Chapter 7 Shiny Glamour

"Hello?"

I remain mute trying to figure out what I can say. That voice didn't sound like that of Jones'.

" Hey?"

I manage to say as I sit on my bed, my legs crossed.

" Oh! Queenie?"

I hear the voice, Queenie. That's what Jones calls me, affirmative, it's him.

" Yeah it's me and just do you know, it's Sarah,"

I roll my eyes, of course! I am not going to tell him my real name yet.

" I thought you'd never call,"

I remain silent.

" Well, we can meet tomorrow, probably,"

" Tomorrow? I'm sorry but I won't be available,"

I say looking down at my injured finger, It is still bleeding and soaking the bandage around it.

" Don't worry, we'll see,"

And before I get the chance to reply, he ends the call. What the hell?

I simply scoff and put my phone back on the bed before heading out of my room.

When I got to the kitchen, I found Max gulping down a glass of water. He is profusely sweating and I can hear the sound of his breath.

Oh, Max! The poor boy wouldn't listen to quit skateboarding in the meantime and focus on college but then he got the highest grade. God knows how he does that.

" You're done skateboarding?"

I ask him as I walk to stand beside my mom who is now mixing the soup she made.

" Not yet," he says as he returns the glass cup where it belongs.

" Still practicing the tic-tac,"

" I see,"

" You know what that means?"

I shot him a glare.

" Do I have to?"

I say as I watch him rinse his hands and clean them with a towel. Slowly he begins to chuckle as he shakes his head.

I remain silent, refusing to speak. I know I don't know what tic tac means but it's not a big deal, I know nothing about skateboarding, it's not my thing.

" You have a lot to learn big sis,"

He took his skateboard from the stool in the kitchen before proceeding to kiss my mom on the cheek.

" I'm off mom,"

He says walking out of the kitchen.

" But honey lunch is almost ready,"

Mom got no reply from him, the only reply she got was the door shut.

" Well, I guess he's not hungry, more food for us,"

I say and let out a chuckle but Mom gives me no reply and shoots me a glare. Really? She didn't even ask how my injured finger was healing. I don't know but I kind of sense something off with her.

" Is there anything you need me to do for you?"

I asked her hoping to get a reply but unfortunately, I didn't. Cool.

" Mom?"

" So tell me who was that guy you spoke with earlier?"

She asks out of the blue as she turns over to me holding a soup spoon.

" Uh! The guy?"

I pretended I didn't know what she was asking me about but the sort of look mom shot me was deadly, I gulped hard knowing how strict my mom could be sometimes.

" Oh, uh!"

" Is he your boyfriend or what?"

Boyfriend! Seriously! Why would she even think that?

" He's not my boyfriend Mom, he's just..."

I pause. He's just what? A guy I found last night in a club? A good samaritan that brought me home yesterday? Was I to tell her that? Seriously?

" What relationship do you have with him?"

My mom sternly asks.

" He's just a friend,"

Before I could even finish talking, my mom spoke

" He smokes,"

Smoke? Yeah right, I know and it's none of my business, as long as I do not smoke then it's not my problem if he smokes or not.

I say nothing, only giving her my stares and I bite my lower lip. What was she thinking?

Mom said nothing else as she went ahead to resume her cooking.

Well, I guess she's mad. Not my fault, if only she knows what I'm up to.

***

The next morning came by quickly and here I am preparing to go to work. I am putting on my casual wear, just jeans and a baggy top along with my sneakers. My jeans are already beginning to fade off which got me sighing, it's one of my favorites.

I let my hair fall smoothly over my shoulders as I gently brush it. When I finished with my hair, I applied a little lip gloss, took my handbag, and was ready to leave.

I walk out of my room, shutting the door quietly. The whole place is quiet, Mom and Max are still sleeping and that's because it's still very early.

You see, I usually go to work very early, mostly before 7:30 a.m., that's the instruction given by Boss Martinez.

All workers are to resume work before 7:30 a.m.

My mind sarcastically mimics his cold voice.

I inwardly laugh.

I walked to the dining room leaving a short note on the dining table. Who knows what could behold me there. I left the house.

Woah!

It's freezing outside. I clutch myself as I begin to walk away.

A moment later I fetched a cab to take me to my workplace and it dropped me right in front of SHINY GLAMOUR. That is the name of the company I work for.

SHINY GLAMOUR is one of the best designing companies in the city with a net worth of over 800 million dollars.

According to what I know, SHINY GLAMOUR was owned by a famous politician, Mr Federico and his heir to his company is his son, Boss Martinez.

SHINY GLAMOUR comes top in fashion and modeling in the whole of Baridona City.

And how I got employed is a different story for another day.

I climbed down from the cab and paid off the cab driver before walking into the company.

The chilling atmosphere inside got me shivering as I walked, the echoing of my sneakers filled the air.

The whole place is quiet, I see no one and I am beginning to think that I arrive too early.

As I walk further to my office, I hear familiar screams from behind me and curiously I turn around to see who they are.

There I found my two best friends, Sonia and Zelda rushing towards me and just as expected, they pulled me into a cozy hug. I smiled.

" Oh Scarlett, we've missed you so much,"

That was from Zelda. Little introduction, she is one of the upcoming costume designers in the company.

" Me too,"

I simply say as we pull away from the hug. I won't deny it, I've missed them so much... So much!

" I'm sorry we weren't able to make it to the funeral, Boss Martinez loaded us with too much work and wouldn't even let us come visit you. How are you healing up?"

" I'm better now, thanks,"

" We're sorry Scarlett,"

Sonia said, I could hear the hint of sadness in her voice. It's nothing, I'm not at all mad, the calls and text messages they sent were more than enough.

" It's okay, don't take it to the heart,"

" So how have things been since I left?"

I ask as we begin to stride away.

" Nothing changed, still the same_"

Sonia is saying but then Zelda butts in.

" Fuck Sonia, things changed," Zelda says and instantly her cheeks turn red. " We have a new manager,"

"Really?"

Wow! A new manager.

" Yeah, his name is Jones Hadwin and he's going to be joining us for the shooting today, oh Scarlett! that dude is so hot,"

Zelda says dreamingly. Jones Hadwin? I don't know why but my heart suddenly began to race at the mention of Jones. It certainly can't be the Jones I know, can it? Okay! I'm just overworking my head.

" Cut it off, Zelda!"

Sonia spits with a spank on Zelda's arm.

You see, the reason we have a new manager is basically because the previous one was not at all competent. He's not dedicated to his work at all and he's always after ladies and drinking. Well, I'm glad he's out because the both of us were two good rivals.

" Scarlett?"

The way my name rolled out and the way it sounded made me freeze. My heart did its usual jump dance against my chest and butterflies nervously roamed inside my belly and I suddenly became so anxious.

It is him, my boss.