Pearls and Chains

Chapter2

Anna's Pov

Just as I was about to place my head on a pillow, I realized I had totally forgotten about the new job Judith got for me.

“Oh sh*t” I got up in a hurry. I almost knocked over one of the open cabinets by the door. ‘Judith will kill me’, I thought with wide eyes while running upstairs and I realized I was in the basement of the hospital. I almost ran past Suzanne before I stopped.

“Oh my, did something happen?” She asked, a bit scared.

“Uhmm, I … I have a job to get to” I replied while trying to breathe.

“Oh dear, you should hurry now, your mum is in good hands, child”, Suzanne tapped my shoulders gently. “Go on,” she urged me.

“Thank you ma”, I zoomed off again.

Outside, it was literally freezing, and I could have sworn I saw my hands turn white. I sighed as I tried to stop a taxi. That's too much luxury, but I can spare a few bucks to get to that job. I can't afford to miss it. If I get a job there, I won't need to work those numerous odd jobs again. Just then, my phone began to vibrate like crazy.

“Where the f*ck are you?” I could hear my own eardrum bursting.

“Judy, sorry something came up” I had tried to explain calmly, but I knew Judith wouldn't calm down and listen.

“Even if you are my friend, you can't mess up an interview like this”. She was really angry I could tell.

“Mom, mom is in the hospital?” The deafening silence that followed was more scary than the screaming.

“Where are you, Anna?” Her voice sounded really low. She is feeling bad, I could tell.

“In Front of the General Hospital, the one just a few blocks away from my house”

“Stay there, I'm coming” she ended the call. That's totally normal with Judith, she runs to my rescue every freakin' time, and I'm starting to feel like a burden to her, no, like a leach, a cockroach even.

I sighed as I sat on the pavement by the side of the road. I'm tired, I'm exhausted.

****

Judith arrived just 20 minutes after the call with her friend. She had picked up a spare jacket and a blanket as she knew her friend would probably not have those. She looked really sad as she scanned the place for Anna, and as she slowed down while approaching the front of the hospital she saw a person's head leaning on a lamp post and curled up while seated on the ground. She knew instantly it was the person she was looking for.

“Rabbit, Rabbit”, Judith shook her a bit so as not to scare her. “Let's get into the car,” she said while trying to get her up off the floor.

“Hmmm” Anna moaned a bit as she tried to recognize where she was. She had slept off while waiting for her friend. “Judy”

“Yes Rabbit, it's me”, Judith gave a warm smile as she opened the car door for her. “Watch your head”

“Thank you” Anna, who was still battling with her drowsiness, said.

“God, how's your mom?” That question alone jerked Anna to full operational mode.

“She's alive”, Anna quietly responded.

“I know I sound like a jerk right now, but you need this job, Rabbit”

“I know Judy”, Anna folded her arms to keep out the cold.

“We'll visit her later, let's just get you to the interview, okay?” Judy said as she used her hand to squeeze Anna's shoulder in support and drove with the other hand.

“Thank you, Judy”, Anna murmured.

“Sleep a bit, we'll be there in about forty minutes. I'll drive extra slow” she giggled mischievously.

Even though Judith was from a rich home, she wasn't a brat, sometimes. She is snobbish and walks with shoulders up, but she never discriminates against the poor or bullies people. Even though she had a slight history of being a bully in high school, she changed a lot after meeting Anna. She's grateful to Anna for that change, as she has got to be a better person.

They arrived at the bar which was owned by Judith's dad. It was one of the biggest bars in New York City; her father had other branches in the state. But this one was the biggest and she managed it. But she was under a very strict job description. It was a condition that would allow her to help her friend.

Anna coming in for an interview was just a front, so she wouldn't be seen as biased for hiring someone just like that without a proper certificate of that person.

“Hey Rabbit, we here” Judith, then went ahead to place a bag on Anna's lap. “Uhmm, I grab a few things for you, those clothes aren't for an interview”, she said as she used her eyes to stare at Anna's ripped jeans and sneakers to make her point clear.

“I don't know how to thank you enough, Judy”. Anna turned to her friend with watery eyes.

"Don't cry and make your eyes more puffy, I'll tell them I had to go get you because of an emergency. "We'll head into my office, and you'll eat and rest a little more, and then we are done with the interview" she smiled mischievously.

“Alright, alright, but you'll need to walk me through a few important rules and things I need to know”, Anna agreed as she was almost done changing.

“Alright”, Judith smiled.

“I'm ready”, Anna said as she put the last piece of clothing in the backpack Judith had given her.

***

After an hour of pretend interviews, Judy and I finally went out to the bar itself. It was huge and was breathtaking. Even though it was a bar, it was also a steak house, but stakes were served only on Thursdays and Sundays, which made them sell ten times more than normal.

I also found out that this bar had three sections: a VIP section, an exclusive section and A Presidential reserve. Ordinary people can't even access this place. I'll be serving in the exclusive section. This place was mostly reserved for special people, like young CEOs and bachelors and young successful business owners. It's private and must be booked two days before the date of arrival. It only accepts 20 people at once, it's expensive, and it has no security cameras and no paparazzi can get in.

I got the uniform, which was a really short length tight fitted gown and really high heels which were uncomfortable even though I could walk in them.

I had barely even served up to three tables when a p*****t groped my ass, ‘This is what I hated the most’. I flinched in disgust but had to keep a smile.

“Sorry sir, but we don't do that here”, I smiled at him professionally.

“Why wear something so provocative around, beautiful” he smirked as he tightened his hold.

“Sir, with due respect, it's the uniform, and we are only here to serve the drinks. Please let go, or I'll report to management.” I didn't want them to think I was complaining on my first day, but no, I won't let a man disrespect me like this.

“You look very tempting and delicious. I want to know what's more…”

He couldn't complete the sentence as I gave in to my inner self and broke the bottle of wine on his head.

“Keep your filthy hands to yourself” but then I

Realized how my voice echoed, the whole place went silent as I felt a hand drag me off…