episode 21

Episode 21.

When the cab driver dropped me off,my cellphone was blaring. Katie. I hurried up to the room,using the stairs. The moment I walked in,Katie was sitting at the end of the couch,Luca seated at the bar stool.

"Ashley!" Katie exclaims before running over to me "what happened? Are you okay?!"

"Yes....."

"I was gonna match over to your office till you said you were on your way"

I did? I frowned. Mr Marcello must've replied my messages. What was his stupid deal?!

"Really sorry,Kay. I was caught up with work and I slept off"

"Really? What's the deal with this boss of yours?! He put you to it,didn't he?"

"Technically, yes"

"We were worried," Luca said,walking forward "Katie's dad had to leave when you didn't come"

"He was here?!"

Katie's face drops before she said "yeah,I texted you that"

"Hmm,I think my boss has been on my phone"

"You wouldn't lock your phone,Ash" Luca said tiredly.

"How can he do that?!" Katie screamed.

"That's alright, Kay. I'm so tired,I need to sleep"

"I already put the chicken in the microwave for you" Katie told me as I walked past her.

"Thanks but I don't really think my stomach can hold anything now"

I strode into my room,exhausted. My head spun and I felt dizzy. I felt cold,like I was about to get the flu. I managed to reach down and pull off my shoes before lying down on my bed,sleep taking over me.

When I woke up the following morning, my head felt heavy. I slowly walked into my bathroom and pasted my toothbrush. Standing at the mirror, I could see the very much visible dark shades under my eyebags,like someone who hadn't slept for nights. I looked tired,I felt like I'd aged overnight. My skin was paling out,my neck looking thinner than I remember.

I always knew working wasn't so easy but I hadn't expected something this hard either. I've seen all the impacts of working with Mr Marcello all on my body. I looked like I just lost a pound. I worked endlessly everyday and barely have any rest,Mr Marcello made sure of that.

I could picture him standing in the office hallway, looking at me as I slept. I can't believe he'd come back last night to check on me. Arrogant jerk. Acting like he cared for somebody's life. All he cares about is himself and his stupid companies! I can't believe he wanted to drive me home! Like I'd ever agree to go into a car with him. It's bad enough that I have to endure several minutes inside his car just to attend meetings and lunch breaks. That's far more than enough.

It took every fibre in me to not quit right that moment but I was getting paid today,why throw that away? Why throw all my efforts away? And if he thinks I'm gonna leave empty handed,then he's in for a big surprise

I searched for some aspirin in my draw table and took a few tablets to calm my headache.

I took a quick shower before getting dressed for work. I dabbed a few make up on my face to cover up the blacks under my eyes. When I was content with my look,I put my shoes on and walked out to the sitting room.

Katie and Luca are seated around the dinner,eating.

"Morning Ash!" Kay greets first.

"Morning Kay,Luc" I sit beside them.

Breakfast was tea and bread with eggs and cheese.

"Dad was here yesterday," Katie was saying "he's invited us to a charity party he's throwing next Sunday"

"Waw that's amazing. Where?"

"Atlanta. He'll be flying us in on Friday night so we can enjoy the stay a lot"

"Sounds fun,Kay,can't wait"

"How's your work going?"

"Uh....it exhausts me just to talk about it, Katie. I'm really considering quitting this time"

"It's okay to stop,Ashley. Whenever you want. Don't get too hard on yourself. You're really wearing thin over the past weeks. I'm really concerned"

"Thanks. I'll see to that"

**

When I stepped into the office,pain surged through my head and I counted my steps into my office.

"Are you alright?" Trevor asks as he passed by. I'd replied him monotonically before he walked out.

When Mr Marcello entered the office,I didn't know where to look. I gave him the casual good morning before he disappeared into his office. I quickly went over his schedule for the day. I got a call from someone's secretary, inviting him to a gala on Saturday night. I wondered why she didn't just reach him on his cellphone. After sorting out his schedule, I walked into his office. He's standing over his window as usual,his hands tucked into his side pockets as he stared down the busy street.

I stopped before his desk and called "Mr Marcello?"

He waits for a moment before turning around to face me,a small smile tucking at his lips.

"How may I be of help?" He asked.

"Well," I read out his schedule "you have a meeting in one hour. The Abbcone company said you agreed to meet them for a friendly meeting"

"Yes in fact"

"You have paper works to look into. They came in this morning. And there's an invite for a gala down town on Saturday. It's a fund raisers"

"Who made the call"

"The secretary of one Mr Pablo"

"We have a ball to attend then" his smile widened.

"We? But I thought this is personal for you"

"And what are you? " my personal assistant",Ashley"

I shut my eyes and tried to think straight.

"I have plans on Saturday...."

"To go on a date with Trevor?"

What? How the hell does he know I was out with Trevor.

"Don't look so surprised, Ashley. I see how you look at each other in the conference room"

"That doesn't justify what we're talking about. Saturdays isn't my work day which means I don't have to go anywhere with you,I'm sorry"

"You are going. I'll have Mona pick your ball dress for you. This ain't no ordinary fund raisers party,Ashley. You'll see"

I made an attempt to speak but his phone started to ring,stopping me from speaking any further. He picks it up and holds it against his ear.

"Hello'w my love," he said into the phone. I was making a disgusted face at him until he turned to look at me,a smile on his lips and I quickly loosen up. "Yes......," he continued. I could hear the barely audible voice of a female from the other end of his phone "where are you? I'll come meet you.......I miss you too baby.......you just hold on tight,I'll be there right now" and he disconnects the call,rising to his feet.

"You're leaving?"I asked him as he flew his jacket back on.

" you need a sayer to tell you that one too?"

"But Sir.... You have a meeting in less than two hours....."

"Handle it," he stops at the door to look back at me "or better still,cancel it"

I watched him walk out. Pervert. Now he's living me to a pile of work,to sort out his schedule again and make agonizing calls while he's off doing God knows what with his stupid woman whore.

The thought of wearing a stupid big gown to some gala irritated me. I couldn't possibly go with him on my day off! I'm supposed to leave for Atlanta on Friday. He's gonna have to let me go.


At exactly 12p.m,I got an alert message from my bank. It was from Mr Marcello. He'd played me my first salary. But I couldn't help yelp in surprise. The amount was huge. Not what Mona had told me the pay would be. It was far more than twice the payment I had expected. Just then,a text message had came in from him.

Mr Marcello: Enjoy your first pay,Ashley.

My fingers had went over my phone to type a reply,then I stopped,realizing I didn't know what to say. Thank you? He'd feel too great of himself. And if I said nothing? Well....maybe not saying anything would be the best. I worked for this.


He never came back after leaving the office. I knew calling his cellphone was unprofessional especially with the nature of what I want to tell him. I watched the time go from 12 to 1 to 2 and to 3 before I finally left for home. Trevor wasn't at the office when I left and somehow I'd been grateful about that. I was starting to get uncomfortable with him driving me home all day. I felt like a burden sometimes and he wouldn't ever mention it. Even though he seems very much okay with it,I don't feel that much okay. I took the bus this time,enjoying the view of the city as I went. I still felt very dizzy but for some reasons I was calm.

When I got home I took another aspirin pills and went into bed. Katie woke me up a little after 6p.m to eat dinner with them.

"Why don't you take a leave,Ashley?" Katie says after her long observance "you don't look so well"

"I'm fine,Kay"

"Seriously though, you need to have some serious talk with that boss of yours. You want me to get involved?"

"No no,I'll handle him" I gave her a smile.

The last time I let Katie get involved in my matter,somebody got a black eye and a red nose. That was back in highschool. The thought makes me smile.


"I'm so excited about going to Atlanta!," Katie exclaimed "Dad would be so happy"

"Me too" I replied just as cheerfully.

When I got to the office,Mr Marcello was already in. I decided I'd have to tell him about my travelling to Atlanta on Friday. I couldn't possibly go to this stupid gala party with him on Saturday.

I walked into his office and found him seated behind his desk,his phone held against his ear. He was talking endlessly, laughing in between. I stopped at front,waiting for him.

As soon as he ended the call,he said "You missed something on the work I asked you to do?"

I suddenly wanted to thank him for the money but I couldn't bring myself to. Look at him,he doesn't care about me or the money or anything but himself! I gulped hard and said "I......have something to tell you"

"Go on"

"I.....I can't go to the gala with you on Saturday, I..."

"Are we really going over this again,Ashley? I pay you for this"

I tried to breathe in calmly. Yes,he'd paid more than I should be paid and that's just like him buying me off to do whatever he wants me too but I needed him to understand this.

"I will be busy on Saturday," I told him as calmly as possible "my best friend's father is having a charity event party and I need to be in Atlanta on Friday"

"That's not my problem,Ashley!" His voice rises an octave "why the hell are you stressing me,huh?! What part of this don't you understand?! We are going to this party on Saturday, to-ge-th-ur!"

I watched him,anger pushing through me. What can't he understand?!

"You can go with any other woman in this office if be necessary!," anger surfaced in my voice now "why must it be me?!"

"Simple. You're my personal assistant"

"I'm sorry but I do not wanna be at this gala with you. I have somewhere far more important to be!"

"I take it that you don't wanna work for me anymore then"

The moment he said that,my words seemed to roll back my tongue. I watched him in disbelief. He's such a monster. I could've counted how long I stood there watching him but I wasn't thinking straight. I couldn't stand him. I just can't. I tried to breathe but it's proving harder by the second.

"If you have nothing more to say,I'd like you to leave my office and get my work done" he said before turning his chair away from me.

I turned and started working out. What the hell am I going to tell Katie? That I can't make it to his father's party?