Amber lazily rolled out of bed, running a hand through her red hair she grimaced as it stuck in a knot. Taking her hand out, she turned to lol for her phone, realising that she hadn't taken it of her bag last night she scrambled to find it and to her dismay it needed charging.
Plugging it into an outlet she waited impatiently for her phone to turn on , when it finally did her eyes bulges out in surprise because the time on the screen showed that it was eight-thirty am.
Eight-thirty am. "Oh, no!" She thought . "It's eight , I'm late!" and she stumbled into the bathroom. In the middle of brushing her teeth she said to herself "Wait a minute. I don't have to work today, it's Saturday." Finishing up her morning routine she went to her kitchen to make her breakfast.
The weekend rolled over a little faster than she would have liked. The next thing she knew,she was standing infront of Adler Industries at six-thirty,with her affogato in hand. ( Again for those who don't know an affogato is Ice cream served with a shot of expresso). Blowing the cold air through her nose,she proceeded to walk into the building.
After Amber swiped her badge ,she remembered the list of things that she had to go through. She remembered that when she went to visit Natalie in the hospital she have her the rundown of things that she needed to do.
(FLASHBACK)
'AS AMBER STROLLED THE HALLS OF SWEET VALLEY HOSPITAL, SHE CAME UP TO THE ROOM IN WHICH NATALIE WAS RESIDING. KNOCKING ON THE DOOR, SHE WAS HAPPY WHEN SHE HEARD A FAINT "COME IN". OPENING THE DOOR SHE WAS SHOCKED TO SEE NATALIE HOOKED UP TO SEVERAL MACHINES. DROPPING HER BAG SHE RUSHED UP TO HER AND SAID " OH MY GOD NATALIE ! ARE YOU OK?! I DIDN'T THINK YOU WOULD BE THIS SEVERLY INJURED?!! IS THER ANYTHING I CAN DO?! "
NATALIE STARED AT THE SMALL WOMAN INFRONT OF HER AND SAID " MS.ADAIR, WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE? "
"I CAME TO SEE HOW YOU WERE FARING " AMBER REPLIED. "ALSO I THINK THAT YOU CAN CALL ME AMBER NOW, RIGHT? ".
"ONLY IF YOU CALL ME BY MY NAME ALSO" NATALIE REPLIED WITH A SMILE.
"SO HOW IS WORK, ARE YOU DOING OK , OR ARE YOU ...." SHE TRAILED OFF.
"AM I FIRED. NO I STILL HAVE MY JOB SURPRISING" AMBER SAID LAIGHING SOFTLY.
AS AMBER PROCEEDED TO TELL HER ABOUT HOW THE REST OF THE DAY WENT AFTER SHE WAS SENT TO THE HOSPITAL, THE DOOR OPENED.
" HONEY" A VOICED CALLED. " I GOT YOUR FAVOURITE FOOD RIGHT HERE" HE SAID. "I'VE GOT YOUR MANGOES AND PLUMS AND ... WHO ARE YOU" ? HE ASKED AFTER TURNING AROUND AND SEEING AMBER.
"BABY" NATALIE CALLED. " THIS IS AMBER, SHE WILL BE REPLACING ME WHILE I GIVE BIRTH, AMBER THIS IS MY HUSBAND AARON".
"AMBER THIS IS MY HUSBAND AARON, AARON THIS IS MY CO-WORKER AMBER"
"PLEASURE TO MEET YOUR ACQUAINTANCE" SHE SAID.
" LIKEWISE " HE REPLIED.
TURNING HIS ATTENTION BACK TOWARDS HIS WIFE HE SAID "SO THIS IS AMBER, SHE'LL BE WORKING FOR THAT ASSHPLE INSTEAD OF YOU?"
" HONEY ! " SHE CHIDED. "LANGUAGE, OUR BABY CAN HEAR YOU, BESIDES HE IS NOT THAT BAD."
" NOT THAT BAD ! YOU ALMOST HAD A MICARRIAGE!!!!"
SENSING THAT THE COUPLE WAS ABOUT HAVE AN ARGUMENT, AMBER SAID" OKAY, ALRIGHT, NO FIGHTING SHE IS PREGNANT REMEMBER? NATALIE I CAME HERE TO SEE IF YOU WERE DOING ALRIGHT AFTER THE ORDEAL,AND YOU ARE FINE"
PICKING UP HER BAG SHE PROCEEDED TO THE DOOR SAYING" YOU GUYS ARE MARRIED AND EXPECTING,STOP ARGUING." "NATALIE I WILL VISIT YOU LATER. GOODBYE."
"AMBER,WAIT" NATALIE CRIED OUT. REACHING FOR HER BAG , SHE PULLED OUT A FLASHDRIVE. " THIS IS EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BEING MR.ADLER'S ASSISTANT. "
THROWING IT SHE SAID " GOOD LUCK."
AMBER CAUGHT IT AND WITH A SMILE TURNED HER HEEL AND LEFT.'
[ END OF FLASHBACK]
It was around ten, that he arrived. Suddenly, it was as if a blanket of tension engulfed the building, the once light buzz was replaced with total silence.
Amber looked up and saw that as he passed, one man even bowed! Laughing to herself, she thought "he really think he's God".
Liam, entered his building at ten, and he was pissed, the group that conned his company had not been caught yet. He had tracked them to Macau, and his team had almost caught them, however they were able to recover his money. He guessed that they had taught that it was to hot and left it at their last hide out.
Liam didn't really care about the money, after all he made more that enough, and that small amount was breadcrumbs to him, what he really wanted to know was who was so brazen to con Him. He was the great Liam Adler, people went silent and revered in his presence! As if to prove his point, as he walked down the hall to his office a manager bowed. "That's more like it "he thought. Continuing on he heard a slight snicker, and upon turning his head he saw Amber laughing softly to herself.
Scrunching up his face he pointed to her and said " You, my office now" .
"Right away sir" she replied.
Closing the door she turned around to find her boss pacing. Suddenly he stopped. Wheeling around, he turned towards her "Do you find something funny Ms. Adair"? he asked.
"No, sir " she replied.
"Then why were you laughing just now" he asked forcefully.
" I..I " she started.
" Forget it !" he snapped.
Sitting at his desk, he asked her about the agenda for the day.
Putting the files on his desk, she said " Heart Construction has replied to your bid and is ready to sell. Flavia Dragos of 'Dragos and Family' has sent a letter detailing the blue prints for their next product. They wish to go into business with you, because you have company branches as well as a thriving consumer base in Tuvalu.
Their latest product is targeted at women. They have created a newer version of mehndi. This version lasts longer and is easier to apply. In their package they have included latex and silicon casts, these casts are designed with patterns for those who wish to use mehndi but their drawing skills are average. The rest of the information is included in the parcel as well as some samples."
Liam looked at the parcels spread out on his table. He opened the labeled 'Dragos and Family' and several prototypes of the product that they wanted to sell fell out.
After examining them for a while, he pushed it to the side. Gesturing towards Amber he said "continue".
The next two hours were spent either accepting or rejecting proposals. After ten minutes he turned to her and said " You know for a foul-mouth brat you really are useful."
Scowling Amber replied " Is that supposed to be a compliment sir ?"
Smiling he said " Yes, now go get my coffee".
While Amber was leaving to get the coffee she turned and said "You know sir, I'd slap you, but that would be considered animal abuse."
Standing up so fast that his chair fell down, he angrily pointed at her while spluttering "You should remember who is your boss. Talk to me like that again and I will fire you! Do you understand!? Also I want my coffee hot. Very hot."
Smiling Amber said " I'll get that coffee now sir". And with that she left.
Huffing, Liam set his chair upright and waited for her to come back. Five, then ten minutes passed. "Where is she?" he wondered. "I told her to make my coffee, not grind the beans!" Getting impatient, he was about to go look for her, when she came in holding a steaming cup of coffee. Snatching it away from her, her went to drink it unawares that the cover of the cup was not on properly.
" Sir!" Amber tried to warn him, but alas it was to late. Her boss had tilted the cup up towards his face.
"NOOOO!!!!" she yelled. It was like time played in slow motion, as she watched the cup raise higher until the contents spilled onto her bosses' face.
" AHHH, AHHH AHHH!" Liam screamed. His face felt like it was on fire. "Are you trying to kill me?!" he yelled. "Did you boil that with lava?" he screamed.
" I'm so sorry sir, but I tried to warn you that the lid was not on properly" she said while trying to cool down his face with ice from the wet bar.
He looked at her incredulously. "Are you saying that its my fault?" he asked quietly. The way he looked at her was deadly. Slowly his face, neck and ears turned bright red.
"Are you okay sir, why are you so red ?" Amber asked oblivious to the volcano that was about to erupt.
Taking a deep breath he turned to her only to see her fussing with her shirt, muttering "Aw shucks, I just bought this." He was furious. How dare she not pay attention to him! Turning towards her he yelled " GET OUT! GET OUT! GET OUT NOW !" Seeing her not moving, he picked up the cup to throw at her.
Amber, seeing that the cup was about to b thrown at her , quickly ran out of the room. Opening the door a crack she stuck her head through, and said " Sir".
" GET OUT!" he yelled!
Ignoring the stares she was getting, Amber made her wat to the rooftop balcony. Closing the door and slumping down beside it she blew a gust of cold air from between her lips. Cradling her head in her hands, she dragged it across her face, and stood up . Admiring the view, she was so lost that she hadn't noticed that the time had passed for her to leave work.
Sighing, she went to the only to find it locked. "Okay Amber" she said "don't panic, don't panic. Phone, check your phone". As she was looking in her pockets, she came to a horrible realization, she had left her phone on her desk.
Sliding down in a corner while hugging her knees she had only one taught. "This is all your fault Liam.". Sighing once more she tried to go to sleep and after several attempts she started to dose off, her last thought was " You just had to say you wanted hot coffee!".