With the wind slowly blowing through her long, blond hair, Melisa walked hesitantly into the building. The walls were covered with expensive paintings, although she wouldn't know much about them. Growing up in the jetties, those things were unfamiliar to her. The "jetties" were a culture of their own, with streets lined with small brick houses built with hard, proud, sweaty hands. It was a place where people looked out for each other. Through the mirrored windows, a caring smile was always willing to lend a hand.
I found myself staring at the cold walls, suddenly feeling sad, pondering her decision, and feeling guilty. No! I have a dream. This was always my plan. I just couldn’t stay there, not because I felt inferior or because I was so harshly labelled. I simply had a different idea of success, and I was not willing to settle for my own small brick house.
"Snap out of it, Melisa. This is your dream, your goal. She walked slowly to the counter, wondering if they could see her unsteady leg. At the counter, she looked up into cold eyes. "Good day," I stuttered. "Could you tell me where I will find Miss Harley?" The lady, who only now looked up, seemingly bored, answered, "And what would be your name?" Her lips deliberately pouting. "What is your business here?" Pulling my shoulders back, and realizing that this woman was being degrading, I answered, "I am here to see Miss Harley. I have an interview with her in half an hour, regarding an internship position she advertised." "Oh, okay. Second floor, the door on your left." Already bored with the conversation, she looked down.
As she ascended the first floor, her feet moved at a steady pace, and she felt grateful for her morning jogs. The people passing by all seemed professional, dressed in black suits and spiffy knee-high dresses, and they looked shocked and puzzled as they glanced at her. She knew why they were staring; her attire paled in comparison to their expensive clothes. She focused on every step, muttering to herself, "I will walk with pride." She wondered, "Am I seriously giving myself another lecture? Am I going insane?"
After finally reaching the second floor, she reflected on the three years she spent flipping burgers and waitressing at a bar before obtaining her education. It wasn't easy juggling her studies between two jobs, but she did it.
As she opened the large glass doors, she walked to the counter and was pleasantly surprised to see a friendly face. The wrinkles around her eyes and soft face didn't diminish the friendliness and openness of the person behind the counter. Immediately, Melisa felt at ease.
"Good day, can you point me in the direction of Miss Harley? I have an appointment there in a few minutes," Melisa asked.
The woman behind the counter replied, "Yes, dear. My name is Miss Anna, and you needn't worry. I will take you to his office."
Puzzled at her response, Melisa asked, "Mr. Harley?"
Anna seemed amused at her question. "Yes, dear, Mr. But it was probably a typo. No harm done."
Oblivious to the real reason for this 'typo', Melisa thought nothing of the error. After all, why would she? This didn't affect the opportunity.
Melisa followed Anna closely, avoiding eye contact with the people around her. She felt like she didn't belong there and feared that everyone could see through her. Anna led her to a blue door, knocked twice, and went in. "Miss Melisa, this is for you, from Ben," Anna informed her informally. Melisa found Anna's casual tone reassuring and assumed that Mr. Harley couldn't be that intimidating.
"Thank you," was the only response from the distracted, broad-shouldered man engrossed in his work. Anna glanced at Melisa, silently urging her to stay calm. Instead of giving any reassurance, she simply said, "Please have a seat, Miss Melisa. Mr. Harley will be with you shortly," and left the room slowly, waiting to see his reaction.
As Anna exited, Melisa sat on the edge of a large brown leather seat, patiently waiting for Mr. Harley to acknowledge her. After what felt like an eternity, Melisa began to feel irritated. While she understood that he might be preoccupied, his blatant disregard for her presence was frustrating. She was on the verge of leaving when he suddenly looked up. His face briefly showed surprise, and his features, softened by a three-day beard, seemed almost gentle. His tousled dark hair gave him a just-awoken look. In an instant, his light green eyes turned cold, piercing through her, and he appeared irritated by her presence as well.
Today was particularly tough. Work was piling up, and the presentation for the new contract was moved up by a week. Focusing solely on his work had always led to success, and landing this contract would put his company on the map. He turned his head, irritated that the pen was out of reach.
To his surprise, he found himself staring up into dark blue eyes. Where did she come from? How long had she been sitting there? And why hadn't Anna announced her presence? Clearing his mind and feeling annoyed with the distraction, Ben pulled himself together. "Excuse my distraction, what is your name?" Melisa, now devoid of fear, was angry. Who did he think he was? She might be worthless to him, but she was still a human being. "I am your two o'clock, Mr. Harley. I am Melisa, and I am here concerning the admin position."
"I do not know of such a position… miss… miss," "Melisa," she corrected him with a noticeably irritated voice. "Mmm, yes, Melisa, I am truly sorry for your troubles, but it seems there has been a mistake." "Thank you for your time," he continued, while he already focused on his work. "On your way out, ask Anna to send me the McGregor files and call for a cab for your troubles."
Baffled, she couldn’t believe his response. She used all of her savings to rent a room closer to be here faster. She bought this dress, which may seem mediocre to these people, but it cost her two weeks’ pay. Instantly furious, she lost all her professionalism. "I cannot believe that you made me come all this way, make all this effort to let me know it was a mistake. You don’t even look bothered. You know what, I am glad you are like this. Now I know what this company stands for! A snobbish boss with a disaster admin department riddled with ‘typos’."
Ben just stared at her. He couldn’t decide if he felt offended or amazed at this petite blond-haired girl. His eyes now noticed the pale orange dress and the soft but un-deliberate curves. She was no girl. Now intensely focusing on her every move, he was astonished to see no makeup in a city filled with shallow Barbies. How could this be? Again, wondering where she came from. Her hands now gesturing angrily in front of him are used to hard labor.
The furrow between her eyes almost made him smile, but he didn’t dare. She was very angry, but why? He suddenly had an intense urge to find out what had upset this beautiful woman. He wanted her to know that he would never intentionally upset her.
He eagerly waited, knowing deep down that this knowledge wouldn’t change the outcome of the situation. He would never knowingly involve her in his company. But before he could ask her, she stormed out of his office, her ponytail flipping from side to side. He wouldn’t dare follow her; it would raise suspicion, and he wouldn’t allow that, not now.
Melissa, seeing red, almost ran out of the office. Holding back the tears filling her eyes, she hastily walked down the grey passageways, not noticing the expressionless stares she was receiving. She only knew she wouldn’t give them the gratification of seeing her cry. At the counter, she looked up. Anna's smile turned into confusion and anger.
"What’s wrong, dear?" Anna asked.
Melissa lost all her bravado, now feeling tired, lonely, and devastated with disappointment. "He is a rude, arrogant human being. I have never been so humiliated in my life. Good day to you, Miss Anna," Melissa said as she walked to the exit. She turned her head. "I am truly glad I met you. I am sure you are the nicest person working here. Goodbye... and one more thing, he requests a file."
2
Melisa, with her hair tucked in a bun and wearing tight-fitting office attire, was once a shy apprentice and nobody five years ago. Despite the proud and confident woman she had become, feared by many, she had once struggled, eating scraps as she worked her way up the corporate ladder.
The past three years had been devastating for her. She lost both her parents in a car crash and became a single parent. To her surprise, her parents left her a sizable inheritance, which included their family home and a lump sum of money. Although heartbroken, she decided to use the money to achieve a goal - buying her own business.
She used all her savings to purchase a company that was once renowned across the world for its success in business safety and analysis but had become outdated. Over the past two years, she has been hands-on, making significant improvements and feeling proud of her achievements. However, she still yearned for even more success, wanting to prove to herself and everybody else that she could be successful, especially for her little Josh. He was the love of her life, with his beautiful big eyes and thick brown hair, reminding her so much of his father. However, his father, Mike, was a horrible human being. If she had known, she would have never had little Josh, but she couldn't imagine a life without him.
Now walking tall, with all the horrible memories tucked away, she was heading to an interview. This would be her biggest corporate client, Dynasty, a global mogul with over 500 companies across the world. If she can land this deal, her company will rise from the ashes like a phoenix.
Once again, she found herself standing in front of large glass doors. This one had gold lining around the abnormally large glass. The bottom half of the glass was stained. As she was walking in, she wonder.eded if somebody was scared their feet would be seen. Looking around the lavish entrance hall, the large tile floors always portrayed the image of status. The walls were beautifully painted, a professional job, with each line and color perfectly complementary to the next.
She wondered if they even noticed the worker responsible, or if he was just as invisible as the skylights. To Melissa, the walls still felt lifeless, filled with ridiculously expensive, meaningless portraits. The upper class's portraits disputed the meaning of while sipping lightly on the most expensive crystal glasses, filled with their sour wines. Her eyes moved around the room to find the receptionist. She seemed kind and young, clearly in her first admin position. Her voice was soft and insecure, and her red, curly hair was unwilling to stay fully combed down. She jotted down Melissa’s name with hesitant hands. She too was confused about the direction that Melissa had to go. At least she was sweet, her eyes soft and naive, not yet hardened by the city.
Melissa wondered how long this girl would stay this innocent. She would undoubtedly one day turn into one of the other cold, doll-like robots, the Hardly secretary instantly came to mind.
This reminder sent her mind back to that day, remembering her first encounter in such a building. She pushed her shoulders back while entering, softly whispering the same line, the same words to force herself to focus, "Walk it off, Melissa. You are not that girl anymore."
As he thought about the past, Ben Harley sat calmly, noticing a few noticeable grey hairs along his side. The years had been good to him. His eyes wandered around the luxurious guest lounge. He reviewed the specifications in his head, smiling to himself. With his contacts, he was sure to secure a contract here.
Feeling sufficiently prepared, he glanced over the variety of magazines neatly spread out on a knee-high stained wooden table. The hand-engraved lines ran from the center straight down to its ball-shaped feet. This image was common in these places. From the heavy custom-made curtains to the lavish rugs and leather furniture, the room screamed money.
He heard the sound of quick passing heels, looking up only to catch a glimpse of the perfectly formed figure of a petite blonde woman passing by. Her suit dress clung to every curve, accentuating her beautiful body. Grabbing a magazine, he eagerly waited for her to turn, anticipating adding the face to the well-formed body.
As she turned, he hastily hid his head, not wanting to look interested. He knew he was being childish, but he didn't want to be seen as the stereotypical guy staring at every nice person walking by. Unbeknownst to Melisa, her "well-formed body" announced her arrival as she took a seat and eagerly studied her notes, always priding herself on being prepared. The bubbly receptionist, noticeably out of place, seemed to be as tall as she was wide, bouncing around the counter. "Mr. Hartley, you can come through. Mr. McDonald will see you now. If you will follow me, I will lead you to his office," she said. Hearing his name, Ben stood up, nodded, and smiled at her, then calmly proceeded to follow the dark-haired receptionist, not understanding the reaction of the blonde woman seated in front of him.
Melisa immediately froze, her hand grasping her notes with unusual strength, forcing a fake smile back at him. "Can it be? How didn't I notice it was him? I did notice a man sitting across from me; he was impossible to overlook. I didn't see his face, tucked away behind a magazine. I knew he was handsome, with long legs, a lean build, and a sexy body underneath that messy hair and beautifully sculpted hand. Never in a thousand years did I think it would be Harley."
Frantically searching for his face in the corners of her mind, Harley had brown hair, but his face wasn’t coming to her. She struggled to recall the image of that day, evading her at this moment. She could only see a face in the blurred memory. That day, she was angry and humiliated beyond belief, and she had forced that moment away for so long that she simply couldn’t say for sure if it was him.
And if it was him, which she doubted, could they be here for the same reason? No, it can’t be. The universe wouldn’t be that cruel. Besides, Harley’s company specialized in management and analysis of the business environment. With her face still frowning, Melisa looked down at her now wrinkled papers. They were pointless to read now. She couldn’t even focus, let alone read. Melisa sat there, her eyes staring blindly, but her ears intensely focused on the boardroom behind her.
Time passed, and suddenly a door opened. Melisa could hear two men carelessly joking around, one with a deep, soft voice and the other with harmonies that almost sounded like a long-lost friend.
Melisa averts her face, quickly looking away, pretending to be immensely interested in the horrible décor on a small shelf. She hears footsteps walking past in slow, steady strides. She looks up, only catching a glimpse of the tall, lean man. His neat shirt clings to fit his broad shoulders as he walks to the elevator. The heavy doors open, and the faint sound of buttons being pressed is heard, resembling the buttons of a vending machine. The elevator doors slam shut, startling Melisa with the sudden, unexpected sound.
In the distance, Melisa could hear her name being called, first once and then a second time. She looked up to see the bubbly secretary looking at her, seemingly confused at her unresponsiveness. "Sorry, I'm coming." "All good, Miss Melisa, follow me." Melisa silently followed, with each step regaining her confidence. Upon entering the boardroom, a heavy scent overloaded her senses, forcing her not to gag at the musky odor. A middle-aged man introduced himself as Adam McDonald, the CEO of Dynasty, and sat calmly in the wide chair. His light blond hair was neatly combed back, and his unimpressive light blue eyes made Melisa instantly feel uneasy, which she wrote off as nerves. She studied his face, noticing a faint scar underneath his Adam's apple. Melisa greeted him, and after formalities, she proceeded to sell her company's services. Mr. Steller seemed impressed and asked a few more questions. While Melisa answered, she caught herself having to force her eyes away from his scar, wondering what could have happened. "You have an impressive presentation, Miss Melisa. How soon can you start?" Shocked, Melisa quickly replied that they could start as soon as the contracts were finalized.
On Friday night, with her sweet baby boy sound asleep next to her, Melisa reflected on the events of that day. She was still in shock from the quick signing of the contract, even though she was excited and proud of the deal she secured, which meant a huge bump for her company. The business could employ more people and expand even more! As Melisa slowly moved her finger across the top circle of the black mug, she couldn't shake the feeling that something didn't seem right, almost as if it was too easy. She stood up, shrugged off her self-doubt, and walked to check all the doors and windows, accompanied by her trusted and loyal lab, Misty. Returning to the lounge, she picked up little Josh and carried him to his light blue room. Silently staring at her little boy, she noticed how relaxed he looked, with his small, beautiful hands lying beside his ears. She tip-toed down the hallway to her room, and Misty immediately jumped on the bed while she changed into her pajamas. She fell asleep almost instantly, too tired to let her mind overthink the day's events further.
On Saturday morning, Melisa spends the entire day with her little Josh. They play and cuddle with Misty, their pet, and then go to the park. The green grass and low-hanging trees surrounding the beautiful pond help her to relax as they walk along the pond on a small brick pathway. On Sunday, she waits for Josh to nap before she prepares for the week's work. While curled up on the sofa, she works through the logistics and preparations that need to be made. At night, she falls asleep soundly, knowing she is prepared for any situation.
Ben paces up and down his house, which he loves, in what is now known as a fancy area of the city. However, the old beauty of the place was there long before this was the case. He stands still for a moment, vacantly staring into the now dark garden where the bird fountain water almost glows in the moonlight. That night, sleep once again evades Ben as he shifts his weight from one side to another, wondering if this endless process would ever end. For six years now, endless meetings and stressful situations make him always wonder if they will figure it out.
Melissa sat in the car, her head tilted back, relishing the silence. She moved her tired feet from side to side, wishing she could be at home. Every passing day, she wished she had bought that small coffee shop. But this was never really an option. With no family, she needed to do the best for Josh, and unfortunately, that lovely little piece of heaven would never provide the reliable income she needed. Melissa didn’t have the luxury of a partner’s income. Thinking back at the past five years, Mike and the hardest lesson she ever learned, people are rarely as they seem, and being trusting only leads to disappointment.
From the moment they met, they appeared to be instantly connected. Shy smiles and light flirting, her stomach filled with butterflies every time he would acknowledge her presence. It wasn’t long before he asked her out, in a small sticky note with a smiley face drawn underneath. It was the most romantic gesture, not knowing that moment would change her life forever. She was amazed and excited that he wanted to take her out. She was the pale-looking blond lost in the crowd.
Their relationship started slowly but quickly progressed to a physical one after their first date. Despite her initial hesitation, she was charmed by him. Being her first love, she felt overwhelmed by every new moment, and she believed their bond grew stronger with each passing day.
He introduced her to a new side of intimacy, guiding her softly into a world filled with passion and pleasure. They exchanged sneaky texts and went on late-night dates three times a week. He worked hard on his side projects to pay for his little brother's education abroad. She admired his drive and commitment to his family, feeling a strong connection as she also came from a tight-knit community. Even when his phone was turned off, she always knew he would respond when he had the chance, away from his colleagues. This made her feel special.
He appeared to be very health conscious, going to the gym every night to stay fit, not for weights but for overall fitness. He always said he needed to stay fit for his "special lady," winking at her, making her blush. However, they never showed affection at work. Mike, being the department head, believed her colleagues would resent her, and he wanted to avoid making work unpleasant for her. She didn't mind this arrangement, as she had no friends in the office. Whenever she saw him flirting, she understood it was an act he needed to maintain. She believed it would be temporary, as they needed their jobs to build a secure future together.
She loved the adventure of their relationship. When she hinted that she would change jobs, he convinced her not to, always winning her over by saying he couldn't bear not seeing her beautiful face.
After feeling very ill for two weeks, she decided to go to the doctor, as her home remedies didn't seem to work and she felt increasingly weak, forcing her to take time off work. When she walked into the doctor's office, the lady at the counter was friendly and sympathetic, wearing a light green top that gave her the comfort of a loving grandmother. After filling out her paperwork, Melissa sat in the far-left corner, feeling sick and nauseous, wanting to sit near the bathroom. The door marked clearly with a black toilet sign had a lemon fragrance coming from it. The smell, which Melissa normally loved, made her even more nauseous. She heard her name being called and walked into the long hallway, her eyes wandering to the walls covered in pamphlets.
Sure, here is the revised text:
Please remember the text below:
"Each one focuses on a specific illness. Bold and straightforward, what you may be suffering, fun facts – as if an abscess could be pleasant. And lastly, 'ask your doctor about our products.'
Turning into the doctor's room, she could smell medicine and something that resembled spirits. Glass faces all around the bright red wall seemed to be out of place in the otherwise grey room. The doctor entered, tall and slim, with short brown hair neatly cut in a bob. Immediately, Melissa felt at ease. The doctor seemed more like a preschool teacher, which made her feel comfortable. After a few tests and questions, Dr. Andrews, as she introduced herself, looked up with a Colgate smile. "Melissa, I have amazing news and slightly bad news." Melissa is now at the edge of her seat, her mind going wild. Could it be cancer, a tumor? What could it be? Maybe the good news is that she can go for treatment. Can't be that, she wouldn't be smiling like a millionaire, or would she? Dr. Andrews's voice was happy and playful as she spoke. "Melissa, I predict you will be nauseous for another month or so, and most probably tired for the next seven months, and then unfortunately tired for the next ten years," she giggled. Melissa, confused, just sat there with a large frown forming between her eyes. Melissa asked, "What do you mean, doctor? I don't understand. Am I ill?"
Dr. Andrews looked surprised and then answered with a more serious voice. "Melissa, you are expecting. You are a month along and we will definitely prescribe prenatal pills." Melissa couldn't hear a word she was saying; the words were playing in her head over and over - "You are pregnant, I am pregnant!"
She sat there, slowly grasping the handle while falling forward on the chair. She could still remember the lines of the leather chair softly pinching her fingertips. She stood up, said thank you, and left. She had to get away from the truth; she needed to process this life-altering news.
Driving home, she called Mike, and they arranged to meet up at their favorite bistro. Feeling excited for their new lives as parents, she still remembers the smell of the red-scented candles, neatly positioned to create a romantic atmosphere. However, her nervous smile disappeared when she saw his angry and almost hostile face. Not even seated, he blurted, "You know we can't keep it... it's just not an option, Melissa!" Staring at him, he now seemed ugly to her. "But how could you say that? It's our child!" His face changed to that of a stranger. "Listen, Mali," the name he always called her, now sounded like a curse word. "I am married," he said without remorse or guilt in his voice. The words glided from his lips with ease, almost as if rehearsed. His lips were moving, but it was all a blur at this moment. "Melis, Melis, are you hearing me? I just can't and won't have it." Melissa turned her head, hearing the word "it" again, as if her baby was a useless old paperweight.
"Do you understand me, Melissa? Are you listening to me? We won't have it," he said. Shocked at his response, she stared at the glass of red wine, at a loss for what to do. She just stared at the same wine he would always order for them before professing his love.
Melisa slowly rose from the black cloth-covered seat. She could faintly hear the fan above, spinning harmoniously. She focused on the sound, trying to fade out Mike's noticeably hostile voice. His voice intensified, now squealing as he shouted at her. Despite this, she stood up, turned, and walked out, leaving him sitting there shouting her name.
The peering eyes of the other guests waited enthusiastically, not wanting to miss a second of the drama. The homeowner was in a daze, not thinking about the signs. She shifted to the wrong gear a few times along the way. The ugly sound of the cell phone rang in her purse, next to the positive pregnancy test she lovingly wrapped in a pink napkin. She knew it was him, knew he wanted to talk, to convince her to terminate their child, her child. Driving around in a daze, she only headed home when she saw the red flickering petrol sign. That night she grew up; she knew she would have to. Overnight, she became a single parent. A few days passed, knowing she was only prolonging the inevitable. She called Mike. "I am resigning effective immediately. I expect three months’ salary and a good reference letter." "So you took care of our problem, my problem?" staring mindlessly at the white countertop, her voice cold. "Yes, I took care of 'it,' your problem." "Thank god, I am so relieved."
The tone of his voice turned soft, almost loving. "Come back to work, I know I messed up, but I will make it up to you I promise mail." Her voice was soft but clear. "I also never told you I have a fiancé, and we are moving away for his new position." Cold and angry, Mike agreed to her demands and hung up the phone.
He was true to his word, probably happy to get rid of her after all. Two weeks later with all her measly positions she moves a thousand miles away. A month later her parents passed away, and with no family left she had to focus on building a new life. Eight months later, Josh was born, and as she lay there staring at his perfect smile she knew her life had new meaning. From that moment it would be them. She would protect him until her last breath. Now almost two years later, she still cherishes every moment with him.
