Chapter Nine
1098 Words
The number you're trying to call is not available. Do call back later.
Alyssa tossed the phone aside and sat up.
Her heart beating wildly in her chest as she held her hand close to it. She was in debts and nearing eviction and if she did not do anything about it, she'd end up in the streets and be forced to go home to her mother.
Well, she didn't want that. She didn't want to go back to the Countryside where she had left because there was nothing good about that place.
She thought about her call with the CEO earlier and how he didn't respond to her. Perhaps, he wasn’t any different from that lady that day. He was mean, cold and conceited. He hadn't even answered her calls and when he had answered, he hadn't spoken to her.
Tossing her phone aside and wiping her tears, she soon fell soundly asleep.
___
Dylan woke up the next morning feeling very cranky and unmotivated at work, a part of him wanted to stay in bed all day and mull over his life. However, he decided against it. He stood up, prepared and headed to work.
He was walking to the office when he sighted Catharina some distance away. She smiled and hurried up to meet him but he ignored her and walked toward the elevator leaving her hanging her mouth in disappointment.
He got into his office and saw some paperwork scattered on the desk. The chairs were not in the right position and the trash had not been taken out–his office was in a mess.
The cleaner had not done her job yet and his assistant was nowhere to be found. He felt anger quickly building up in his system but he bit his lips because he didn't want to say anything rash.
He pressed the intercom and called for the cleaner. She came in a few minutes later.
“Good morning, sir.” She said, avoiding his eyes.
“Why didn't you clean my office?” He asked.
“Sir…” she stuttered.
“You're fired,” he stated, glaring at her. “Now, leave my office.”
“Sir,” she gasped. “Please. Ma'am Catharina…she…”
“Get out,” he said, seething. The name Catharina had managed to fuel his anger.
He pressed the intercom again. “David, prepare the cleaner's termination letter.”
“But sir…”
He raised his index finger to shut her up. “I don't like incompetence and I will not condone it. Do you hear me?” He stated. “Now, leave and try being incompetent elsewhere.”
The cleaner began to sob as she walked out of the office. Dylan sighed and sat on the chair, staring at his messy office. He closed his eyes to avoid staring because the sight of the office filled him with so much anger.
As he closed his eyes, he thought about the person that had called him yesterday. The voice had sounded so much like her but then, he dismissed it as a figment of his imagination. Perhaps, he was thinking so much about her.
A few minutes later, someone opened the door and the clicking of stilettos against the floor echoed. He didn't need to open his eyes to know who it was. He sighed, still shutting his eyes.
“Dylan, we need to talk,” she stated.
“Get out,” Dylan ordered. “Leave my office, Catharina.”
“Not until you talk to me.”
Dylan sighed and slowly opened his eyes to stare at her. Catharina was dressed in a black mini gown that exposed her cleavages. He looked away angrily, he couldn't believe she'd show up at work dressed like that despite his warnings.
He always knew she was a stubborn woman but he didn't know she was this stubborn.
Did she never learn?
“How dare you barge into my office?” He asked, glaring at her. “Dressed like this.”
Catharina did not say a word. Rather she walked toward him and sat on the seat right in front of him. She raised her brows in anger and folded her arms.
“Why did you fire her?” Catharina queried, angrily and trying to catch her breath.
“Oh,” Dylan chuckled humourlesly. “She told you.”
She sighed and unfolded her hands slowly. “Look Dylan, she wanted to do it but I–”
“Leave my office right now, Catharina.” he snapped. “I don't want to hear anything you have to say.”
She batted her lashes in surprise. “I don't get it. Why do you hate me so much?” She asked, heartbroken.
The only thing she'd ever done was love him with everything in her but he never showed her the slightest hint of love. Scratch that; respect. It seemed his skin crawled when she was near him. He just couldn't stand her.
“You're always in my business, always in my face and I don't like being choked.”
“Or, so I choke you?”
“Catharina, I'd appreciate it if you just do the work you're paid for rather than butting in my business.”
“But–”
“No buts Catharina. You can leave my office. Just because your dad is an investor doesn't mean you have to talk about anything that goes on in the company. You're the HR. You do not have a seat amongst the investors.”
Catharina gulped, trying to swallow the lump in her throat. Her eyes burned with tears but she blinked at intervals to keep them away.
“Concerning last night,” she muttered.
“I don't want to remember last night, Catharina.”
“Your mom suggested it. Not me,” she confessed..
“And here you are shifting blames again. Nice one, Catharina,” he chuckled.
“No, I don't mean it that way.”
“Then how do you mean it?”
“Nevermind,” she muttered.
“Leave my office then,” he muttered. “Please. And call David on your way out.”
Catharina nodded and walked out of the office. He stared at her retreating form and shut his eyes again.
“Sir,”
He opened his eyes to meet his secretary.
“Have the appropriate quarters put up a vacancy for a cleaner. And when you're done with that, fix the mess in this office.”
“Okay, sir.” David nodded and walked out of the office.
- Writer
