35

“Do you mean to ask if we make accomodative provisions for the staff?” He clarified my question.
“Yes.” I stood to my feet and crossed my hands across my chest. I certainly didn't want to stay here and if he said they didn’t, there was certainly no way I could fford having to pay rent for a new place at the moment.
“We don’t really include it in our services because I don’t know if you have noticed, we are a really small organisation.” I could read the sarcasm in his voice and just wanted to end the phone call but I stopped myself, knowing how rude it was considered.
“Ugh, that's okay. I was just asking for a friend.” I said.

“Oh tell your friend to submit an application first and then we can consider employing them.” He said. I wasn’t doing well with trying to avoid been an irritant before I even dstarted working with them.
“Thank you for your time.” I said and dropped the phone call. I needed a better way and the only other solution would have been to contct family members but they didn’t live in the same state as me.
My colleagues at work had been idiots to reckon with and most of them spent their time making fun of me and the tme that Chad used to mess with me physically.

I gave up on trying to find a new place to move to. This was my house and if Chad decided to be shameless and come all the way over here, then I was going to make tings just as bad for him.. I could easily decide not to open the door and he would sleep outside. The only thing I had benefitted from him was his good time sex in bed. This wasn’t the time to think about all of that.

*

Monday came faster than I expected and Chad didn’t even come to my place. Although I couldn't hide the fact that I was disappointed. There wasn't a dress code in the form I had gone through. I just slipped into my coolest black office pants and got out of my comfort zone with a simple pink shirt, neatly ironed and ready to go.
I got into a pair of leather flat soles and did my hair in a tilted bun unintentionally. My face was bare and I looked as pale as a ghost. I had not tanned in forever that I didn’t even remember what that felt like anymore.
There was a staff bus that came by every morning two bus stops away from my house but I wasn’t particularly interested in it for today because I wanted to take extra time to look good on my first day.

I did try and call Tom at least once during the week but I knew that he had blocked my phone number.

“Girl, you are damn satrong. These movies are just liars.” I commented to my reflection in the mirror.

“I think I'm supposed to have a mental breakdown by now, goodness knows I need help. Two dudes just left me completely single.” I scoffed and turned around to leave the house.
I was soon at the nearest stop, waiting for the regular bus to drop me off at their address. The advantage with working with Stamos and Papers was how closer it was to work than when I used to work with Chad.
There was another old woman sitting on the bench, waiting for the bus as well.
I knew it wasn’t her problem but I had spent the week all by myself, keeping things all to myself but I really wanted to get things over with, the soonest that I could.
“What would you do if a man just played with your feelings, acting like been in a relationship with you would be the end of the world?” I asked her.
“I’d throw the whole man way.” She responded, taking me aback. I didn’t think she would be willing to be involved in a conversation with me but she had gone ahead to contribute and her sharp, energetic voice was all the energy I needed at the moment.
“Wow, really?” I responded, scooting her over a little so I could take my seat on the bench as well.

“Why would you want to keep a man like that?” She inquired, talking like we had known each other in years. The wind kept throwing her short, grey hair in her face and I was truly tempted to ask her if she was going to a funeral with the all black outfit she was in.


“I don’t want him, don’t get me wrong.” I made it known to her in a sharp, almost too aggressive voice.

“If you didn't, you wouldn't be asking a random human for advice." She shrugged aand shook her head at me.

“I knew she was making sense but I was not wiling to admit it to her,.

“Do you have feelings for this man in question?” She asked me.
“What? No.” I answered so sharp, one would think I had been waiting for the question in a while. “I mean, I don’t know.” I said in a low voice. I waited for a little moment and shook my head at myself, “do I have feelings for Chad?”


CHAD

The office felt so dry without Nikki’s presence. I had spent the last days being indecisive with calling her whilst trying to eliminate Rebecca that was still trying her best to seep back into my life. I had blocked her off my social media and emails, my phone number and had warned the security men against her entry.
She was only making my emotional state worse than it already was. Nikki’s words and exit from my life, at least, that was what it felt like, was affecting me way more than I had expected and I had no idea what I was supposed to do.
My phone beeped on the desk and for a moment, I feared that it would be from Rebecca but when I saw that it was David, I felt even angrier than when I expected it to be from Rebecca. He felt like the root of my problems.
I smashed the end button and almost tossed my phone away in anger but I managed to stay calm.
I sighed and buried my face in my hands. I was going to just head home and put someone else in charge of work today, when my mom sudeny came to my mind.
Faster than lightning, I searched for her contact and called her phone.
She didn’t take too long before ansering, “Chad honey?” I understood the surprise in her voice immediately. I was not the type of child that called very often.
“Mom, I need your help emotionally.” I beagn. Memories from my childhood refreshed in my head after I remembered that I used to run to her whenever I felt frustrated.
“What’s wrong Chad dear?” She immediately sounded worried.
“It's Nikki, mom. I don’t know, long story short, we have an issue and she isn’t here no more. The thing is, I want to get her off my mind but I can't , what do I do?” I asked her impatiently.
“You know the answer to that, why are you asking me?” She chuckled at me.
“This isn’t funny at all. I'm being serious right now.” I frowned, a little peeved that she was laughing this off.
“If you love something or someone, you would do everything to get them back even if it hurts, Chad.”She said.
“But I don’t love Nikki…” I trailed off, recollecting the sleepless nights. Nobody had ever made me feel this way before, not even when I was in an official entanglement. “Oh my God,” I stood to my feet . “I love her, what was I thinking?”
“You said that, I didn’t." She did a small laugh and I didn’t waste time any further, hanging up quickly.

*

Nikki
When I got to the front of the building, I knew this was going to take a lot of getting used to. I shook my head and took a deep breath in.
I fiddled around for the printed slip I had done from my email , in my purse. Cornelius has asked me to show it to the security man when I had to go in.

"I'm sorry I'm late." I pulled the slip out, "I'm new here and…" I trailed off when I met the face of the security man. It was none other than Chad.

Nikki: please join the Facebook group "faingels", see you next chapter.