If looks could kill, we'd both be ashes by now.
He hated me even before he met me, as for me, I don't think I've ever despised someone so fast and so hard. It had only been a few hours since we first met, and it was hate at first word.
Now, he had his arms around my waist and I had my hands around his neck. Forced to stay this close together, our eyes pierced into each other's like laser rays, ready to kill.
How did I end up in this position - both literally and figuratively?
Well, that's a weird-ass story.
_
*A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO*
With the last check of the coffee shop I had been working in part-time, I bought a new professional-looking suit to make a good impression in the internship and it finally arrived yesterday.
"Abby, you look like a businesswoman already!" I said to myself as I looked in the mirror.
I wore my hair up in a ponytail, as usual, but thanks to the suit it looked much more formal.
It had been a while since I felt so happy.
After all my disgrace, everything I've been working towards started to fall into place.
Throughout my career and Master's in Business Management, I had one goal: get the priced internship at Rowley & Associates.
Why?
Well, after first hearing from them, while researching for a business class, I attended a lecture by his CEO, Mr Edward Rowley. I was mind-blown in every sense by his business instinct and approach. This man started his company in the 80s, at only 21 years old, after learning to code by himself - as a hobby - while he was studying business.
He saw a huge and growing business opportunity in coding. It was starting to boom!
In the blooming age of technology, he started by offering coding services to businesses; designing web pages, programs dedicated to each business etc. Soon enough, they were the go-to for big corporations, providing professional and efficient software even for the national mail service or government necessities. Now, with tons of different programming/designing services under their catalogue, they're the go-to if you want quality services.
Not only that, but Mr Rowley had kept up with the times amazingly, researching eco-friendly ways to improve his business and, as he started from the bottom, his employees are treated more than fairly and given plenty of benefits & flexibility in their conditions that keep everyone happy.
Having an internship in a place like that was no joke, there were only 2 spots a year for the top-tier internships in Business Management that I was interested in, and, as you can imagine, it was not given to anyone.
And even so, you were not warranted to get a job there afterwards.
But that was my plan and I was going to get it.
After a few years of working in the company, I'll have the experience and contacts to open my very own company, all that I've been working towards all these years.
Feeling blissful, I made myself a coffee while I did a little dance.
I started the internship two months ago and I was already moving ahead. My boss loved my ideas and everyone seemed to appreciate me and my capabilities. Just yesterday I was allowed to present one of my ideas to the heads of department of our building, and they loved it!
I guess it's true that bad luck doesn't last forever. Maybe mine was finally taking a vacation after tirelessly working against me.
But truly, I didn't leave this to fate: I worked my butt off to get here. Balancing many jobs, sleepless nights, borrowing clothes because I couldn't afford it…
I've struggled more by 25 than most will their whole life.
But I didn't want to think of my struggles today. I was happy and excited to get back to the office.
I grabbed my keys and hummed a tune as I walked down the stairs to pick up the mail. I had forgotten to do so yesterday night, I was too ecstatic to think right!
"You look chipper today, Abigail!" One of my neighbours said as he passed me by.
Mr. Brown was an old retired man; he was sweet and always asked me how I was doing. It looked like he had gone to get the paper, he was wearing a big robe over his pyjamas.
"I think lady luck is on my side these days." I answered with a smile.
"Huh, you got a new place already?" He asked frowning his brows.
"New place?"
"Yeah, I'm gonna start looking for it with my son's help. Might have to move in there with him for a while, didn't want'a bother him but he's insistin'"
"Why are you moving out, Mr Brown?" I asked, confused.
"You didn't read the mail yesterday?"
"I was in the office the whole day; I was going down to fetch it now."
"Damn it, you better get that letter, angel, 'cause I don't wanna be the one ruinin' your happiness" He said with a sad expression.
I nodded, my face turning worried despite my best efforts to stay neutral so I wouldn't make him feel bad.
We said our goodbyes and I rushed down the stairs, very confused about what Mr Brown just said. Quickly picking up the letter, I read:
'Dear Miss Abigail Walker…' My eyes skimmed through the letter as my heartbeat accelerated.
This was not possible.
"What the hell?!" I complained out loud.
I was too fast to talk about my luck changing: the building was getting evicted and we were all being thrown out.
I rushed back up, grabbed my phone and immediately called my landlord. It rang for a while till he picked up.
"What is happening with the building and why was I not informed sooner?"
"Damn it, slow down, is too early in the morning for this." His groggy voice answered on the other side of the phone.
"I don't care, I just read a letter telling me I have to clear this place in less than two weeks. Didn't you think of telling me this sooner?"
"What am I supposed to say? Real estate moves fast these days, I've only got three apartments in the building, think I was told much either? Thrown out some money at me and that's about it."
I buffed, annoyed at the arrogant tone of the man.
"Okay, if that's so then I guess you can give me my deposit back. I paid 10 months of rent in advance; I've only been here three."
"Hah!" The man laughed at the other side of the phone. "Guess you didn't read that fine print on the contract, right?"
I clenched my fists, of course, my stingy landlord wasn't going to give in that easily.
"Go on, enlighten me about that fine print."
"If the causes of you going are out of my control, I keep the money, unless it was me throwing you out, but I'm not. As I told you, I had very little to do say in this matter, not my fault..." He said casually as if he was not robbing me of my money.
"I'll sue you. I'm sure the law states that you had to warn me about this beforehand and have no right to keep my deposit if I'm being thrown out."
"With what money? Girl, if you're living in one of my apartments you definitely have no money to sue me, hah!" I hung up the phone before he could say more and clenched my teeth at his audacity.
But sadly, he was right, and that only made me tighten my fists harder.
I spent all my saved money in this apartment, thinking that by the time the 10 months were over I would have finished my internship and hopefully be hired. I was hoping to stay here, living modestly for a bit while I paid off some of the debt that had been pestering me for years.
What have I done to deserve this life? Why did I have to pay for my parent's sins?
I paced around the apartment, nervously.
"I can't believe I spent all the money that I worked so hard to save for this SHITTY APARTMENT!" I shouted at the walls, while I looked at the cracks and the humidity stains on them.
Then I sat down and rubbed my temples, trying to calm myself.
My coffee had cooled down and I thought it was better not to take it, I didn't need to get even more nervous. I breathed deeply and straightened myself, then washed my face to clean up the tears of frustration that had come out a few minutes ago.
So... It was time to put my mask on and go to work like nothing ever happened, even if with every step I took life threw a punch in my face.
I was used to it; my whole life had been a mess since my parents passed when I was 17. What could I do but lift my head up and work my butt off to get out of it?
And for that, I had no time to sit around a mop, I had to keep my head cool and search for solutions.
So, I walked out the door, mentally preparing myself for the day at work.
I learned soon enough that you can't expect people to save you, you have to help yourself first.