Chapter 4 Cold Shoulders

Amy's POV

"I don't think I should go there tomorrow, I already know what she wants to tell me," I said to Lily.

"You can't tell, maybe she wants to tell you something else, after all we are assuming that you are fired, let's not conclude yet," she said to me but I wasn't having it. This was the only thing I had together. These two years, now it would be difficult to start all over again.

"Care for popcorn?" I asked her in an attempt to change the topic.

"No thanks, I'm on a diet remember," she said and I nodded.

"So Amy, promise me that you'll acknowledge Mrs. Stella's call and go over tomorrow," She said.

"I just don't want public disgrace, I'll message Micheal to help me pack my stuff and drop it here when coming back from work tomorrow," I said to her.

"And where will you be?" She asked me in a confused tone.

"Here of course, I can't let my peeps know that I lost my job," I said, stating the obvious.

"And then after that?" She asked.

"I'll look for another job, this will just buy me a little time, I'll only pretend going to work while looking for a new one, problem solved," I said rolling my eyes.

"There you go again, being avoidant, there's no harm in going there, you might tender an official apology to him, and then they might consider not firing you," she said, but as usual she was looking at the bright side of the current situation.

"I will do no such thing, I'm sure he will not hesitate to humiliate me if I do, I have my pride intact," I said as I folded my arm across my chest.

"That pride is going to render you unemployed, then your family will have something to talk about," she said.

"Come on Lily!" I pouted.

"Just go over tomorrow and find out what she wants to say to you okay?"

"Okay," I responded and then she picked her bag and went inside to get freshened up.

Lily and I have been friends for a long time, we attended college together. Her parents wanted her to study medicine in England. After she was done with her degree she came back to Brooklyn. I'm glad that she stuck around and we are still close, as I was unfortunate in making new friends especially after the accident in high school that almost wrecked my life, sometimes I wondered how different things would have been if that accident never happened. And then Christian... I let out a long sigh. That's a story for another day. I can't allow myself wallow into depression again. Looking at the bright side, I have my life back and I had Lily - I wonder if it was because she tolerates me that's why she is my only friend.

She gave me the best advice two years ago. It was through her advice that I applied and got this job, the one about to carelessly slip from my hands. I have grown to love my job. Initially, I thought my parents were bluffing with the whole marriage thing, but realization came when I didn't get my allowance following their decision. Now, I have to fend for myself. I'll go over to the office tomorrow, and see what comes out of it, hopefully that son of the devil would have returned back to hell. I concluded in my mind as I picked a day's amount of popcorn and shoved it into my mouth.

I went home when it was the right time to be back from work, I didn't want any suspicion. I would have slept over Lily's place as it is a breathing space from all the drama, but part of my punishment was not to spend the night outside the house. It was a good thing that Mrs. Stella was understanding , I didn't travel with her on business trips as Michael stood in for me. I have to make an effort to save my job as no other firm will consider hiring me with my many conditions.

When I got home my parents were already having dinner. "Good evening Mum, Dad," I said to them. "Welcome dear," my mum responded but my dad ignored me. It gets to his head most days. My mum on the other hand is chill. It's because of father she behaves strictly most of the time, but her love and care for me has never waivered.

I smiled at her and then went up to my room. I didn't bother going downstairs for dinner as I already ate at Lily's house and I was also in no mood to hear my dad's talk tonight.

I had my bath and then I scrolled on social media for a few minutes before dropping my phone. I let my mind wander on what had happened today, before finally falling asleep.

The next day I woke up early, I got prepared and then I went to work. I got there before Mrs. Stella and there was no sign of Mr. Munroe. I asked Micheal if he heard anything after I had left but there was nothing, so I was oblivious, my work desk was still intact so I decided to arrange my stuff. "It was a mistake Amy, what's the worst that could happen?" I thought to myself.

"Hey you, come with me," I heard the oddly familiar voice say to me. I raised my head and saw him looking at me.

"Are you now deaf?" He asked in a stern voice.

"I'm sorry sir," I said to him as I followed him.

We got to Mrs. Stella's office which I assume was now his office. I didn't sit, I just stood before his table.

"Why are you here today? I thought I made it clear to Stella to fire you," he said to me. It was clear that he is ill mannered given how he addressed Mrs. Stella. She is older than him, and from the looks of it he should be in his early thirties.

"When I ask a question, you reply," he said.

"I'm sorry sir, concerning what happened yesterday, I didn't mean to-" I started off saying but he cut me mid-sentence.

"I don't want to hear your excuses, I'll give you another chance, but you'll work two months without getting paid," he said to me.

"What?" I blurted out of shock.

"Do you have an issue with that?" He asked me.

"Not at all sir," I responded.

"Good now, out of my office." he said.

"Two months without salary, I was in for a really rocky ride."