindy needs is to prove those bastards that expect her to be a weak, unstable, emotional mess, right.

Oh how the vultures would jump at the chance to see her crumbling. They would push her away and not even her father would be able to help. Cindy has always been very aware that she only has one shot to make it as the CEO. Just one, because she is a woman.

Finally making it at the top floor where her own office was, Cindy moved on autopilot and went to the massive kitchen that opened into the employee lounge, intent on getting a coffee like she did every single morning. Her face lit up when she saw Maria, the only person in the world that liked her for herself and not because of the money, power and influence she was born into.

Maria Perez was a woman much too used to the hard side of life. Though happy with her situation now, sometimes things even felt surreal, considering where she came from. Maria never took things for granted and she would pledge her life to those that showed even the slightest kindness to her, trying hard to repay the favour tenfold.

To Maria, Miss Coleman, though now after months of knowing each other and genuinely becoming friends she shouldn’t think twice before calling her Cindy, is an angel sent down from heaven and she would do anything for her.

Through a lick of luck, Maria found a job that didn’t require her to remove her clothes or do something else equally as soul shattering, like stealing of God forbid, hurting others. No, she knew all too well what it’s like to be hurt and she could never bring herself to do that to another. Though physically blessed, Maria preferred to go without eating rather than renounce the last shred of dignity she held.

With no papers to help her in getting a legitimate job, Maria struggled for months before she joined a cleaning crew. Scrubbing dirty toilets in questionable establishments sure beats selling your body, and despite the exhausting hours and disgraceful pay, she held onto that job for dear life.

By God’s will only, Maria struck luck one day when she was asked to go someplace else to fill in for a colleague. She had been given specific instructions not to speak to anyone, hell she was told not to even look those people in the eyes, but rather do her job well and be invisible until it was time to leave.

Much too happy for the change of scenery, Maria was able to abide by the instructions given from 5 in the morning until just before 9. She had another hour before she was supposed to leave, and was wiping down a counter in the fancy corporate kitchen, when a woman walked in and said good morning to her.

Maria froze, she had to quickly look around, double checking that indeed there was no one else around. Because none of the people that passed by had even acknowledged her, yet this tall, beautiful woman who looked like she stepped out from the cover of Vogue, was smiling at her, waiting for a reply.

That was the day that Cindy Coleman became Maria’s saviour. Much too smart for her own good, Cindy managed to take the very little information that Maria did give when asked certain questions, and dig into a full blown investigation. Cindy was often like that, like a dog with a bone, relentless until she got to the bottom of whatever was bothering her. And it bothered her to see the new cleaning girl look so shocked that the CEO, not that Cindy though the young woman knew her position in the company, would speak to her. Despite her appearance, Cindy was definitely not a stuck up b***h. She only turned into one when a certain devil was around, but luckily since Andrew entered the picture those encounters had reduced drastically.

By the end of that particular day, Cindy gained a loyal friend and employee that would later turn into her confidant, while Maria’s life changed. She became a direct employee of Cindy’s company with a monthly wage that she imagined only people on TV make, a small apartment close to work and her school tuition paid in full, meaning she could actually go back to study.

“Morning.” Cindy muttered, feeling drained already.

“Morning Cindy. Uhm… The… the coffee mac…”

“The coffee machine is broken. You’ve told Jessica to order the replacement but unfortunately, it hasn’t arrived just yet. You bought me Starbucks but I’m late and it’s probably cold. I know” Cindy sighs, leaving a confused Maria to blink several times in astonishment.

“Mierda!” The cleaner slaps a hand over her mouth, embarrassed by the word she mindlessly let out.

“I can’t, I just can’t do this on repeat.” Cindy pouts.

“Are you feeling alright, Miss?” Straightening her scrubs like uniform, Maria approached Cindy, Starbucks coffee in hand, ready to be handed as a peace offering. Or sacrifice, or whatever it helps her friend and benefactor.

“I swear to God, Maria. My sanity is hanging by a thread and I’m about to lose my s**t. I cannot do with this Miss crap right now. I’m Cindy to you. We’re friends, right?” The fear and need for reassurance in the otherwise confident woman struck Maria all the way to her heart. Something was definitely wrong and she knew that Cindy always had to keep up appearances even though she was worried inside.

Nodding very fast to appease Cindy, Maria murmurs: “Something’s wrong, isn’t it?”

"Times it by a million and dip it in chocolate, Maria." Cindy snatched the coffee cup and took a big swig, welcoming the caffeine even if the liquid wasn’t scorching hot anymore.

"Wait, is that good or bad? I thought it was bad, but chocolate is good." Maria’s face betrays a puzzled look, telling Cindy just how crucial it is that she keeps it together in front of everyone else. They will brand her crazy before she could try and think of something in her defence.

"It's bad, really bad, Maria. Keep up, will you?"

Cindy immediately felt bad for snapping at her loyal friend like that, but her reaction only spoke to how distressed she really was at the strange situation she found herself in. Fully aware that she needs the release, Cindy took another gulp of coffee before quietly explaining to Maria her strange dream. Because she decided to call it a dream. In her opinion it made her look less crazy.

"Oh." Was the only reaction Maria produced after learning the whole story from Cindy.

It felt good saying it out loud, laying it all on the table and telling someone else what she's going through, regardless of how unhinged it made her sound. But Cindy trusted Maria and that the woman, even if she deemed her employer and friend bat s**t crazy, she won't tell another soul. And that, for Cindy, felt like sharing and easing her burden, and she desperately needed that.

"Wait, but what don't you sound more surprised? Why aren't you laughing and telling me I'm just getting cold feet about the fact that I suspect I’m about to be proposed to, and that it's all nonsense?" Cindy suddenly sobered up, feeling suspicious.

“Do you want me to tell you that?” Maria quirks an eyebrow, her Latina roots showing just a little in the tiny amount of sass she let out.