Chapter 5 I won't stoop so low as to work for him

I stomped out of the building, coming here was a waste of precious time.

I got the job alright, but the way he acted towards me was uncalled-for. I felt like banging my head on any near pole, out of frustration.

How dare that stupid male?

Who gave him the audacity to talk to me like that?

He might be the richest man in the entire universe, but that doesn't give him the right to talk to me like he did.

Did he want to get a good PA?

Must he make use of such methods?

I took a taxi back to our apartment, as I don't want an unnecessary meeting with the likes of red lips.

I'm not in the mood to talk or smile to anyone. I just want to go home, and have a much-needed rest.

The house was quiet when I stepped in, guess Grys heeded my warnings.

I made a sandwich for myself since that's the only food I can make with the little we have left, We will go hungry by next week at the rate our food is dawdling.

Bills left unpaid are leaving a dent on our table and the thought of them raises my blood pressure, which isn't good for the family.

We already have a sick sibling, no need to add to the already massive burden on our shoulders.

“Brother, we're back," Mara said in her sing-song voice, I smiled despite my earlier worry, she's an empath and I don't want her picking up on my mood.

“So soon?” I dramatically gasped. I thought you are going to stay in school for a long, long time.

“Quite the play.” She rolled her eyes at me. “It's the normal time we are supposed to return.”

“Good afternoon, Lys,” Mikel greats as he dropped his bag on the cushion.

“How was your day?” I smile at him, expecting one in return, but he didn't do as expected.

“It was normal, like every other day.” He took his bag and walked off like he does whenever I ask him questions.

“Must your answers always be like that?” Mara scoffed at him before turning to me, with a smile. “What are we having this afternoon?”

“The same sandwich,” I replied.

Her hopeful face turned sour.

“We have been eating that for a week straight, I can't take more of that”, she left in anger.

“Mara?" I called out to her, but she ignored me.

You see, this is one of the reasons I need a job badly.

I can't keep disappointing my siblings. They are relying on me to make things better for them. This is my duty, as their eldest brother, to take good care of them.

*

*

Mikel made a sandwich, took a seat opposite me and dug into our almost two weeks straight diet, “where is Mara?”

He shrugged, “dunno, maybe she's somewhere sulking" he whispered.

His tone of voice didn't surprise me at all, ever since I've known him, I haven't heard him shout, the tune of words he uses when angry is the same he makes use of if happy.

He made fast work of his lunch and stood up to leave, “right before I forget, we asked to pay the sum of $500 each for an excursion trip to New York, it's part of our scheme of work”, he turned to walk out.

“When is it due?” I ask.

“Next week”, he said before walking out.

I watch him leave.

God!

I facepalmed. How am I going to get things done? How can I get that amount of money before it's due for payment?

I want my siblings to follow others on this trip.

“Lys, why is your face like that of a woman who lost the love of her life to her best friend?" Grys joked.

I smiled sadly.

You won't understand.

I shook my head. He won't understand the wheels running through my head.

“Seriously Lys, why's your face like this?” he looked closely at me, “didn't the job interview go well?”

“I got the job." I forced a smile.

“I can sense the “but” after the sentence.” He gave me a knowing look.

I sighed, “The boss is one shitty egomaniac!” I looked surprised at my outburst.

I have never raised my voice in speech, not even when Mara was acting like a pain in the arse.

I take it all in good grace.

“How so?”

I can tell he's intrigued.

Leave it to my brother to think everything is a joke, even my never seen before the outburst.

I narrated the whole incident to him (the interview part only).

“That's one shitty interview bro, but tell me…” looking around to make sure no one was around, he leaned in closer as if whispering the secret of the universe, I won't lie that I wasn't intrigued, knows what he wants to say.

“DO YOU MEAN TO TELL ME YOU WERE INTERVIEWED BY THE SOUGHT AFTER CEO?” He boomed.

So much for the secret of the universe, my eardrums hurt like hell.

“Shit, Grys! What in God's name did you just do?” I rubbed my painful ears, glaring at him.

“Sorry Lys, I couldn't help myself”, he looked sorry, but the tune of his voice indicates a smile, one he's trying so hard to hide.

“What should I do now?”

He shrugged, “the balls in your court”, he stood up, “play it or leave it, your choice”, he walked to his room.

So much for relying on my brother. I should have known there is no way in hell Grys will give me good advice. He's not the serious kind of person.

As for the boss, I won't work for him. He can go up to hell with his job over. I don't care, and I never will.

I won't stoop so low as to work for him, I vowed.

*

Next morning —

“ Good Morning, please follow me”, I looked confused at the woman who seemed to materialize out of thin air, she must have sensed my confusion, “Mr Sly asked me to show you the way to his office should you arrive before him.”