KATHERINE


    Katherine was more than fed up.


    She was fed up with the way Damien had been treating her these past few weeks. She was fed up with the fights, the non-stop arguments, and she was fed up with having to constantly lower herself to the point of begging for attention from her own boyfriend.


    She was fed up and angry, and she was going to do something about it.


    Stepping harder on the brake, and increasing her speed as she drove to Damien’spany, she thought of what to do.


    After thest time he had embarrassed her in front of Alvarez and his investigator she was still sore from it, and worse still he never even bothered to call her or apologize.


    She needed answers from him, and no matter what happened, she was going to get them today.


    Soon she got to the building, and parking at the front, she mbered out of the car, grabbed her purse from the passenger seat and started to make her way straight to his office.


    As she neared his office, she saw his secretary jump to her feet at the sight of her. “M-miss Scott, Mr Daniels is busy and asked not to be disturbed. If you could give me a moment to inform him of your arrival, I would…”


    Katherine eyes shot daggers, as red at her. “If you’d like to know what happens when you try to keep a woman away from her man, stop me from going in.” She spat, venom coating her every word.


    Slowly, the secretary moved away, fear evident in her eyes and bowing her head, she shuffled back to her seat, while Katherine with a loud hiss, walked into the office.


    The minute she saw Damien, his expression changed to that of irritation as their eyes locked, and cocking his eyebrows he demanded albeit harshly, “What are you doing here?”


    This only made Katherine more angry, and she blurted out, “What am I doing here? Since when do you ask me questions like that? I am your girlfriend for crying out loud! What is going on with you Damien? Is this how you wee me?”


    Silence descended the minute she finished talking, and for some seconds the only sound in the room was that of theirbored breathing before Damien finally rubbed at his forehead and started to say, “Look, Katherine…I really don’t have time for this okay-”


    “No!” She yelled, “No! Not this time, okay? And you can go ahead, call security if you want to, but I’ll tell you straight to your face that I’m not leaving.”


    When Damien only staredzily at her, she scoffed, “Why didn’t you pick up when I called you?” She suddenly asked, “I called yesterday and you ignored me. You never ignore me unless you’re at work, and it waste back then. I also knew for for a fact that you weren’t at work! So what happened?”


    “Are you keeping tabs on me now?” Damien shot back, not answering her question at all.


    “And why would you say that? I called the office and you weren’t in. This…” She gestured at him spreading her arms all around, “This is exactly what I’m talking about. You’ve been acting so strange with metely, and you know it. You don’t call, and when I do call you ignore me. Okay fine, you don’t text me, and when I do text or confront you on your silly behaviors you act like I annoy you or something. I mean…the other day at Daddy’s office, you brushed off talk about our wedding. We are supposed to be engaged for crying out loud! What’s all this?”


    “Katherine… I’m really not in the mood for any of this right now. Please, I have a lot to do and…”


    Katherine gave a bitterugh, “Of course you’re always busy even though now, I highly doubt that. It’s always work, work, all the time. I can’t even remember whenst we spent time together, just me and you. You’ve been so busy with work, and your so called investigation, it’s like I don’t even exist and…”


    She saw guilt materialize on Damien’s face and she knew her charm, was working. She had made the right decision bying here, and she had wanted him to feel the guilt, see how much she felt abandoned  by him. And then just like he should, he would them work to earn her forgiveness.


    Damien stared at her from his seat and then he sighed, slowly turning off hisputer and getting up from the chair. He approached her, cing one hand on her shoulder.


    He had a neutral look on his face though, as his expression was not to remorseful and she didn’t know what to make of it.


    “Hey, don’t say that… don’t talk like that. You’re right…” He rubbed his forehead, “I’ve been so distractedtely, and about yesterday, I put my phone on silent because I was working. Then I had to switch it off when you called, because I didn’t have any battery.”


    Katherine folded her arms unsatisfied and faced the other way, still clearly hurt or at least feigning to be. She pulled a face when he ced a finger below chin, making her look up at him.


    “I’m sorry for being so distant these past few weeks, and making you feel this way. It won’t happen again.”


    When she still didn’t react, he rubbed her cheeks between his fingers, pulling her to him in a hug which she reluctantly melted into, and holding onto her, rocking back and forth he continued to mutter some apologies, until finally she beamed, unable to hold herself back.


    “You’ll have to make it up to me, you know right?”


    Damien nodded instantly, “Definitely. Dinner tonight? Anywhere you want to go.”


    “Yeah dinner. That sounds nice.”


    “Settled then.” He pulled her forward again, tucking her hair behind her ears and leaning in, he trapped her lips in a soft kiss which she quickly responded to.


    She leaned in for another hug, liking the feel of Damien’s soft lips on her neck, and just like that knowing she was satisfied today, the wheels in her head started spinning as she began to cook up a n.


    …….


    Madison was startled by the sound of someone knocking at her door.


    She swallowed, staring at the door and not making any move to open it at all.


    She was still quite shaken up from Mason’s visit, and thest thing she needed right now was another episode or any more surprises.


    She breathed out in relief when the knocking stopped.


    She just wanted to be left alone.


    She was tired of the bad luck and the constant confrontations, and now she just wanted to rest.


    The knock resounded again, after a while stopping Madison who was just about toy down in her bed.


    “Madison? Madison? Are you in?”


    Immediately she froze, already recognizing that voice.


    Gina? It was Gina.


    Quickly she rushed to the door, unlocking it and bbering out apologies as she saw her friend standing outside the door, she lied at the same time, “Oh goodness Gina, I’m so freaking sorry, I just heard the knock. Have you been standing here for too long?”


    Gina smiled, shaking her head, “No, not really. I was worried you weren’t home that’s why.”


    “Oh, sorry about that. Come on in.” Madison quickly ushered her in, shutting the door at the same time.


    She remembered how herst meeting with her friend had gone, how she had left abruptly and now she suddenly felt so guilty.


    “Gina…” She began after her friend walked in, “I never apologized for thest time we saw, and I had to leave in a haste. I realize how weird I must’ve acted back at the bakery, and that day I was not really in my right frame of mind. I was just really confused and trying to make sense of some things you know, but… But I don’t want you to bother now, cause I’m fine already. I’m so sorry if I made you feel weird in anyway.”


    “It’s okay, Maddie. I understand.” Gina smiled, making Madison feel instantly relieved.


    Leading her to her bed, which was the only ce to sit as Madison didn’t own really any furniture, she said again, “It’s so nice to see you. I didn’t think you’d ever have any time toe see me, seeing as you are so busy with work at the bakery.”


    Ginaughed, “Nah, I only worked for a few hours today and besides, I had an excuse toe see you.” Smiling, she unzipped her purse, taking out a white envelope and handing it to Madison, “Here.”


    Madison took it carefully, wondering at the wide grin on her friend’s face, “What is this?” She asked but Gina was suddenly quiet, just beaming widely at her.


    Slipping her finger between the folds Madison tore the envelope, bringing out a paper and opening it she read through and… “Oh my God!” She yelled, her handing up to her mouth, jaw dropping slightly open, “Certificate of employment? No, someone tell me I’m dreaming. I.. I… This is from the bakery right and…”


    Gina nodded intermittently,ughing at the expression on Madison’s face, “Yes you read right. You got the job! You’ve been employed at the bakery!” She squealed as she finished her sentence.


    “B-but how?!” Madison began to wonder, “They asked me toe back a few dayster.”


    Gina nodded, “Yeah. But apparently, everyone else who came for the job was rejected. I offered to bring the letter to you myself when I saw it on the board.”


    Madisonughed in disbelief, ncing down at the letter once more. She had gotten epted and was required to resume next week. She almost couldn’t believe it. She had a job now. At a huge bakery with a very good pay, and it all looked like some kind of miracle.


    Things had been going so shitty for her these past few weeks, that she had half-expected to scale through this as well, but here she was, suddenly employed and with a stable job.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    For once things seemed to be going right. Fuck it! She had a job! And a good one at that, and she began tough uncontrobly, feeling tears sting the back of her eyes. She didn’t bother to wipe them away, the moment they began to stream down her face.


    She really couldn’t remember thest time she received positive news. It was so heartwarming that it felt unreal.


    “Madison, what’s wrong?” Gina asked, shocked to see her crying obviously and as she scooted closer to Madison, cing one arm over her shoulder, she said again, “Why are you crying? Is something wrong?”


    Madisonughed through her tears, shaking her head as she waved her hand, “I can’t even exin how I’m feeling Gina. Everything is fine though, it’s just that… I’m just s-so happy, you know? These liquid streaming down my face are tears of joy.” Sheughed again.


    “Aww, I understand… Come here.” Gina cooed slightly, patting Madison’s back as she helped her wipe her tears away, “Cheer up, okay?”


    Madison nodded continuously, finally managing to wipe her tears away.


    “I’m so excited for us to work together!” Gina squealed, “It’d be nice, don’t you think?”


    Madison agreed, “Yes, yes! I was just thinking about this too. I’m d I know you. At least I won’t feel so much like a stranger, on my first day there.”


    “Yes, exactly! Tell you what, after you’ve worked for some days at the bakery we’re going to go celebrate. Drinks, dancing, bowling, karaoke, whatever you want, we are sure as hell going to do it.”


    Madison found herself giggling, feeling warm and happy all over.


    It’d been long since she felt this way, and giggling she answered, “Sure! That’d be nice. I can’t remember thest time I went out just to chill and loosen up a little bit, and I could use one now. So yes, we should do that.”


    “It’s a date, then!” Gina winked, and Madison found herself giving her first genuineugh in months. Even if she wasn’t sure how long it wouldst, she didn’t care.


    She was happy and she decided she would live in the moment!