Amber dressed to work the following morning with the determination of turning down the offer and submitting her already written resignation letter. She could not get over the guilt of having to deceive many people just because someone told her to in return for fame and filling her pocket.
She escorted her mother back to the hospital where she stopped to have a word with her doctor about her current situation.
“I think we will be able to see a donor faster than we expected because some of the patients pulled out of the treatment list. They don’t have money for the dialysis anymore and they gave up so your mother have moved up ten slots up the list” the doctor informed her and she didn’t know whether to be happy for her mother or sad for the patients that died or pulled out of the slot
“So we just have to hold on for a little while right?” she asked to clarify
“Yes, all you have to do is hold on for a little while and I am sure a miracle will happen sooner” the doctor assured her and she thanked him before leaving for work.
She looked at the resignation paper in her hand as she was riding the taxi to work and sighed. She was not sure how her life will go on from now but one thing was that she will survive no matter what. She dialed Mike’s number to ask if she could get a slot in the club since she would be jobless by evening.
“I am afraid you can’t. The club’s manager changed last week and he brought in his own girls so we don’t have any slot available except someone backs out” he said turning her down
“Oh I see” she muttered in disappointment
“Did something happen to your work? I thought you were giving up on stripping?” he asked further
“I suddenly wanted to try it again but since you said there is no slot then I just have to face my work” she said with a chuckle to hide her pain and they spoke for a bit before she ended the call and sighed.
She thought about the bills to pay and was relieved that at least, she wouldn’t have to pay for house rent for the rest of the year so she can pour anything she earns into the treatment of her mother till she gets a donor.
“I just have to hang in there for a little while” she said as the taxi pulled up in front of the mall.
She started applying for jobs at the communities and different companies with the assurance that no one would want to turn someone like her who have worked as a secretary of a successful CEO down but she didn’t get any positive report when she checked back in the afternoon.
“It’s a war out there” she muttered as she sat at the café to take a coffee during her break.
Tom have been out meeting different suppliers while telling her to stay back fix up the pending reports.
“He’s already practicing how to live life without me” she sighed once again and thought of not submitting her resignation letter but since her mind was made up and her mother’s word kept ringing in her heart, she kicked against the idea.
She finished the day’s job and went to Tom’s office to see him since he was now back to the office after meeting the suppliers.
“I don’t remember sending for you” he said breaking the silence after she stood there for over two minutes without talking
“I have something to say sir” she said pinching her thumb nails
“You can go on then” he stated not sparing her a glance
“I thought about your proposal and I don’t think I can do it. I mean there are many disadvantages attached to it and I don’t want to play a game of deceit since I was not trained to behave that way so my answer is no” she slowly said to him and he nodded before finally raising his head
“That’s very good. We actually thought the same. I must have been out of my senses for a while and thought about revealing my works to the world when I should be taking care of the company which is my place. I already ripped up my own part of the contract paper yesterday so feel free to rip yours up too and I am sure you know that the contract terms still stands” he said coldly and she was stung by his words.
One part of her was hopeful that he would be generous enough to let her keep her job but hearing what he said now, every fragments of hope she had completely drowned into the sea of pain. She wanted to curse him so bad but it was of no use since it was an agreement between the two of them. He had always lived his life according to the book so why would she expect her own to be different just because she is his secretary?
“This is my resignation letter” she said bringing it forward and he stretched his hand to receive it
“Since we are close to the end of the month, you should work till the end of the month and I will tell the HR department to process your payment and also the letter at once” he told her and she bowed a little before leaving the room with heavy feet.
“Thank you for the time you have used here and the professional services and supports you rendered, I appreciate that” he said as grabbed the door’s knob and she didn’t know when tears fell from her eyes.
She couldn’t point exactly to what made her cry. She didn’t know if it was the compliment or the fact that she will be jobless by the end of the month. She ran to the restroom and bawled her eyes out, she was so pained from the bottom of her heart because it was a tough decision for her to make.
She washed her face and felt refreshed once again. She wiped her face and looked into the mirror to see her pitiful but strong self.
“Let’s be strong” she said to herself and walked back to her desk.
She spent the rest of her week finishing up every pending works and making a collation of the necessary items they are expecting the next month since it would be a new season for the CEO and the incoming secretary to make their jobs easier.
*****
She got home and saw her roommate, Emily still on the bed with her body so hot. She insisted on going to the hospital but Emily to her she would be fine once she finished her medications.
“You should not toy with your health, I wonder why you suddenly came up with this high fever” She said mopping her forehead with a wet towel
“I think it’s due to school’s stress. We have been so busy these days” Emily lied as she closed her eyes to feel the coolness of the towel
“If you feel the workload is too much then you can excuse yourself from some. It’s not like classes is a do or die affair” she advised
“I am already forced to skip some so don’t scold me too much” Emily said with a groan
“You should wait here, I will get you some food” she said and picked up the bowl of water and towel before leaving the room to cook for her.
Just as she left, Eddy’s message came in and she picked her phone to check what he sent to see that he was asking after her health. She replied that she was sick but getting better so he shouldn’t worry but he insisted on coming over.
Within thirty minutes, he was at the door and when Amber opened the door to see him she was surprised that he came visiting without informing her.
“What are you doing here this late?” she asked scanning him from head to toe
“I was in the neighborhood so I decided to drop by” he said with a smile and she shifted for him to enter the house
“You didn’t even give me a head up” she whined and he pulled her into a hug
“I just wanted to surprise you a bit and also check up on Emily because I heard she was sick” he said and she hugged him back
“I actually think you being here is the best stress reliever” she pouted and snuggled into his arms
“Wait! Let me say hi to Emily and come back to you” he said and headed towards her room while Amber went to check what was on fire.
He went into the room to see her on the bed and asked if there was something wrong with the process but she shook her head.
“I heard it’s always like this. I don’t have any heavy complains or complications aside the fever” she replied trying to sit up
“Do you think she suspected?” he whispered to her and she shook her head
“There is no how she will know, it’s not like we live in the same room” she replied and he pulled her into a hug
“I am sorry for making you pass through all these trouble” he said and patted her back
They heard the footstep of Amber approaching the room and quickly separated themselves while she lied down back on the bed.
“My friend seems to be too fragile, she’s getting sick because of ordinary school work” he remarked and Amber hit him lightly
“Who told you school work is ordinary? I remember those times when you always whine about having to attend classes” Amber defended
“That was because those classes were extremely stressful” he countered
“They are extremely stressful for her too” she insisted and he gave in
He stayed for a while to chat with them before leaving and Amber followed him to his car. They talked over his work for a while too before finally going home and she went back inside to finish the works she brought from the office.
Finally, the end of the month rolled in and she packed up her things into a box, she went to bid Tom goodbye but he was not in his office so she just left after dropping a thank you note on his table.
“Tell Secretary Amber to send out the invitation for the new seasons to the VIP members” Tom instructed one of the team leaders
“Secretary Amber quitted today” she reminded him and he walked back to the office quickly to bid her goodbye but she was long gone.
He found the thank you note on the table and slumped into his chair before sighing deeply as he stared at it.
“Let’s be focused” he muttered and threw the note into one of the drawers before calling the HR to send in the new secretary as soon as possible.