Hic Est The Devil

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

I did my daily routine. I got up, brushed my teeth, took a shower and got dressed.

I wore a white shirt  with a grey skirt for work and my coral earings.

I made myself a toast, stuffed it in my outh, picked up my handbag  and left the house in a hurry.

A crazy cabdriver and two minutes later, I found myself outside the place where I worked.

“Goodmorning.”

“Morning.”

“Hey.”

“Nice shirt.”

“Love those shoes.”

And all novelties later, I made my way to the office I shared with four other people.

Its easy to guess that I don’t have my own desk right now. But the way the Manager is happy with me, I suppose I will get a promotion by the  end of next month. The pay is good, so I am happy.

“Hey, Scarlet.”

“Hey, Abigail.” Green eyes and short height don’t look the least bad on the blonde. Her flowy tresses are naturally blonde with light brown natural lowlights.To those who don’t know Abby personally, they will think she is ungrateful and sly who likes to debate even in her sleep. But I have known Abby for an year now. So I know that she is kind and generous and likes to back up her point. She took me to meet her family. Her parents were quite gracious and let me borrow their motorboat last summer.

“Sup, Scarlet?” Olivia greeted me.

“Hey, Olivia.” Olivia James. She is a friendly Black girl. Dark eyes and dark wavy hair. I know her from last year. We met when she got the job and got this office to share with us. The instantaneous promotion made both me and Agibail believe that she was a girl with an extra large brain.

I was the first person  in. I cam early because I wanted to leave early as well. For today , I had only two tasks.

Staying below the radar and avoid any paperwork that comes my way is number one and number two is don’t get in any fights.

Speaking of fights……..

I could hear her heels from a distance. Hell I can hear them 2 miles away even in a BVB concert.

In walked the girl with the high heels and the high chin.

Abigail has a theory that she even sleeps with her chin up.

Katherine Stone.

Big Bambi eyes that are green and brown hair dyed blonde.She wore a baby pink shirt and a lack skirt.Her Marc Jacobs matched her shirt.

“ Where my stone at?” said Olivia. She liked teasing Kat. There was a Cold War going on between us three and Katherine.

In our defence, she was rude and downright cruel.

Form her point of view, we were impolite people who didn’t follow here around like lost pups.

“I heard that.” She said as she took her seat. Her desk was near Abigail’s. Not because Abigailw as the most timid of us three but because she sucks at Rock Paper Scissors.

“ Ears of a vixen.”

“I heard that too!”

“My point exactly!” Olivia stood up from my left and pretended like people were appraising her after she performed a great magic trick.

Katherine just rolled her eyes, something we were accustomed to.

At lunch, we three marched to the little Café at our building. It served good sliders.

Katherine didn’t come back withus. She was probably hitting at Sean again just so he would take her out.

“So, Baby girl, whats cooking?”

“Tell us everything.” Abigail chimed in.

Both shoved each of my shoulders until they finally got  what they wanted. I had to tell them about my date tonight. They noticed my Chesire Cat smile in the morning but didn’t ask me anything in front of Katherine.

“ Cuties are your type.” Olivia declared.

“ So not.” I defended.

“So are.” Abigail  walked over to us. None of us had much work left to do.

“ So not!”

“ Remember the first guy you brought us to meet looked like he was just out of highschool.”

“Because he was!” I realized I said it wrong.“I mean he was just out of college just like I was!”

“ What about the cute Asian you brought over? I made me feel like I was in a cute Korean movie.”

“ Now you guys are just splitting hair!”

I couldn’t take it anymore. I had to leave the room before they bombarded me with more questions. I checked the wall clock. It said I was free to go early.

“You guys keep on yapping. I am gonna go home and get ready before Sean comes to pick me up.” I  picked up my bag and slung it over my shoulder while I made my way to the door. I stooped midway.

“ Pick you up for what?”

Katherine stood in front of me with both arms crossed over her chest. Her sealed lips were indications of a coming storm.

My brain couldn’t form any words. Even if it did, my mouth refused to let them out.

I was scared of Katherine. Because for two years now she has been trying to get together withSean. Her knowing that I did it in a year would only mean a hungry lioness looking at me as bait.

………..

I came home from office that day just to see my apartment locked.

I stood outside cursing at my fate without a key.

After some sobbing, I went downstairs to find the security guard.

Soon enough, I found Kiba sitting on  achair and reading a newspaper.

I noticed the date was yesterday’s.

“Hey, Kiba, can you help me with my keys?”

“Hello, Madam.” He stood up quickly like I had just caught him stalling.

“ I know I cant borrow your key every time, but I kinda need it.”

Just as I said it, a boy younger than me entered the building. He stood there listening to me and Kiba talk.

“You know, madam, it against rule to have only one key, so I tell the Manager and he tell the locksmith. He already here.”

He pointed at the boy.

“Oh.” I said. “I am Scarlet.”

The boy just nodded. Maybe just like Kiba, he also couldn’t speak English very well. But this boy looked American while Kiba was a Japanese who came here an year ago.

I took the 15 year ld looking boy upstairs along with Kiba’s key to my apartment. I unlocked my door and went in.

“Are you sure that I can come in?” He asked me before entering.

“Yes, do come in.” I stopped in my tracks to answer him.

“Could you say it?”

I looked at him like he was a lunatic. But I needed my own a key to the apartment . So I followed whatever he said.

“ Yes, you may come in.” I even added a little gesture signalling for him to walk through my doorstep. He gave me a crooked grin. Maybe he liked being courteous.