CHAPTER EIGHT
TARELLA'S POV
I blinked back furious tears as I walked out of the room. Didn't Dera know how hard it was on me? She kept using my one and only mistake against me.
She had no idea how much I had suffered from that one mistake. How could I have done that to my childhood friend? These thoughts waged through my mind, helping the tears to pour in torrents.
I righted my posture and my face as I saw Roxanne coming out from the cleaners unit, just across the entrance hall. She looked sad and weary. My heart broke for her, she wasn't even up to a day old in the job.
Wiping out bitter tears from my face, I called out to her
"Roxanne!!"
Startled, she turned sharply to the direction of the call. On realization, she gave me her gentle seductive smile that sent jealous pangs to my system.
How could one be so simply dressed yet sophisticatedly beautiful? She took a long stroll through the empty room before getting to my side.
"Tarella, it's nice..." She began then paused
"Are you okay?" She asked, noticing some tear streaks on my cheeks.
"I'm fine.. I just.. Can you accompany me to my office? I'm afraid I'll need some company," I asked cautiously, readying myself for a negative response.
She smiled, "I'll need some company myself too"
"Thanks. Why don't we head on now" I said paving way for her to follow
ROXANNE'S POV
I looked at the tiny smart office we were in. It looked every bit feminine.
Tarella walked to her executive chair graciously, flipping her red hair to a safer side on her neck.
On the other hand, I made myself comfortable at the other vacant chair in the room
"Sorry you had to go through all those humiliations," she said apologetically, blinking her lashes delicately
I smiled wryly, not sure of a response to give. Dera had used the same method to get to me, she had camouflaged her evil intentions with an apology. Could Tarella really be trusted? Wasn't she like other workers?
She went on anyways, not the least deterred by the silence
"Trust me, Dera could be a bitch. She could be black and grey at the same time," she said pausing to read my facial expression. But she was to be disappointed. After the public embarrassment in the entrance room, I had vowed not to publicly display my emotions on a showglass for foes or friends to prey on.
"Well, what can I say?" I finally voiced, trying not to make the conversation awkward by my silence.
She continued undeterred
"Her goal is to bring people down, hurt them and crush them into pieces"
"Tarella, how long have you worked here?" I cut through, setting a new discussion trail for her to follow.
"Four years. Why?"
"It seemed you survived Dera's wrath and cunny ways just fine" I said calmly. The calmness held many hidden emotions.
With that Tarella gave out a soft laugh.
"What do you think?" She replied.
"I think you've coped quite excellently. If you could do it, then I can," I said just as I caught a look of slight pain in her eyes
She sighed deeply before giving a reply "I had to make sacrifices"
What sacrifices? I wanted to ask, but my cautious mind stopped me from making such pressing invasion
Not knowing what else to say, I coughed delicately willing my brain to make out a perfect conversation topic.
While still trying to process the best topic for discussion, I gave out a yawn and took a look at the ever chiming clock.
Tarella caught the look and new instantly that I was inkling to go home for the next question she asked was a proof of her ever noticing eyes
"What time does your shift end?" She asked, giving me a sweet and slightly devious look.
Why was the devious look there?
"It ends by 1:00pm," I answered shifting the suspicious thought to the back of my head. They sure will be dealt with later over dinner.
"Okay. Guess you should be right on your way home. Have a nice day Rox. It was nice chatting with you. Please do well to come over sometime in the future"
I gave out an awkward smile, not sure of the exact chat that was being described as nice.
UNKNOWN'S POV
I watched as she walked through the street, giving out warming smiles to the people who went by.
She was oblivious to the fact that she had less than thirty minute to keep her dazzling beauty. For those eyes that rested longingly on her seductive innocent smile will soon rest pitifully on her.
She kept on modelling her steps, moving straight to the alleyway. The only dangerous place where silent crimes were committed. Then she stopped.
What was the reason? Did she sense my presence? Of course not. She had to have a magnifying glass on to see such distant breathing object. She stopped to pick something at Donald's boutique. She could afford to do so, considering her poor status.
My hatred for her burnt like wildfire, consuming both my inside and my outside. For I was sure that the burning sensation on my face, was not from the afternoon sun but from the mere sight of her.
She exited few seconds later, moved a little and then turned, making me stop on my track. She started walking back, stirring frantic thoughts in my already disorganized brain.
I froze, not wanting to believe that I could be recognizable in my disguise. But she kept on pressuring forward, making a direct stare at me.
My heart pounded thunderously, and my feet became too weak to move. Did she already find out about me?
She branched back to the supermarket, giving me a chance to heave a sigh of satisfied relief.
Few moments later, she stepped out and continued her suicidal walk to the alley. I let out a broad knowing smile for she had graciously walked into my planned trap.
I held the acid in my hand strongly, not ready to let go of it as my spirit lit up with adventurous excitement.
She took the first step into the alley, letting the devil in me loose. My legs began their long strides to the execution ground, ready to change beauty into a deformity.
My eyes were ready to see the sight of burning flesh, and my nose was inkling to smell it.
In less than two minutes, I was already alone with her in the alley. I took long careful strides to where she was, taking advantage of the fact that she had stopped midway to search for something in her bag.
Making my way quietly without being noticed was a branch of study that I had great expertise on.
For better execution of plan, I let myself stay five feet away from her before I let the acid fling it's way to where she was.