CHAPTER TWO

She headed to the backyard where she heard the sound, her heart racing like it would rip off.

She pushed the back door open only to find her mom trying to lift the sack of manure for her vegetables in the garden right behind the backyard.

"Phew" she let out a breath she didn't know she was holding 

"Ohh dear you didn't tell me you were coming," Her mom said to her as she proceeded to hug her.

"Eww Mom that stinks" she wrinkled her nose from the smell of the manure.

"Come on let's go inside, I will clean up and we can talk," Her mom laughed at her as she headed to the door while she followed her.

She settled on the couch in the living room with the medical reports in her hand, waiting for her mom to come.

She raised her head when she heard the sound of footsteps climbing down the stairs.

"Ashely you look so quiet, is everything okay?" Her mom asked scrutinizing her.

She handed her the report and waited for her to read it.

"Did you get a job?" Her mom asked again while ripping off the envelope and reading through the papers.

"How could you hide your sickness from me, Mom, do you want to make me an orphan?" she asked as she sobbed.

Her mom reached for her hands "Ashley I didn't want to be a burden to you, you have your whole life ahead of you I can't deprive of you that".

"Mom, what is life without you in it?" She probed as she bawled.

She moved closer to her mom "Mom I can't afford to lose you and am going to do anything in my power to get you treated I promise".

Ashley… 

"Mom, am not asking for your opinion" she interrupted her while wiping her tears off.

"Child, it is not as easy as you think, this is a huge amount of money " Her mom implored.

"Mom, as long as there is life there is hope, I will not give up without trying," she insisted.

Her mom came close to her and pulled her in a tight hug " You are the best gift after your dad".

"Have you eaten?" she inquired.

"No! Am not hungry" Ashely shrugged 

"Ashely Greenwood!! If you want to save my life then I need you to be alive to do that," She fumed as she headed to the kitchen, and Ash followed.

Ashely opened the fridge, brought out her favorite cranberry juice, and poured some of the content into a glass cup.

 " I will be heading home after this, I need to pack a few things that I will be needing I can't leave you in this house all by yourself" she informed her mom.

"Ashley am sick am not a child you would need to take care of!!" She explained shaking her head.

"Exactly Mom you're sick and that's why you need me and that's it," She said with a tone of finality.

"I can't with you" she notified, raising her two hands.

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Man!! What's the way?" Sean inquired

Sean is Alan's best buddy and they have come a long way.

"I don't know, these women are all gold diggers they might want something more if I offer a contract marriage," Alan said rubbing his hands on his forehead, he was already having a headache from the whole thing.

"You never can tell, they are good ones out there" Sean probed.

"How do we find them, it's not like there is a tag on their forehead that shows they are good" He complained.

Buzz!! Buzz!!

"Hello, ohh shit I forgot I will be there in 10 minutes," Sean said as he hung up.

"Going somewhere?" Alan asked, raising his face to Sean's level. 

"Yeah, I am to meet up with an interior designer for Shelly's studio. I forgot" he said as he dragged himself off the chair.

" Boy!! You are whipped, I hope this doesn't end with tears I don't have a shoulder you can cry on" Alan said in a mocking tone.

"Chill bro and get a woman, love is sweet" Sean advised while heading toward the door.

"Love is sweet" Alan mimicked, rocking his chair towards the direction of the large window behind him.

He stood up and headed to the window pondering on how to get a contract wife because there was no way he would be having a real marriage.

Knock! knock!! The sound from the door interrupted his line of thought.

He pressed the green button at the right side of the table which signifies "Come in".

His secretary walked in facing down

"Is there something fascinating about those shoes of yours?" He asked, losing his patience as he sat down.

"No..no sir..r" she stuttered.

"I have arranged a meeting with the director of Malcolm's group and company and it's scheduled tomorrow by 10:30 a.m Sir" she explained. 

"If nothing else, you can leave and go learn how to be bold enough to face me if you love this job" Alan replied coldly.

"She gets on my nerves all the time, remind me why I employed her?" He huffed.

BUZZ! BUZZ!!

"Who could that be early this morning?" Ashely said, stretching her hands. It was almost looking like she was having a hangover.

She was never an early riser. BUZZ! BUZZ!!

She extended her hand to the side stool, picked up her phone, and answered it without bothering to look at the caller.

"GET YOUR LAZY ASS OUT OF THAT BED IF YOU WANT TO SAVE YOUR MOM" Drea yelled at her over the phone.

She could feel her ears crying from the sound of Andrea's voice.

"Girl, don't you think it's too early to banter with me?" She yawned.

"It's 8 a.m. Ash and I assure you, you have a long day today," she said with a tone of certainty, while Ashely pulled up her phone to check the time.

She didn't realize that it was 8 a.m. already because she had pulled the blinds down to prevent the early morning sun from penetrating through the windows.

"Ash, are you there?" She inquired

"Yes…."

She interrupted her" Good, check your email. You have an interview with Malcolm's group and company scheduled for 9 a.m. and you need to dress smart and be on time.

"Oh my goodness Drea, how come you didn't inform me beforehand..what do I do?" Ashely said panicking.

"If you had considered checking your emails or tried to wake up early you wouldn't be in this situation" she stated.

I…

She interrupted her again " Now is not the time to argue, you need to get in the shower quickly and get ready, I will be at your place in 30 minutes to take you there, you better don't waste my time"

"You're a lifesaver Drea, I love you" Ashely said hurrying to the bathroom to shower and get dressed.

She opened her wardrobe, with no idea of what to wear because she wasn't expecting a quick response from one of the companies.

After much consideration she finally settled for a black tailored blazer with a pair of black dress pants and a silky brown blouse accentuated with a classic pair of pumps and simple pair of stud earrings and a comfortable bag to contain her files.

She did a little makeup and tied her hair in a messy bun.

She then stood in front of the side mirror to check how she looked.

"Perfect" she murmured.

Whoever created her took extra time to do so.

"Ashley, hurry up Andrea is here" Her mom's voice interrupted her rail of thought. 

"Coming" She yelled as she picked up her bag and headed downstairs. 

"Mom I have an interview by 9. a.m I will see you when I get back, please take care of yourself" Ashely spoke hurriedly while heading out of the front door.

Ash hopped into the front seat of Drea's car

"Hey Ash, you look good" Drea praised her.

"You don't look bad either Drea, thank you for coming to get me" she replied sincerely.

"It's fine Ash. Here I got you coffee. It will help calm your nerves" she said handing over a paper bag to her.

"Cappuccino!!" Ashely squealed inhaling the smell of Cinnamon and cream while gulping down the coffee.

They got to Malcolm's group and company at 8: 47 a.m.

Ashely was nervous and uncertain about being employed when she felt a warm hand on her shoulder " Ash, I have faith in you and I know you can do this, you got this" Drea encouraged her.

She bid goodbye to Drea as she headed to the security point.

Malcolm's group and company is one of the top companies in New York City and not everyone can walk into it freely.

After confirming her identity at the security desk, she was directed to the receptionist's desk.

"Good morning Ma'am"

"Good morning Miss, how can I help you?" The receptionist's replied, smiling.

"My name is Ashley, I am here for an interview by 9 a.m. and I need directions," She replied.

Oh, you are here for the interview, take the elevator to the 10th floor. By your right, you would see your fellow interviewees. Goodluck" she explained 

"Thank you very much," Ashely said and headed in the direction the receptionist's had described.

Ding!! the elevator opened to the 10th floor 

 She was greeted with a couple of interviewees and almost lost her confidence, but she was determined that she wasn't going to give up.

She sat down on the free seat just beside a blonde woman who looked like she is in her early 20s.

"Good morning, are you here for the interview?" Ashely asked but she was greeted with silence.

"Miss Ashley Greenwood" A lady in tailored pants and a white blouse holding a file called out.

"I'm here" Ashely answered while standing up.

"You will be interviewed now, follow me", she said 

She followed quickly behind her while she led her to an office which she assumed was the conference room.

Ashely met two men dressed in black suits and a woman and she greeted them. 

"Miss Greenwood, have your seat," The lady said to her while pointing to a seat in front of her.

She nodded while getting seated.

"We have your CV with us and we have gone through it and you ticked all the boxes, so we are going to ask you a few questions and that will be all, " one of the men in the black suit said to her.

*********************************************************

"That will be all for now, we will send you an email if you get the job so please keep in touch," The lady said to her while ushering her out.

"Thank you" She uttered

She left the conference room with all hopes that she would be employed.

When she was heading to the elevator she collided with something.

"Have you got no eyes?!!!" A deep and rough voice bellowed.