"Pryce Raze Coleman? Wow! What a cool name," I remarked, attempting to lighten the mood.
He shot me another one of those scary looks and then took a seat at his swiveling chair.
"Please pass your documents, Ms.," he said sternly.
Why was he so serious? Was he banned from smiling or something?
"Ms. Celo," I smiled and handed him my folder.
"I'm not asking," he replied curtly, snatching the files from my hand.
Tsk! A handsome snob!
"You're not qualified. Your attitude fails," he said calmly, but his authoritative presence filled the room.
How could he just do that? I bet only billionaires can get away with that. Sigh!
"Ha? OMO! Shitting hell! I was just fooling around, sir! I'm sorry!" I blurted out, filled with regret.
Damn that freaking clumsiness of my bad mouth.
Luckily, I didn't have bad breath. I just had a bad mouth. Oops! How could I drop a joke at this moment? Gush!
Only Lorence Catherine could do that.
"Too late, just come back for the next hiring," he replied firmly.
"What? Mr. Coleman, please! I'm begging you. Pretty please," I pleaded, putting my palms together and giving him my best puppy-dog eyes.
"Tsk!" he reacted, ignoring me once again as he focused on something on his telephone... hologram? What?
Is that the new invention in 2020?
Whoa! I really live in the province.
"I'm done here! Please escort her for our dismissal," he stated, seemingly talking to thin air. I didn't see him using ear pods, so maybe it's invisible? Oh my, that's cool.
The next thing I knew, I was being pulled out by the guards, unalarmed.
"Damn! What's this? Raze! What the hell! HELP! You're fucking crude. I hate yoooouuuuu~" I yelled, feeling a surge of frustration and wanting to cry.
I hate him so much! Was this how he sought revenge? I was really sorry. I didn't mean it that way, but it was my fault.
"Let me go! It hurts!" I yelled as I tried to break free.
I saw Raze following, his face stern, with both hands in his pockets.
He is cool though.
"Pryce Raze Coleman, help!" I shouted dramatically, but all I got in response was a smirk from him before the guards ushered me into the elevator and pressed the ground floor button.
This was turning out to be the worst day ever!
I slumped down onto the elevator floor, feeling weak and disturbed inside.
Then, I heard a voice speaking, "This message is for the girl sitting on the elevator floor. Are you a mop? Are you lost? Where's your mom, kid?" I looked around, trying to locate the source of the voice.
I knew it was Raze!
He was playing around, damn him!
I couldn't help but wonder what kind of man Pryce Raze Coleman truly was. Was he a good man hiding behind that stern face, or was he the bad boy I encountered during our first meeting, leaving a lasting impression?
He was a mystery that I felt compelled to solve. Of course, I was just kidding, but I couldn't shake off the sadness and regret that were threatening to consume me.
I felt triple the sadness I had when I left home. This was not a good start to my time in the city. Maybe I could forget this day, but how?
Damn! The situation weighed heavily on my conscience.
As I sat inside the cab, heading towards the agency's prepared dorm for us helpers, I fought back the tears threatening to spill. It seemed like the only thing I could do was to try and move forward, even if the pain lingered. It was all my fault.
I hate him! Is he the boss? Well, obviously, Lorence. You're starting to ruin your own life. Wow, Life? Never mind. I'm really an airhead sometimes.
He probably hated me too. I regret it, but it's too late. I lost that opportunity because of my freaking joke and provincial attitude. Sadly! That just made me hate myself even more. I really can't get over it.
Calculating Lorence's emotions...
Calculating complete!
100% sadness and regret. :(
I arrived at the dorm wearing my sad face and teary eyes.
"What's wrong with you, Cath?" Cynthia asked, sitting on the couch and playing on her phone. She spared me a little attention when she saw me arrive.
"I got rejected!" I answered sadly.
"Oh? You're a suitor of whom? Are you a man hiding under a wig? OMG!" Cynthia exclaimed. Damn! She had applied for a job too, just like me, and maybe she was just as much of an airhead as I was. That was terrible.
"I mean I got rejected for a job," I clarified before heading inside my selected room.
I called Stacey and cried in front of the camera.
"He's mean," I said, wiping away my tears.
"Come on, sissy, email him and say sorry. Or you can also search his name on social media and apologize," she suggested, laughing.
Couldn't she stop it?
"That won't work," I said, my voice breaking as I started to cry again.
I regretted everything I had done today. I really did.
"My dreams became pulverized because of my stupidity."
"Aish! Can't you please stop crying, sis? You've been crying ever since you called," Stacey suddenly changed her mood.
"What do you want me to do? I don't have a freaking good idea to start with," I responded between my sobs.
"Aha! Why don't you go back there when you're not busy and say sorry? I think that's much better for now," she suggested, laughing a bit at her own idea, as if she wasn't really sure about it.
"Maybe I wasted my opportunity; I can't really get over it."
"Me too, I can't help but imagine you on the highway. That's the funniest and craziest thing you've ever done!" Stacey laughed again.
That was irritating.
"Don't remind me again and again. That was very embarrassing. If I could wish, I'd wish for this day to end and wake up in my room, forgetting everything I did today," I complained, covering my face with both hands.
"Sissy! You can't turn back time, but if you really want to, then be the first person to create a time machine in this day and age," she commented, laughing again.
Her laughter was annoying, but I knew it was my fault.
"Stop laughing, that won't help," I said, making a sad face.
"Sorry!" she smiled widely and flashed a cute peace sign.
"Where's Mom?" I asked, trying to change the subject.
"She's cooking, and Dad's cleaning the car," she answered formally.
"What about Toby?" I asked again, letting out a sigh, trying to momentarily forget my problems.
"As usual, he's in the gaming room. Want to talk to him?" Stacey asked.
"Sure thing," I answered, finally succumbing to the urge to smile.
And there she went to the gaming room, chatting away nonsense. But honestly speaking, I loved it.
"Baby boy, sissy is sad. Can you make her feel better?" Stacey addressed him as he watched ChayChay TV on the computer.
"Huh? Why, what happened, big sis?" Toby asked curiously, glancing at the camera.
"The man I really hate. I missed you, baby," I couldn't help it, I actually smiled, feeling a glimmer of warmth spread through me.
"Don't be sad, sissy; I'll punch him when I grow up. I'll eat vegetables so that I'll grow fast and protect you two," Toby's answer warmed my heart.
I really loved Toby.
"Wow! You eat squash? That's good for the eyes, baby," I answered joyfully.
We talked a lot about food and some nonsense things.
Around 7pm, Cynthia and I ate our dinner, and now here I am. I can't sleep because the scene earlier is bothering me.
I gently twirl my hair and decide to go outside; it's already 12am.
I make myself a coffee and sit on the couch.
I open my booknet account and continue reading the new updated chapter of "The Bride of the billionaire"
"Lorence?" I heard a knock, and I rubbed my eyes before adjusting to the light from outside.
OMG! It's already 7; I need to hurry and fix myself.
I hadn't realized that I fell asleep after that coffee break.
It was Cynthia knocking at my door, ready for work.
After I got ready, the agency's service sent us to the employers' house. Sadly, Cynthia got hired by another employer.
I felt nervous. What if I couldn't meet the employer's expectations? What if my co-workers treated me badly there?
The idea was killing me again.
My hands trembled as I thought about it; I am really nervous.
"Lorence, you're here. The butler's waiting for you at the gate. Good luck with your 6-month contract. Give it your all, so if they like you, you can work there for as long as you and they want," the superior cheered me up.
"Thanks, madam," I said, waving goodbye to them.
"Good luck, Cynthia. Let's meet on our day off, okay?" I added in a postscript, sending her a flying kiss.
I saw her nod before the bus continued on, taking Cynthia to her work.
Wow, fantastic!
I could see tall trees from where I stood, and at the end of my sight, there was a small view of a roof.
Is that the house? What if there's a monster there? Oh no!
Suddenly, a fantastic gate opened, though I didn't see anyone who did it. Did the gate just greet me? Wow! It felt like we were family.
Maybe it could work through a remote; I also noticed CCTV cameras.
A woman in her 50s emerged and walked toward me with the grace of a former Miss Universe reliving her lovely life as a young woman.
"Good morning, madam," I bowed to show respect.
"Are you Lorence?" she asked, but I felt like she was scrutinizing me.
Was that natural? I felt weird.
"A-ah, Yes! I'm here, sent by Maxson's Agency!" I answered, managing to smile just to ease the tension. I just felt.
"Good, your superior never fails me. She chose you to be here, and I know you're that much better," she said, finally smiling herself.
That was a relief.
We rode in a golf cart since she said the mansion was a bit far, and my baggage was pretty heavy.
There were lamp posts along the way, casting a cool and possibly romantic glow at night.
The place was awesome, like the countryside.
There were tall trees, fresh air, and it seemed far from toxicity.
While on the way, she described the boss.
She said he's nice, gentlemanly, caring, kind-hearted, and possesses all the good qualities of a dream man.
"But I warn you, don't talk back to him. He's silent but deadly. He looks scary, but he's as good as he looks," I remembered her saying, thinking of Raze.
His intimidating appearance lingered in my head. Damn!
I needed to apologize to feel at ease.
We arrived at the second gate, and like earlier, it opened itself.
"Wow!"
"You like it?" she asked, smiling.
"Yes! This place is awesome."
Inside, there was a cool landscape, and the place was as huge as our entire Zone.
Damn! This place was big as hell!
I saw a man-made waterfall, and there were lots of beautiful plants and flowers.
Wow, it's amazing.
The butler commanded a guard to bring my luggage for me, and they did as she said.
I walked down with amazement written all over my face. This was really a mansion; I wanted to have one like this in the future. I felt excited once more.
"Come on, I'll show you your room first before introducing you to the others," she said, so I followed behind her.
Kyaah! This place is totally Facegram-worthy.
She showed me my room, and it was surprisingly spacious for a helper.
"T-this is my room?" I asked, needing assurance.
"Yes, the old workers had their own rooms, and you'll stay here since you're new. Enjoy your stay here, Lorence. By the way, I'm Sharn," she explained, seeming a bit surprised when I suddenly hugged her tight.
"Thanks, Mother Sharn."
"You're really different. He's waiting for you. I think," she whispered, patting my head.
I'm not a dog. Ruff! Ruff!
There were 30 maids here, including me, and 30 guards too.
Wow! The boss is really wealthy.
I could only afford one guard and a maid, and that's me.
"Let me give you a tour, Lorence," Mother Sharn offered.
And so, we started up the grand staircase.
I almost slipped when I saw a big and most attractive picture frame on the wall.
"What's wrong, Lorence?" Mother Sharn asked me, her tone full of concern.
"I-is that the boss?" I nervously asked.
"Yes," she smiled.
"He's Pryce Raze Coleman, the señorito."
After hearing his name, my world suddenly fell apart.
What's happening?