Jessica's POV

“Yes mother, I'm almost done!” I called out from the kitchen as I arranged the cups of tea on the yellow tray I was holding.

I was back to being my mother's little girl who ran errands for her. The last thing I wanted was to become a liability to my mother but she wasn't going to let me live on the streets. Especially after a divorce.

As I approached the living room, the chatter in the room grew stronger. As usual, my mother was having her best friend over, their relationship stood to prove that social or financial status didn't hold ground when it came to friendship.

My lips turned upwards as their lighthearted conversation and giggles stirred warmth in my numb heart.

“Oh, we were just talking about you!” Anna, my mother's best friend, exclaimed as I dropped the tray on the wooden table in the center of the living room.

My brows pulled together in surprise, “Me? Why?”

My mother's slurp on her tea followed my question, “Dear, Anna was just wondering if you could work as a secretary at her son's company,” my mom explained.

I glared at my mother but she still had a smug smile on her face. Hell, Aaron and I were childhood friends but we didn't get along. He was the last person I thought to work with.

The sun's rays reflected into the living room through the window, making the room warmer than normal. The ticking clock was the only audible sound in the room.

I sat across the two besties with arms rounded around my chest, “Mom, I don't need a job.”

My mother exchanged glances with Anna before dropping the cup on the table, “Oh really? Since you moved in, you wouldn't let me hear the end of not wanting to be a burden. I helped you out so what's the problem?”

As I parted my lips to speak, Anna's words cut me off.

“I think she's still having that feud with Aaron,” Anna shifted her gaze from my mother to me.

“It's been ten years since you two saw each other. I promise he's a changed man.”

But her words only fueled my lack of interest. Back in high school, Aaron would often teased me about making me work as his secretary once he took over his father's company.

Accepting this job meant fulfilling his silly dream and I wasn't going to let that happen.

I clasped my hands together, “I understand aunty but I seriously don't want to work right now. When I'm ready to work, I'll let you know,” I feigned a smile as I finished.

Anna returned my smile but my mother wasn't having it, “Since you don't think you're ready for the job, please stop whining about having nothing to do all day.”

I drove a finger over my temple with my lips pressed together. Christ. My mother was purposely being provocative but I wasn't going to play this game as I knew how it always ended. The emotional blackmail lane.

“I'll be in my room mom,” I rose up from the couch, leaving the room without waiting for her reply.

“Unbelievable, she wouldn't let me be until I found a job for her and now that I did, she's not taking it.”

“That's how children are, I remember Aaron used to talk about…”

Their voices faded into the background as I slammed my room door shut.

As I threw myself on my bed, a deep sigh escaped my lips. I was still trying to move on from my broken marriage and working as Aaron's secretary meant dedicating myself to something different from healing. And right now,I wasn't sure I was ready.

But deep down, a little part of me wanted to know what Aaron looked like now. I hadn't seen him since high school, I wondered if his mother was right about him being a changed person.

Then again, the thought of him acting overly proud and annoying as usual made me suppress my curiosity. He always knew how to annoy me yet we were still friends.

My thoughts soon got diverted following the grumbling of my stomach. I needed to eat something but I was getting too comfortable in my soft, cozy bed.

The bright clouds were the last thing I saw through the window as I drifted off to sleep and my mother's knocks were the first thing I heard as I woke up.

“Jessica, won't you have dinner? Okay, I won't talk about the job anymore, just come and have dinner with me.”

Her voice followed her knocking on the door and for some weird reason, it made my lips curve upwards.

My mother could throw tantrums for hours only to act affectionate in the following minutes. The thought of it made me want to snuggle her while planting kisses all over her face.

I sluggishly rose up from the bed, adjusting my purple top and black pants as I approached the door.

With a pull on the door knob, my blue eyes met my mother's and my nostrils caught the smell of beef stir fry with noodles.

My mom quickly placed her hands on my face, caressing my cheeks, “Are you okay? You've been locked in all day.”

I stared at her, my drowsy eyes crinkling into a smile.

“I'm fine mom, I was going to get lunch but I fell asleep,’ I explained.

“You sure it's not because you were mad at me?” She moved her hands from my face to my arm, stroking them softly.

I chuckled, “Well, that too. But I'm not mad anymore. I'm hungry.”

And with that, we both headed to the stairs. I pocketed my hands into my pocket when I realized I wasn't with my phone.

“Mom go ahead, I have to get my phone real quick,” I stated before rotating my head back to the door.

My eyes scanned the room, I couldn't find my phone anywhere.

“Where could it be?” I muttered as I lifted the thick black bed sheets off the bed.

The moment I lowered my body to check under the bed, the next thing I heard was my mother's scream.

Jessica's POV

As I rushed out of the room, my eyes met terror.

My mother's body was tumbling down the stairs, helpless and unable to stop moving until she got to the last floor.

“Mother? Mother! Please wake up!”

I still recall how many times I yelled and shook my mother after I managed to reach her.

My mother was always so careful when walking down the stairs but today, she slipped off the stairs, tumbling all the way down. By the time I got to her, she was already unconscious. If the ambulance hadn't arrived on time, I'm not sure if my dear mother would have survived this.

Tears clouded my vision as I watched my mother being rolled into an operation theater.

My trembling body propelled forward so I could see my mother through the observation window. My heart sank as I stared at my mother in the light blue gown patients wore, she was looking so pale and lifeless compared to her usual vibrant demeanor.

The smell of antiseptic mixed with the air coming from the air conditioner, it complimented the chills running down my spine.

The doctor attending to her stepped out of the theater and I unconsciously tugged at the hem of his white coat. The smell of pills invaded my nostrils following that action.

“How-how’s my mother? Please tell me she's fine,” My voice broke into a whine as tears streamed down my cheeks with every word I spoke.

The doctor's warm smile offered me a sense of relief, “Yes, she's out of danger.”

My reddish eyes crinkled at the corner, I took a deep breath so the turmoil inside me can be replaced with calmness.

“But-”

My heart started racing, anxiety twisted my insides, “But- but what?”

“She has internal injuries. We'd need to perform an operation and that'll cost a hundred thousand dollars.”

The doctor's words settled deep inside me, stirring panic and the sense of urgency.

I currently had no job, my mother's business was put to a halt since she got admitted. Where the hell was I going to get the money for her treatment?

I held my face in my head as my wobbly knees slowly led me out of the hospital. My mother was my only family. I couldn't stand the thought of losing her.

Somewhere in between my severe thinking, I recalled the job offer Anna had given me.

It seemed I'd need the job after all.

But I didn't even know where the company was located and I hadn't found my phone.

“Argh! Fuck this!” I cursed in frustration while pulling my hair.

My eyes caught a glimpse of a phone stand with neon pink lights across the street, that was my saving grace!

The chilly night breeze made the hair on my skin stand erect, I cuddled myself as I crossed the street.

As I stood inside the phone booth, the weight of my mother's illness burdened my heart. Fuck my feud with Aaron, getting this job was no longer an option, it was a necessity.

My heart beat in sync with the landline ringing, “Hello? Aunty,”

My nostrils caught the scent of cigarettes in the phone booth and it made my nose wrinkle in disgust.

I had expected the soprano pitched tone so it shocked me when what I heard was the opposite.

“Hello, who's this?” An unfamiliar deep voice inquired.

My profile twisted in confusion, I didn't know who was with Anna's phone but I really needed her address so I just carried on with the conversation.

Despite the warmth of the phone booth, the cricket sounds made my pupils dilate upon the thought that someone might be watching me.

“I-I I'm Jessica. I'm calling to ask for the address to Anna's home,” I stated with my eyes wandering around my surroundings despite being inside the phone booth.

“Mom! There's some Jessica on your phone and she's asking for the house address. Do I give it to her?” The voice said on the other end and it dawned on me who I was on the phone with.

Aaron.

“Aaron?” I inquired with a tone of surprise.

“Yes, how can I help you?” He replied, his voice dripping with curiosity.

I slid a palm down my face, “Don't- don't you remember me? This is Jessica Wilson. Childhood friend? The one who always got better grades?”

This was definitely the wrong time to stir drama but I couldn't help but chip it in, knowing the type of person Aaron was.

“Oh you? It's been years. Point of correction, you didn't get better grades, the teacher just favored you. Why are you asking for my home’s address anyway?”

Aaron's question reminded me of my present problem and I found my heart pounding heavily.

“I-” I bit my lips nervously before continuing, “I- I need the job, my mother's ill.”

“Oh dear. Is it really serious? If you want, we can handle the bills. You don't have to take the job,” Aaron stated affectionately.

Anna and Aaron never hesitated to help me and my mother whenever we needed it but I didn't want to rely on them. This was my problem and I wanted to solve it on my own.

My fingers curled around the black landline even tighter, “No no, you don't have to worry. I would handle it on my own, I just need the job and an advance payment if possible.”

“I'm sorry but I don't think I'd be able to help.”

Those words shattered whatever was left of my hope. Tears brimmed at the corner of my eyes as I lowered my head.

What was going to happen to my mother?

Jessica’s POV

I opened my mouth to speak but words wouldn’t come out, I could feel panic and tears making my throat constrict painfully, and I knew I had to end this call right this minute before I weep into the call.

I cleared my throat softly,”Erm… may you please let me know why my request is not being responded to positively?” I hated how my voice slightly shook.

He acted as though he didn’t hear my question, I was about to give up and turn off the call then he finally spoke.

“You can have the job. I’m only doing this because of the relationship between our mothers. Don’t in any way think I’ll be easy on you just because our moms are friends, I hate slackers and you won’t be the exception.”

Although he sounded mean and stern, but just for the fact that a way out of the mess had finally presented itself I felt instant relief.

”of…of course sir, I wouldn’t disappoint you at all. I promise you won’t regret this.“

I heard him blow out an arrogant huff but at this moment I really didn’t give a shit. Right now he just saved me big time.

“Time will tell whether or not I made the right decision to give you a job or not. I have a meeting right now but text your bank account details and mail your CV to me.”

“Thank you so much.” Despite his arrogant approach the man just saved my ass and I was grateful.

He put off the call without even responding but I don’t care. What mattered in this moment wasn’t the low feeling I got in the pit of my gut at the thought of working with this arrogant bastard. My mum was going to be alright.

I quickly typed my account details on my cell phone and sent to his number, almost instantly I received the sum of 300,000 dollars.

Wow, not a bad starting salary at all especially for such a simple role as being a secretary.

My phone beeped again and a message popped from him, “Still waiting for your CV, you resume at 8:30 in the morning sharp and not a minute late. If you do, consider yourself fired.”

I rolled my eyes at the arrogance, something tells me this job won’t be as straightforward as I think.

Getting up swiftly I headed to the hospital reception to pay my mothers bill so she could get better attention.

The next morning I woke up by 6am not wanting to be late. Thanks to the early payment I was able to get a private hospital room that had an extra bed last night. I stretched out, giving myself a few seconds to adjust before jumping down from the bed.

My mum was still sleeping, so I gently tiptoed and kissed her forehead. I was also able to secure a private nurse who would attend to her while I’m at work.

My things were still at the house so I had to quickly dash home and shower, and change into a navy blue office dress that flattered my slim curvy figure.

I was mindful of the time so I didn’t do much with my waist length hair, I simply slicked it down and used a claw clip, pairing the outfit with the only decent pair of black leather block heels and matching purse.

I twirled and turned in the mirror, sprayed on some body splash, satisfied with my look and dashed out.

I knew if I took the bus I’d be late so I hauled down a taxi and rushed in. At exactly 8: 00 am the cab pulled up to the skyscraper building, I paid the driver and came down tentatively.

I’ve always been socially awkward and big serious buildings like this always made me feel nervous.

“I’m doing this for me, be brave Jessica.” I muttered to myself. I walked into the building and was pleasantly surprised at the grandeur, the place managed to stay looking professional despite luxury minimalist furniture and decor.

A bald, overweight security guard approached me, “Excuse me miss, can you state what you're here for. No one is allowed to stand her idly, bosses orders.”

“I’m actually here for a job, I was offered the position of personal assistant to the CEO by the boss himself.”

The security arched his eyebrows at me in amusement and confusion, then spoke something into his walkie talkie. I looked at the time and noticed a good five minutes had passed, I didn’t want to be even a minute late.

The security guard affirmed something and turned to me with a warm smile. “You’re welcome, Miss Jessica, you can approach the receptionist over there, the Human Resources manager already made your id and access card.”

I let out a breath of relief I didn’t even know I was holding, “Thank you.” I said hurrying in the direction he pointed at me to go, I was halfway there when I immediately stopped dead in my tracks.

I felt goosebumps immediately cover my skin, of all the people that could’ve been the receptionist it had to be Jolene Francis. My legs immediately felt like jelly and I felt bile rise up to my throat.

Jolene Francis is not only the best friend of Rachelle who my ex husband is having an affair with but also my high school bully. My legs slowed down and I immediately wanted to exit the building.

I summoned my courage and approached the desk. She eyed me over immediately, I didn’t bother to exchange pleasantries, as far as I’m concerned, an ally to Rachelle and Michael, is a foe of mine.

Wordlessly she thrusts a brown envelope to me, I took it and turned not even checking the package.

I walked to the elevator while trying to pry the envelope open that probably contained my access card and company id but halted immediately when I collided with a hard wall.