Chapter 2 First Day

Next day arrived and Julia woke up before sunrise. She was so happy! Finally, she was hired! Her brother would have a good treatment, since the salary offered was really good.

"Hey, sis! Made you breakfast. It is your first day and I am so very proud of you! Mom and Dad would be, as well. I know it."

They hardly spoke about their parents because the pain was too much.

"Thank you. But I don't think dad would care. If he did care for us, he would not have left us with nothing more than the clothes we were wearing. I miss mom, she was so good..."

"Hey, don't cry! I am so sorry! Come on", he wiped her tears, "eat and go to work. Today is the start of a new life for us."

She smiled and nodded. He was right. Everything would change. And they did not need a penny from anyone.

She arrived at work 15 minutes to 08am. Her mood was perfect, until she saw a blond hair, very familiar. Laura, she was sure of this. But why? She decided to go straight to her level, not bothering to look in the direction her "half-sister" was in. The elevator was taking forever!

"Come on! She will see me!", was all she could think about. Finally, it arrived. She entered as fast as she could. It was crowded in no time. When she arrived at her level, she got off and went to the same secretary she spoke to last time.

"Hi!! Good morning! I am Julia, Julia Jones."

"Yeah, I know. Be welcome, Julia. I will show you your office. Follow me."

The blond woman spoke in a very unnatural way. Obviously, she was not really welcoming Julia. She opened the door of the room and waited for Julia to enter.

"Everything you need to work is on the computer and by the desk. I'll inform your superior that you arrived. She will give you more instructions."

Before the woman could go, Julia asked her name.

"It is Amanda." She said without looking back and stopped before the door was closed. "Be here on time. You were almost late. The Boss doesn't like it. It is advice I give you."

Julia felt a shrug. Amanda was very unpleasant. But, at least, I gave her some advice, right? Maybe she was just too serious about her job. Smiling, Julia walked to her desk and sat. She was so happy! The computer was already turned on, so she just had to search for the folds and learn more about what she needed to know about her work there.

A knock on the door came and she answered with a "Come in".

"Good morning, Ms. Jones."

The Boss. But he was not her direct superior, so she was a bit confused. She got up, of course.

"Good morning, Mr. Crane."

He gave a few steps ahead.

"Is this office of your liking?" She looked at him as if she didn't understand what he just said. She frowned at this.

"Yes, sure, Mr. Crane. It is perfect."

He was looking at her. Like, really looking at her. All of her.

"Have Daniel Schmidt spoken to you, already?", he asked.

"No, Mr. Crane. Besides you, sir, I only spoke with Amanda when she showed me the office. She said my superior was coming to talk to me, soon. I was waiting."

"I see... Well, be welcome." With that, he just turned around and left.

"People here are a bit crazy. Weirdos". She was thinking this when another knock came.

Before she could say anything, a tall man came in. He had a beautiful smile, nice brown eyes, and short dark hair.

"Julia?", the man asked.

"Yes, you must be Mr. Schmidt, right?"

"Yes!" He held out his hand to shake hers. He was pleasant. "Be welcome. I will send you by email every work we need to get done, okay? Every detail. So, always take a look at it. I'll give you my number, in case you have any doubt and can't wait for a message. Just call me. Any time."

His eyes were sparkling. She thought he was really good looking, and a nice person. At least for now.

"Thank you, sir. I can't wait to start working."

He smiled again.

"I will get going. My office is the third door to your right, when you look at your door. See you later"

When he was gone, she sent a message to her brother, saying how things were going. In no time, an email arrived. Work.

She spent the whole day working. During lunch time, she went to the cafeteria and came back pretty quickly. She wanted to be done with as much work as she could. She was so into her designs that time flew, and it was already time to leave. When she was closing her door, a message came into her phone. An unknown number.

"Come to my office, Mr. Jones". It was not Daniel's number, so, was it Mr. Crane?

"Mr. Crane?", she sent a message in return.

"Yes. Come." She thought it was strange, since he was not the one giving her work to do, at least, shouldn't be. But he was The Boss and she had to see what he did want. Since she had been there for the interview before, she knew how to arrive at his office.

Amanda was not there anymore. Actually, the floor seemed empty. Was it that late? Knocking on his door, the answer came quickly, for her to go in. She entered slowly, a bit apprehensive, since it was already time for her to leave and her brother was waiting for her. She only sent him a message asking for him to wait a bit longer.

"Yes, Mr. Crane?"

He was sitting, looking at the window behind his desk. He turned around.

"Sit", he commanded.

She walked to the chair before the desk and took a seat. He never looked away from her.

"Miss Jones, are you married?"

"Ah, no, Mr. Crane." She was feeling awkward. Why would he ask this? And, anyway, it was in her files at the HR, for sure.

"What do you think of marriage?" He was serious.

"Well, it has to happen when two people feel like it, if, they are sure."

"Is love a necessary thing?"

She paused for a moment to think.

"More than love, respect. If there is no love, but respect, two people can be happy."

"And what if one loves another person, outside of marriage?"

"In this loveless marriage?"

"Yes."

"Talking is absolutely necessary. If the other person does not agree, then, there are two options: divorce or give up on this love. Betrayal is inadmissible."

He was looking at her.

"Thanks, Ms. Jones. Our talk was very instructive. You may leave."

She was caught by surprise. As he was back at reading his paperwork, he looked at her again, with a raised eyebrow.

"Oh, ok. Thanks. I am going now." She got up, gathered her things, and left.

Before she went home, she decided to buy something nice for her brother. He was a very good boy and everything she had in this life. They had to celebrate this first day.

"Hey, bro!!! Look what I have here!!"

Jack ran to her as if his life depended on it. He knew her. It was something he could eat; he was sure of it. And 100% right about it.

"So, do you like it?" she asked.

No answer needed. His eyes were sparkling.

"Of course, sister!! Ju, you are the best. I just love ice cream, this cookie one is my favorite. Thank you!! I am so happy! If you bought it, that means your day at work was very good and we can start a new life, right?"

She was smiling, finally feeling happiness after a very long time of sorrow.

"Yes, Jack. Our life is going to change, at last. Aaah, put your ice cream in the freezer. You can eat after dinner, sir."

He nodded and did as she said. They chatted a bit while she was preparing pasta.

"How are the people there? Did they treat you all right?", Jack asked.

"Yeah. My boss is Mr. Schmidt. He was very polite and agreeable. And my boss's boss is weird but did not treat me badly. Just the girl, the receptionist, is a bit rude and thinks too highly of herself."

He wrinkled his nose.

"Don't like her already."

"Hahahaha. Me too!" They both laughed.

After dinner, Jack had his ice cream, while Julie washed the dishes. She said goodnight and went to take a shower before going to bed. When she laid down, she took her phone to charge it and then, she saw two missed calls from Mr. Crane. Oh, crap! She called back and when she was going to give up, he attended.

"Finally, you decided to look at your phone, Ms. Jones. If a very important work depended on it, we would have lost it, right?"

She swallowed hard and answered, with her mouth feeling like it was Saara.

"I am very sorry. I got home and was entangled with my housework. What can I do to help you, Mr. Crane?" There was a pause, but she heard him sight twice before he spoke.

"Tomorrow you will wait for me to leave. I have something important to discuss with you. At 7p.m. I will be finished, so be you, do you understand?" His tone was serious, and she said a very weak yes.

He said goodnight and hung up. What was it now?

She slept after a few minutes, dreaming of her parents and her work.