Entwined

Chapter 1 It was a normal day at work for everyone, just the usual busy day that involved picking calls, typing, the paper shredder whirring, coffee machine hissing. It was the typical day at “THE GREAT”for everyone except Mia Terrence.She was just sitting down on her chair with her head bowed down on her desk.She was supposed to be working on the file the manager gave her but she has more things to worry about than her boss getting worked up. Especially since she was going to be thrown out from her apartment by the end of the month which is all thanks to her boyfriend Daniel who ran off with all her money and even sold all the appliances in the house that was in good condition.The only thing Daniel didn't take with him was her and her clothes, and Mia was starting to wish that he actually did. “Hey, you okay?.”Julie brought Mia out of her reverie by tapping on her shoulder. “I'm sorry…what did you say?.”Mia asked because she didn't hear anything Julie just said. “I asked if you were okay, your monitor is off, you didn't get coffee and your head has been in that same position since you walked in.Not to mention that you came in late.”Julie stated her observations while Mia sighed. “My life is literally over.”Mia muttered under her breath. “Huh?,I didn't get that.”Julie said, tucking her hair behind her ear. “Don't mind me, I'm fine.I WILL be fine.”Mia assured Julie and reassured herself. “You are obviously not fine, just talk to me.Actually,why don't we get you coffee and you tell me about your day?. Looks like it has already been eventful.”Julie didn't even give Mia a choice.She held her hand and Mia just gave up. She followed Julie to get coffee while trying to fight her tears back. “So what happened?.”Julie asked as she turned the coffee machine on. “Long story shorter, I'm broke.”Mia revealed while Julie couldn't believe her,so she just kept staring back at her waiting for the truth. “Oh my God, you are serious!.”Julie realized and she couldn't help but gasp. “I never thought that you could go broke,I mean you don't even where designers and you get bonuses almost every month.You even won employee of the month last month and I'm aware that came with a cash prize.What happened to you?.”Julie inquired finding it very difficult to believe what Mia just told her. “Oh my gosh,are you into drugs?.”Julie whispered, jumping into conclusion. “No, of course not.”Mia answered immediately and tapped Julie on her hand lightly for thinking that of her. “I'm sorry but you can never be too sure with workaholics, something must be keeping you up to pull overtime.Forgive me for thinking it might not be coffee.”Julie shrugged her shoulders and handed a cup of coffee to Mia. Mia wasn't offended at all with Julie's remarks, she has just gotten used to how she is. “It's fine but to answer your question, Daniel happened.”Julie opened up and slipped her coffee.She would have loved to gulp it down at once because she really needs something to wake her up but too bad the coffee is hot. “Daniel?...your sexy hot boyfriend with the cute tattoo that got you lingerie for your birthday and valentine?.”Mia shook her head at Julie, Julie never hid the fact that she found Daniel very attractive. “The next time you are describing him, you might want to add junkie.”Mia rolled her eyes while Julie choked on her hot coffee. “What?!.”She exclaimed as Mia walked back to her seat and Julie quickly followed her. “I got back home yesterday and found my house literally empty.When I mean literally empty, the only appliance I currently have is my hair dryer.He didn't even spare my kettle but I'm grateful he left my clothes and bed.”Mia said sarcastically. Julie quietly placed her cup of coffee on Mia's table. “So what on earth happened to Daniel?.He looks too hot to be a gold digger.”Julie still couldn't believe it, completely blinded by Daniel's appearance. “Don't judge a book by its cover.”Mia sneered, Julie nodded her head agreeing with her. “So I decided to order food first before I read the rest of Daniel's letter and know what to do with my life.That was when I realized that my bank account was completely empty.I poured myself a glass of water and read Daniel's letter.”Mia started but she couldn't help the tear that was now trickling down her cheek. Julie decided not to say anything so that Mia doesn't burst into tears completely. “Daniel was using,I mean I knew he used to but he promised me that he stopped and I completely believed him.Foolish me.”Mia laughed sadly at herself.Julie looked around to be sure that no one was looking at them. “But how did you not know?.You guys were living together.”Julie found that part hard to leave. “I know right but maybe I would have known if cocaine leaves its odor on users.He emptied my bank account and also told him that he didn't pay the rent I asked him to either.”Mia burst into a loud sob this time around. “Ohhhh, okay…let's go to the powder room.”Julie helped her up while Mia covered her face with both hands. “Period hormones…ha ha ha.”Julie said to their co co-workers and chuckled wryly. “So if you gave him money to pay your rent, I'm guessing you gave him your bank account details.But come on Mia, you were living with a guy and paying the rent?.”Julie couldn't help but be disappointed in Mia. “He wasn't exactly working and I didn't mind,he took care of me in college.He was a good guy.”Mia defended Daniel and Julie couldn't believe him. “No good guy is going to leave his girlfriend penniless but I will lecture you later.What are you going to do now?.I would have suggested you move in with me but you know I have a roommate.”Julie apologized but Mia understood perfectly. “I totally get it,I should get back to work before I lose it and end up on the streets.”Mia joked as she cleaned up. “If only you could find someone who is going to loan you your rent,I can help with feeding until you get your paycheck for this month.”Julie offered and Mia was more than grateful. “That's so helpful of you.”Mia hugged Julie to express her gratitude. Liam walked in and the staff all stood up to greet him but he was on a call and couldn't respond.It was just then that Mia found a way out. “Yes,I think I just found someone who could lend me the money.”Mia said but Julie didn't understand her,so she just walked to her desk. Mia turned around and headed to the director's office. The director's secretary just got married and he hasn't found a replacement,so no one could stop Mia or ask her to hold on. “She knocked on the director's office but she didn't get a response. She knocked again but the outcome was the same and she began to wonder if the director was not in his office.Mia was going to check back later but she also knew this was her best chance. So she twisted the door knob and luckily for her,it opened.Mia let herself into the office and realized that the director was there. He raised his head up and Mia was suddenly tongue tied. “I'm sorry,did I ask you to come in?.”Liam questioned while Mia swallowed her spit.This is so not how she wanted this conversation to begin. “I'm sorry sir, you were silent so I stupidly thought that meant “come in”.”Mia apologized while Liam, the director, chuckled. “I'm glad that you agree that it's indeed stupid.So what do you want?.”Liam asked, averting his gaze from his desktop and pinning it on Mia. “I'm one of your employees…” “I know that, the tag on you states that.”Liam cut her off and Mia slightly scratched her scalp. “I also won employee of the month last month…” “So you want to try kissing the boss' ass to win it this month?.”Liam interrupted her and Mia shook her head negatively. “So what do you want,I haven't got all day and frankly this is not the time for it.”Liam raised his voice a little bit and that startled Mia and caused her to babble. “I need a loan or I'm going to be living off the streets by the end of this month.”Mia spilled but it didn't change the expression on Liam's face. “It could be a loan or you could give me six months advance payment, I'm really in a bad place.”Mia begged and Liam was going to say something but his ringtone cut him off. He raised a finger up telling Mia to keep quiet. He realized that the caller was his grandmother so he declined real quick. “I'm sorry, take up whatever problems you have with the HR.”Liam said dismissively and returned his gaze to his desktop. Mia knew better than to try to convince him so she turned to leave quietly. Liam received a text and sighed,he looked up to see Mia leaving and a thought suddenly crossed his mind. “What do you say? I give you a signed blank cheque and you fill whatever amount you want yourself?.”He proposed and Mia quickly turned around. “Sir?,are you talking to me?.”Mia asked and Liam nodded his head. “I would say yes sir,thank you so much sir…” “On one condition though.”With one statement,Liam wiped away the smile on Mia's face. “I will work for you till the day I die sir.”Mia was quick to p romise. Liam chuckled”You don't need to do that,I just need you to marry me.”Liam dropped the bombshell and Mia's face expression dropped.