In Chains.....

Jane...

The alarm shrilled almost driving me crazy. I reached out to hit the damn thing shut. I pushed at it, until I heard it fly to the ground raising the blanket to wrap myself and snuggle in, not ready to wake for the morning.

“Get your lazy a*s behind out that bed Jane, you can’t come to my house and sleep like some lousy i***t” Stacey screeched from the kitchen making me roll my eyes. I ignored her and remained in bed.

“Jane!, I am serious. What is wrong with you?, you just lost a job, a good paying one for that matter and you still sleep? I ain’t giving you a dime again and remember your rent is up and soon your landlord will have your things sky bayed to you” she quipped from the kitchen probably making breakfast coz I perceived the aroma of scrambled eggs and toasted bread.

“Thanks for the reminder Sty, can I go back to sleep now? or do you still have more to remind me of my miserable life?” I returned to her pathetically.

The door flung open as she came in already dressed for work her face scrunched in remorse. Stacey was my best friend since grade one and we have remained inseparable since then. I often found myself envying her easy life without no hassles. After college she had done her masters and gone on to open her own business. She was in a healthy relationship with one of the richest potential bachelors in New York and the guy was really into her.

I on the other hand, after dropping out of college, I’ve been hopping jobs for survival. My parents has been separated since I was 15, and found other partners with more babies. I was hardly the last thing on their minds except on some Christmas when they called to wish ‘Merry Christmas’ without no invitation.

I have grown used to it.

Without Sty as I fondly call her, I probably would have fallen off the bridge. Almost all the jobs I’ve done was found by her even though I ended up messing up and losing it and then she’ll go on and get another. The first time I tried working for her, I had resigned in 3days due to how stressful the job was. Ever since then, I’ve come to respect her more, for her inputs. She was simply the best thing that has ever happened to me.

“Am sorry Jane, you know am just kidding. But babe we have to do something about your joblessness and you have to help me” She calmly blurted out. I turned to look at her as she combed her already well arranged blonde hair she turned from the mirror smiling at me.

“I suck at them all, you know that” I whispered in self pity.

“Hey” she came to sit close to me brushing a hair behind my ear. “you underestimate your capacity. Let’s try something new. The next job we land, you do all you can; wake early, be active , pretend to like it” She drawled showing off her well-set dentition which got me chuckling and nodding. I hug her middle from my lying position.

“I will Sty, I just have to try. I have no choice. Right now am practically stranded. Mr Granger has already called five times and I’ve been ignoring his calls” I chortled still in self-pity, lying back on the bed. “ I’ve got so many bills to pay, I can’t keep depending on you” I surged on looking up at the ceiling in thought.

“ Hey, don’t say that. What are best friends for?. You know I don’t mind. And by the way, I will be coming in late today, I have a date at Randy’s” she stood snickering, her cheeks red as tomatoes.

“Aww...When are you even inviting him over, at least let me meet the man that moves the life of my best friend” I gleefully said sitting up to place my elbow on the bed with my head on my hand , my long red hair pouring all over my body.

She chuckled lightly picking up her her Gucci bag from the chair. “Soon Jane. He is a little bit of a shy person but hopefully, he’ll come around soon” she provided moving towards the door.

“Your breakfast is on the table. I will see you soon, be good” she finished shutting the door behind her.

I grunted, falling back to the bed in thought for a while after which I climbed off the bed, picking up my night robe, I wrapped it around myself and moved out of the bedroom towards the dining room.

After munching down my breakfast, I remained at the dining thinking of what next to do to raise money.

“Maybe I’ll check up job blogs for any vacancy,” I said to myself pushing off the chair while picking up my plate. I dropped it off at the kitchen and went straight to the room to pick up my phone to surf for jobs online.

I went to the living room and laid on the sitting room sofa with Kee, Sty’s brown pup. He was busy nibbling on my left thumb as I searched different sites on google. All kept demanding for some damned certificate. I got tired of it all and flung my phone to the side grabbing Kee to my side and scratching his ears.

“Kee what do you think I should do?” I asked the little hound who stared at me with it’s teary orbs. I kept rubbing it’s furs lost in thought.

My phone rung beside me jerking me back from my drift. I picked it up at the third ring, and waited to hear the voice at the other end. It was Caleb my ex. I rolled my eyes a thread away from cutting the call.

“Hey Jane,” His revolting voice boomed from the phone.

“What do you want Caleb?” I hauled at him becoming more irritated.

“Can’t I check up on you again?, it’s been awhile and I really...”

“I don’t have time for your games Caleb, take your confusing life elsewhere, I told you I am no longer interested” I reminded him still scratching Kee’s ears he whined and snuggled in deeper.

“Jane..., I already told you that I am sorry, what else do you want me to do?” He intoned in his usual arrogance.

“ I don’t care what you have to say, Caleb, I am not in the mood for your theatrics right now, move on. I have. Or better still go find yourself some slender Barbie doll. I am so done with your too much expectations you hear?” I hissed at him in finality.

The line was silence for awhile as I was drawn to the television where a very dark, hot, handsome devil, was advertising a Cromberg hamburger. I forgot I was on a call for a sec my mouth watering up for such an Adonic creature.

“Helloooo” Bellowed Caleb from the phone dragging me back from my reverie.

“Caleb I got to go something came up sorry”

“ But Jane...”

“Bye...” I said cutting off whatever he wanted to say. I sat up straight placing Kee on the couch and looked back at the television to discover the advert was over.

“s**t!” I barked in disappointment, standing up I made my way to the room to refresh myself.

~

It was almost dark when the doorbell jiggled and I flew from the room to get it.

I opened it to let in Stacey who was beaming from ear to ear.

“Hey durling” she gave me a bear hug with her usual annoying nose kisses.

“How was your date?” I asked going to sit on the couch.

“It was fine...I missed you so much. I told Randy he has to meet you and guess what?”

“What?” I drawled stretching out on the couch ready for my ears to be busted with her countless rattle which is usual, every time she comes from a date.

“He accepted!” She squealed in glee , making me turn not believing it. The secret mission beau wants to meet?

“Are you serious?” I quizzed not believing my ears.

“Yes and that’s not all....Wait for it....I have a major goodnews” she stood dancing to my side on the couch I couldn’t help but to be more curious.

“Spill it already Sty”

“You have a job!” She shrilled crushing me in a hug.

“Stop kidding with me Sty, you know am vulnerable right now” I uttered in disbelief.

“Am serious Jane, Ok, after our date, Randy was like if I had anyone that could be a good housekeeper?, and I was like for who, and he said his friend the all mighty Cassidy Gray’s housekeeper bailed on him this morning” She said making the hyphen signal with fingers on air.

“So apparently he needs an urgent housekeeper as soon as possible. So I had told him you are in need of a job too and will resume first thing tomorrow morning” she finished still smiling broadly .

My heart skipped, I have heard a lot about the New York Adonis heart wrecker and aggressive employer. How can I work for such a man? More tolerant people haven’t even managed me talk more of...

“Sty I can’t!” I announced sitting up straight. The smile disappeared from her face immediately.

“Why not?” She interjected her brows raised and her hands spread.

“You know the kind of person he is Sty, you of all people know I can’t cope. I would probably be kicked out of there by tomorrow night. His reputation precedes him.” I murmured the last part hoping she understands.

She exhaled and removed her shoes sitting properly on the couch, she folded her two legs under her.

“Jane, I understand that you are scared, to be frank, I was too. But that doesn’t mean you won’t try...You need this job and the pay is fuckenly cool, $500 per hour ” She said My eyes widening instantly.

“you see?, so you need the job. All you have to do is to avoid him as much as you can. Randy said he has strict rules which if you abide by, then you have nothing to worry. But if you don’t want it, then fine, we keep searching. Just said I should tell you though” she concluded in a disappointing tone and moved off the couch packing up her bag and then she flung something at me which I caught midair.

“ Thanks” I mumbled.

“You're welcome, I need to shower, am super tired.” She murmured moving towards the bedroom.

“I made some Pastas Incase you're still hungry” I proclaimed to her opening my package to discover my favorite hamburger from Frisbee.

“Awwwn... thanks Sty, you're the best” I shouted hoping she hears it.

“You are welcome. I am full by the way” she told me from somewhere in the bedroom.

I sat chewing away at my burger as Kee trotted down from greeting Sty, and jumped on top of the couch rising on her hind trying to sniff my burger.

“Here, you bully, you won’t let me eat in peace” I muttered giving him a bite. My eyes were pinned to the television, but my mind was on everything Sty told me. I needed this job but working for that man was duper scary.

I have heard a lot about the New York City adonis, and how mean and ruthless he is especially to women.

I haven't really gotten a peek at him to confirm the theory about him being the hottest dude in America as the people say, but one thing I was sure is that I wasn't ready to work for some solipsistic man who thinks his mere existence is a gift to the race of womanity.

Not now, not ever. But then, what's the way forward?