CHAPTER 1: THE FLOWER

THE FLOWER

"'Late! Late! Late!' says the white rabbit."

My supervisor Maddie has always been on my case since the day I entered this building.

"Makes me wonder, what's your excuse this time?" She and her endless tattle.

If ever I got the chance to roast her, I'd aim for her fat feet that struggle to fit inside her small stilettos.

"I'm sorry, Maddie," I winced. "I got stuck in traffic, and this heavy storm rained a bucket above me--"

"I'm not asking you to explain." Raising her palm, she closed her eyes and wore false eyelashes. "Get your things on your desk and make sure to immediately march to the boss' office."

"T-- to the boss?" Oh, no.

"The fourth time this week, Allen." Giving me her tight smile, she reminded my flaws flawlessly.

"You're lucky that you haven't lost your seat." rossing her arms that wrinkled her perfectly pressed suit, she frowned. "Five years of working here, a headache to me," she added.

Talk about being the worst employee of every year, that award belongs to me.

Reaching for my hair that I hadn't washed for three days, I untangled it with my fingers.

I stood by his office. "Just go for it, Nicole."

"... can't do it right?! YOU'RE FIRED!" Eric Marsh's voice echoed through the whole building, and my body stopped functioning.

"He's in the mood firing people." With my jittery system, I watched how a lanky man in a suit exited the barbaric office with his glassy eyes.

Poor guy.

"Now, let's just hope that Eric the barbaric won't do the same to you, Nicole." With my cross fingers, I knock on his door.

"In." The enunciation teeth gritting annoyance was spoken in one word he uttered.

When I swung the door open, his cold glare gave me chills. The holes of his tall nose flared and his lips drew one line. He's pissed.

It's just eight in the morning and he's already frowning.

With that gorgeous face, he should be loved. But no, he's feared. Everyone would wobble their legs for Eric Marsh.

"Sir? Maddie said--"

Before I could even finish what I got to say, Eric tossed a volume before my feet, and I jerked.

"Pick it up and tell me what you see."

Swallowing to aid my drying throat, I did what I was told. "It was the design I gave you, sir."

Adjusting his rectangular glasses upwards, he lifted his chin. "What I see is a trash. A worthless piece of work."

I've heard those exact words more than a thousand times. I'm used to it. Not a sweat rolled down my forehead.

"And I told you that the frame should be dark green, not turquoise!"

"But I heard that you asked for--"

"I know what I said!"

"I'm sorry, sir."

Eric groaned, pinching the bridge of his envied nose with his eyes closed. "How many times do I have to tell you I never like hearing apologies?"

"What should you do when you're wrong?"

"Prove what you can do and do it right, forget useless apologies." That's what his employees should know, and if not, they can say goodbye to their jobs.

"Good, now tell me why I hired you."

"W-- well..." licking my lips, I tried digging my brain for possible reasons why am I here. "Since then, I've been very confident of my work, and-- and I'm doing all my best to be a reliable employee."

Just looking at his face, I already know that he's not satisfied with my answer. My ass feels burning and I'm ready to take off and be set out to another planet.

"Wrong answer," said with a period, he declined my grumbling answer. "I hired you because your parents used to be the best and known influencers in terms of business."

"I don't have any single idea whether you were a neglected child or you were spoiled that you can't adjust in this kind of world."

Partly true. So, 'ouch'.

"Whatever your parents achieved, you don't have them."

My eyes fell on the floor. That slapped so hard that my whole body felt numb.

"Take that with you and get it done. I want it delivered here before midnight or you'll lose this job."

That's it, and my life has gone critical. I need an ambulance.

"Yes, sir."

"And tie that ridiculous hair, will you?!"

As soon as I stepped out of his office, my face couldn't help but mock the way he talked to me.

"Whatever, Eric Marsh." Wanting to utter a heavy insult over at him, I tried sewing my lips. "Once I get this done and you like it, you will always see this gorgeous face every freaking day."

`

On my way home, I can feel my lungs bleed, how my feet burn. And the worst part? My brain is starting to melt.

I'm so done being human.

"Oh, no!" An old lady shrieked when her things began rolling on the floor.

"Here let me help you." I crouched on the floor and helped her.

"Thank you, you're a very kind person." The smile she wears reflects her voice.

"I'm sure people would do the same."

"But you're the only one helping."

Placing it all in her cart, I mirrored her expression. There I noticed how beautiful her eyes were. One is blue and the other is gray.

"I have something for you."

I was hoping it was cash that I desperately needed, but then she pulled a golden flower from her basket.

"Oh, thank you for the... golden flower." My eyebrows lifted high up on the ceiling. What an odd flower.

"Your kindness speaks to me, and I shall give you what you deserve." She pushed the flower closer to my chest. "It had been a a long wait for the right person to utter a wish, you are the chosen one."

"Chosen?"

"Take it, listen to what your heart longs for. Make a wish, and the magical flower will grant it right away."

"A wish?"

"But beware, if your words weren't spoken from your heart, your broken future might leave the deepest scar of forever torment."

"Lady, I-- I don't understand."

A cheering noise from a group of teenagers from a corner stole my eyes, and when I turned to ask the old lady what she meant, I stood there nailed on the floor.

She's gone.

"Huh?"

I looked around and found none of her silhouettes. It gave me a sudden creep, but whatever, I still had work waiting for me and I only had less than five hours to finish it.

Hours later, my whole apartment is currently sprinkled with crumpled papers.

"I'm going to lose my job."

It's halfway passed 11. No way that I can make this work.

"Only if there's a miracle," I scoffed." I wish."

Wish...

The flower, it's sitting right on top of my table. The old lady said that it was magical.

"This is stupid, Nicole." Smacking my forehead, I walked close to it and picked it up. "Magic, oh, well. What should I wish for?"

Protruding my lips, I raspberry. "I think I got it, flower. So, star light, star bright. I wish I may I wish I might... I wish that Eric Marsh would fall in love with me."

Snorting after I recited those words, I began to laugh. But that smile washed away when the golden flower turned to dust and disappeared in the air.

"What the hell?"