“I got the job,” I sang as I rushed into Cora’s room, shaking her shoulders until she roused awake. “Oh my goodness, Cora. I got the fucking job!”
She sat up straight at that, rubbing her eyes with the back of her left palm. “Way to go, Matthews. Should I go get some wine?”
“Yes!” I howled, jumping about in victory. I finally had a job. I could get enough money to pay for rent and Finn’s schooling. I could pay for anything!
Cora raced down the stairs to the kitchen, returning with the leftover Martini we had last night after dinner, along with two tall glasses. I held my glass firmly as she poured, a goofy smile on her face.
“A toast,” we clicked our glasses together, giggling as two schoolgirls asked on a date. “To many more victories, high salaries, and hot bosses that aren’t creepy.”
“Yeah!”
“I’m so happy for you.”
“Thank you so much, Cora.”
We gulped our drinks down, distracted by the sound of Finn’s light footsteps as he walked, rubbing his eyes. “Mommy?”
“Darling,” I placed my empty glass on the desk and scooped him up, fitting him on my hip. The corner of his lips is strewn with white, drool marks. I wiped them off with the edge of his pajama shirt. “Good morning, sweetheart. Sleep well?”
He nodded, yawning. “Yes, Mommy.”
“That’s great. Guess what?”
His face became solemn. “Mommy got a new job?”
“Why, yes! How did you know that?”
“I heard it from my room.”
“Good boy. Now Mommy can buy you all the toys you like.”
He threw his hands up in the air in excitement, wriggling in my arms. “Yay!”
I lowered him to the ground and he gave me a long kiss on my chin before dashing out of the room. I laughed, then turned to sit on the edge of Cora’s futon. She was observing me with a mischievous smirk.
“What’s with that look?”
“Nothing,” she shrugged but the smile was still there. She raised the glass to her lips. “I’m just glad that you’ll be working for Finn’s dad. All hope is not entirely lost.”
I rolled my eyes. “You talk as if we’d be doing something other than work. Cora, get out of your head. Nothing is gonna happen.”
“Alright then. But I won’t be ready to listen when you come home and start telling me how he banged the shit out of you on his office desk.”
I smacked her arm. “Cora! What in the world am I going to do with you?”
She chuckled. “You could get me a sexy CEO of my dreams as well. Someone with inky black hair, cold green eyes, and a domineering attitude. Not over the top dominant, but just the right amount of possessiveness.”
I snorted, packing up the empty Martini bottle and glasses. “How about your boss? You said it yourself that he’s hot.”
“He’s married already.”
“Yikes. Well, that’s just about it. We should quit talking about this subject about banging hot bosses though.”
“Why? Because MacDonald guy is one?”
“Because they’re not what they seem. They wouldn’t be faithful to us even though they’re interested.”
“You don’t know about that. And frankly, you’re the one who lied that you don’t remember him. You two are both liars, so it’s even now.”
God, she was too damn smart for her good.
I got Finn freshened up and ready for school before I began my preparations for work. Cora offered to help drop him off. She was also the one who prepared breakfast because I was spending too much time deciding which dress I would wear. It was my first day, and first impressions were the best even though I’d already given a bad impression by lying…that was just an interview. It wasn’t me, the real Elaine. I was going to walk into that company and have everyone like me at first glance.
After one long, a boring hour later, I stepped out of the closet and looked myself over in the mirror.
Sexy black short fitted gown? Check.
Hair combed thoroughly and tastefully straightened? A check.
Makeup even though I dreaded wearing one but, oh, well, first day jitters? Huge check.
Hot black-studded heels and black shades? Double check!
Still sleepy and got no time to even sneak in a sandwich for breakfast? Check, check, and triple-check!
I boarded a cab this time affording to slush an extra buck or two for my first day. I crossed my legs, glancing out the window as we sped down the bustling and crowded streets of New York. The early morning commuters were filling up buses and cars were honking impatiently, everyone in a hurry to get to work on time. Unfortunately for me, as I was about to relax, the stupid cab engine croaked and just came to a stop right in the middle of the road causing a commotion behind as angry car owners came out to urge the driver on.
“What’s the problem?” I stepped out and tried to pacify the car owners, explaining that it was not his fault that the car stopped. It took a bit of effort to calm them down but they backed up when the car started up again. I heaved a relieved sigh as we began moving, my excitement for my first day to go by without a hitch down the drain.
“I’m so sorry, Ma’am,” the driver wiped his sweaty head with a white handkerchief, making eye contact with me through the center mirror. He couldn’t be more than thirty and had strawberry blonde curls peeking beneath his black cap. His eyes were a dizzying golden. “I had this cab fixed last week but now it seems the mechanic played a fast one on me.”
“It’s fine.” I exhaled, consulting my watch. Work hours started from eight o’clock but it was already fifteen minutes gone. “Please have it driven back to him for proper servicing after you drop me off.”
“Okay, ma’am.”
He refused to take any money from me when I got out, but I kept insisting. “You offered a service to me. It’s your pay, you earned it.”
“But I brought you late for work.”
“It doesn’t matter. Here.” I pushed the ten-dollar fare into his hands and ran towards the towering building like a deranged woman. I was forced to calm down as I made my way past the lobby, waving to the middle-aged receptionist. I got into the elevator and headed straight for the second floor.
Today was already starting bad. I took off my shoes, sighting him from afar, looking at the golden watch on his wrist and stamping his feet gently as though watching for someone.
Crap.
“G-good morning…Sir,” I panted when I reached him, bending forward with my palms on my knees. “I’m so sorry I’m ”
“Do you have any idea how long I’ve been waiting for you?” I straightened, stunned and confused. His eyes were stone cold.
“The cab broke down. It was never my ”
“I don’t bloody care. You were sent an email of acceptance along with a summary of what your work entails. Also the official work hours. It’s just the first day and you’re running late.”
I lowered my head in shame. A few women passing by glanced at us. “I’m so sorry, Mr. Sturm.”
“Sorry for yourself. This is the height of incompetence. I don’t deal with incompetent people.”
“It won’t happen again, Sir.”
“It better not, else I don’t think I’ll have twice as much patience. Come into my office. You’ve got a lot of work to do.”
I stood rooted in place. How could he be so uptight?
He whirled around and barked. “Are you coming or what?”
My legs loosened, as well as my tears which I wiped away hastily.
Well, my first day at work was going not so pretty well, I guess.