Chapter 2

I brushed off her remark with a polite lipped smile, knowing better than to engage in a witty rivalry with her. Instead, I focused on my goal: securing a meal to appease my gnawing hunger before tackling the next challenge of the day.

As I entered the kitchen and approached my uncle's wife, who was busy serving dinner for her family, I greeted her politely.

Her eyes brightened for a moment before she responded, "So, you finally decided to return. I thought you had left for good."

Ignoring her comment, my focus remained on my empty belly. I headed towards the cupboard to fetch a plate, intending to serve myself. However, before I could even lift a plate, her voice interrupted me sharply, "What do you think you're doing? I only prepared dinner for myself and my family. If you're hungry, prepare your own dinner.”

Frustrated with the situation, I said to myself, "What kind of problem is this? I'm starving, and now I have to cook something from scratch?" Wanting to avoid more conflict, I defeated myself by making my own dinner. I picked noodles from the cabinet since they were the quickest option. I needed to eat and get to bed early for my new job in the morning.

With a sigh, I started boiling water for the noodles, my stomach grumbling impatiently. As the aroma of cooking filled the kitchen, I couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction knowing that, despite the obstacles, I was taking care of myself.

A few minutes later, I finished cooking and joined the others at the dining table. "Good evening, uncle," I greeted as I took my seat. "Good evening, Olivia. How was the interview today?" he inquired. Straightening my shirt, I responded, "It went really well, uncle. In fact, I got the job, and I'll be starting work tomorrow.”

My uncle's face lit up with pride and excitement. "That's fantastic news, Olivia! Congratulations!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with genuine happiness for me. Isabella, who had been quiet until now, joined in reluctantly, "Well, I guess that's good for you."

“She had probably given her body to the owner of the company,” my uncle's wife said, standing up to dish more food for herself. Ignoring them, I smiled gratefully at my uncle, thankful for his support and encouragement.

As I began to eat, conversation flowed more easily, with my uncle asking about the details of my new job and offering words of advice. Despite Isabella and her mother's lukewarm response, I remained focused on the positive energy surrounding my accomplishment and the support of my uncle.

After a simple but satisfying meal, I cleaned up the kitchen and prepared for an early night's rest, ready to face the challenges of the new day ahead.

"Goodnight, uncle," I said, before making my way to my room to freshen up and get some sleep.

After a quick refresh, I slipped onto my bed, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves for my new job awaiting me in the morning.

As I closed my eyes, I reflected on the day's events, grateful for both my arrogant new boss and securing a good job. With a sense of determination and anticipation, I drifted off into a peaceful sleep, ready to embrace whatever the new day would bring.

***** *****

“BEEP BEEP BEEP!”

The loud sound of the alarm suddenly shattered the silence, prompting me to hastily rise from my bed.

I had set an alarm for an early morning wakeup, ensuring I'd have enough time to prepare for my new job. It was exactly 5am as the alarm went off, a necessary precaution to prevent any chance of being late for work.

My mind is still feeling dazed from sleep. With a deep breath, I shake off the last trace of drowsiness and move my legs out of bed, ready to tackle the day ahead.

"Thief, thief!"

A cry for thief echoed from the sitting room, and it sounded like my uncle's wife's voice. "Thief? Where?" I muttered to myself, feeling surprised. Initially, I had left my room to get water from outside, as the tap in my room seemed to be malfunctioning.

“Thief? Where's the thief?” My uncle who heard the noise rushed to the sitting room.

"It's just me, not a thief," I reassured, entering the sitting room with a bucket of water in my hand. "I only went outside to get water for bathing because the tap in my room was acting up," I explained.

Giving me a bombastic side eye, my uncle's wife responded sharply, "You, always causing a commotion! What were you doing outside at this hour? Don't you dare scare me like that again!" With that, she returned to her room.

“Olivia, why're you up by this hour?” My uncle asked.

“Sorry, sir. I had to get up early to prepare for work. My place of work is quite far from home,” I responded. With that, he went back to his room, as I returned back to mine to continue my preparation.

At exactly 6:30am, I was done preparing, and I hurried into the kitchen for a quick breakfast. "Good morning, sir. Good morning, ma," I greeted my uncle and his wife, who were just waking up.

The absence of Isabella's presence was noticeable; it seemed she was still asleep. Not an unusual occurrence, as it was her daily routine. Rather than heading to work or attending to other responsibilities, she often chose to spend her time socializing with friends or clubbing.

"Goodbye, uncle. I'm off to work now," I announced, leaving the house.

As I stepped out into the fresh morning air, I felt a sense of anticipation for the day ahead. Despite the early hour, the streets were already buzzing with activity, a reminder of the city's ceaseless energy. With a quick glance at my watch, I quickened my pace, eager to reach my work place on time. Today marked the beginning of a new chapter, and I was determined to make the most of it.

***** *****

“Vroom.”

“Splash.”

My heart pounded as I stood drenched from head to toe. "What's wrong with you?" I yelled, gesturing toward the speeding car that had just soaked me.

The driver, unapologetic, continued down the street, leaving me in a state of disbelief. With my clothes ruined and my first day at work about to begin, I couldn't help but wonder what else could possibly go wrong.

I glanced at my watch, anxiety washing over me as I realized I had less than 10 minutes to make it to my new office. Taking a deep breath, I gathered myself and rushed toward the building, my wet shoes making squeaking noise with each hurried step.

Upon reaching the building, I walked into the busy entrance hall and headed straight for the elevators, doing my best to ignore the curious glances from the people around me. As I stepped into the elevator, I hurriedly pressed the button for the 5th floor, where my new journey was supposed to begin on a high note.

The moment the elevator doors parted, I moved toward the office's reception area, desperately hoping my appearance wouldn't make a terrible first impression. A well dressed woman with a kind smile greeted me, her gaze quickly falling to my drenched clothes.

"Hello, you must be Olivia, our new marketing specialist. I'm Jennifer, the office manager," she said, maintaining a professional composure despite the obvious scene before her.

Feeling my cheeks burn with embarrassment, I explained my situation, apologizing for my awful appearance. To my surprise, Jennifer simply laughed and offered to help me dry off.

"Don't worry, Olivia. Accidents happen, and I assure you this won't be the first or the last time we'll see someone in a predicament like yours." She led me to a small lounge area where I was able to pat myself dry with a towel and attempt to regain my appearance. As I worked to smooth out the wrinkles on my shirt, I couldn't help but feel grateful for Jennifer's kindness and understanding.

"Now, are you ready to take on your first day?" she asked with a smile.

Nodding, I took a deep breath, straightened my posture, and followed her to my new desk. Although my morning had started off rough, I was determined to make the best of my new opportunity and prove myself as a valuable asset to the team.

As I settled into my new desk, a commanding voice broke the silence. "Miss Olivia, why did you arrive at the office wet?" Startled, I turned to face Lucas, the company's CEO, standing before me with a questioning gaze.