On her way, returning back to home, Adrianna was depressed from the events happening in her life. She wondered what went wrong? Everything was going good till the day she went camping with her boyfriend. Everything turned upside down for her. It's been five years since she saw her family but what bothered her most was that her family didn't try to find her either.
She sighed and took a turn to the building and noticed the police cars in the parking lot. Something stirred in her mind and she ran to get inside.
"We haven't found anyone yet, yes… the woman is short, almost five foot four inches and brunette with Hazel eyes." The policeman was explaining the features of a person over a phone call.
"What happened here?" Adrianna asked someone from the crowd.
"A girl went missing." She replied.
"Oh.." Adrianna was shocked.
Suddenly, she spotted her kids with Cathy and she ran to them.
"Layla and Asher…" Adrianna called them.
"Mommy is back…" the kids ran to their mothers, so did Cathy.
"Adrianna… where did you go? Why did you leave your phone at home? I was worried…" Cathy yelled at her.
"So, is this Miss Adrianna who went missing? Mam, where were you? What happened, is everything alright?" The policemen asked.
"I am Adrianna Cosgrove but why are you asking this?" Adrianna was clueless.
"Mam, you left your place unlocked and didn't inform me. May I know what happened? Miss Cathy reported to us that you went missing, is that true? Did someone abduct you?" The policemen asked further questions.
She got a brief Idea what happened behind her back, so Adrianna made up a story, "i wasn't missing, i lost my wallet on my way back. I realised only when I reached home and then I went back looking for it."
The policemen glared at Cathy, then back to Adrianna, "did you find your wallet?"
"No… I guess I lost it." Said Adrianna.
"Mam, you wasted our time. We don't take a missing application unless the person went missing for more than twenty four hours. Next time if something like this happens, I will put you behind the bars for violating the rules." The policemen scolded Cathy.
"I am sorry officer, but I was worried." Cathy replied but received warning from him.
Later, they went back to Adrianna's apartment and she cooked dinner for everyone.
"I am sorry, Adrianna… I caused you trouble." Cathy apologised to Adrianna because of the misunderstanding created.
"Cathy, you don't have to apologise… it's okay, you were worried and I should have informed you too."
Adrianna appeared chill in front of her but inside, she was scared as hell. Her thoughts keep running back in time to where she met this man who abducted her and exploited her emotionally. Alone, she couldn't even fight back but after realising that he was no ordinary man, she took her steps back. Her life was worth more than that, her babies depended on her and if she died or was killed by such creatures, her kids would land in orphanages for their lives.
After the dinner, Adrianna cleaned up and played games with her kids before putting them in the bed.
Cathy appeared and noticed bruises on Adrianna's neck.
"What's that mark? Someone hit you?" She was sure that it was a result of an assault.
"Are you crazy? Who will hit me without any reason? This is just some sort of inflammation to something, rest I don't
know." Adrianna concealed the bruises by keeping her hair untied and in front of her chest.
Cathy noticed her unusual behaviour but stayed silent since this wasn't the right time to ask anything.
"Alright then, goodnight." Cathy waved at her and left the apartment.
Adrianna locked the door behind and exhaled deeply before crying a river through her eyes. She was emotionally depressed. Her struggles might have made her strong but she was available emotionally to the world. It was better to cry on a shoulder but she had no one whom she could share her inner thoughts with.
The next day, she followed her routine and sent her kids to the school. The principal of the school asked Adrianna to submit the fees.
"Miss Adrianna, we know that you are a single mother and doing your best to raise your children, however, this school has its rules. You haven't paid the last three month's fees yet. It's not that personal but on behalf of other students, kindly pay the tuition fee on Monday or we have to send your kids back." Said the principal.
Adrianna gasped and her eyes widened.
"Mam, i haven't found any stable job yet." She was embarrassed.
"Just like I told you now, it's not personal but please, try to understand our situation too. We also have to pay the tutor and provide other facilities. It's not that easy."
Adrianna nodded her head and went to the finance department and paid the fees with the money she had.
"Two month's fees have been cleared, you are still left with one month's fees…" the cashier pointed out.
"I will pay that on Monday." She replied and left to work.
With no money in the pocket, Adrianna did not only feel poor but helpless. She had to earn a lot to keep supporting her children and these part time jobs won't be paying that much.
She went inside the cafe through the back door and wrapped her apron.
Kelly and Josh, her co-workers met and greeted Adrianna, "good morning Adrianna, you are late."
"I know."
"Mr Spencer is here today and he is in a bad mood." Kelly informed her.
"Oh… alright…"
Adrianna went to clean the dishes where there were piles of the plates and cups standing in the sink. It took her an hour to clean the dishes.
The cafe opened early today due to a special meeting by some investors. Mr Spencer, the manager, made them clean every bit of the place to make everything presentable. He approached Adrianna and asked her to see him in the office.
"Why are you late? Don't you want to continue this job? Is this funny to you?" Spencer yelled at her.
"No, sir!! It won't be repeated again." Adrianna assured the manager and went to work.
When the investors arrived, they took the corner seat and Adrianna went to note their order.
"Good morning gentlemen, this is our menu. Kindly check it and let me know what you want to order." She smiled widely.
"Sure, we will call you." Replied the assistant of the investor.
After the order was taken, Adrianna gave the slip to the kitchen staff and started to clean up the rest tables. The investors seemed to pass comments at her.
"She cleaned so well, you could make her clean your trunk…"
"I better be cleaning her openings than let her clean my trunk…"
They were whispering but Adrianna heard them well. She tried to focus on the job but their comments were getting mean and rude.
She went to the table and offered water to them, when suddenly, one of them grabbed her arm and started asking rude questions to her.
"Why do you work here? A beauty like you deserves to be worshipped, not be grind in dirt. Come with me, I will offer you better money with a nice job."
"Thank you but No, I am happy here." Adrianna snatched her arm back.
"Please, come and sit on my lap, you will feel more happy." They burst into laughter.
Adrianna felt humiliated and she pushed the man back, "mister, you cannot harass anyone because of their gender… mind if you keep your hands to yourself. We workers deserve respect…" she snapped at them.
"How dare you talk to us like that?"
"I didn't insult you but I warned you about the rules of law and court."
"Oh, wait, I will show you what rule I make. Spencer…" he called the manager.
"Yes, Mister Stewart…" The manager came along.
"You have such staff that can't respect their customers and you want us to invest in your cafe?"
"What happened sir?" Manager was clueless.
"Your staff member harassed us and explained the court of law… What kind of a welcome is this?" Said the man.
Spencer's eyes widened and narrowed at Adrianna.
"That's not true, he molested me…" Adrianna tried to clarify her side of the truth but Spencer didn't hear a word.
"Sir, I will arrange another water for you. And you, into my office now "
Adrianna followed Spencer to the office.
"Take your belongings and out…. You are fired…" he yelled loudly at her.
"You can't fire me…" Adrianna was depressed.
"I fired you and in order to compensate my customers, no bonus will be given to you." Spencer pushed Adrianna out of the Cafe.
This broke her heart and she went inside the cafe. She picked the frappe cup and poured over the molester and Spencer. Later, she slapped the investor for molesting her.
"What a bitch?" The man squeaked and raised his hand to hit Adrianna but before his hand could touch her, he was thrown away by a man in a suit.
Adrianna 's eyes popped when she saw his face.