Road to the CEO's heart

Chapter Three

With trembling hands I take the paper from her, she immediately retracts her hand, places them on the table and props her head on them, eyes scanning my face as I nervously turn the paper to read it's contents.

Detaching my eyes from the eerily quiet lady, I begin to read the contents of the paper, my eyes wide as saucers at the heading of the document.

A shock wave drags through my body, my stare alternating between the paper and the woman still observing me, my grip on the paper tightens.

“This can't be happening” my voice cracks. “I, I, no, no, no, this can't be happening”. I screech, falling to my knees as an uncontrollable stream of tears escape my cornea.

I immediately crawl forward, my shoulder and head the only part visible to the woman, tears still actively flowing as I clasped my hands together.

“Please…. Please … please”. Is all I could whisper as I feel the weight of the world bearing heavy on my shoulders.

She releases a sigh, her features softening, “I’m sorry Jess”.

I shake my head violently. “I was sick, I…. I didn't mean to”.

“You didn't submit your permit slip, you know that's the rules, why didn't you do that if you were ill?”.

“I….i forgot. It was a mistake, I'm sorry, I need this, please…”. I continued to plead as the tears kept pouring, using my sleeves to aggressively wipe them up at intervals.

But I did remember, I asked Daisy to help me, what happened?, why didn't she do it?. I decide to push all the questions swarming my head aside and concentrate on making this go away.

The lady's hands flies to her head to massage it, her shoulder slumped as she releases a heavy sigh. She gets up on her feet after what seems like forever, heels clicking as she gets to my side, squatting to my level.

“Look, the only way I can help is to extend the deadline, till next semester, so you'll be able to write your exam”.

A shaky sigh escaped my lips, I tear my gaze away from her and stare at the ground as I get engulfed in thoughts.

“And I'm doing this because you are one of our best students and this is the first time this is happening”.

Her suggestion made me feel a tiny bit better, at least I had the addition of summer break to work something out. Still I couldn't help but feel saddened, my sickness now pushed aside as I began to ponder on how shitty life had gotten.

“Thank you, I.. I'll try”. I whisper when I realized I had not replied to the woman, she responds with a weak smile, retreating back to her seat as she resumes typing away.

With shaky legs I manage to push myself off the floor, harshly rubbing on my eyes to clean the tear streak, taking deep breaths in a bid to calm my nerves.

“I’ll send the extension exemption document, you're free to go”.

Forcing a smile I whisper a thank you, picking up my bag and leaving her office, a quick glance at the watch on my wrist indicates the hallway will be filled with students in five minutes.

With my head hung low, I speed walk down the hall, pushing the exit doors, not in the state of mind to continue learning as I make my way home.

I groan as I feel a slight headache brewing, collapsing on the old couch in the living room, with my eyes fixed on the chipped ceiling board I begin to draw a rough plan on how to foot the sudden bill thrust on my shoulder.

Maybe the walk is what I needed or maybe I had no tears left to cry, I was surprisingly calm, the week had drained me, I couldn't find the strength to go to the bedroom as I lay there motionless.

Justin Bieber's ‘Baby’ blares through my phone, without opening my eyes I feel around for the device, raising it up to my ears, waiting for the person on the other side of line to speak first.

“Jess just wanted to remind you to stop by the grocery store on your way….”. Betrayal washes over me as the familiar voice echoes in my ears.

“Why didn't you do it?”.

“Huh?”.

“You didn't mark my attendance Daisy, now I'm being cut off from my scholarship for the semester”. Tears almost well in my eyes once again.

“I'm sorry, I..I forgot, I didn't know it was that important!”. Her panicked voice rings through the phone.

“I'm being cut off Daisy”.

“And I said I'm sorry!” She yells “please, I swear I didn't mean for this to happen”. Her voice was softer, almost broken.

I release a shaky sigh, taking deep breaths to calm myself so I don't do something stupid.

“I understand, it was a mistake. I should have reminded you”.

“I'm really sorry, I.. we’ll talk when I get back ok?”.

“Mhmm”. I respond, not trusting myself to speak without crying once more.

“Alright, bye”.

The line goes silent, the apartment suddenly dead quiet as thoughts marinate in my head, how nerve wrecking the week had been.

Suddenly my phone lights up, an alarm blaring out, as the reminder lights on the screen. Upon seeing the words I jump to my feet, almost losing my balance.

I chuck my phone in my bag as I rush into our shared bedroom, quickly grabbing my apron, I swipe my bag up and bolt out the door, not forgetting to lock it after me.

By the time I get to the café my oversized polo is almost soaked, with no time to catch my breath I rush behind the counter where my boss with an unreadable expression was tending to the cash register.

I stood there, my heart thumping in my chest. I couldn't tell if it was due to the marathon I'd just done or the aggressive push and pulls my boss was giving the cash register.

After what felt like eternity, he stops, turns his back to me and walks away without a single word, walking into his office and slamming the door.

I remain standing still, holding my breath, my chest constricting at the lack of air. This was worse than him scolding me, similar to some sort of twisted mind game. I didn't like it one bit.

Looking away I began to inspect the register, placing my bag and folded apron in the cabinet. I used a rag I had kept underneath the marble counter to wipe the non-existent dirt off it.

After about 2 minutes of recleaning I feel a gentle tap on my back, with a spin I turn to give the person my attention.

“The manager asks to see you in his office”.

I freeze, tightly clutching the rag in my hands

“Ok”. My voice comes out in a whisper as the ‘messenger’ walks away, not before giving me a sorry look.

I could hear my heart beat as I approached the red tinted wooden door, the fear of the unknown causing me to nervously clean my sweaty palms on my polo, with two weak knocks on the door I made my way in.

Immediately I'm met with my boss's unreadable stare.

“You missed two days of work”.

He speaks up without giving me the chance to even take a seat.

“I'm so..”.

“You know I can fire you right now”. He crosses his arm as he reclines in his chair, still staring me down.

“I.. I know but”.

“And like that wasn't enough you arrive an hour late today”.

I was beginning to feel overwhelmed, he wasn't letting me put any words in, just launching criticisms at me.

“Sir I..”

“You know I hired you cause you promised you would treat this place like your own, but what do you do?.”

I didn't interject again, already figuring out that I'll just get cut off.

“You skip work and make me scramble to find a replacement”.

“I'm sorry”. He finally let me complete a sentence. “i was sick, i… Lily said she’d cover for me that's why…”.

“Cover for you?, how on earth was she supposed to do her work and yours without burning out?”. His voice increased a decibel or more.

“I'm sorry, please give me another chance, I badly need this job”. My voice weavers as I make my request, careful to not rile him up more than he was, not having any tears left to cry.

“The only reason I'm being cordial with you is because Lily actually did cover for you”. I train my eyes on the floor, the tiles, tracing the spiral design as a way to keep myself from losing my mind, my knees feeling like they would give way anytime.

“Your punishment is I'll deduct the two days…”.

“No no no no no please, I can't afford to lose a penny, things are too bad please”. My mind immediately flies to the tuition I have to foot on my own.

“You don't really expect me to pay you for not doing any work”. He c***s his brows, giving me a death stare.

“No sir, I erm, I'll work overtime, yes, to make up for it”.

He relaxes in his seat, eyes not leaving my frame as he seems to ponder on my request.

“For the next two weeks”.

“Yes!”. Knowing the two weeks to replace two days isn't fair but the two days' pay is so important to me that I concur in a heartbeat.

“Alright then, you’ll start from today, you can go back to your station”.

“Thank you so much sir, you won't regret it”. I say with a bow.

“I’d better not”.

Not until I leave the office do I breathe a sigh of relief, taking careful steps to my station to see Lily, giving me a knowing look.

“Only two customers came, we’ll talk later”. She pulls me into a quick hug before making her way back to the kitchen.

I settled down by the counter, it seemed to be a slow day as only a few tables had people sitting on them, the sun casting its golden hue through the glass and on the waxed wooden floor.

I pick up my sketch book from my bag, and begin to doodle in its pages, slowly it eases my mind, every shade taking my thoughts away from the chaos of my life.

Just then the door bell chimes rings through the room, I close my eyes, taking a deep breath, as my eyes flutter open accompanied with a more calm demeanor. I look forward to seeing who just walked in.

It's a man with a baseball hat and nose mask, a thick bomber jacket, trousers and boots.

The A/c was barely working and I could feel the effect of the blazing sun currently outside, I furrow my brows as I stare at the bizarre choice of clothing.

The man scans the surroundings, his eyes moving from one part to another in quick succession, an indicator that it was his first time here.

As I was about to look away, his pupils landed on mine and in a flash a shock wave courses through my body.

My heart dropped to my stomach, eyes wide, goosebumps breaking through my skin.

Those intense eyes….

I remember seeing them somewhere….

But I couldn't remember where….