"Why are you running so damn fast?!." A baritone voice shrilled from a good distance, causing the blonde woman to look over her shoulder. Giving no damn about navigation for that split second.
"I've got a job interview to get to, and am about to miss the morning subway!." Hollered the woman, who had her heels in her hands, her dilapidated white running shoes begging for mercy.
The man in hot pursuit wasted no second in catching up to her, in actuality, he overtook her, but slowed down his speed. Just so they could both be on the same footing.
"What's with you and all these quick moves? You training for the Olympics or what?." She asked, her fatigued face showcasing just how unathletic she was.
"You're being childish, running like this, you're in a pencil skirt Kay! Don't be a dumbass!." Addie deadpanned, stepping in front of Karla, halting her movement.
"Fine, I'll just arrive sweaty and exhausted, wouldn't want my future employer looking down on me so early." Karla announced, catching her breath.
"Here, take a taxi for fucks sake, you'll get there on time." Addie said, pressing the money into her palm. Swinging a generous smile at her.
{It's already been six months since it happened, and Karla really needs this job, as badly as possible.} Addie thought, reminiscing the past events that played out over the previous months.
"I swear to pay you back, just...damn! Wish me good luck on this interview!." Karla said while handing her worn out running shoes to her friend to hold on to.
"You'll get the job, and even if you don't, I'll still treat you out to some wings and beer." Addie added, staring at her enchanting green eyes.
"Get lost already!."
Addie's words were accompanied by a casual shove, almost tripping his companion. Surprisingly, Karla's fall was broken by Addie himself, arousing interest in Karla.
"Sorry." Was his reply, Karla stared at him wide-eyed, before taking off to flag a cab and arrive on time for her interview. The very last thing she wanted was to get shut down before getting a chance at the actual interview.
Fate was on Karla's side, she was able to catch a cab, and had just the exact money on her to also pay the fee.
Although it was overpriced.
{Everything seems so pricy nowadays, just how bad is our economy?.} Were her thoughts, as the illuminating scenery of the city welcomed her into a new frenzy.
She had hope this morning, for the first time after six straineous months, six agonizing months, a glimmer of hope flashed before her eyes.
**********
GREY SILVERWARE.
By far the most successful industry in the entire continent, with a Net Worth of ninety nine billion libertà dollars. This silverware company alone exports to fifty individual countries as at this current year, as their sole exporter.
Their success rate is undoubtedly high, they import only the highest quality of silver, and their engineers have developed various forms of technology to process it.
Karla only managed to hear about the employment opportunity from Milo who heard from a friend of a friend who happened to overhear one of the staff talk about it.
And Milo cashed in a lot of favours and had Karla's name included in the list of people to be hired in website designing and IT management.
And in exchange, Karla had to go on a little date with Milo, who wouldn't care to hide his sexual attraction towards her for a moment.
"Well, get a grip and just be yourself." She gracefully crooned, pushing an invisible strand of hair behind her ear.
"Yeah, that sounds about down right natural." Karla echoed to herself as she strutted past the sea of functional people walking in and out of the main building.
*******
"Green!. It's my favourite colour, so it's pretty badass that you've got green contacts." Yuri pointed out, holding a box load of files that needed to be sorted out. "Carefully" dropping them on an open office desk in front of Karla.
{There's nothing more pitiful than a guy with a woman's name claiming it's unisex.} Karla thought with a poker face.
On her arrival, she was asked who recommended her for the IT management position, and Karla had no solid answer to give. She was immediately asked to leave, but an unexpected savior intervened.
His name was Yuri, and he seemed to be the living definition of a potential dumbass. And Karla landing a job was just poor coincidence and luck.
"To be honest with you, I have a knack for having females work under me, it gives me a sense of fulfilment. Well, not all Addison is an exception. That one isn't right in the head, and that's why I hired you. You're my good luck charm Karla." Yuri stated, grabbing a nail filer from a drawer.
"Have that sent to accounts!. It cannot arrive later than ten o'clock." Yuri said, shoving some folders into Karla's hands, startling the woman. Her hands gave way and everything fell out of her grip, the wind from the windows pushed the papers around the busy office.
Yuri stopped dead in his tracks, he buried his face in his hands, shaking his head from side to side pitifully.
"Maybe calling you a good luck charm was too much of a stretch." He plainly let out, taking forced steps towards Karla, who sat on her knees scatter brained.
"Pick that up and have it sent to accounts, and sort out the files I left on your desk moments ago. Our department is in charge of management, so we're always on the clock!." Yuri yelled snapping his fingers in the air, as he walked through the other employees who went about their jobs meticulously.
The intoxicating scent of coffee lingered on in the air, mixed with the redolent scent of sandalwood and peppermint.
"Here." A soft voice said, handing the rest of the paper to Karla, who was having zero stress in gathering the scattered files.
"Thanks for the help." Karla courteously announced, taking the paper, and lining them all on a free desk, trying to sort them all out.
"Need some help?." The same woman asked, her feet glued to the floor, her penetrating gaze was enough to bore a hole through Karla's head.
**********
Five empty bottles of beer stood firmly on the table, accompanied by devoured Chicken wings and sauce.
"So, why did you fire Addison?." Karla asked, taking a gulp from the bottle of beer in her hand. She wasn't wasted like both her companions, her high level of tolerance seemed to pay off.
Jen, the woman who had helped her earlier on took a liking to Karla, and asked to treat her out to celebrate. They happened to run into Yuri at their destination, and decided to join him.
Yuri was adamant that his date was delayed, but after an hour he knew he was caught out. After all, who in the hell aside Milo took a girl out to beer on their first date?.
"I don't know, just didn't like her! She was an annoying piece of shit." Yuri answered, nibbling on a chicken wing. Sauce splattered all over his face.
Jen worked under Yuri as well, she was the assistant manager of their department. So Karla knew that she was dining with people above her.
"And you? What demon possessed you into coming for a job without a recommendation? Needed the money that bad?." Yuri asked, intoxicated.
"He's just drunk, he won't recall what he said in the morning." Jen chipped in, speaking for her boss.
"It's fine." Karla said, dropping the beer back on the table. It was bitter, but very expensive.
"Six months ago, I was forced out of my line of work. And the month after, I fell into serious debt, I couldn't afford to pay my tax." Karla let out, reminiscing the bitter truth.
"Personal taxes have been lowered right? They're affordable." Jen said in disbelief.
"Maybe...but not lifetime collection taxes." Karla said and broke into a sadistic grin.
The two exchanged glances mixed with pity and shock. Karla had anticipated their reaction, and she couldn't blame them for it.
After all, no one living in her condition still payed that ridiculous amount, people preferred the second alternative.
"How many were you paying for?." Yuri asked, sounding sobered up. The topic of discussion was a very serious one, his level of respect for Karla shot up.
"Three. My mother and the twins." Karla informed them, the image of the trip flashed before her eyes.
Their faces so distinct in her memory, the three people she had been paying the lifetime tax for. Simply because of one factor only.
The fact that they were disabled, that was the reason behind the tax, a monthly due paid to the government on behalf of disabled people who cannot contribute to the economy.
It was either that, or they get sent to the FACILITY.
And Karla had resolved not to let that ever happened, untill six months ago when she lost her job because of an unexplainable incident.
Resulting in her family being sent away to the hellhole of a government owned correction facility.