On getting to Irene’s house, every table was filled with different types of alcohol which I know would be consumed throughout the night. My friends were alcohol monsters so it was not new.
“I almost thought you wouldn’t come anymore” Irene pouted when I showed up at her door with my small bags
I only smiled weakly in return, “I had something to attend to. I wouldn’t ditch a party that would make me feel relieved”
With a nod and small hug, she ushered me in and noticed that I was limping a bit as I was walking.
“Hey Petals, what’s wrong? Did you get hurt?” she gasped, rushing to my side.
“I collided with an equipment at the gym. It’s nothing much so it will go away soon” I answered with a chuckle, trying to put her at ease
Even though I insisted that I was fine, she still called over Braden, her younger brother to have it checked for me before she could ease her mind.
“Thank you” I muttered before Monica joined us.
She had been stuck in the traffic for quite a while and the way she rushed in was so funny because she downed a bottle of cold water in seconds before she started explaining what she had passed through.
“I thought I would die” she groaned and we chuckled at her expressions before Irene suddenly faced me
“Now, tell us. Why did that chicken head bully you that much? I mean he was the one that recruited you so why was he treating you like that?” she burst out
“I honestly don’t know but I guess he wanted me to adjust to his company’s style of writing. It was exhausting but I got it right at the end of the day” I explained, picking a cup of wine on the table
“He has been an asshole right from our high school days. I can’t believe he’s still consistent with his madness” Monica cursed from her seat and we all laughed before I suddenly remember my team members and Tina.
“What do you suggest I do to make my team members cooperate? They are not cooperating at all and there’s this senior manager who is also making things difficult. She makes sure they are not cooperating and only follow her words” I added
“Who is that witch again?” Irene frowned
“I honestly do not get why everyone is against you but I have to be blunt here. You are now working at a big firm so you have to up your game. Your dressing is not up to standard, I am sure whoever this witch giving you problem dresses well and command respect at a different level. You are now a team leader and not just some junior reporter so please wear something good and attractive. All you wear all day is jean trousers and some round necks” Monica suddenly cut in and everywhere went silent.
She was not wrong at all. Tina dresses well and classy, she rocks different types of beautiful clothes and get her nails done prettily. I usually do not care about all that while I was a junior reporter, I only wanted to work hard and get promoted so I forgot for a while that I had to upgrade my dress sense just like my position had upgraded.
“You don’t have to be harsh about it but I do agree with you. You need to do something about your dress sense. You will be addressed the way you are dress. You won’t have issues with work since you are intelligent and try all your best not to cross boundaries with that chicken head, you should slap him in the face with good articles instead” Irene chipped in
Monica shrugged before asking “Do you want to work at my company instead? It’s okay you can learn our work from the scratch, I will support you with everything you need”
With a scoff, I remarked “Thank you for your offer but I have no interest in working with you” making us all giggle.
The following day being Sunday, I was bundled into the car and taken to the shopping mall by force where I was forced to try on several clothes. The clothes gave me the confidence I needed truthfully and I felt new but the prices were crazy so I came up with different excuses of how I didn’t like the color or prints.
“Don’t worry about the price. Just think of it as an early birthday present. We can’t afford to see you lose to someone who might not even be as competent as you” Irene countered and I finally surrendered.
****
I walked into the office the following day in a black pant and white blouse shirt that was tied a bit at the waist and everyone stared at me right from the reception. My hair was packed to the back with little strands hanging down at each side of my face.
“Was the makeup obvious?” I thought to myself as I felt eyes on me when I stepped into the lobby.
I had applied a little makeup after dressing up for the day so I felt shy when I saw everyone staring at me. Even when I stepped into the office, everyone gasped at my appearance.
“Wow, I never knew you had this side of you” Bea gasped and covered her mouth with her hand
“This side of me?” I repeated, not knowing if I should take it as a compliment or insult
“I mean you are so pretty and shiny today” she rephrased her statement and it made me blush
“Well I decided to match the job” I responded, upping my confidence.
I didn’t miss Tina’s eye roll as I walked to my seat and intentionally greeted her but she didn’t respond as always. As soon as I had my seat, Stanley came in and greeted everyone before stopping at my desk.
“I need the updated article for this morning, I can get it in the next ten minutes right?” he stated and I responded that it would be on his desk.
“Bea, please get the article ready in the next five minutes” I instructed and to my surprise, she responded positively and got to work immediately
Within minutes, she submitted the article and when I reviewed it, it was perfect. Bea and Amanda are so good at their work but I still don’t understand why they were not supportive of me. I tried changing my appearance and it seems to be working so I hope they would embrace me over time.
“This is the article you requested for” I said to Stanley as I placed it in front of him
He went through it and he signed it immediately for postage before handing the tablet over to me.
“You look beautiful today and finally like an employee of this company” he remarked and a frown etched on my face.
I didn’t know why his compliment disgusted me and my eyes rolled on their own. I didn’t dress up for him to compliment or judge if I looked like an employee or not. Nothing coming out of his mouth will ever sound pleasant so it would be better he just shut his mouth and keep our relationship strictly on business.
“You look annoyed, Miss Petals” he suddenly stated and I scoffed
“Not at all, Mr. Stanley” I slammed and went out of his office but I didn’t miss his soft smile.
His lips curving to the side was so hot, I hated to admit it but Stanley was a living sculpture.
Few hours to the end of the day, he came out of the office and called our attention.
“We will be having a welcome party for Team Leader Petals. Please text her the address for our usual joint. I will be expecting you all” he announced and left for the day.
I wouldn’t lie, I was jealous of him leaving work any time he wanted to. I was battling with loads of news compilation and he gets to play around just because he’s the owner of the company.
“I will send you the address, make sure to show up. Miss Team Leader” Manager Tina said to me from her desk.
That was the first time she would talk to me that day and I was surprised that she offered to send me the address.
“Thank you Miss Tina” I quickly answered with a smile but she raised her hand to stop me
“Please call me Tina” she corrected and I nodded to acknowledge the correction.
“Thank you Tina” I stated again, with a smile.
I was gullible enough not to read the room after her statement. I had actually believed that she now acknowledged me just like Bea and Amanda had done earlier.
The address dropped in front of me on a sheet of paper and everyone left for the day. I decided to finish a work I was editing before leaving for the address but one thing was strange.
I waited for more than three hours and no one showed up. I didn’t know who to call since I had no one’s number and it dawned on me that I must have been fooled.
“I should have noticed when she volunteered” I said to myself before dragging my tired self out to get a cab home.
STANLEY’S POVI arrived late at the usual joint and thought the welcome party would have started but I met Tina, Amanda and Bea alone having fun. I first thought Petals went out briefly but when I didn’t see her in the next few minutes, I was forced to ask for her.“Did she not come?” I asked, looking around the restaurant“I did gave her the address, I don’t know why she’s not here” Tina lied blatantly and Bea was forced to react to her shamelessness“Try calling her then, she might not be able to find her way” I suggested but the three of them only exchanged glancesI sighed.“Don’t tell me none of you have her contact” I continued and they all slowly shook their head to my surpriseI slowly fished out my phone to dial her number but she didn’t pick up no matter how hard I tried so I was forced to get up and leave their midst.“I’ll check her up at the office. You can have your fun, I will pay at the counter” I declared and ran out of the restaurant to look for her.***As soon as S
What they mentioned about the former team leader kept lingering on my mind all day even though I was so busy with the articles to be submitted for the rest of the week. I resumed work after lunch before Stanley suddenly walked into the office. “We will be going for the Greens Island tomorrow for news coverage. There’s something exciting going on and we have to be the first to publish it. It would be awesome if we can get an exclusive interview with the director on site” he announced and Tina clapped “We will be stepping out after all this while. I am so happy I could cry right now” she giggled and Amanda followed suit with a low “I am so happy too. I can't wait to run around in freedom” My eyes rolled at their words because it's not like they were ever so busy they couldnt live the life they wanted. I was surprised that Stanley's company doesn't make their employees work their lives out all in the name of trying to get and scoop all the exclusive news out there. My former workplace
By the time I woke up the following morning, I was hot as coal. I wondered why the room was so hot when I opened my eyes but I discovered that I was the one emitting the heat.“Sh!t” I mumbled as I felt my hot forehead.I should have known that it would result to this after standing under the heavy rain for more than thirty minutes.I tried standing up from the bed but all my hands and legs were extremely weak. My head was also splitting into two, thanks to the explosive headache going on in it. I struggled to pick up my phone to call someone’s attention but I remembered that I had none of their numbers and I would rather die than call Stanley.“Let’s just hope I don’t die” I said to myself before giving up.I stared at the roof for several minutes before losing the battle to sleep. The next time I woke up, I saw a blurry figure in front of me and wondered whoever the person was.My eyes were closing and opening slowly as I struggled to keep them wide open but at the sound of the fami
“Where are you going to?” Pamela stood up as I stood up too“Going to ask why her name was there of course. I stood in the rain for those terrible and horrible minutes while the rain was pouring hard on me. I am in this state because of the darn coverage but what?” I yelled on top of my voice and turned sharply.As I reached for the door’s handle, things suddenly became blurry and I didn’t know when I landed on the floor.I fainted.Different indistinct chattering around me woke me up and my eyes were greeted by streams of white light as I opened them to find myself in a strange place. A big face with an almost bald head greeted my eyes as soon as my vision became cleared, making me jump up in fear.“Who are you?” I yelled before scanning him from head to toeHis white coat and stethoscope around his neck gave him out that he was a doctor and he just came to check up on me that moment.“Are you feeling better? Well seeing how you jumped up, you must be feeling good” he commented and s
Mei had been applying to modeling agencies because of her hot and sexy stature. She was taller than most of her friends, had slender legs and smooth milky skin that made her stand out so she wanted to put the beautiful figure to good use.She finally snagged a modeling deal with a company for a running commercial and fortunately Ray’s gym was used for the filming. Immediately she saw him, she could recognize him and rushed over to meet him.“Hi” she called out to him, smiling broadly as she ran to catch up with himHe turned to see who was calling after him and saw that it was Mei.“Hello, how have you been? Are you here to start some gym session?” he asked, smiling back at herShaking her head, she replied “No, we are here for an ad filming” “An ad filming? Oh for the running commercial?” he asked further and she nodded“I will be directing you. I hope to work with you smoothly” he added and extended his hand for a shake which she took without hesitation“I’m Mei by the way” she int
Joan Mimi walked into the company’s studio three days later to attend the scheduled interview. We decided to have a separate interview for both of them first before they do one together. She was in a white Camellia dress accompanied with a black flap bag and a white cover shoe.No lies, she was stunning and classy in her dress. I wowed at how elegant she was and how pretty everything on her down to her nails were shiny.“She’s freaking pretty, I am so jealous” Bea complimented from afarAmanda added by her side, “I know right. She’s as pure as a glass. I wish to be like her” “Even her skin is glowing from afar” Bea continuedEvery of their statements got me rolling my eyes continuously, I didn’t know why I was mad at someone who did absolutely nothing to me so I had to call myself to order.“It’s not like I am still in love with him so why should I be jealous or mad? I have to get a grip” I mumbled to myself and went in for the interview.Throughout the session for his interview, he
He was taken to their family hospital where he was attended to immediately by his personal doctor. I was kept waiting outside while Joan Mimi and his mother rushed in to stay by his side.I paced up and down anxiously as I waited to hear from them but no one seemed to be coming out even after two hours. I was almost going into a fainting mode due to the increasing anxiety when the thought of calling Monica and Irene dropped in mind.“I think I am in trouble” I declared and the confused ladies asked what I meant by that“That chicken head! That troublemaker pressured me to make him some instant coffee which he had never had all his whole life. I did as he told me and now he’s having a runny stomach, it’s so bad that he’s at the hospital right as I speak” I explained with a shaky voiceMonica let out a yelp from the shocking story I just told while Irene paused for a while before she suddenly burst into laughter.“Why are you laughing? Are you mocking me?” I shouted, getting angry at he
STANLEY’S POVI was happy as soon as I saw Petals walk into the hospital room with Mimi. I kept playing video games because I was bored to death and I know it would remain like that if Mimi comes back. We rarely talk or even communicate.The dating news that was released was because of my mother who insisted on marrying someone like her due to the influence of her family. I refused to have anything to do with her but my mother pleaded for just a blind date.“I am not interested” I insisted firmly“You will have to forfeit the right to your company” she threatened me“How can you do that? I am the owner of my company” I objected strongly and she cackled“Have you forgotten that I am the biggest shareholder? If you want to win over me then you have to fight for it” she remarked and it sank inShe was the one that set up the company for me and funded most of the things I had in the company even though I had been steadily paying her back but if she pull out at this time, I would be in deb