Chapter 41 Envy and Bullies

Chapter 41 Envy and Bullies
Envy and Bullies
I glared at her with a suspicious look on my face. Her eyes smiled with mischief, the hands of the wall clock seemed to move slowly as though time had paused. She knew my name, I hadn’t told anyone about my middle name—not in highschool or at work and it was so omitted from all of my records that I had completely forgotten about it.
“How—how do you know my name?” It sounded like a funny question because she’s been calling me Lily all the while but I’ve never heard Jamal from anyone else but mother. It wasn’t even a name I had once told to Dante.
“That’s a funny question Lily—why wouldn’t I know your name?” She asked in almost a robotic manner it made it hard for me to continue “I do my research—ease up, it’s not the end of the world that I know who you are” she chuckled, pulling a seat next to me so I can sit, I didn’t.
“My middle nam—”
“Relax—it’s not top secret, it was on your birth certificate after all” well I could guess that that summarizes the word ‘research’ on me. I pulled out the chair and had a seat. “You didn’t have to be so formal and uptight with the outfit but it looks good” I had never taken her for someone who would talk ceaselessly around people or is it different?
“Well—I had nothing to wear so—I chose this, or at least someone gave it to me” I said, placing my fingers on the silk collar. Just as we conversed, there was a knock on the door.
“Come in” Claire said, pushing her back against the swivel chair. The lady quietly walked in holding a tray, having two cups and they looked hot. She placed the tray in front of me and handed a cup of tea to Claire before handing me a cup as well. There was a glare of envy in the way she stared, her dark brown eyes almost twitching, making me jolt a bit and causing the cup to slip, spilling hot tea on my fingers and skirt.
“Hot—it’s hot!” I yelled, feeling a sting on my thigh as I got up and Claire did the same. The girl stared at me, taking up the cup and muttering.
“So—so sorry, I’m so clumsy, I’m so sorry, please” she muttered as I took some wipes, cleaning off the spilled tea from my lap. I didn’t mind to study the grin on her face before Claire moved in between us holding my hand to search for any blisters.
“You okay?” She asked, her voice etched with concern. I nodded “I’m fine” cleaning up the stain as much as I can. This was Cas’ clothes and now this wench just intentionally ruined it.
“Make sure to clean this” Claire ordered as she took me to the sink nearby, turning on the tap and placing my fingers under the running water. She seemed like a caring older sister, awkward.
“I—I’m fine, really” I said with a forced smile, taking the hand towel and turning off the running water. She didn’t seem convinced.
“Your hand got spilled on my hot tea” she gasped, she stared at my fingers then back at me “How is that fine? If Dante finds this—I’m dead” she joked, loosening the tension.
“Is there any reason why your girls would hate me?” There was a pause. I didn’t want to impose and maybe I was wrong about h the girl who came in who looked like if she had a knife she’d push it through my chest. “It’s not because of tea—maybe it’s because of it, a little but it seems like people here don’t like me at first glance, I mean when I came in and said I wanted to meet you it was as though I had been asking for a royal welcoming and when you came down to meet me, there were some whispers and heads turned towards me—it felt weird” I complained, wiping off my hand with the towel but then I grazed a part and it hurt.
“Are you okay?” She asked.
“Yeah I’m fine” I said, putting my fingers under the running water once more. She folded her arms and leaned close to the sink.
“Don’t worry about Abigail—she’ll get what she deserves” there was a low scowl in her eyes, I could tell she was talking about the girl who brought tea.
“No, no, no—that’s not what I mean, please let her keep her job, it’s fine—I just think that maybe working for you will be good in such circumstances, I mean, everyone will think that I didn’t merit it and so—”
“And so what? I’ve seen your resilience, your ability to stand firm even in the face of danger—as for them, I can’t even send one of them to be a representative without me hearing about their entertainment activities the night before” she took in a deep breath
“Look, I know you’ll do great, this will also be part of experience—you and I, hand in hand, exploring the world while making cash” she chuckled. There was no way I had envisioned that, at least not in this lifetime, yet, it made me smile at her delusion—I wasn’t in the same class as her, it wouldn’t look like two friends—it would look like a wealthy woman and her assistant.
“Come on now—we’ll need to get you a change of clothes, Since you’ve asked me to leave her be—the money for new clothes and the laundry of this one will be coming off her paycheck” she smiled
“No—no, that’s too much m, honestly” she shook her head in disapproval.
“You’re too modest—come on” she pulled me by the arm as we made our way out of the huge building and into her dark blue Chevy. It looked amazing. Oh to be a wealthy woman!
Reluctantly, we made our way to a boutique, one I stood in awe of, the dresses looked fantastic and smelled even more amazing. I stared at a dark blue dress, it had caught my eye the moment we stepped in. Approaching it, I looked at the price tag.
“Six hundred dollars?!” I almost screamed, throwing my hands over my mouth to muffle my loud voice, it was almost too late, I had been discovered, luckily, there were only a few people who stood in the aisle, staring at me as though they had seen a peasant—I couldn’t blame them but then 600 dollars for a dress seems like too much for just a top.
“You like it?” Her subtle voice came from behinf as her skin brushed my face while she touched the fabric. Not waiting for a response “I’d like to this one” she said to the sales person who smiled and nodded, taking out the dress from the hanger. I stared in amazement.
“I only admired it—it’s too expensive to be bought” I noticed the sales person almost pausing, I pulled Claire to a side “Six hundred dollars for a top? Are we both insane?!” I whispered. “I can’t pay you that amount of money and as hell not going to let you take it out of that girl’s paycheck—it’s too much” I complained in a hushed tone. A smile formed on her lips as she patted my head. What the hell is the meaning of this?!
“You’re not paying back—it’s a designer too and if it’ll look good on you—then I’m making sure you get it, at least to replace the skirt that got spilled with tea” the lady held up the top and showed an array of skirts to pair it with.
“I heard you ladies talking about a skirt—try one of these, the fabrics are fully one hundred percent cotton—having being made from Kesper line, they are perfect for this top” she smiled. I could see through the façade. They’ll always want people to buy things even when it’s unnecessary.
“We’ll take the brown skirt—that black one and that beautiful dress” Claire said without any hesitation. I literally just voiced out a complaint about how much we’re spending and she continues to buy more?
“Here—wear it, you’ll need to change out of these” she smiled, handing me the top and skirt. In a desperate attempt, I walked into the changing room and hand the top and skirt given to me by Casperall removed and changed to the dark blue top and black short pencil skirt.
“Oh my—you look ravishing” she smiled, clapping her hands as though she had witnessed something out of this world, her eyes staring at my outfit from head to toe “I see what Dante sees in you” my c herks flushed red, they did look beautiful.
“I’m so giving you these back later—they’ll look even better on you” I whispered while we walked down to another aisle. Just as she smiled at me, my phone buzzed. Taking it to my ear “Hey” I muttered to the caller on the other end.
“Hey Amorino—I’ve missed you, it’s been hours since I heard you speak or seen your face” his low baritone felt soft yet gripping “I don’t think I can last another hour without seeing your face” I almost kicked a dress while giggling internally but I paused, cleared my throat and mustered the calmest voice I could put up.
“How’s work going?” I asked in an attempt to dissuade him from making my heart race even more than it did.
“Without you here, It feels like torture, I’ll be back home soon” his voice melting my resolve and resetting my mind.
“Just focus on work—I’ll be up and running tomorrow, I’m almost bored out of my mind” I chuckled as we exchanged sentences like some married couple forced to be apart by circumstance. “I’ll talk to you soon though—bye” I said immediately before almost hanging up when I heard a subtle “I love you” I only whispered it back instead before hanging up. The smile on my face widened. I giggled like a college girl who just found a boyfriend. Pull yourself together!
“Who are you calling?” I jolted from the voice behind, clutching my phone tightly to see the lady who had spoken. “It’s you! Lily Thompson, I just knew it had to be you—I saw you from across the room, it just had to be you” she snickered “Doesn’t she look good these days?” She asked the ladies who were behind her, her two friends Emily and Kaylar, the three witches of the west.
“It’s been a long time Mel—” I said firmly, clutching onto my purse, maybe if I had a bottle of pepper spray, I’d put it their eyes and run off.
“Look who the cat dragged in?” Claire said from behind—her tone disrespectful and uncaring, yet a shady smile stayed on her lips “It’s Melvin Robbins—nice to meet you Melvin” her smile faded and her eyes went low, the air thicken and time seemed to stop. For the first time ever—I wanted to clutch onto Claire and bring this bully down!