Forget-Me-Not

Chapter Two

Chapter Two.

Adam Baker stomped out of the courthouse at Maple oaks gritting his teeth in anger as both his lawyer and Jackie struggled to keep up with his pace.

“What are you still doing following me, mr. Bruce?” He gritted when they both caught up to him.

“I gave you a job and you were unable to execute it correctly.” He barked.

“I’m sorry mr. Baker but im sure the judge must have taken pity on Eliza because she’s a woman, however there’s still a chance you would have your daughter with you, even after the divorce.” The lawyer explained.

“And how exactly is that going to happen?” He asked half eager to hear what the lawyer was going to suggest.

“It would be absolutely difficult for someone like Eliza to get a job in the span of three weeks. I don’t see that happening.”

“And are you sure we can use that to our own benefit?” Adam queried.

“Sure we can.”

“I think I understand what Bruce is suggesting, besides, you’re Adam Baker, you can order all companies to not take her in” Jackie chipped in.

“Um…, I wouldn’t advise that the court usually makes investigations and it wouldn’t appease them to know that whatever might be the result of this judgement was influenced by us.” Bruce went into detail about what could happen if the court ever found evidence leading to this.

“Oh please, not like we’re going to tell anyone we did it.” Jackie ignored Bruce. “You don’t have to announce publicly, just keep tabs on that woman.” She said. Adam nodded starting to consider what Jackie had said.

“What do you say about this, Bruce? Unless, we told the judge, she would never find out.”

“I would just advise that we let things play out naturally.” Bruce conclude.

Adam tilted his head to one side weighing his options. He folded his hands into his pockets and tightened his fists, then he raced his head up abruptly.

“I would see you later.” He said to his lawyer as the driver opened the car door for him and he slipped inside. Jackie sat beside him placing a hand soothingly on his shoulder.

“What do you say?” She asked.

“I think I might go with your idea.” He replied.

~**~

Two weeks had passed and Eliza still hated to admit that she hadn’t found a job yet. She had applied at every vacancy spot she found online only to find a rejection letter in her email by the second day, some even arrived on the same day she applied. It felt as if they weren’t even taking the time to review her application. The world just decided to turn its back on her when she needed them most.

“Any luck yet?” Chloe called out behind her. Eliza sighed and shrugged her shoulders.

“No, it’s usually the same rejection notice always.” She pursed her lips. “Where’s Lucy?”

“She’s asleep.” Chloe replied.

“I don’t even know what to do anymore.” She confessed.

Chloe placed a hand on her friend’s shoulder and sat beside her. “You see, I have an idea but I don’t know how you’re going to take it.” Chloe said.

“What’s that?” Eliza asked eager to hear more. She would do anything even if it included clearing out sewages just to have her daughter with her.

“I was thinking what if you’ve been searching jobs in the wrong places? I mean you should probably go out of Maple oaks.” Chloe suggested.

“The judge didn’t place any restrictions on the geographical location you should work in, did she?” Chloe asked.

Eliza shook her head in response, none that she knew of. Surprisingly, the judge had just said get a well paying job. Although, at the moment, she still didn’t know what would be considered a well paying job in the other woman’s judgement.

“Would you consider going to cedar creek?” Eliza raised an eyebrow questioning if she heard her friend right.

“Cedar creek?” That was her hometown and Eliza didn’t think it good enough if she just showed up there only because she wanted a job. Correction, needed.

“I can’t go there.” Eliza decided.

“But you have no choice.” Chloe pointed out.

“I still have a few days left. I do have a choice.” Eliza argued.

“But just imagine you don’t. Hasn’t it crossed your mind that Adam might have a hand in this?”

“What do you mean by that?” There was a hint of confusion in Eliza’s voice. She didn’t get it at all.

“We both know Adam doesn’t want you to get this job. What I’m saying is that he might have a hand in all of this rejection letters you’re getting.”

“And you suggest that I go to a place like cedar creek?”

“Yeah, because Adam doesn’t have any connections there.”

“But how do I go about this? Do I have to travel there?”

“No, this is the best part. I saw a flyer on L******n this morning and there’s an hotel there that’s searching for a manager.”

“How much is the pay?” Eliza was quick to ask. That also mattered, the judge would ask that in the final decision of whether to hand Lucy over or not.

“I don’t know, you might have to discuss it with the poster.” Chloe said.

“You have their email?”

“Yeah. I do. I wrote it somewhere, would go get it.” Chloe said and hurried up the stairs. Eliza sat back in her chair, at least she had found a way now and she hoped this will pull through.

Chloe came down stairs a few moments later holding her phone in her hand and handed it to Eliza,

“The address is on it.” Eliza immediately took the phone from her and checked the email address that was displayed on it.

Without wasting anymore time, she copied the address and logged into her sss using Chloe’s phone. Then she pasted it on the phone and sent a job request to them.

“Let’s just hope I’m lucky this time.” Eliza said.

“I’m sure they would pick you okay, don’t overthink it.” Eliza smiles at her friend’s reassuring words.

“Thank you Chloe for your hospitality.” She felt greatly indebted to Chloe now, if it hadn’t been for her. She and Lucy would have no place to call home.

“Don’t thank me,alright. What are friends for.” Chloe shrugged.

“I would get back to you later. I want to have this rest. Good night.” Chloe said and went upstairs leaving Eliza behind.

“Good night.” Eliza replied.

She leaned back into the soft plush sofas that adorned the living room. She did hope she would get that job, her happiness would know no bounds if she did.