Love and Wealth

The smell hit me well before I opened the lid. I gagged, but wasn't shocked. The trash cans in this neighborhood always smelled of spoilt milk and old leftovers. My hands covered by a pair of thin plastic gloves fumbled as I reached for the bags of trash even though it was smelling.

My body hurt, my fingers so cold, yet I kept going. I had to. I mean, if I didn't-would anybody else?

"Come on, Peace," I told myself, hoisting up another black bag. "Just make it through this day."

I mopped the sweat off my forehead and looked up and down the narrow alley. It was still dark, and the street lights threw great long shadows on the wet concrete.

It was an ever busy city, it was in the serenity of the early morning hours when most had gone to sleep and the world once again was quiet. I wouldn't know; I loved this silence-not by choice since that was the time I needed to work before the rest of the city started with their day.

I grasped the last sack, slinging it onto the truck. That signature thud echoed through the alley; blocks away, a cat shrieked. I blew out a sigh, rubbing my grimy hands against my frayed jeans.

It was covered with odour from the dump site, apparently, some kind of grisly reminder of what I was stuck in.

"How's it going, Peace?

I turned to find Mrs. Keller peep out of her door, a scowl etched across the wrinkled complexion of her face. Always watching, hawk like, to make sure I never missed one bin or would immediately phone the landlord on me.

"Fine, Mrs. Keller," I said with a forced smile, "just finishing up."

"Make sure you get it all this time, she snarled, her hand jiggling toward the crumpled newspaper near her stoop. "You missed that last week."

I just gritted my teeth and nodded. "Will do."

She was inside now finally, and I exhaled, dropping to a crouch to pick up the paper. There were times when it seemed like my whole life was spent cleaning up after other people-never having time, energy for anything else. I once had dreams. Now they sounded so remote and almost fading away.

I finally came to a stop and began heading up to our small apartment complex-an old building that, over the years of neglect, had brick slowly discoloring.

Airing my lungs, I ran up several staircase at a time. My heart was well in front of me, churning over thoughts of Grandma. She hadn't been doing too great lately, and now an unusual foreboding feeling came upon me.

Indeed, it creaked its familiar tune as I opened the door.

"Nana?"

"I'm here, sweetheart," her weak and soft voice replied from the other room.

I went in quickly to see her sitting on a worn-out couch, wrapped into blankets. Pale-skinned, her hands slightly shivered while holding onto a mug of hot tea. A smile crossed her face as she saw me, but I could feel her pain.

"Peace, how are you? How is work?" she asked so softly, I could barely hear her.

"It was so stressful" I said, plastering a smile on my face. "I got everything done. And Mrs. Keller gave me a hard time, as usual."

Grandma chuckled soft. "That old bat doesn't know how lucky she is to have you around."

I sat down beside her, taking the mug delicately from her hands. "How are you feeling?

She faltered then, and sighed. "I'm alright, I'm just tired. The medicine isn't helping quite so much anymore."

My heart sank. Sure, I knew she was getting worse, but to actually hear it from her-was a kick in the gut. I couldn't lose her. She was all I had left.

"We'll be OK," I lied; I didn't have the first clue. We could barely scrape up enough to eat; medicine was utterly out of the question. It was a chore just to survive from day to day.

She clamped my hand in hers and leaned over. "Don't you go worrying about me, Peace. You've done enough. You really shouldn't have to bear this burden alone."

"I am not alone," I said obediently. "We're in it together, Nana."

Inside, I was lonely-day in and day out, it was a fight to get through the days and do whatever I could to keep us afloat. I wanted more than this for her and me, but I didn't know how to get there.

"You should rest," I said to her. "I'll get dinner ready."

Dinner was putting a nice word to it; I opened the fridge and pulled out a couple of eggs and some stale bread. That wasn't much, but that was all they had.

I scrambled the eggs in no time while my head buzzed with ideas on how to bring in more cash. I couldn't continuously pick up trash.

We silently ate, and it did weigh us down. At one moment, Nana nodded my way; from this action, it would appear she wanted to tell me something, though she did not know how to go about it. Suddenly, she spoke.

"Peace, I thought maybe you could go to that community center down the street. I heard they give job training. They may give you a chance to.

I was already shaking my head before she could get it out. "Nana, I don't have the time now. We need the money now, not after some training program."

"But you're so smart," she pressed then, firmer. "You could do more than this, Peace. You deserve more."

I said nothing. She didn't get it. I had no room in my brain to wring my hands over what I was going to be doing five or ten years from now when what was staring at me down right this very minute was daunting me.

The weight of responsibility pressed in upon me like a boulder, and I couldn't blink-not one second.

I cleaned her up and tucked Nana into bed. She fell asleep immediately. I stood at the window, looking out onto the city. Lights flickered from afar like thin stars cast across the horizon. Somewhere out there, people lived lives that I could only dream of. But it was a dream that didn't put food on the table.

I fisted my hands as determination roared inside of me. I didn't know how, but I would get us out of this. We were never going to live like this forever. Tomorrow would be different.

Then my phone vibrated, flashing an incoming message. I stared at the email-my heart racing, my hands shaking so hard that I could hardly hold onto my phone.

"Is this for real?" I whispered to myself.

The words were there on the screen in bold, but I was clearly not processing them.

Executive secretary to Nathaniel Sterling?

That had to be a wrong turn in some staircase. Sterling Enterprises was huge and one of the largest companies in the city. And Nathaniel Sterling was pretty well untouchable-a man who never interacted with anyone beneath his level. Yet here I sat, offered a position for which I never applied.

I turned my head, laying it on Nana sleeping on the couch. Heavy breathe was all that escaped from her lips. In that instant, it all just changed. The pay alone covered her medication and then some other things. But why me, though? I wasn't qualified. I was just some girl who spent her days hauling trash and her nights hoping for better.

It was there in the email, words to that effect: be at Sterling Enterprises next morning, 8:00 a.m. prompt, or else it would fly right by.

Next morning, I stood outside the towering edifice which is Sterling Enterprises, my heart thundering against my chest. Glass doors gleaming under sun rays reflected off the busy streets of the city.

"It was now or never, Peace-no going back," I said, laboriously pulling those heavy doors open.

Sleek, modern-these were the impressions my eyes got when they swept the lobby: marble floors upon which each click of my worn heels echoed. I walked towards the reception desk, where my throat started to get dry. A perfectly coiffed woman with a chilly expression looked up from her computer screen.

"Can I help you?" She said shortly.

"I'm here to see Mr. Sterling. I have an appointment." She started to tap her fingers across the keyboard. A moment later, she nodded. "Take the elevator to the top floor."

I swallowed and stepped inside the elevator, jabbing at the top button. The doors closed right behind me, and I felt myself being whisked into a world far, far removed from dirt and grime. I fisted my hands at my sides, fighting this storm of nerves that twisted my stomach.

I walked in through the open doors into this huge, open-walled office space, some tenfold more intimidating than expected. The whole floor was bathed in natural light streaming in via floor-to-ceiling skylights and gave one, a great view right across the city. Standing on the far side of the room, his back to me, was this imposingly tall man gazing out over the skyline.

"Miss Peace Matthews?" His voice was low, velvety, authoritative. The hair rose on my neck.

"Yes, sir," I said steadily enough though my chest seemed to have become a taut knot of apprehension.

Nathaniel Sterling turned slowly, and my breath got trapped. He was even more intimidating in person. His suit was impeccably tailored; his dark hair perfectly styled. He looked like a man capable of squashing anyone who so much dared stand in his way and yet his expression wasn't cruel. It was calculating-as though in the span of a heartbeat.

"Come in," he said, nodding at a chair across from his enormous desk.

I matched forward, plunking myself into the chair before I had a chance to get cold feet. He sat down across from me, clasping his hands together on the desk and pinning me beneath those piercing blue eyes.

"I assume you're wondering why you're here."

"Yes, sir. I didn't apply for this position," I said with my voice even shaking a bit. "I am not so sure that I am qualified."

An eyebrow arched, the corner of his mouth quivering into what could almost be a smile. "You're here because I need someone with quick reflexes-in their intellect-someone adaptable, resourceful. I've done my research, Miss Matthews.

You've been managing things most people in this city couldn't even imagine. That's exactly what I need."

My mind struggled hard to catch what he had just said. He knew about my life? My struggles?

How it came upon him was unknown, nor did it matter right now.

"I know that you have taken responsibility for taking care of your grandmother, juggling jobs just to get by," he said in a soft tone. "That takes more strength than most people realize."

I blinked as the weight of his words sank in. "How do you know all that?"

"I make it my business to know everything about the people I hire," he said smoothly. "Which is why I think you fit the position perfectly.

What you do with so little, proves you can handle more. I'm offering you an opportunity, Miss Matthews.

The question is-are you ready to take it?"

First, I sat dumbfounded and searched for words. It couldn't be real life. My whole life was a scrape-by existence, and I'd never thought I would ever sit in an office like this talking to a man like Nathaniel Sterling. And yet, here I was.

I swallowed hard and marshaled my thoughts. "I could never fathom why you would want me over someone better qualified, but I won't let you down."

Nathaniel sat back in his chair, eyeing me closely. "Excellent. I don't take too well to defeat. You'll be working very closely with me on all matters concerning the company.

The work is demanding, but the rewards are great. We have a deal?"

I nodded. "Yes. We do have a deal."

He extended his hand and I shook it, the firmness in his grasp leaving little to the imagination. This was it-my chance to change everything.

"Good," he said, letting go of my hand and standing. "You start tomorrow at eight. Don't be late."

I rose-my heart still racing, but now it was with excitement. "Thank you, Mr. Sterling."

"Call me Nathaniel," he said as I turned to take my leave, his eyes never off mine.

With a whoosh, the elevator doors closed behind me, and I let loose a deep breath. It finally was, quite possibly happening-my dark horse or, rather, my light knight had finally arrived.

Of course, how it would be to work with Nathaniel Sterling in the future remained unknown to me. There was surely one thing in life: my life would never ever be the same again.

I resumed work as the secretary after a training I took from a staff in the office, I couldn't sleep overnight due to the excitement in me.

My palms were clammy by the time I walked into Sterling Enterprises that morning, my mind racing through all the way.

"Just breathe, Peace," I whispered as the elevator opened at the top floor. Sleek and intimidating-just as it had been yesterday, that didn't stop the pulse of anxiety running through me.

Save for a few early birds, the office was pretty much deserted. Nathaniel's door was shut, which meant I had some time to acclimate at the new desk outside his office. I just stared at the computer in front of me-at least trying to figure out how to log on.

"Okay, not freaking out," I whispered to myself, hitting random keys. "Totally not freaking out."

"Need a hand?

I jumped-my heart almost quite literally leaping out of my chest. Standing beside my desk was a tall man with warm brown eyes and a friendly smile. He was sharply dressed, yet not in such a way that it screamed intimidation, like Nathaniel had been. More approachable, like someone you actually could talk to.

"Sorry I don't mean to bother you." he said, chuckling. "You must be the new hire-Peace, right?"

I nodded, shock dissolved fast with several rapid blinks. "Yeah, that is me-despite still trying to figure out how to log in."

"No problem. I'm Lucas Smith, Chief Revenue Officer." He extended his hand and I shook it-feeling a little more at ease now. "It can be overwhelming on your first day-especially working for Sterling. "It can be intense."

I laughed nervously. "Yeah, intense is one way of putting it."

Lucas smiled; his eyes danced with humor. "Don't worry, you will soon understand everything, do you want me to help you with that login?"

"Please, I feel like I'm already in over my head." I handed him my ID card, and he had me logged in into the system in a matter of seconds, whizzing through them with a familiar ease.

"There you go," he said, stepping back as I took over the mouse. "You'll be a master at this in no time." I smiled gratefully. "Thanks, Lucas. Really appreciate the help."

"No problem, I'll be around if you need anything. And when Sterling is giving you a hard time, just come find me. I've got your back."

His words caught me off guard; nice though, to learn there was someone in here who wasn't as daunting as the rest of the building. I watched him disappear into one of the offices off to the side, confident stride carrying him away.

No sooner had I become engrossed in the work on the screen in front of me than Nathaniel's office door opened. He stepped out and his eyes sliced directly to me.

"Peace, in my office. Now."

I swallowed hard and rose to my feet, my whole body sizzling as I followed him inside. He didn't say another word until the door had clicked shut behind me. He strode across the room to his desk, sat down, and waved a hand toward the chair opposite. "You're settling in, I assume". He asked, his voice as sharp and cold as usual.

"Yes, sir," I replied, professional enough. "Lucas helped me log on, and I am wading through this morning's e-mails."

He raised an eyebrow at me. "Lucas?" Yes Mr. Lucas Smith-he was nice enough to help."

Something flickered across Nathaniel's face, gone again in a moment. "Good, you'll have to work with all the department heads, Lucas included.

Don't let his friendliness distract you from the job at hand." I blinked, taken aback. "I won't, I'm here to do my job."

"Good," he repeated again, eyes boring into mine. "I have no time for distractions, Peace. Keep your focus on the tasks at hand. We're in the middle of a major project, and I expect efficiency."

"I nodded hastily as it turned the heat up." Understood sir, I replied.

"Now," he went on, his voice no less firm, but the merest fraction softer, "there is a meeting at 10 with the board.

You'll be minute-taking and dispatching the letters. "See everything's perfect." Yes sir.

He merely nodded curtly and sent me away. I hightailed out of his office in a rush, with my head spinning. This job was going to be more intense than I could have imagined anytime: every second walking around perfection and botching.

I was back to my desk, buried in work-emails, Nathaniel's calendar updated and ready for that board meeting.

Buried so deep into work, actually, that I didn't even see Lucas approach until he tapped lightly against my desk.

"How's it going, Peace?" he asked, leaning against the cubicle wall with that blasted easy smile. It's not easy but I'm trying to figure things out, I said, looking up at him. "I have a meeting with the board coming up."

"Board meetings at Sterling can get pretty intense," Lucas said in a conspiratorially hushed tone. "But just remember to stay cool, and they won't be able to get under your skin. You'll do fine." I smiled in a appreciative way. "Thanks for the pep talk. I might need it."

Lucas chuckled.

"We all did when we first started, trust me. I have been here six years, and I still get a little nervous when he is around."

Before I could utter anything in response, my phone began to buzz.

A notification of an email had come through onto my screen-it was from Nathaniel.

"Need you to pull together the revenue reports for this month. Lucas will send you the data. I want it done by 3 p.m."

I turned to Lucas, who looked just a little too pleased at whatever was on the screen. "Looks like I've got my next task." "I'll send over the reports right now," Lucas said, pushing off the wall to head back to his office.

Morning was fast slipping, and I juggled e-mails, the board meeting, and the reports Nathaniel wanted. Lucas sent across all that I needed, and true to his word, he was helpful without being too in-your-face.

It felt good to know that at least one person in this company didn't think of me as a cog in the machinery wheel.