Chapter 1: A New Reality
1103 Words
"Today is going to be great. Positive thoughts. Positive thoughts." I kept chanting the words like a mantra as I stood before the dressing mirror, staring at my tired face. My ocean-blue eyes had lost their sparkle and now had dark circles around them, and my skin, once radiant and glowing, now looked dull and unhealthy.
"I need rest," I said to no one in particular. But there was no time to rest. It was almost 4 am, and I was running late for my shift.
Packing up my blonde hair into a pony, I secured it tightly and folded its long length into a bun before going on to grab my jacket and other necessary supplies that I would need for the daily Beverly Hills hustle.
I stared at my small boy lookalike, who was sleeping peacefully on the bed. The room of our small studio apartment was cramped, and could barely pass off as comfortable. Our small bed barely left enough space for me to get to the door.
"Kenny, my boy," I said, as he mumbled in discomfort over interrupting his sleep. "Sorry, sweetie."
I picked him up, and his little eyes stared at me. "Happy birthday, sweetie," I said. Kenny had just turned 4 months today. I could see notable changes in his growth too. For one, his blonde hair was slowly starting to darken, and he had gained a little weight.
"I'm so sorry, sweetie," I said, as if he could understand what I was saying. "Mommy will have to take you out in the cold," I added, grabbing the baby sling that was pushed beside the wall.
It wasn't Kenny's fault. He was just a baby who still needed to be in bed by 4 in the morning but would have to follow me to work. My mind traveled to the aftermath of my divorce from Caspian and how I had tried to use my alimony to start up a boutique retail store. Charming at first, it was quick to go south over competition with larger retailers. With difficulty in maintaining an appealing inventory, lack of customers, and the high cost of rent, 'Fashion Odyssey' couldn't stand a chance.
This was all Caspian's fault. He was responsible for all the misfortune and the poverty that my son and I were in. I surveyed the studio. A bathroom in Caspian's mansion was triple the size of this place.
How could he be so inhumane? After dedicating my entire being to him? After loving him with everything in me, Caspian decided to show how selfish he was by handing me the divorce papers.
My mind went back to the pregnancy announcement I had made on that fateful day. My voice was so low and broken that I could barely hear what I said, myself. Realizing that nothing could change Caspian's mind, I signed the papers and left without telling him I was carrying his child.
I looked at Kenny, who was still snoring away on the bed. Kenny would be a secret that I would take with me to my grave—and Kenny must never know about his father, either.
Caspian didn't deserve to be loved by me. He deserved nothing that belonged to me, anymore. The only thing that he truly deserved was my immense hatred for him!
~
3 years later.
"What the heck is this madness?!" I heard someone yelling from behind the walls. I was in the pantry, arranging new supplies of foodstuffs.
I heaved a sigh as I heard Mrs Damien, my boss, speaking, her voice low and muffling. She will call me anytime from now.
"Odessa!" Here we go, again.
"What is the meaning of such nonsense?!" Mrs Damian yelled, her face blazing with anger as she saw me. "Why is there a stain on the table?!"
My eyes followed her hand as she pointed to a small coffee stain, which was barely noticeable. "Ma'am, I didn't see it." "I will clean it up."
"You keep itching every single day to lose your job, Odessa!"
"Clean it up, immediately!" She commanded. I hurried to the kitchen to grab a cloth. It was very early in the morning and customers had not started gracing the restaurant yet. And this was usually the time that my boss, Mrs Damian, would see fit for shenanigans!
"Clean it properly!" Mrs Damian instructed as I tried to get the Stain out of the table. "The inspector will be coming today. We need to make everywhere spotless."
I rolled my eyes at her remark. So the big fuss was all for the sanitary inspector? A low groan followed. Mrs Damian was going to wear me out today.
~
"Tough day?" Martha, a tall, lean woman asked, entering into the kitchen. She was one of the waitresses here at Dante and had been absent on an errand across town by Mrs Damian. The rest of Dante's waitresses worked shifts.
"You bet!" I said with a tired laugh. "Can you believe Mrs Damian made me do extra because she heard word that the inspection officer would show up?"
"Just who does she think he is?" Martha asked, anger building in her voice. "She's not even paying us enough for the amount of work we do here anyways!"
I shook my head without saying anything as I pulled out my apron. Martha should be used to Mrs Damian exploiting her workers by now, having worked here for as long as 2 years.
"I need to use the restroom," I announced and headed for the bathroom.
No sooner had I announced this, Mrs Damian's voice rang through the intercom. "Girls!" "Report to my office, immediately."
"What happened, now?" Martha wondered, staring at me. I gave her a clueless look and abandoned the restroom as we went into Mrs Damian's office.
My eyes fell on the two other waitresses, who worked shifts as we walked in. Was she about to fire us?
"I have good news for you, girls." She said, instead.
A small sense of relief filled me. As much as I did not like my job, the $1,500 a month working at this restaurant was something I wasn't willing to sacrifice.
"How would you like to serve at the exclusive event at the Art Haven gallery?" Mrs Damian said, her voice filling with excitement.
Everyone couldn't hide their amazement. The Art Haven Gallery was a very famous, invite-only art display studio.
"And that is not the best part of it all." She continued, her voice pushing us to the edge. "You will be paid $5,000!"
"What?!" Everyone screamed in surprise. "$5,000?!!!"
- Writer
