Senior Thompson flipped to the next page of his magazine. He sat by the window in the senior center waiting for his favorite volunteer. She has been working here for one month and he had already fallen in love with her. She was a woman of impeccable character and a self-less heart and that was why he was going to force his grandson into marriage during the annual family dinner next week.
Just as he read the headlines of the first page "Neil Thompson, billionaire, donates 250 million dollars to orphanages." The old man smiled. His son never failed to meet his expectations except when it came to his love life but once again he was sure he won't be disappointing him anymore. He was going to force this marriage and he was ready to do anything to achieve it.
He caught a glance of a white blonde head as she turned onto the path leading to the biggest senior center in the country. Her university had volunteers in his center every new session but never in his ten years of living here has he seen someone as dedicated to the center as she is. He dropped the magazine and picked up her favorite sweets. He always requests sweets from his family for her. He pushed his wheelchair to the door and waited.
Samara pushed open the luxurious mahogany double doors and entered the expensive room. Sir Charles was a former banker, at least that was what he told her, but she still couldn't fathom how a banker could afford to live here for ten years. She always wondered where his family lived and why they sent him to a senior center, but she decided to not ask questions. He would tell her when he was ready. She hated being pushed and pushing people.
"Good morning Charles how are we today?" She smiled happily seeing her favorite old man sitting in his wheelchair by the door and holding her favorite sweets. She wondered how he could afford the dessert. It was one of the most expensive sweets in California. She had a taste of it at Lauren's birthday party and 'mistakenly' emptied the dessert bowl. It was an honest mistake.
"Charles, I told you to stop getting these." She scolded him but silently rejoiced. She did not know his source of funds but she was convinced he was spending a lot.
"And I told you to stop telling me what to do." Charles retorted like a toddler.
Samara smiled. The old man was the most difficult person she ever had to encounter."Thank you, Charles."
" Anytime sweetheart."
"Okay let's talk about food. A little birdie told me you are skipping meals again" She scolded him as a mother would do to her child.
"What? Don't give me that eye you know how shitty the food is here"
"Well.....true but that is not enough reason for you to skip meals, Charles. Do I have to remind you what happened the last time you skipped meals?" Of course she didn't he nearly entered a coma because he was unable to take his drugs.
"That is still not going to make me eat that concortion they call soup." He said picking up the magazine again.
"Okay fine I would do it." She finally gave up. Charles rejoiced silently. Samara always smuggled food for him. The senior center didn't allow its residents to eat street food except their family is visiting which is every weekend but Samara found a way to bring her old resident food from MCdonalds. She stopped because she was uncomfortable with breaking the rules but the old man was smarter than her. God forbid she let him die because she couldn't break the rules. Her kind heart would not allow it.
"Just this once. Never again" He nodded like a little child. Every day he just finds new reasons to love his volunteer more.
.......
Samara left the hospital early today. She had work in an hour and she expected her paycheck today. She could not afford to miss work today.
"Good evening Julia." She greeted her colleague. Julia gave her a sad smile.
"Boss wants to see you." She smiled again. They both knew their boss was a pervert. He has tried countless times to get her into his bed and sometimes he went as far as grabbing her ass but her job paid quite well and she was sure her boss wasn't going to force himself on her. He was a pervert but not a rapist.
"Yes sir."
"Samara, darling" her boss smirked at her. His eyes roamed her body, undressing her. she consciously crossed her arms over her chest trying to their her fully clothed body from his eyes."Take a seat."
Choosing the couch far away from him she sat at the edge ready to run at any sign of danger." Samara, you missed 7 days of work."
"I got someone to cover up for me." she quickly replied.
"True but I can't afford to have my employees slacking now right?"
With a serious face, he looked at her." I have a family to feed samara. I can't afford to lose money especially from my only business."
"You are right. I am very sorry sir it won't happen again." She apologized.
"Well yeah, it won't because you won't be working for me anymore."
Samara couldn't believe her ears. This job allowed her to pay her dad's rent and his hospital bills and still allowed her to feed herself. It was the only one she could find with a huge pay and was willing to employ someone with no experience.
"Sir. Please you have to let me stay. Please." She pleaded. Finding another job was going to be next to difficult right now.
"I am sorry Miss Samara. Here is your paycheck." He left the bill on the table but she refused to take it. Her last paycheck here. Taking it would mean she had given up and God forbid she gives up now.
"Sir, please. I need this job."
"Well, I need the money Miss Winters. My family won't starve because I want to help an irresponsible student." He said firmly leaving no room for argument. Her boss was a friendly man but now she saw a serious business tycoon. His restaurant was making it big on the headlines he would not want anyone bringing it down.
Smiling, he sat in his office chair and leaned his forearms on the table.
"But there is one position open." She knew what it was, of course, she knew that smile and with the little dignity, she had she snatched the bill from his table and stormed out of his office. Ignoring the sympathetic glances of her ex-colleagues she walked out of the building. As soon as she left the building, she slid down by the sidewalk. Muffling her cries with her hands, she felt her already bad situation exacerbate.
"Just what was she going to do now"
....