This Love

Chapter Four- Work Lates, Past Talks and Manic Mondays

Chapter Four- Work Lates, Past Talks and Manic Mondays

After my shift at Harlow, I was home by two in the morning. I didn't even bother to change into my pajamas and threw myself in my bed. God, I was exhausted. Before I totally drifted off, I checked my phone alarms.

"Bes!" Kyla's voice filled my ears. "Hey! Madi!"

"Mmmm. What?"

"Don't what me! It's nine o'clock. You're gonna be late!"

I sat up in a jerk at the mention of the word 'late'. I took my phone under my pillow. Shoot! Nine o'clock! I unconsciously snoozed all my alarms and overslept. After jumping down the bed, I grabbed my towel and ran to the bathroom. Thank heavens, it was a Sunday. No one's lining up in front of the bathroom. I felt like The Flash with my five-minute bath.

I put on everything in a swift move. My hair was still dripping wet when I left the boarding house. People in the bus started staring at me as I dried my hair with my spare shirt from my backpack. It was embarrassing but I had no choice. My uniform would look soaked. That would be more humiliating.

God knows I tried everything to make it on time. I really did. I was late for a good ten minutes. Good enough to be called at Mr. Madrid's office. I bowed shyly as Ma'am Bridgit told me I was being called in the main office on the top floor. It was only my second day but I was already late. So not me.

I entered the busy hallway Avery and I walked through during my first time at the Lumiere office. Although today, I was walking on my own. Avery greeted me with a smile when we saw each other a minute ago.

"Good morning, Miss Daniel. Mr. Madrid is ready for you." with a radiant smile, Carlos stood to open the door for me.

"Morning. Please call me Madi, Carlos." I told him before I was completely inside MSB's office.

I cleared my throat to get his attention from reading a folder. My hands were sweaty. I swallowed too many times. Will he fire me for being late on my second day? I walked towards him as I mentally prepared an explanation and an apology. "Good morning, Mr. Madrid."

"Miss Daniel."

"Please call me Madi. Miss Daniel is just too formal. Ma'am Bridgit said you wanted to see me?" I said feigning innocence.

"We're at work so I prefer to call you Miss Daniel." My name sounded different in his tongue. It must be the accent. "I did want to see you. I heard you we-."

"Late, yes." I interrupted. "I'm really sorry." bowing my head, I said my apology. I decided to skip making an excuse.

"You know seeing you apologetic is refreshing."

"Will you fire me?"

"What would I get from doing that?"

"You won't?" He laughed. I'm not sure why. I gave him a squint as my lips moved to the side. "Oohkay. Can I go back to work now?" turning my heels, I was ready to go.

"Oh, not so fast, Miss Daniel. What do you plan to do with your reduced hour?"

I can't believe this man. It was just ten minutes. "What do you want me to do?"

"How 'bout that lunch?" he said as if the thought just popped from his head. I can't help but wonder why he's asking me to lunch for the second time. I looked at him with wariness.

"Nah. I think I'd rather work an extra hour for my ten minutes." I gave him a full blown smile while hugging myself inside. Why so smart, Madi? "I'm going back to work."