Chapter : 3

Jessica's P.O.V. :

A small ray of sunlight seeped through the curtains of my room, bringing me alive once again into a world in which I didn't want to exist.

I checked my phone to see the time and it was written 4:30 am in bold black font.

I hardly had any sleep, maybe for around 3-4 hours.

The sunshine was so radiant, it almost felt as if a new life had been given to me, as if I was born again.

The curtains of my room were a shade of light blue, which almost looked pale yellow due to the sunlight. The weather was beautiful, the day was beautiful, but not for me.

I had to repeat the same routine of building a new facade everyday.

My notification ringtone rang in my phone and I diverted my eyes from the curtains to my phone, whipping a bunch of hair back from my face.

Early morning messages were nothing new for me. They would always be from my assistant Kate. 

She knows I don't like it when people call me at early morning so she simply leaves a message.

Early morning calls were welcomed only when it used to be from Ash.

I pushed these thoughts to the back of my head and opened the message to be notified about yet another official meeting in London.

From : Kate : Good morning madam. This is to inform you that the Edgar Company has invited you for an official meeting in London next week.
Thank you.
Regards, Kate

I cannot attend the meeting. I have some serious upcoming projects for my company which I need to focus and work on. It's due next week.

Moreover, London has a lot of memories attached with it. I cannot just jeopardise my hardwork for this meeting, it is not worth it.

I typed in a reply.

To : Kate : Cancel it.

I comprehended for a minute whether to press send or not, because I knew Kate was a hardworking girl and she would be waiting for a reply from me, with her phone in one hand and her laptop in front of her, ready to mail Edgar Company.

After a minute or so, I pressed "Send", ready to face any circumstances that come with my decision.

My company is more important to me at this moment.

I quickly got a reply from her saying;

From : Kate : Okay, madam. Have a great day!
Regards, Kate

I smiled to myself as I imagined Kate being so busy at this early hour. She was really hardworking.

I remembered the first time I interviewed her, and she was literally shaking, her hands sweaty. At first, I thought she wouldn't be able to handle the pressure, but she never failed to surprise me and achieved her goals in time.

My apartment was completely silent, not a single sound could be heard and I liked it this way.

I have a big mansion, but I prefer living in this apartment because it's luxurious and because I can live alone here.
The mansion is just a place to stay, it's not home. I can't live alone there because the beautiful memories still taunt me. I wanted to move on and leave everything behind which had tints of our memories attached with them. I wanted to start new, start fresh.
So, I bought this apartment and have been staying here ever since.

My schedule notification rang, signalling me to get up and get ready, otherwise I would be late.

I opened the curtains of my room & looked out of my huge window to see a big banner of my company in the hoarding board. It made me feel really proud of myself and my co-workers.

It made me believe that I actually accomplished what I've been wanting to since so many years.

A smile crept its way up to my lips.

My phone went off again, ringing the same monotonous ring, notifying me that it was 6 am and I had only one hour to get ready.

Punctuality and obediency has been the key to my success.
Since the day I built this company, the official opening time has been 7 am.

And let me tell you, never have I ever been late to work and I'm glad neither have my co-workers.
They are well aware of the guidelines.

I quickly took a shower and got ready in my navy pencil skirt and a white top, throwing a matching blazer over my shoulders.

White is my colour, I don't like any other colour, neither I wear anything except white, black, blue or grey.

Just like my life, my clothes are colourless.

My rose gold watch rested on the watch section of my closet.
I grabbed my black stilettos and slipped my feet in it while wearing the watch in my right hand.

Most people say you should wear watch in your left hand or do so, but me being the extraordinary self I am, I like wearing my watch in my right hand.

I unlocked my phone and saw a message from Kate.

From : Kate : The Edgar Company is being persistent madam, the director is saying he wants your presence in this meeting, it will be an honour for them to have you.
Regards, Kate

I quickly typed in a reply;

To : Kate : We'll talk it through in the office. Arrange a meeting at sharp 7:30 am & mail everyone.

Grabbing my car keys from the table, I walked into the driveway and got in my car.

I started the engine, and drove off to my office which was a ten minutes ride.

The weather was indeed beautiful today, and it reminded me of the old days when I used to walk in the pavements with him, the wind blowing so subtly, pushing my loose hair back and the leaves a beautiful shade of green, complimenting the beautiful green sky.

But everything has changed since then.

Everyone wondered why I didn't hire a driver to drive me everywhere I wanted because I was so rich and stuff.

To be honest, I liked my freedom. I liked driving myself to wherever I wanted. And hence, I didn't have a driver.

Of course, I had a driver for the official purpose, but other than that, I've never wanted a driver.

I pulled into the parking lot of my office and immediately the guard greeted me and took the keys.

I simply nodded.

I checked the time and it was sharp 7 am.

The security guard opened the big glass doors I entered the office with my bag hanging on the inner vertex of my elbow.

Everyone stood up and greeted me as I walked to my cabin and nodded my head.

It almost felt as if everything was surreal, but this feeling engulfed me everyday and I was growing used to it more and more as each day passed.

I have become strong and fierce, people think twice before talking to me, not because I'm scary, but because they know the etiquettes of this office, of this company.

Kate was by my side all along as I walked, my high heels clattering with the beige tiled floor.

She was informing me about all the events that were going to happen, about all the meetings and official documents.

"Madam, you have an appointment with Mr. Chefford on Tuesday regarding the investment policy," She nodded her head and kept on reading from the board that rested in her hand as she chewed on the end of the pencil.

"Kate," I warned, without looking at her.

"Sorry madam, won't happen again." She replied nervously.

She understood exactly what I meant and took the pencil out from between her teeth and marked some lines on the papers as she juggled with the files and and the board in her hand.

Another guard open the door to my cabin and as I entered, I was welcomed yet again by the white walls of my office.

Awards, certificates and trophies on one side of the room and a big window on the other side.

There lay my well-furnished wooden desk and my big leather chair behind which rested my company's board, "The Westway Pvt. Ltd." on the wall lit in blue colour beautifully, complimenting the walls.

"Get me a black coffee, yeah?" I checked the files.

"Sure, two minutes madam." She nodded her head and smiled in response.

"Wait, no sugar though." I looked up at her.

"Okay , madam." She went out quickly and bought me my coffee which I had been drinking since last five years.

It was as bitter as it could be, tasting like tar on my tongue, but I didn't care. It matched my style.
It matched my life. Dark, empty and colourless.

I've always loved mocha frappè but ever since he is out of my life, I switched to black coffee.
Something which helped me overcome my sorrow.

I finished it off, setting the mug on my desk.

Whisking out my laptop, I opened it to see several mails from Edgar Company, some other companies and some from banks.

I didn't notice Kate still standing but as I looked up, I saw her lean figure looking at me innocently.

"You may leave now." I instructed politely.

"Thank you madam." She smiled, and walked out of my cabin.

I got up from my chair and walked out of my cabin only to see Shelly, the receptionist, flirting to some random guy while there waited a man in navy blue shirt and well-fitted trouser, for an appointment probably.

It made me angry. I cannot tolerate any kind of misuse of time.

One of the executives saw me, and he knew what was coming next.

I walked up to Shelly, "Miss Levine?"

She straightened up as soon as she saw me, an expression of horror shock all over her face.

Words refused to leave her mouth, her lower lip hung low.

Usually, I don't come out of my cabin after having my coffee but today, maybe it was fate or I don't know what, but I came out to check if everything was alright.

"In my cabin right now." I walked back to my cabin.

She came within a second and knocked on the glass door.

"Ma'am may I come in?" She asked hesitantly.

"Please do." I shut my laptop.

"Ma'am I can explain everything, I'm so sorr-" She started but I cut her off.

"Here." I passed her a small white envelope.

"What's inside this ma'am?" She reluctantly held it in her hand.

"Open it and you'll know." I looked her in the eye.

She tore the seal and opened it carefully, eyeing every word written in it.

It took her a whole of five minutes to read it all.

She looked up at me with a tinge of annoyance and her face full of astonishment.

"Ma'am I can really explain," She pleaded.

"You may get your stuff and leave today. Thank you." I turned my focus back to my laptop, opening it and replying back to emails.

"You cannot just fire me like that ma'am, what wrong did I do?" She asked me.

"Well, Miss Levine, I guess you're already aware of that by now. If you were not ready for following the rules of my company then you shouldn't have accepted the job in the first place. There, in the first column it is specified very clearly that you cannot ditch your work during office hours, without my permission. And you were flirting with a random guy instead of attending the guy in the front desk who's been waiting for who knows how long. You're not paid to flirt with guys here. If you don't want to work, then you might as well get your stuff and leave. Thank you." I looked at her for a brief second and then continued to do my work.

"Ma'am pleas-" She started but I  cut her off.

"You may leave now." I spoke without any emotion.

I called Cameron to clear up Shelly's work station and hand her the stuffs and make her sign the papers.

And with that, she left my cabin and my company.

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A sneek-peek into Jessica's professional life! Let me know what you guys think about it. x

#BA

Much love,
Sonal x