Parallel Worlds

Chapter Three: Alone

Chapter Three: Alone

KATE couldn't pinpoint why her boss had been angry after her visit to his office. She had gone to get his approval on the research papers she gathered on werewolves. She worked at the biggest radio station in L.A. and hoped to get her show, ‘Watch Me Seen’, registered through the company. Unfortunately, her boss hadn't been helpful. He saw her as a threat to his position because of her excellence in her work.

She flung the files on her desk and grabbed the coffee she'd bought before resuming work. She shook it and drank it hurriedly. She proceeded to place her head on the table, causing her well-packed ginger bun to stray out of the white strap, hoping her boss would change his mind.

Ignoring everyone else in the room, she banged the table hard out of frustration. She thought about quitting, but the pay was good and she needed the job to continue her investigations.

“Everybody, wrap up. We will go live in 10 minutes," she was taken aback by the presence of her boss, Mr. Ben, who rushed in, wearing a turquoise suit and a black tie. He was quite handsome, which attracted a lot of the female employees, but Kate hated him. He looked towards Kate's direction and said, “Hey, you will be handling today's show," without any sense of respect in his tone.

“What? Sir, you didn't tell me before. I just left your office," Kate protested. Instead of replying, he looked away and instructed everyone else before leaving the room, which further infuriated Kate. “He didn't accept my proposal, yet he's frustrating me," she murmured beneath her breath, folding her arms angrily.

She knew she was good at her job, and even though she had just been told, she'd deliver excellently as though she'd been preparing for a week. She closed her eyes and heaved a sigh of relief before proceeding to sit back to prepare her work. “Don't push me, sir," she murmured beneath her breath as she typed on her system scatteredly but focused.

Kate's boss, Mr. Ben, stood behind the camera and watched Kate, who was sitting on the set stage as she adjusted her hair and makeup. Other employees stood behind the stage, each performing their task. “One, two, go!" the camera operator said before hitting the recording button. “Hello, folks. Welcome back to the News at Five. I'm your host, Kate Anderson." She announced and flashed her ever-charming smile at the camera. On stage, Kate felt safe and right. She forgot everything that was happening around her and sounded confident on the show. She could swear she was born to present news. It was her favorite thing to do. She continued presenting as she switched between topics before she finally rounded up, “That will be all for this week. See you tomorrow. CIAO,” she said and waved her fingers before coming down the stage. She smiled at the good work she did and everyone complimented her except her boss. She left the room without taking a second look at him, praying she wouldn't burst.

She returned to her seat and removed the strap from her hair, allowing it to sway down her shoulders. She hissed and said, “So annoying." Emmy, her best friend and colleague, moved closer to her and said, "Good work there. Do you want to grab a cappuccino?” He was dressed in a white shirt and black trousers, with his small nose, which always amused Kate. They had been friends since childhood before they started working at the same place, and he had always watched out for her.

“Yes, please. That's exactly what I need right now," Kate replied, preparing to arrange her desk and take her purse, and they headed outside. “Let's go to Pat's café; I hate the coffee at Tarot's,” Kate said as they moved down the stairs. It was clear that she was very upset, but Emmy ignored her, knowing exactly what she needed to get her to talk. "But that's 10 minutes away,” he protested, but noticed her daring looks before agreeing.

Emmy ordered two heart-shaped cappuccinos and sat adjacent to Kate, who was fuming with anger. He offered her a drink and laughed a bit. “Do you remember how you used to fight me over a cappuccino when we were in college?" He asked and Kate smiled in return, nodding her head. “I hated it when we ordered the same thing," she replied and laughed out hysterically. She burst into silent tears suddenly, “I hate my boss,” “I know. I do too," Emmy replied and she laughed. “You know, I begged Mr. Davies the other day to let me have the papers and pictures," she paused and took her phone out of her purse. “Look at this," she showed Emmy the picture of a dead werewolf lying near a tree in the forest. “What? This will help your show," Emmy replied.

“I know, right. But Mr. Ben didn't approve of it. In fact, he told me to stop everything I was doing," Kate said, and continued to cry. Emmy was the only person she could cry to after the death of her parents. “Why?" Emmy exclaimed. “How is that his business?"

“I don't know. To hell with him! I'm so tired." Kate screamed after dropping her coffee cup. “I want to go home." She said quietly and looked into Emmy's eyes.

“It's okay, Kate. Breathe." He pacified her as she wrapped his arms around her shoulders. “Let's head back to work. You can go home afterward.” She rubbed her eyes, heaved a sigh of relief and grabbed her purse, “Yeah, let's go," she said, and they headed out.

~

Kate avoided her boss until she finished her work and was ready to leave. She wouldn't give up on her dreams just because he said no. She promised herself to find other ways to get on her show, even if her boss didn't help. “I'm done for the day, sir. I'm heading out now," she said when she reached his office. It was a rule to inform the boss before leaving to make sure the day's work was properly executed. “Did you finish the document I sent this morning?" Mr. Ben asked without looking up. “Yes, I sent it to your email," Kate said, trying not to roll her eyes. “Okay, you can go," Mr. Ben said. As she turned to leave, he called her back, “Kate." She hoped he changed his mind and forced a smile, “Yes, sir?”

"Don't bring up that topic again, or you'll lose your job,” he said sternly. He noticed the shock in her eyes but didn't care. “You can't start your show here, especially if it's about those hideous creatures that aren't even real,” he said firmly.

“Lose my job?" Kate asked, surprised. She didn't expect him to be so harsh. “Got it?" Mr. Ben asked. Kate was about to respond when she saw his expression and stayed quiet. “You can go," he dismissed her. She walked to the door and slammed it in anger..

~

Kate went into her room, feeling shaky. Her photo was on the wall next to her bed, with roses in a vase. Her teddy bear from her 23rd birthday sat on her neatly made bed. Her laptop was on her desk, with a picture of her favorite artist, Pink Rose. She dropped her keys and changed into a tank top and shorts.

Realizing she hadn't eaten all day except for coffee, she headed to the kitchen and prepared bacon and eggs. She ate, then jumped on her bed, and cried. “Mom, Dad, I'm so tired," she cried out, holding her pillows. “Why would you do that to me?” She kept crying, letting out all her emotions. "Mr. Ben is driving me crazy, Mom,” she yelled and continued crying, “I'm so tired," she screamed at the top of her lungs, messing up her neatly made bed.

Abruptly, she stood up and headed to her bookshelf. She took out the photo book and opened it slowly and shakily. The first picture was a picture of her and her mom when she was 13. They had gone to the beach for summer vacation; that was the last summer she spent with her. She cried, letting her tears drop on the picture as she touched it. She flipped through the next and saw a picture of her and her parents. She was being tickled and had the ‘birthday girl’ tag around her. She wept as she flipped through the book, until she reached the end. “I miss you, mom," she cried out, as she fell to her knees. “Please come back, I can't handle this alone." she sobbed, holding the book tight.