Chapter Two
Job hunt
"Just hold it right there. You don't need to fire me 'cause I'm going to resign. I'm tired of all your scoldings and intimidations. I've had enough difficulties and you are adding more?"
"Are you talking to me Miss Miller?"
"Of course, I'm talking to you, Hudson." I said proudly and everyone gasped, even Melissa.
"Your point is moot because everyone here, knows I'm a very hardworking person. If you want me out of the company just say it, instead of criticising me.
And you want to fire me because of my unannounced absence? Are you sure it's not because I didn't give in to your selfish desires?"
"Madison shut your mouth!" He cautioned.
"I will, but not until I finish talking. Once again I'll be resigning so you don't have to fire me." I picked up my handbag. "I'll forward my resignation letter to you. Goodbye!" I spat out before walking out.
Author's POV
Everyone felt Madison's pain and as soon as she walked out, they all settled down for that day's work, ignoring Mr Hudson who was busy blabbing about what God Knows.
Melissa watched her best friend pitifully but she couldn't do anything. She wanted to go after her but was stopped by Mr Hudson.
"Move an inch and you'll lose your job also." He said in that wicked tone.
She had no choice but to go back. She would see her at home anyways.
As soon as Madison got out, she waited for a cab. While waiting, a red car came along and she recognized it as Asher's.
She looked away and he parked right in front of her. He stepped down of the car.
"Madison can we talk?" He asked.
"There is nothing to talk about." She replied nonchalantly.
"There is..Maddie. There are a lot of things to talk about. Our wedding..our--" He began to say but she cut him off.
"What wedding? Oh..you haven't been told? The wedding is not holding, it's been called off."
"By who?"
"By me. I can't live with a monster like you and pretend everything is okay when nothing is." Maddie said.
"Maddie you can't do this, we've been planning for this long ago...you can't just call it off." Asher said.
Just then Madison's cab came along. "Mr Asher, if you insist on having a wedding, you can replace me with that whore called Stacy. But as for me, just forget about it." Maddie said and walked away.
"Maddie, wait." Asher tried to stop her but she already entered the taxi.
Madison broke into tears again. It look her a lot of courage to speak up like that. She almost broke down in front of him.
She stopped at a joint to drink for a while. When it was evening, she began her journey home but branched at a mall to shop for groceries and toiletries needed at home. She also bought her mum's drugs and two wristlets. One for her and one for Myles.
The money left wasn't enough to board a cab so she decided to walk home. And get fresh air at least.
"I'm home!" Maddie announced as she entered the house. She dropped everything she shopped on the table and Myles came to pack them in.
"Welcome sweetie, how was your day?" Her mum asked as soon as she crashed into the couch.
Maddie sighed. "My day was unfavorable." She replied.
"Tell me more." Her mum said. Myles walked back into the living room. "I talked back at my boss today."
"Let me guess, you got fired." Myles said.
"No! I wasn't fired. I resigned." Maddie said, not wanting to look into her mum's eyes.
"Madison you did what? Why will you do that?" Her mum queried.
"Because I'm sick and tired of criticism. I had a bad week already and he kept adding more to my problems. He was going to fire me but I told him not to, so I resigned. Don't worry, I'll find another job."
"Easier said than done." Myles rolled his eyes.
"Is it that boss that tried to talk you into sleeping with him?" Fiona(Maddie's mum) asked and Maddie nodded.
"You should have given him a beating of his life." She said. "I agree." Myles added.
"What? You guys are unbelievable right now." Maddie said and laughed.
"But this is not right. You should've begged him at least. No boss would take it easy with a subordinate who skips work without notice." Fiona said, in a more serious tone.
"I got pride mum!" Maddie said. "Yeah... pride goes before fall. And what is these?" Myles asked, jingling the wristlets Maddie bought earlier.
"That...I got it from the mall. It's a sibling bond wristlet, for you and me." Maddie smiled.
"That's a waste of money. When will you learn how to spend?" Myles nagged.
"Tsk Tsk, look at you nagging me." Maddie eyed him. "Take it or leave it, give me mine."
"You two should come eat." Fiona said.
***
"Mum!" Maddie suddenly called, startling Fiona. "I finally found something to do..." She announced happily.
"Really? What's that?" Fiona asked ,eagerly. "Well, I'm planning to start up a business."
Fiona was fazed. "Business? What business?"
"Catering business? Mum..you know I'm great at cooking." Maddie said with great pride.
"Catering? Why Catering? And besides, how will you get capital for this so called business?"
"Hmmm..I was thinking of loaning from the bank." Maddie said, still pondering about it. "Loan? You can't take a loan. You know how banks can be."
"Mum..don't worry,it will be fine. I'm getting a loan and I'm starting a business right away..who-oo!" Maddie jumped around happily.
"Do you even have a a plan?" Fiona asked, cutting her happy mood. "Not yet..actually."
*
"I'm sorry ma'am but you can't get a loan." The France-looking bank attender said politely.
"What?" Maddie exclaimed. She wasn't expecting that.
"Yes, it is general. Our bank doesn't give out loans presently, you can come back later." The attendant said and faced her computer.
It was like life finished for Madison. This was her refuge. How will she get money for her business? Ugh...damn this bank. She should have listened to Melissa when she said to bank differently.
There was no dime in her account and she had no job. She has responsibilities. Isn't that the end of life?
She drawled her feet as she trekked to the open market at the centre of the town. It was an arduous walk to the market. Fiona had sent her to get some things from there and she had to go.
After getting everything she was sent, she made her way out of the market. As she was about stepping out the market territory, her eyes caught the backside of someone and she beamed up.
"Granny!" She called as she rushed to an aged woman who was carrying loads.
The woman stopped her looked back at who was calling her. She heard 'granny' faintly but she seemed to recognize the voice. Setting eyes on Maddie, she smiled.
"Hey Child, you're here also."
"Yes...mum sent me here." Maddie replied. "Those are too heavy, let me help you." Maddie said and she gently snatched the loaded polythene bags from her.
"You don't need to." The old woman tried to protest but Maddie didn't give in to her. She finally let go. They started walking out of the market while chatting.
"Why are you here by the way? Aren't you supposed to be at work?" The old woman asked.
Maddie let out a stifled laugh. "I resigned."
"What? Why would you do that?"
"Hmmm...well, they don't treat me well there." Maddie replied simply.
"Really? Ahhh...you made a nice choice. So, what are you doing presently?" The old woman asked and Maddie went stiff. She didn't know what to say.
She only smiled, hoping the woman won't ask again.
"You haven't answered me." The woman said and Maddie knew that was doom for her. Ugh! She should have just pretended she didn't see her earlier and leave, now she has to tell her what she does not like to share.
"Uhmmm..Granny, that's--"
"You don't have a job right?" The woman asked and Maddie, knowing she was caught already nodded gently.
"Madison cuts to the chase but seeing that you were beating around the bush, I could tell you have no job."
"I'm still searching for one." Maddie said, putting on an innocent face.
The old woman made her(Maddie) face her. She held Maddie's shoulders with her soft, slightly wrinkled and weak hands.
"You acted rashly." The woman said. "Huh?"
"Yes. Next time, before you do anything, make sure there is a backup plan, okay?"
Maddie nodded and smiled. "Thanks granny."
They got to a place where a black car was parked and some men in black suit came to collect the loads Maddie held- The old woman's goods.
"Wait a minute." The old woman said to the guards and they stepped back.
She turned to Maddie. "I have a job offer for you." She said. Maddie's eyes widened. "Really? I'm willing..I'll do it."
"It's the job of a domestic worker." The woman said calmly and Maddie's smile disappeared. "A domestic worker? As in...a maid?" She asked to confirm and she nodded. "Hm, a maid. You'll work from Mondays to Fridays and then return home. You get a huge pay too." The old woman explained but Maddie was still not convinced.
She was expecting the Job of a marketer, an assistant or any white-collar job! But a maid?
"I'll let you think about it, I'll be leaving now." The woman said before entering the car.
Madison pondered on everything as she walked home. Maid? five thousand dollars? Her ex company didn't even pay her up to a thousand dollar but being a maid will earn her five thousand dollars? Just a maid? That was huge.
She wasn't sure of what to decided on, a maid or wait for a white collar job? What should be her decision?
...
"Mum, I'm sorry huh?" Asher said.
"Sorry? Will sorry cut these all off? Mrs Miller called me and called off the wedding and you tell me you are sorry? Why are you sorry? What did you do this time?" Mrs Rivera half-yelled.
"Don't..tell me you cheated on her." She said, waiting for a reply and probably 'No, I didn't.'
Seeing his he didn't reply, she got angered the more. "I guess you really did." She said calmly.
"It was nothing much mum, I only dated her friend. Why are you all making a big deal out of it, it's not like we are married yet so I can do anything I wish." Asher shouted and a slap landed on his face. His face turned red immediately.
His mother slapped him. "You did what? You cheated on her with her friend?!!!!!" She yelled loudly.
"You are so mischievous...just like your father. The wedding preparations has stopped this minute, you fool!" Mrs Rivera swore as she made her way out of the house.
Asher grew numb. He couldn't say any word again. His mum had never compared him to his runaway father, who didn't he even grow on. And now that she did, he must really be mischievous.
***
"Mum..." Maddie drawled pleadingly as she followed Fiona around. "It's never going to happen, just forget it." Her mum said adamantly.
"But mum, the pay is really huge. I'll get enough to take care of you and Myles. He has to go to school and you need to have a surgery, I want to get rid of your illness once and for all."
"Whatever! I didn't send you to school to become a maid. You are graduate Madison!" Her mum said. "I know but--"
"And I'm not complaining." Fiona cut her off. "I'm not complaining about my illness, I'll be fine on my own."
"Mum, you know that's not possible. You have a heart disease and...if anything happens to you, I won't be able to bear it. So just let me go. Okay, three months.. just three months and I'll stop." Maddie said and Fiona stared at her for a while.
She looked like she was going go change her mind and approve. "My answer is NO!" She shunned and walked into the living room.
Maddie didn't relent. "Mum, why are you being so unyielding? It's not like I'm going to use your body to work, it's my body! B-O-D-Y, my body!" She emphasized.
Fiona turned to her again. "I know...but.." She took Maddie's hands into her own and stared at them. "I don't want you to work too hard and get freckles, so that you'll get married in a beautiful shape. Do you want all men to turn away from you?"
Maddie removed her hands and looked away seriously. "I'm not getting married."
"What?" Fiona exclaimed. "What do you mean? Is it because of that jerk that--" Fiona was interrupted by the knock on the door.
Opening the door, Maddie saw someone she didn't expect to see, Mrs Rivera,standing right there.