A woman's dilemma - Episode 34

 

Claudia:

6:57 6:58 6:59 7:00

Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.

I slam my palm into the alarm to knock it down before rolling out of bed. My head spin momentarily from the lack of sleep. I rub my groggy eyes and sigh. Today is going to be painfully slow. My eyes stray over to my phone on my bedside table. He never called even once last night . Of course he wouldn't. He only wants your account details so he can pay you off. Bastard. I drag my heavy limbs into the bathroom and torture myself with the coldest shower of my life. I need a reality check and the water does enough to wake me.
"Claudia?" I pull my towel around me and step out of the bathroom. Amy perch on the edge of my bed and eye me up.
"You look like you didn't sleep at all." She says quietly. She looks dull as well.
"I didn't." I answer truthfully before grabbing my lotion and applying it sparingly. The heat these days, I wonder why I bother applying lotion at all.
"I saw her in my dreams. I couldn't get to her. It was awful." I let my eyes close at the visual of seeing Frances again.
"I wish I saw her too. I kept falling in and out of sleep, It was exhausting." I drop the lotion and grab the dress I already prepared for today.
"We are going to be okay right?" Amy asks. I shrug my dress on before answering her.
"We will."
"Are you okay? You have it harder on you right now

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/a-woman-s-dilemma

. With your sister and Dan--"
"Don't say his name." I stop her when the stuffiness in my chest becomes worse.
"I'm sorry." Amy apologizes.
"We are getting through this. All I want to focus on right now is to find my sister.  I don't even know where she's possibly at. Or who any of her friends are. I pretty much suck as a sister but I'm changing that now." I slip my sandal heels on and stand.
"Have a nice day at work." Amy stands up with me and we both walk out of the living room. I wish I can do just that. Have a good day today.

****

The light knocking on office door pulls me up from the sketch paper in front of me. I try not to scream frustratingly at whoever it is that just broke my focus.
"Come in." I slip the HB pencil between my head and right ear as my boss walks in.
"Good morning." He shakes his head at my greeting and I frown. This can't be good. He doesn't look happy.
"I was just getting the sketch for the Benson's art gallery done." I point to the papers scattered on my desk. He doesn't speak until he slips into the chair on the other side of my desk and cross his legs.
"I employed you because I thought you would be a help to the company Claudia. Why can't women get their shit together?"
"Excuse me?" I sputter. What's with the insult?
"I told you not to ruin the Obi's account. You messed up Claudia." He starts to stand up and I do as well.
"There's nothing ruined about Daniel Obi's account. I was just about to send him my ideas for his house." I really was going to send Daniel my ideas for his house. I just wasn't planning to do it anytime soon. How does my boss know?
"He texted me. Told me he wants you off his work." I gasp in shock even though I should have expected this.
"Sir I--"
"I know I told you to use your feminine charms on him but I never asked you to make a nuisance of yourself." I can feel my anger rising.
"Make a nuisance of myself." I repeat.
"You are off that account Claudia." He says and I try not to let my relieve show. I don't want to deal with Daniel anymore so this is a blessing in disguise.
"Okay sir. I'll do better sir. The Benson's floor plan will come out amazing." I assure him of the biggest account I'm handling. He shakes his head at me.
"I'm afraid you are off that one too." My mouth hit the floor is shock.
"What?!" I can't help but raise my voice. I worked hard to get this project.
"You are to pass all your male clients to Benjamin. Just deal with the female clients for now till I know what to do with you." My head spins from the crap I'm hearing.
"Benjamin?! You can't be serious!" I slam my palms against my table, knocking my pencils to the ground.
"He's more professional."
"I lose one obnoxious client and you take everything from me? To give to my rival?!" I yell.
"There's no rivalry here. I do what is best for the company."
"I'm what is best for this company! Me!"
"Maybe you should have thought of that before you throw yourself at a client."
"I did not! You know what? Fuck this! Fuck you!" I scream in his face. I can't take more of this anymore. I deserve more than this.
"Don't make me fire you, Claudia." He warns and I actually laugh in his face. He fired me the moment he made the decision to demote me.
"You can't fire me. You know why? Because I quit!" I grab my bag and slam into his shoulder as I pass him just for the sake of it.
"Claudia!" Benjamin's soft voice calls me as I burst out of my office. I give him a dirty look and walk faster.
"Claudia!"
"Go away Ben. You can go celebrate getting my job." I throw behind my back but don't stop. I can still hear Ben's footfalls behind me so I ditch the lift and make for the stairwell. It's going to hurt in my heels but I need the pain to distract me from the roaring in my ears.
"Ouch! Damn it!" I cuss as I make it to the second floor and lose my balance, twisting my ankle in the process.
"You'll hurt yourself." Ben's strong hand catch my hand and steady me.
"Let go of me!" I yank my hand out of his hold a little too hard and it hurt so much. I sniff back tears. I don't want him to see me cry.

Read " Mirage " by the same author ( Ameh juliet )

. He's done that before. Not again.
"You shouldn't leave like this." I cringe when his hand comes up to touch me but go a bit lax when he pulls the pencil from my ear and use it to put my hair in a low ponytail. Our eyes meet and I'm reminded of how we were before everything went south. We would exchange ideas and draw together on the floor of his apartment in Greece.
"I don't want this. You deserve it more than I do." He says knocking me off memory lane. I shake my head and focus my eyes on the white wall behind him.
"I'm glad you know I deserve this and you've stolen yet another thing from me. Now if you'll excuse me." I turn on my heels only for his hand to grab my arm. I sigh deeply.
"I love you Claudia and if this job is what will come between us this time that I'm determine to do things right by you, I'll drop it just like I dropped my life in Greece to come find you." I let my chin fall to my chest and sigh.
"Look at me baby. Just say the word and I'll quit this job. Hell I don't even need it. I'm here for you and if you are leaving, I am as well." I raise my head to look deep into his eyes.
"Say it." He goads me on but I shake my head.
"It's too late now." I pull his hand off mine and race to my car without looking back.