The clouds were gathering, the call of the wind was comforting and the gentle breeze calmed all of her fears as she stood by the streets of Alistair.
‘Get out of the way girl, a heavy rain is coming’ a man screamed at her and she quickly rushed out of the road.
She was now an orphan, with her mother gone, she needed to take care of herself; it wasn’t such a novel thing to her. Her mother had battled with cancer of the blood for a long time before giving up, and during those times she’d been the one working and paying the bills.
She grew up fending for herself and her mother, working her a-s of as a bartender, librarian, housekeeper e.t.c she was prepared to do anything provided it was honest, one of the things her late mother had taught her.
Tuesdays were beautiful, nothing as formal like mean old Monday; she had read an advert in the paper that Roseau Soft wares, a software creation and selling Company was hiring; that had kicked her spirits off as she was already worn out working as a librarian. The job was boring; you could imagine spending a whole day in a dusty old library with books with ancient looking designs as your only company and pay that could get you something like Coffee and doughnuts.
‘I can do this; I need to do this’ she inhaled deeply as she reached the entrance of the enormous building.
She had no friends, her whole life had been centered on her mother, she was alone now; whenever she was getting interviewed for a new job, her mother would be there to whisper words of encouragement; words that would lift her inferiority complex.
“I’m Ugly Ma, nobody could ever pick me” Jane would whisper as she stared at the mirror.
“Nobody is ugly baby girl, we all just need money” her mother would say and they’d burst out laughing.
‘Who you looking for’? She stopped at the security checkpoint, it was obvious she didn’t belong to Roseau Softwares.
‘Goodmorning, I am Jane Atkins, I’m here for the job’ she stuttered as the blonde middle-aged man stared right at her, why was he so unfriendly?
‘What job?’ he frowned and focused on her face.
‘The post of a Personal assistant’ she shifted nervously, why was he looking at her like that?
‘What are you up to buddy’? A younger man joined him in the glass cubicle.
‘I don’t know, Brunette here says she came here for a job, heard of that’? The older man asked.
‘A job? No way, what’s she here for anyway’? The younger man asked.
‘Personal assistant’
‘Where did you get that from’? The younger man winked at her.
‘Reach-out Daily’ Jane dipped a hand into her shaggy brown bag and presented the paper to the men.
‘Oh darling, these papers lie a lot, I don’t really think we’ll need a personal assistant here, you can be on your way now’ he squeezed the paper and threw it into a trash bin next to him.
‘How could you do that? You should’ve given it back’ Jane felt hurt, why were people so mean?
‘Do you mind getting out of here Miss Ugly Clothes’? The older man teased and they burst out laughing.
‘My clothes aren’t ugly’ blood tweaked her cheeks.
‘Yes they are, go get a fashion designer’ the younger man winked and the laughter increased.
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She had never felt so embarrassed in her twenty-four years on earth, tears blurred her eyes as she stared at the two men; tiny droplets fell on her yellow Jacket and stained her green boots. She just couldn’t leave, she didn’t have the courage to walk away, so she stood there and cried.
‘Brunette is such a softy’ the older man mimicked her and the sniggering increased.
The Roseau Mansion was a three-story building; well-embellished balusters, a large flower garden where roses grew wildly, magnolias blossomed and a beautiful pool of blue water rested in the middle. Tall Palms were planted all over the mansion and their leaves provided shade whenever the sun chose to run mad.
***********
‘Good morning father’ Kira rushed with her buttons as she neared the dining table.
‘Morning honey, where are your brothers’? Her dad asked.
‘Here I am’ Ryan joined them at the table.
‘Where’s Ivan’? The man rested his eyes on his younger son.
‘I don’t know, maybe he’s still sleeping’ Ryan shrugged.
‘Or had a rough night’ Kira’s eyes twinkled mischievously.
Ivan Roseau, their half-brother, and C.E.O of Roseau Soft wares was the eldest son of Thomas Roseau; Ivan’s mother had dumped him with Thomas when he was just a baby, for her lover, the man she cheated on with his dad.
‘If you’re bent on gossiping about me, you should do so with grace’ Ivan stepped out of his room and joined the trio.
‘Well then, breakfast is ready’ Pam his stepmother smiled charmingly and walked in with a tray that contained their breakfast.
‘Sorry Pam, we don’t have time for this, there’s an important meeting at the Company, we’ll have lunch at the office’ he worked on his tie.
‘Oh Ivan, at least eat something, besides Kira and Ryan may be hungry’ she pawed at her stepson.
‘We are not hungry, we’ll be fine’ his siblings hurried out of the dining.
‘Do you always have to be this moody and domineering’? Thomas clicked his tongue.
‘Maybe I am following your footsteps’ Ivan snarled at his dad.
He was a fireball, his temper was quick and he had so much resentment in his heart; first his mother had abandoned him for her stupid lover and his father had practically forced him to take over the company.
He had always wanted to be a painter but the man threatened to disinherit him if he refused to get schooled at Harvard; he had been young and had no choice, who could stand against a tyrant like Thomas Roseau?
‘It’s too early for you two’ Pam stepped into the situation.
‘He started it, he should stay out of my business’ Ivan grumbled and walked out on them.
‘I don’t know what to do with him, I’ve tried everything but his hatred for me grows by the day’ Thomas was getting frustrated.
He’d ignored Ivan’s non- challant behavior towards him as a child, he’d hoped his first son would come around one day, but as the years grew, he had lost hope in earning Ivan’s love.
‘I am sorry darling, I wish I could help’ she rubbed his hands.
‘He hates me, for his mother, for forcing the company on him but I only did what I thought was best’
‘It’s okay dear, all he needs is love. Once he finds the right person, he’d be healed’ Pam kissed her husband.
‘So what do you suggest I do’? He peered at her confused.
‘Let’s put a little fire up his a-s’ she winked, she had a plan and was quite sure would work on her stepson.
To be continued….
