Harley’s P. O. V.
“Quit slacking off already, or else we will get in trouble,” Molly whispered while mopping the floor. I rolled my eyes and glanced behind me for the eleventh time.
“Stop it,” she said a little louder.
I wanted to, but I couldn’t help myself; I wanted to look at him when he walked in.
“For once, act like you are truly grateful to get a job at such an amazing company,” Molly said seriously as I huffed softly.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered while my hands tightened on the mop.
I was more than grateful to be in such a well-known company that everyone dreamed of working in. Not only was it at the top of the business chain, but it was also very well respected and trusted. The only one who made all that possible was my savior, Mr. Glen Brown.
Flashback ~
Ever since I can remember, I have always been on my own. I grew up in an orphanage that was always lively and friendly; sadly, I was the freak that everyone mocked just because I told the truth about how I heard a voice talking to me in my mind. No one wanted to adopt me or look me in the eyes as the years went on, and my friends found new places they called home while I stayed behind. My only source of comfort was my tears and the voice in my head, which I later named Jade because it was female. It understood my pain and comforted me when I felt like dying; Jade became a great part of me.
When I turned eighteen and began manipulating fire with my hands, everyone became afraid of me, and in no time, a few of the people I counted as family turned on me. They chased me out of the orphanage with only one thing in mind: to hunt me down like I was a monster.
I ran for my life for days, only stopping to drink water or to relieve myself.
I was so scared at night, and my feet were sore. My clothes were slightly ripped from all the bushes I had passed through. Jade encouraged me to get back on my feet every time I fell down and refused to stand.
She rumbled in anger, claiming she was more than what I thought she was and that she would protect us. That made me ignore the pain I was in and move my feet, forcing myself to walk further.
When I reached the city, I felt very relieved because where I had come from was a small town that was never busy. The nun usually warned us about how life was in the big city; she said the city would suck the living light out of us orphans, so we all feared it. But now, looking at the big buildings and streetlights, I felt happy, and my heart became lighter. A lot of people were moving back and forth, happily chatting. It made me feel relieved. I was finally safe from those who wanted to harm me, at least for the time being.
I walked forward, trying my best to smile and not look out of place, and that’s when I saw it: the most beautiful, tallest building I had ever seen was ahead. It was covered in glass that sparkled like black diamonds, and a man was hanging by a swing-like machine, cleaning the glass. I slowly walked towards the building in awe while bumping into a few people who looked at me with disgust.
I sincerely apologized to them, but on the other hand, I didn’t want to. Jade was filling my mind with images of us burning them down to the ground when they yelled at us. It was scary, but I trusted her despite that.
I reached the entrance and noticed a few men with cameras standing a bit far away from the entrance. I ignored them and took a few steps closer to the glass door. I lifted my hand to touch it but stopped when it opened; a tall, scary-looking man came out of the place and glared at me.
“This is no place for a beggar,” he said angrily as he looked down at me. I quickly took a step back in fear and bumped into a hard chest. A warm sensation spread throughout my body when a cold hand was pressed on my shoulder.
“Alfred, you shouldn’t be rude to a lady,” a deep, husky voice that made my heart beat rapidly said behind me.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Brown,” the scary man answered respectfully.
“Miss, are you perhaps looking for a job?” the voice asked again.
I slowly turned and then took a sharp breath.
The man who stood in front of me was tall, taller than the man named Alfred. His hair was an unusual black with gray stripes on top; his eyes were a mesmerizing gray, his jaw was strong, and his lips were a darker shade of pink.
When he smiled, showing off his beautiful white teeth, I couldn’t help but smile back.
“Are you looking for a job?” he asked again softly.
I wanted to tell him I wasn’t, but my head nodded on its own.
“Great, you have come at the right time. Alfred, yesterday I overheard Sophie complaining about being understaffed. Why don’t you take this beautiful young lady to her and let her give her something to do?” he said, then smirked and walked past me.
My eyes followed his every move, even when he went into the elevator.
“Miss, come with me,” Alfred said with a glare.
I looked at him, then I quickly nodded and followed him inside.
“I still don’t understand why Mr. Brown would want someone as ugly as you to work in this company,” Alfred murmured loudly.
I looked at myself, then sighed sadly. I wasn’t like any of the beautiful girls I knew at the orphanage. I was the complete opposite of them. I was fat, and I stood at 5’9″. My hair was scruffy, black, and long, and my eyes were a normal dark brown; nothing about me was great or special.
It wasn’t the first time someone had called me ugly, so I wasn’t even upset about it. Ugly was one of my names.
“Stop it,” Jade warned loudly in my head.
“Sir,” Alfred called.
I quickly looked up and was met by cold gray eyes. Something felt off; the man who had been kind to me now looked angry and cold.
“Figure out where to take that trash. Sophia won’t have anything to do with it,” he said in a threatening tone that made me flinch in fear.
“Sir, you said I should…”
“Didn’t you see the reporters outside? Any slight mistake you could have made would have been news to them,” he said furiously as I felt my heart ache.
“I’m so sorry,” Alfred apologized.
The man glanced at me with disgust, then turned and walked away. I couldn’t understand why his words hurt me so much when I heard similar things every day at the orphanage.
“What should I do now?” Alfred asked, then turned to look at me.
“If I send you out now, they will eat up the story even more because they are still around. I can even see the newspaper headline tomorrow. President Brown chases a beggar after pretending to be nice,” he said softly, and then grabbed one of my hands in his.
“Hey, there is no need to cry,” he whispered.
What? Me crying? What did he mean?
I lifted my free hand and touched my face in shock. It was wet! How? I had no idea I was crying.
“Come now,” he said, then walked with me into a large room where I found a tall, slim redhead cleaning the floors. Immediately, she saw me and smiled.
“The big boss has instructed me to bring her here to you. As of today, she will work with you, so play nice. She will be under your care, so take good care of her. Also, she will share the same apartment you are in; after all, it’s the company’s,” he said as the lady gasped.
“It’s not my orders but Mr. Brown’s. If you have a complaint, go and complain to him. Just make sure if you do, you don’t piss him off, because you won’t only lose your job but also the company’s apartment that you live in.”He said seriously as the lady glared at him and then smiled at me.
“Hi, I’m Molly. I’m twenty-six years old, and I have been a cleaner at this company for five years,” she said, extending her hand. I pulled my hand from Alfred’s and took her extended one with a smile. There was something about her that made me feel at ease.
“Hi, I’m Emma. I’m eighteen years old, and I’m an orphan,” I answered.
“Well then, I’ll leave you ladies to work,” Alfred said.
I quickly moved to stand in his way.
“I hope one day I will be of help to you. Thank you for your kindness,” I whispered.
I wasn’t so dumb as to not understand that it was because of his help I was even getting a job when that handsome man had clearly ordered him to get rid of me.
~ End of flashback ~
“Emma again,” Molly yelled.
“Sorry, I was just wondering if Mr. Brown will be running late,” I said as Molly stood upright.
“Are you freaking kidding me? Have you forgotten that time he yelled at us for accidentally…”brushing a mop over his shoe?” she asked.
“That was our mistake,” I answered.
“What about that time he pushed you down roughly and called you disgusting just because you bumped into him?” she asked.
“I was at fault,” I answered.
“When will you ever realize that the man is a jerk?” she asked.
“Never,” I answered under my breath.
“Are you like those weird women who enjoy being treated like trash?” she asked.
“No!” I exclaimed.
“Then why can’t you just give up? You have been working here for a year, and the man doesn’t even look at you. When he does, he always has this cold, disgusted look on his face,” she said.
“No, he doesn’t,” I answered and then continued to mop.
Deep down, I knew she was right. To him, all I was was a disgusting woman who was hired by luck as a cleaner or by mistake.