Chapter 3 She's Crazier

Vivian got off work so late in the night. She yawned tiredly as she packed together the files. She wrote the documents and even did a little typing. Her boss, Damien, got off work hours ago, not even minding whether she did or not. She sighed, she needed to get used to him. She prayed profusely to at least see a transport as she checked the time. She got outside of the office looking stranded since no cab was approaching her direction. They were all private cars; she tried stopping them, though, but they just passed her as if she was invincible. She brought out her phone to talk to her mum.

"Hello, mum."

"Sweetheart, where are you? Are you not off work yet?"

I just got off work, Mum, and I'm on my way home, but I have not seen any transport for now."

"All right, be safe."

"Sure mum." She said as she hung up the call. She felt a splash on the screen of her phone. Rain!

"Rain? Oh, not yet please." She muttered worriedly, moving closer to the road to gain sight of any approaching vehicle. Without warning, the rain began its outpour leaving Vivian no choice but to go to hiding right at the entrance of the company. She decided to call Steve to pick her up.

"Hello, babe."

"Vivian... I'm busy right now."

"Please, I need you to come pick me up from the company, I'm currently stranded and..." She couldn't complete her words as Steve hung up, leaving her to decipher what just happened. She sighed, "He might be busy after all." She thought. She looked up at the rain, it doesn't look like it's gonna stop anytime soon. Still in the thoughts of what to do, a car came into sight blinding Vivian's sight with the fullness of the light. Vivian took her hands to her eyes blocking the reflection to an extent. Her brain did not even click to wave it down. The car stopped right in front of her in its own accord. Vivian looked on as the window of the car was rolled down. She held her breath. It was her boss!

"Hey, clumsy, what are you doing out there? Get in, I won't be responsible if you catch the flu." He yelled through the heavy rain. Vivian stood frozen for a couple of minutes still not able to believe if it was her boss. Damien raised his brows in confusion.

"Has the rain blocked your ear or something? Oh, maybe I should just get going and mind my business."

"No, no, no." Vivian protested rushing to open the door. She hesitated.

"But... I'm wet."

"Oh, my goodness. Get in, for fuck sake; the seat is waterproof." He yelled out of control making Vivian jump into the car. The driver drove off at a speed. Vivian sat halfway on the seat, trying not to rest her back on the chair. Damien saw this from the mirror and sighed in frustration. "So dumb." He muttered. Testing this herself and seeing that the chair was waterproof, she rested her back relaxing into the warmth the chair gave. She was jolted back by Damien's harsh voice.

"Where do you leave young lady? If this is your strategy for me to take you to my house, then you're wrong." He said making Vivian scoff in annoyance.

"What do you take me for young man? You can't just conclude on things that are not confirmed. Do you think I'm like other girls who jump at you? Next time before you speak rashly, think twice. Stop the car driver. Right now!" She uttered hotly. Even the driver was affected. He brought the car to a halt. Without saying anything or glancing at Damen, she flew out of the car slamming the door shut. Vivian took her bag over her head before running into the night. Damien's mouth was still wide open looking out into the direction she went to till she disappeared out of sight. "She's crazy." He muttered still in shock. In his entire life, no one had ever spoken to him in that manner, and this lady from nowhere opened her mouth, rendering him speechless. She seems crazier. He diverted his head to his driver who as well was shocked.

"Will you move, or you better stay to admire her a little bit more?" The helpless driver drove off not wanting to be sacked.

Vivian got home drenched from her head to the soles of her feet. She stepped into the house, shivering slightly, only to meet her drunk father muttering gibberish from the living room.

"Oh, my pre...precious daughter is a...around." He hiccupped. Vivian tried walking past him, not wanting his problem at this time, but he pulled her back, pushing her to the chair before grabbing her neck.

"Father...let me go."

"I need...need money. M...money, give me money." He said as he kept choking her leaving Vivian to gasp for breath. Her mother rushed in when she heard her daughter's gasp for breath.

"Leave my daughter, you this foolish man." She shouted with tears in her eyes trying to relieve his hand from her daughter's neck. Not able to take it again, she hit his head with a flower vase which scattered on his head. He fell unconscious to the ground with his head bleeding. Mrs Rion helped her daughter up as she was gasping desperately for breath still holding her neck. She calmed down after her mother poured bowls of water on her. She sat up, her face flushed, her neck red from the grabbing. Her mother moved closer to her holding her face tenderly.

"Are you okay, Vivian? No, you need to see the doctor?" She asked worriedly.

"I'm fine mum." She muttered painfully. She stood up as she left for her room still holding her neck.

"Stupid man!" Mrs Rion yelped angrily as she kicked her unconscious husband before leaving the room as well. Vivian got to her room looking so pale, if not for her mum's early intervention, she might probably have died. Realizing this, she sat down on her bed as tears rushed down her face. She cried tears of bitterness and pain. When will she ever be free from this?