CHECKMATE..
1251 Words
AUDREY POV
Xylon leaned back in his leather executive chair, his intense blue eyes scanning my face in a cold, nonchalant scrutiny.
He flipped a page in my manila folder, acting as if I were just another random stranger begging for a paycheck to keep my head above water.
."Let's look at your credentials, Miss Calloway," he murmured, his deep voice entirely flat and authoritative.
"You have a degree in commerce and another in business administration. Tell me about your direct office experience. What are your salary expectations?"
I swallowed the dryness in my throat, keeping my posture rigid. I forced myself to answer smoothly, walking him through my qualifications and detailing my past administrative roles.
For the next few minutes, the conversation actually moved like a normal, professional interview.
The heavy tension that was previously between us began to ease just a fraction, and I thought I was finally navigating his trap safely but that all changed when he flipped to the last page.
"Your last position was a senior coordinator at a logistics firm in New York," he stated, keeping his eyes on the paper.
. "How did you secure a role like that with only two years of post grad experience?"
"Ambrose helped me get it," I answered absentmindedly, the name slipping out of my mouth before my brain could stop it. "He ah.. he knew the regional director, so he put in a word—"
A sudden, sharp breath cut me off as I tried to explain, it was coming from Xylon , cutting me off like he didn’t want to hear another word.
And in a split second, Xylon went rigid in his chair, his jaw tightening into a rigid line as his knuckles turned white against the desk.
He lifted his head, his blue eyes flashing with a profound vicious emotion that almost resembled jealousy then disgust.
It made my palms sweat in panic.
."Right. I forgot," he hissed, a dark, mocking sneer twisting his lips as he slammed the folder shut.
"You always did excel at opening your legs to get whatever you wanted anyway! Why work for a title when you can just sleep your way into a corporate recommendation?"
His insult hit my face like a physical slap making my cheeks burn with embarrassment.
I clenched my hands into tight fists against my lap.
"Xylon, that is not how it happened—"
"I don't care how it happened," he barked, cutting me off bluntly as he reached for his desk phone and aggressively hit the speed dial button
"Send the compliance paperwork up. Ms. Calloway Audrey is assigned to the fifth floor finance team. Put her along junior assistant to Trevor, the chief accountant.” He paused, giving me on finally look.
“Effective immediately."then slammed the receiver down, glaring at me coldly.
Swallowing the lump in my throat, I bargained once more.
"I can do better than a junior assistant, Xylon!" I said, taking a step toward his desk, starting to get tired of his cruelty.
"I have two management degrees. I could almost manage an entire department, and you know it."
"You are here to prove your worth to my company," Xylon growled, his voice dropping into a low, command that left no room for argument.
"And right now, a broke single mother standing in my office with no financial options doesn't get to choose her placement. Go downstairs. Don't make me regret letting you stay under my roof."
Defeated, I signed and turned on my heel, walked out of the office.
My heart was hammering violently against my ribs as I took the elevator down to the finance department.
The fifth floor was a buzzing maze of cubicles and whiteboards and the moment I walked into the main office, the staff paused to look at me.
I forced a polite smile as my new coworkers stepped forward to introduce themselves.
“Claire, I handle audits.” Someone shouted opposite me, she looked to be 30 something with warm eyes and brown hair.
“Max and that over the coffee machine would be Lea.” She added, pointing to everyone.
I smiled warmly at them, getting quick nods from each.
“..and finally Trevor, your boss and the chief accountant.” A deep voice said in front of me, extending his hand for a handshake before showing me to my desk. He was a tall guy and quit younger than I expected.
There getters for a little bit made me feel like a human being again.
For the next four hours, I buried myself in piles of expense ledgers and data entry, desperate to drown out the memory of Xylon's words.
By the time I looked up the clock, it was already five, it was finally time to go home.
I packed my bag and walked out of the skyscraper into the bustling city streets. As I stepped onto the sidewalk to hail a cab, I involuntarily looked upward toward the top floor of the tower.
A single, bright light was still spilling from the windows of the penthouse executive suite. Xylon was still up there, working past time in the dark.
I shook my head, forcing his shadow out of my mind as I climbed into the taxi. I needed to get back to my daughter.
—
The moment I walked through the door, Chloe came sprinting down the hallway, her little eyes glimmering with joy as she threw her tiny arms around my waist.
The sight of her beautiful face instantly melted all the previous misery off my shoulders.
"Mommy! You're home!" she cheered, her voice sounding almost like sweet, melodic ring in the quiet house if only I wasn’t tired from earlier.
"I'm home, baby," I murmured, kissing her cheek softly.
Needing to wear off all her excess energy before bed, I got an idea.
"Let's get out of this house. Let's go do some shopping together, just you and me."
I grabbed her jacket and boots and with in minutes, the cab dropped us at the mall.
We spent the rest of the evening at a small, outdoor shopping plaza near the edge of the park.
And for a couple of hours, my worries and pain just vanished. I didn’t have to think of Ambrose or Michelle. It was just two of us. Chloe and I.
It was a good idea to take this break. She as happy, laughing and sharing an ice cream cone as we walked down the brick pathway toward the main exit.
We reached the sidewalk by the outer parking lot, Chloe skipping a few steps ahead of me, her little red sneakers clicking against the concrete as she somehow managed to count backwards.
Out of the blue, a bright butterfly fluttered out from the bushes, catching her attention.
"Mommy, look!" Chloe squealed, her eyes wide with excitement as she broke into a run, her tiny hands reaching out to catch the wings as the insect drifted out past the curb.
"Chloe, stop! Wait!" I screamed, my voice cracking with an immediate panic as my eyes caught a sudden object moving.
Suddenly, a dark sedan that was speeding down the road, made its tires screech loudly as it blew past me and, headed straight in front to where she was.
."CHLOE! NO!"
Shock and horror slammed into my chest as I yelled in a breathless scream to save my baby when the car closed the distance in a split second.
- Writer
