Twisted Fate

That night, as Ella laid on her bed, she was wondering what sort of luck she’s got. She lost her job because she stood up for herself.

She went for an interview and got it ruined long before the interview ever was to start. What is wrong with her?

She’s being given another chance when she receives a call from the staff welfare manager that she should be at the company the next day and she might get her job as soon as she has been interviewed.

She would try her best not to ruin it this time. She was filled with happiness and her mother was excited too. Everything really was going to be alright.

She knew she would be alright and her mother would be fine. It only takes time and this period is a trying time in their lives. If her dad hadn’t chosen this path of perdition, perhaps all these wouldn’t be happening.

But then, they would rise again. It may take a while, but definitely their lives weren’t going to be like this forever. They would rise again… yeah, they would.

************

Alex Foster went to the club with his friend Festus and Lisa by his side. He ordered their favourite martini and Vodka.

Lisa takes alcohol as much as Alex and Festus. They knew Alex seemed to be in a better mood than he was the previous evening.

But none of them knew what affected his mood in a positive way like that. But however it was, it was better that he was happy than being moody.

Alex kept gulping down the alcohol until he started feeling tipsy. He had great tolerance for alcohol but when it got to this point, he would gently stand up and make his way to his car.

“I’m leaving buddy” Alex declared, utilising the last bit of clear mindedness he has left. He pulled Lisa Anderson along and Festus also was leaving.

Lisa was already staggering that Alex was the one who gave her support and kept her steady till they got to his car.

As soon as they got into the car, Lisa Anderson kissed Alex “Control your emotions Lisa. We will soon be home” Alex cautioned her.

“I’ve missed you baby. Kiss.. me.. Alex…” Lisa stuttered. She placed her head on Alex’s torso and seemed to soon dozed off.

When they got to Alex Mansion, the latter lifted her gently and placed her on his shoulders, taking her upstairs.

That night, Alex did nothing with her. He just wasn’t interested in it. His mind was preoccupied with Ella’s presence, expecting the next day.

Very early the next day, Ella woke up, had a bath, got dressed and came downstairs. She looked her best. She was going for an interview and hopefully was going to start work the same day.

She had a quick breakfast of toasted bread and tea. She liked tea that contained a bit of chocolate.

She had a little makeup on. She’s not used to wearing heavy make-up because she’s already a beauty to behold. Whether makeup or not.

Sarah kissed her temple and wished her a great success that day. She also told her to have her tongue remained in her mouth closed up even if provoked.

Ella smiled and nodded. She already had counselled herself to be more careful this time. Not everyone gets a second chance like she was having at that moment.

When Ella arrived at the Foster cooperation, she was met by the receptionist who greeted her with a smile.

“Hello” Ella was the first to exchange pleasantries. “Hello. I’m sorry about the whole fuss yesterday…” she was saying when Ella went to her and held her hand “No, it wasn’t your fault”

The receptionist immediately developed a likeness for Ella right there. She nodded and smiled before saying “Welcome to the Foster cooperation. I am Anna Campbell”

“Thank you. I am Ella Smith”

The two ladies exchange pleasantries and next she ushered Ella to the staff welfare manager.

The staff welfare manager was a tall bulky belly young man in his early thirties. He looked handsome except that his belly made him look very uncomfortable.

“Welcome Miss Ella”The manager welcomed her with a smile. Ella began to imagine how sweet the employees of the company are.

They all seemed to be friendly. She hoped she would get the job and work side by side with these friendly people.

Soon the interview was over and right there she was employed. She was employed to work directly with the CEO as his personal assistant.

Her salary was two times what she earned when she worked as a waitress. The incentives were throat watering. She was a little uncomfortable why a new employee like her should be assigned to work directly with the CEO.

Anyways, she wanted a job and she got one. Wherever they assigned her to carry out her duties, she is ever ready to go ahead with it.

She soon got to know that the manager’s name was James. He toured the various offices and introduced her as the new employee of the company.

Lastly she was to be introduced to the CEO but Mr James was told that the boss was in a stallholders meeting.

Ella got her office directly opposite that of the CEO. She was assigned a few assignments to test her abilities, and she was done.

Two hours later, she was called over. She sighed softly and walked behind the manager. She was officially going to be introduced to the CEO.

They knocked and a deep musculin voice permitted them to come. Manager James walked in and Ella followed.

Sarah Smith kept looking at the clock. If Ella didn’t come home before 12noon, that means she had been employed. Every second that takes a minute seems very slow.

It appeared the clock was extremely slow that day and wondered if her anxiety made it slow. She sighed softly and closed her eyes, momentarily lost in her world alone.

She never wanted such a life for her daughter. This is not the future she had always painted in her heart.

Her daughter couldn’t complete her university program because of her. It’s all her fault.

She became ill and couldn’t provide for herself nor her daughter.

She was supposed to be the one working to support her daughter but now, the reverse is the case. Her daughter now struggles hard to pay all their bills.

Her routine check-up and medicines were still on her. She provided everything they needed so that they wouldn’t starve. She never knew things were going to take this turn in her life.

Poor girl. She hoped she would meet good people in her new work place. She’s done much more than what ten daughter’s will do.

She was wrong to have loved Analdo Smith like she did. Perhaps the love she had for him was equal if not more than the shock she experienced when she discovered he had a mistress and the latter was pregnant with his child.

The shock was too much for her to absorb. That’s what led to her being bedridden as a result of a stroke. If she wasn’t bedridden, she probably would have made her daughter’s life better.

*********

As Ella raised her head to look at who the boss was, he was head bent, obviously working on a document and jotting something down.

Ella squinted. Why does she think the man was familiar? The fragrance coming from the man and the aura she perceived while she walked in, seemed a little familiar.

The manager stood with arms on both sides, waiting for the boss to look up at them. They waited for like sixty seconds before he eventually raised his head and looked at them.Material © of NôvelDrama.Org.

As soon as Ella saw his face, what followed next was shock… she was dazed that momentarily she forgot her manners and was just staring at the man.

This was him. Yes, he cannot be mistaken. He was the reason why she lost her job in the restaurant. So he is the CEO of the Foster corporation?

Or could it be that… yeah everything seemed to make sense now. She must definitely have been lured to work in that Company.

She can’t remember applying for a job in that Company in the past. But being invited without applying surprised her in the past but no more.

She had accepted the privilege to work in such a large corporation that she saw it as an opportunity that came to her on the platter of gold.

“… Miss Ella… is everything alright?” James asked. He just introduced her to the boss and she seemed not to even notice. She was supposed to say hello to the boss.

The CEO also just stood staring at her with a cold expression. Had they met in the past or had she also been lain by him?

Since he couldn’t ask the CEO if he was alright for staring at the new employee with so much irritation in his eyes, he asked Ella instead.

“Yes.. ah… off course..” Ella stammered. She was too dazed to have heard anything the manager had said. She glanced at him briefly and wore a forced smile.

“Hmmmm…”James grunted. Indeed she’s alright. Whatever, that’s her business. Whatever she has to settle with the boss, she can go ahead and do that.

For goodness sake, the CEO insisted that they offer her a job without applying. Truly there was a vacancy but there were other applicants.

He specifically ordered him to invite Ella for an interview and then offer her the job. There is definitely something fishy about the whole situation.

No wonder when the interview couldn’t hold the previous day, he was furious and ordered him to call her and tell her to come around the next day.

“You may leave James,” Alex ordered. For once his eyes had not blinked since he locked eyes with Ella. He can imagine the turmoil in her mind already.

“Yes, boss” James bowed slightly and glanced at Ella with a careful look. He walked out and shut the door behind him.

Alex stood up majestically and walked to stand a few inches away from Ella. At this time, the latter couldn’t raise her head. She intertwined her fingers and looked down.

He stood and stared at her and next walked round her before chuckling softly. He didn’t say anything yet but came over to stand in front of her.

“Welcome to hell” he bellowed.

As Ella returned to her office, she was still shivering. He is Alex Foster? The popular billionaire Alex? She didn’t know him in the past nor what he looked like.

She’s only heard about his name but doesn’t know what he looks like. In fact, she cared less about these big names in New York.

No wonder he demanded an apology from her. He is the rumoured arrogant brat that everyone seemed afraid of crossing him?

He was so intimidating a while ago. The kind of aura coming from him was too domineering. This is just too much.

She was still trying to calm herself when Alex pressed the button to summon her. She sighed softly and stood up. She got to the office and the latter just ignored her.

She ended up standing at a spot for an hour. Her legs were almost getting sore in her high heels and her knees were tired already.

When Alex was eventually going to instruct her, he said “pick that pen on the floor” without looking up at her.

Ella opened her mouth to rebuke him but closed it again. Her mother had told her to try as much as she can to stay away from trouble.

He summoned her and made her stand up for an hour only for him to tell her to pick his pen from the floor. This isn’t making sense at all.

Anyways she went close to him and picked the pen. She placed it on his desk and turned to go “Are you crazy, who asked you to put the pen in the desk?” He thundered.

Without another word, Ella quickly picked the pen and held it in her hand. Stretch it to Alex but the latter just ignored her.

With her stretched out, she remained there for another forty minutes until there was a knock on the door.

He asked whoever is at the door to come in and two figures soon arrived. Festus walked in ahead of Lisa.

When they both came in, they were shocked. But the reason why they looked dazed was different from each other.

Festus was surprised how he soon came across the lady who slapped Alex across the face. He never expected to see her after just a few days let alone seeing her before Alex.

Lisa was surprised as well that the lady she met the previous day was already employed by the company. How soon they will meet again.

“Place it on the desk” Alex commanded and Ella did so. This man is mean. She had stood for too long that day. He knew he was still going to place the pen on his desk and yet, he kept her standing for so long.

She was going to leave when Lisa blocked her path. She looked at her with utmost hatred in her eyes. She felt like scratching her face with her long nails.

But she dares not behave irrationally before Alex otherwise, the latter will lash out at her. The already tired Ella just gave a glaring stare before walking around her and went away.

“Alex, you are a bad guy. How did she end up here?” Festus asked, with curiosity in his eyes. He had underestimated his friend. He knew he wouldn’t forgive easily but never expected to meet the girl in his office.

“She’s become an employee of this company” Alex replied with a sinister smile on his face. He doesn’t need to explain everything.

Festus will understand why she suddenly started working in the Foster cooperation. He told him he would deal with the girl and he has just begun.

Festus just shook his head. He can imagine how miserable the girl’s life would become while working with Alex. But why did she accept the job offer?

Or could it be that she didn’t know the man she offended is a foster? Alex Foster for that matter. His cruelty will be lashed out to her in a full measure.

“How did you do it? She accepted working with you?” Festus demanded, settling himself into the sofa and Lisa going to give Alex a peck on his chin.

“She’s not so important for us to discuss. She’s become an employee and that’s all that matters” Alex flippantly replied. It’s obvious he doesn’t want to talk about her.

Lisa didn’t say anything. The same lady provoked her the previous day. Alex was not happy with what she did hence she doesn’t want to cause a change in his mood.

Ella returned to her office and sank into her chair. What sort of a man is Alex? He’s a bastard and inhuman in his behaviour. She knew it that he was going to torture her.

Her legs were sore, especially her feet. She sure knew if she had stood there for another ten minutes, she might faint. What sort of thing is this, is this the hell he welcomed her into?

When Ella arrived home that evening, her mother was eager to know how her first day at her new job was. She beamed with a megawatt smile when she saw her daughter.

Ella had made up her mind not to mention those unpleasant experiences she had with her mom. It would break her heart.

Smiles and excitement are contagious. Ella was all smiles as she saw her mother cheerful looks. She narrated how great the company is and the employees were all friendly.

They interacted with her as if they’ve known her for ages. The atmosphere was conducive and her salary was twice of what she earned as a waitress.

She said the pleasant parts and deliberately omitted her experience with the boss. She knew she was in with that damn arrogant Mr Foster but she would accept her fate and work with him.

“Someone came to check on you when you were at work”