Chapter 4 Teaburn

Chapter 4

As night slowly crept to morning, Karen's heart leaped with joy. Her excitement could not be contained.

She finally had a job and she was to report today, she had to let her father know.

As she rushed down the staircase she was met with the scent of coffee in the air.

This was her Dad's normal morning routine before heading out to where she had no idea.

The moment she tried opening her mouth, her stepmom appeared from the kitchen.

"Darling, don't you think Karen should return back to that house. I mean you paid for it for the last two years" she implied dressing the toasted bread on the dining table as Laura stretched lazily on the sofa. She never stopped pinging on her phone even when it was early in the morning.

"You're not wrong, but here is home too"

Ivy snorted, her eyes rolling as they landed on the staircase spotting Karen

She had stopped in her tracks as she was about sharing the good news.

"Oh look, she's here. Maybe she can speak for herself. I mean she does not want to stress your health any further by gracing your presence with her undignified self" Ivy sneered, motioning Karen to come down from the stairs.

Karen held the railing of the stairs tight as Laura looked her from top to bottom, completely laughing in mockery.

"I have a job now"

Karen said, her voice firm and serious.

Ivy stared at her and then Laura before they both burst into laughter.

"You got a job. Where? What person would employ a selfish person like you"

Laura retorted, casting mocking glances at her as she returned to her phone.

"Have you not brought enough shame to your father, first you destroy the life of the son of the richest man in the city by turning him against his parents. Next you divorce and run away with someone else and come back empty handed, no money just your shameless self. Then you keep going round the city, showing your face so we get insulted and now you're lying to your father that you got a job" Ivy said in one go, her voice clearly loud enough to irritate anyone.

"Could you be any less shameless?" Ivy spat, her hands rubbing on her husband's shoulders, in a bid to appease him.

Anger shot through Karen's veins as she took in calculated breaths. None of them would understand, they wouldn't know because they were happy with her failure.

They were one of the reasons why her Dad could never see her in good light again. They painted this horrible picture of her in his memory.

This did not allow him to accept the truth and support her when she needed it.

First they came into her family, next her mother was gone.

She had no one except her Dad whom she had already fallen out of favour with.

Tears threatened to fall from her eyes but she would not let them.

It was her day today and she would prove them wrong.

"Dad, I have a job and I'll be leaving any time from now. I just wanted to let you know" her father remained silent. That's what he had always done, remaining silent and saying nothing even when her mother died.

She turned back to her room, slamming the door behind her and began preparing herself for the day.

She only had two formal office wear and today she would dress smartly.

Once she was ready she pushed open her door descending down the stairs as her stepsister eyed her with envy.

She was exceptionally beautiful and her sister detested her because of it.

Her stepmom snorted at her, and her dad did not spare her even a glance.

She heaved a sigh and hung her bag properly.

She stepped out of the room with poise

"Dad, I'm leaving for work"

"You just have a week to go back to your apartment. Showing up here doesn't help anyone" he said, his words piercing the very depths of her soul.

Her father did not need her presence and did not even look at her.

Her heart dropped as she left the house, that house was not a place to call home so she would make the best out of her new job.

She booked a taxi, traffic delaying her but successfully getting to the office.

The sneers and whispers behind her increased but she kept moving confidently towards the main reception.

"Please excuse me, I was asked to report today" she explained to the lady behind the desk.

"Hold on" the woman beckoned her, making a call before dropping it.

"Please hold on, the secretary's on her way" the receptionist barely smiled at her but at least a conversation and information sharing was still worth it.

She sat on the chair right beside the end of the desk and almost in five minutes, a tall curvy lady turned up.

"You're the new fashion manager"

Karen stood hastily nodding her head and reaching for her already stretched hands

"Yes. Yes, I am"

"Nice to meet you" the lady smiles widely at her before beckoning her to move forward.

"Alright, please come with me miss"

She nodded and hastily moved out with the woman before she signed Karen up on the company's online register and handed her some documents. She took her to a large workspace with at least three other employees.

Their heels clicking against the tiled floors as each workspace glittered simplicity and decorum.

"This is where you'll be working from now; your work description is right on the desk, work starts immediately and try to familiarize with everyone, alright?"

"Alright, thank you so much," She smiled curtly at her before settling in, the checkered desk was spacious enough for two but since she was the only one present, she took the space. It seemed the company lacked workers in the area of management.

Suddenly she felt hot liquid splatter on her skin burning her left arm as she screeched in pain; it was a red haired girl with a cup of coffee straight from heat staring viciously at her with contempt in her eyes.

She traced her mind back. There was a familiar feeling that she had seen this girl somewhere, and then a recall of the gossip on the day of her interview flashed back. Could she be working up here?

"You shameless thing! How dare you sit down here?"