Masked Facade

Chapter 4: Mr. Rodriguez

Raelyn's POV

"I need you to submit a rough draft by tomorrow, Raelyn."

Even though he wasn't looking at me, I gave him a 'you've gotta be kidding me' look.

"I think the deadline isn't till next week, Mr. Pierce..." I tried to remind him.

"Don't you think I know that? The order is from Maria." His voice strong, authoritive yet calm.

Ofcourse it's from Maria.

She wouldn't just trust me with anything. I gave her no reason to let her hold a grudge against me. She treated everyone equally but me. Sometimes there's this urge to punch her in the face but I'd restrain myself from doing anything reckless.

"What are you waiting for, Ms. Harper? I didn't ask you to stand there and gawk at me but finish your task." His eyes flickered to me once before it settled again on the paperwork he was dealing with.

"Could you buy me some more time, Mr. Pierce?" I asked hoping that he'd understand my situation.

"It's been already a week, Ms. Harper. Don't tell me that you haven't started on it yet." He gave me a stern look that urged me to give him some solace that I have already started.

But the truth was I haven't. Past week was so tiresome that I couldn't think of anything else but my kids. Caleb and Chloe caught the flu and my entire time was occupied by servicing them. Whenever they got sick, Caleb and Chloe didn't like the thought of staying away from me while I worked my ass off to feed them. And that was the reason why I didn't even start with the assignment. But I couldn't tell my boss that.

"No, no, no, no! It's not like that. I have started with it. It's just that-"

"Then it's settled. You may get back to your work." With that he dismissed me.

What am I supposed to do now?

Giving him a curt nod and silently cursing Maria, I marched to my cabin. I didn't even know where the file was which Merlin left last week. After what felt like an eternity, I found the file. Not even sparing a glance to its contents, I got hold of my purse and sprinted off towards the elevator.

Once inside it, I fished my phone from my purse and dialed Katie. She didn't answer my call at the first attempt which made me gritt my teeth in irritation. I wasn't sure whether it's Maria ordering me around or Mark pushing me to the edge, but I was beyond annoyed. I knew that partially it was my fault but who on earth asks for a draft before publishing the article. And that too one week prior.

Though a part of me was feeling guilty for accusing Mark for no good reason, I couldn't help it.

It's all your fault, Rae-Rae. My inner self wieghed in and I knew she was correct.

By the time I reached my car, Katie answered my call finally.

"Katie, can you pick Caleb and Chloe from school?" I asked her not even greeting her. I'm pathetic.

"I don't see why not," she said from the other side.

"You're a life saver, babe. Just listen to me. I've stocked the medicines in the cabinet. Once you feed them, make sure-" I was oblivious to the fact that I was ranting until she stopped me.

"Jeez! Calm down, woman! I know what to do but first you tell me what the matter is?"

"I'll be late."

"I figured it out but what happened?" Her tone was laced with confusion.

"Maria happened."

"That bitch!"