I Will Survive
1464 Words
“Excuse me, Miss? May I have a word?”
Amanda turned and found the handsome blonde man who had followed her out of the pub. “Yes?”
“My name is Dustin Roger,” he handed her a business card, “I saw what happened earlier at the Kensington headquarters. Are you perhaps looking for a new job?”
Amanda looked at the business card and blinked. Roger Inc. is a huge listed company, more prominent than Kensington Corp. and here she was talking to the owner of said company.
“I’m terribly sorry you had to see that earlier…”
“Don’t be. Men like that ought to be knocked down a peg or two.”
Amanda’s eyes flashed with interest. “Hm, I didn’t take you as a friend to feminists. It doesn’t suit your image.”
Dustin laughed, “What suits my image then?”
Amanda snorted, “Don’t be offended but you seem like the rich playboy that picks up women and dumps them just as quickly.”
Dustin blinked rapidly, she wasn’t wrong.
Amanda coughed and changed the topic. “So why me? You barely know me and you haven’t seen my credentials. I would hardly call that responsible hiring practices”
You remind me of my ex-wife. Dustin knew better than to say what came to mind. “Johnson was next to me when we saw you earlier. He only had good things to say.”
Dustin couldn’t help but stare as Amanda smiled softly.
“That is sweet of him, he was a good boss. A player, but nothing like his scumbag father, pardon my language.”
“No offense taken. So will you consider my offer?”
Amanda raised a brow, “What position am I applying for?”
“My secretary.”
Amanda looked at Dustin. He was definitely a step up from Brutas and if it didn’t work out, she could always look for another job.
“Where do I send my resume?”
***
When Connie heard Amanda got sacked she was devastated thinking it was all her fault. While Jason was busy with his work, she slipped out of the office and went across the hall to visit her friends in the secretarial office.
When she walked in, the first thing she noticed was the three girls up front were missing but she didn’t think much of it at the time. Hurrying to the back she slipped behind Lora and hugged her from behind.
“Lora!! What should I do?! I got Amanda in trouble and now she’s left the company!”
Lora looked up tiredly from her computer, “What now?”
“Amanda! The HR lady! She helped me avoid a transfer under Kyle Kensington and now she got fired!”
Lora shook her head, “She didn’t get fired, she resigned. I’d resign too if I had to work under Brutas, he’s an incompetent slavedriver. I don’t know how Amanda lasted so many years working under him, it’s beyond me, really.”
Connie sniffed, “But I can’t help but feel it was my fault…”
“Meh, it probably was a factor, but don’t worry, she’s found another job already.”
Connie looked up, “What? Really?”
Lora smiled, “She’s an old friend of mine, just texted me,” Lora waved her cell phone, “She got a position at Roger Inc. so it’s a blessing in disguise. Stop fussing and get back to work! I have to do extra because Tania requested the rest of the day off.”
“What happened to Tania?”
Lora sighed deeply and resumed typing as she spoke. “Her bastard husband requested an annulment to their marriage for some ridiculous reason. Speaking of which, it’s Saturday tomorrow, we’re hosting a small party for her at a nice nightclub. You want to come?”
Connie nodded. “Yeah, that’d be great!”
Lora nodded, “I’ll send you the details later. Now go away, I got to work.”
Connie gave Lora a big squeeze before bounding off. “Thanks! You’re the best!!”
Lora huffed, “Yeah, tell me something new.”
***
Saturday evening came around and the four women walked into “TJ’s Nightclub”, a posh new nightclub opened by the actor, Theo Jones.
As they entered, the greeter pointed to the stage, “We’re having an open mic special with our live band later tonight. If you’re interested, please sign up.”
Connie laughed, “Oh geez, I should have brought some earplugs. Some people really can’t sing.”
Lora laughed and nudged Tania, “You should go up! Let loose a little!”
Tania sighed, “I don’t know…”
Jessica rolled her eyes, “Girl! Just do it! We’re all here for you. We’ll clap for you regardless of your performance.”
Tania looked at Lora again. “Should I?”
Lora nodded, “Definitely. Just let it all out.”
Tania nodded and signed her name on the sheet. Turning to the girls she let out a shy smile, “Let’s go get hammered. I need to be drunk before getting on that stage.”
The four linked arms and walked towards the bar to get their drinks.
***
“Why did he do that to me!?” Tania wailed for the hundredth time that night.
Connie propped her head up with a hand under her cherry-red cheek. “He’s a shithead, that’s why.”
Jessica had already tapped out, her head on the table and snoring despite the loud music. The only one left sober was the responsible Lora.
Lora took a sip of her iced tea and squinted down at her watch. “Ladies, once Tania’s had her turn at the mic, we’re going home. I think you’re all done and I need to get home to my kids.”
Tania leaned back her head, “ARGH! That piece of s**t! I hate his guts!!!”
Connie blinked slowly and grinned like a fool. “Yeah… hate his guts!”
Tania got up and wobbled. Lora quickly extended a hand but Tania caught herself, stabilizing her body against the table.
“I’m fine. I’m fine,” she grumbled as she staggered to the stage, “Going home soon… got to let it all out.”
Lora watched worriedly as Tania stumbled up the steps. “Ooooh, this is a bad idea she might break her neck up there. Maybe we should just go home.”
Connie chuckled and drawled with her eyes closed. “Nah, she’s got it. I think she’s going to be fine.”
Lora rolled her eyes, this was the last time she took the girls out drinking. They were all lightweights.
Once Tania made it to the stage the emcee motioned that it wasn’t time yet but Tania was so out of it that she didn’t notice. She walked straight up to the mic and tapped it.
TAP TAP TAP
“HELLOOOO?! Is this on?? Oh, it’s on… heh heh. Hey, can you dim the lights? You’re blinding me here…”
Connie cheered, “WOOOOHOOOO!! Go Tania!!!”
Tania smiled warmly towards Connie’s voice as the lights dimmed. Grabbing the mic stand to stabilize herself, she turned to the band she asked, “You guys know ‘I Will Survive’ by Gloria Gaynor?”
The band leader smiled, “Of course!! Let us know when you’re ready.”
Tania smirked and pointed into the crowd, “I’m dedicating this song to all the fuckers and shitheads who abandoned their wives. f**k you all!” and stuck up her middle finger.
“That’s our cue boys…”
Tania closed her eyes as the pianist glided up and down the keys to start the song. When she opened her mouth her voice was no longer a drunken drawl, it was mournful tone and pitch perfect. The entire floor went silent, entranced by her soulful voice. Once she got into the song, she pulled the mic off the stand and started belting out the lyrics as she stomped across the stage gesturing animatedly.
“You're not welcome anymore. You're the one who tried to hurt me with goodbye. Think I'd crumble? You think I'd lay down and die? No, not I, I will survive…Long as I know how to love, I know I'll stay alive…”
As the song came to an end, Tania crumpled on the stage with the mic still in hand.
“OH s**t!”
Lora shot up from her seat and dashed to the stage. As she was climbing up the stairs, she found herself face to face with a blonde-haired green-eyed beauty of a man, the famous Theo Jones.
- Writer
