35

When I got home, Andy was already at the door with a big box of Ben & Jerry Cookies Dough. god i love this man But he is also the only one. My best friend. My support and my confidant. I don't have a father anymore, he died a long time ago in the war in Afghanistan. The fate of so many soldiers. He was a single parent with my grandmother. She now lives in a retirement home. I visit you twice a month and tell you about my exciting job and my everyday life.

Speaking of which is now done for the time being. Because I was now unemployed. The thought of it immediately brought tears to my eyes.

Andy hugged me right away and we walked to my apartment together. Arriving on the sofa, armed with two spoons, I told him everything... "and then I pushed him away with all my strength and ran down the stairs and out of the building as fast as I could," I finished my sentence.

"Alea I don't know what to say. But there's something very fishy about it." Andy responds to my story. "I mean he fires you, he's freezing and on the same day he's running after you and touching you like that? He's leaning his forehead on yours? Honestly, I could understand if something had happened between you but like this?"

"And then this sentence: There's no other way, I have to. What the hell does he mean by that?"...Andy continues to analyze..."I've told you before that I think the guy likes you and somehow his behavior just confirms me more and more"...

"I'm into me?" I prompted, faking a laugh. "Oh believe me Andy, you should have seen him the morning he quit me. There was nothing in his eyes but pure dislike for me. He knows perfectly well that he destroyed my career with this dismissal. No company, no bank would still want me after the disaster".

"Oh Alea, don't be so negative now. You don't even know that yet. You're damn good at what you do and you'll find a job again, I'm sure of it" Andy tried to build me up. But I knew better. The business only runs on recommendations.

And any employer would call my previous boss first. I'm sure that Mr. Silva doesn't take good care of me. And since he's one of the most influential CEOs in town, his word is law.

It was already midnight and I was just empty inside. Andy put me to bed and I closed my eyes exhausted. When I woke up the next morning I had to realize that I didn't have to go to work now because I didn't have any more. I don't know when was the last time I had that much time. I absolutely didn't know what to do with myself. I didn't want to go to Grandma's because I had to digest everything myself first.

The day was damn long. Especially when you're aimless. I scrubbed the entire apartment. Since she's small, it didn't take long either. I cleaned the windows, sorted my documents for years, had a beauty day, went shopping and yet it was only 5 p.m. God I need a new job badly or I'm going insane.

The next day, it was now Wednesday, I decided to go straight through job advertisements on the Internet. We were in Miami, but my job was a bit more specialized and there weren't too many vacancies. Exactly two pieces.

I started writing my application. She just had to be perfect. I didn't want to give up hope entirely just yet, so I put a lot of effort into writing it.

Then I put on my white, tight-fitting business dress to go into town. I need application pictures. The pictures turned out perfect, my hair lay really well today. Andy was proud that I didn't bury my head in the sand. I had dinner with him in the evening before I went back home.

When I got home, I took off my high heels and dropped onto my sofa when the doorbell suddenly rang. I looked at my phone, it was 9:15 p.m.

Confused about who that could be, I ran to the video intercom. The porter spoke about the facility that a certain Mr. Silva would like to come up to me. Immediately my heart started beating wildly. What the hell is he doing here?

I was hoping I'd never have to see him again and now he's showing up at my house after all that happened? I became angry. And I decided to tell the porter that he can let Mr. Silva up because I would personally tell him right now to leave me alone, once and for all.

I was waiting at the entrance to my apartment when the elevator chimed and the doors opened. There he was. In his hands he carried a cardboard box. He came towards me and stopped just in front of me.

I could see straight away that the box contained my personal belongings, which I left in the bank in the stairwell.

I looked up at him unperturbed and said harshly, "You didn't have to bring that in person. Your assistant could have sent it by post." He breathed in audibly. "Hello to you too," he mocks.

Then he just walked past me into my apartment and put the box down next to my shoe cabinet. Outraged, I followed him and was just about to complain that he just walked into my apartment without me inviting him in, when he said: "But I wanted to bring the things over personally".

I took a deep breath. This man drives me crazy. "Well, you've done that now, you can go now" I said and my hand pointed to my door. He looked dejected. He probably doesn't like that I treat him like this. But what can I say, he's not my CEO anymore so I can be as condescending to him as I want.

Mr. Silva ran to the door and I followed him confident of victory. Just as he was about to step out, he closed the front door from the inside. He left his hand on the door leaf. He looks down briefly rather than looking deep into my eyes: "Take care of yourself".

I shook my head and laughed mockingly. He doesn't have them all anymore. The guy's schizophrenic or he's on some kind of drugs. I can't explain it any other way. "Out," I said, completely calm and confident.

But Mr. Silva hesitated. Suddenly he grabbed my waist and pushed me against my front door. Before I could realize what he was doing, his lips were on mine.