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Chapter 4

My first day at work went from being the worst day of my life to a fairytale.

Rats.

My dear neighbors for the past couple of weeks. They scurried around, their tiny feet causing

the tiniest scratching sounds against the old wood floors. I used to find it hard to fall asleep

with them running around, scared I’d wake up to find one on my chest staring at me, judging

me. But I quickly got over that. More pressing issues like food, water, and heat overcame the

fear of rats. They became more like an alarm.

After searching and searching, I finally found a place willing to hire someone with almost

zero work experience, Anchor Freight Shipping company, sounds important Being a janitor

was nowhere in my five-year plan but a job was a job.

I didn’t want to make a bad first impression by coming late so I made a mad dash once the

building came into view. It was magnificent, tall and shiny, like an unwrapped present on

Christmas morning but I could only appreciate its beauty for a second.

I barreled in through the side door like I'd been instructed to and–

"Hey you!"

I stopped in my tracks and turned on my heel.

You're early. Take this bucket, pour out the water, and come mop up the rest of this floor.

Understand?"

"Yes ma'am," I answered the surly, middle-aged woman. The bucket had brown, putrid water

in it that made me gag. I had to hold it away from my face so I wouldn't throw up, while

making sure I slip up on the wet, tiled floor.

I was doing my delicate dance to a toilet of an unknown location when I rounded a corner

and, before I could react, spilled the contents of the bucket on a well-dressed woman in a

business suit.

I would have been happy for a tornado to rip through the building and toss me on a deserted

island somewhere.

"Oh my God, miss. I'm so sorry."

"What the hell is this?" She screamed, and rightly so. I wouldn't have wanted even a drop of

that water on me. "Are you blind? Why can't you watch where you're going?"

"Oh no, ma'am. I'm so sorry about this. She's new here and she hasn't quite learned the

ropes." This good-looking guy ran up next to me and pleaded on my behalf.

"She won't get to," She said to him and then turned to me. "Get the hell out of the building

because you're fired."

"Ma'am, please. She made a mistake. Please don't –"

SMACK.

The ensuing silence was so unnerving but I couldn't watch my would be saviour be

humiliated like that but what was I supposed to do? I didn't want to lose my job.

"What the hell are you still doing here?" She pointed a manicured finger at me. "I can't have

an incompetent worker like you around here when I have important delegates to deal with.

Anchor Freight has a reputation to uphold and I will uphold it by any means necessary. Get

out."

My mind went back to my ex mother-in-law kicking me out of my ex husband's house. I felt

so helpless. I thought about my neighbors, the rats and how I was on track to moving to a

better living situation but now this? I couldn't catch a break.

The weight of my woes pushed me to my knees. I watched to guy fell in next to me plead

with me to the cold-hearted woman before us.

"Madam, please. I didn't mean for that to happen. This is all I have so please, I beg of your,

let me keep this job."

"You should have thought about that before spilling your nonsense on me." She wouldn't

even look away from her phone. Finally, she broke her concentration to stare at the guy next

to me. "You, get back to work. And call security to come escort her out."

“Madam, please.”

She didn’t listen, I couldn’t blame her, the water was disgusting. With one last disdainful look

at me, she walked past me, still kneeling, and went about her business. That was it, I’d lost

my job. Well, to be fair, the rats were pretty decent neighbors.

“Hey, I’m sorry this happened to you. On your first day too.” I nodded at him, jaded beyond

reason. “If you want, I could put in a word with my friend at the gas station down the road.

It’s not as prestigious as carrying buckets of crap but the wage isn’t bad at all. I’m Arthur,by

the way.

“Thanks. I’d appreciate that.” I’d have laughed at his joke but I don’t think I had any joy peft

in me.

“Charlotte?”

I was too lost in despair to care about anything. I hope whoever Charlotte was, she

washaving a better day… a better life than I was.

“Charlotte Knowles?”

A memory flashed through my mind. A memory of someone calling me ‘Charlotte’ – my

mother? Was it real? It was such a distant memory, it didn’t feel real. Miss business suit

came back into my field of view just as I was getting back to my feet.

“Are you Charlotte?” She asked, cupping my face in her soft, silky hands. Despite how nice,

they felt, I’d seen the venom they were capable of spewing when she slapped Arthur so I

pulled away.

“I’m Teresa.”

“Oh, my sweet child.” She gripped the collar of my shirt and pulled it down, shocking

everyone around to stare wide-eyed at her antics. Her change in attitude was dizzying. She

literally just fired me now here she was practically undressing me. I gave Arthur a quizical

look but he looked just as lost as I did.

“What the hell is your problem?” I said, my voice barely breaking a whisper.

“I’m sorry.” She now had glassy eyes which caused me to feel this overwhelming sense of

protection towards her. Why did I feel that way? Fuck this stuck up rich bitch. But I couldn’t

shake it. She felt like inexplicably like a motherly figure to me.

She traced her finger just under my collarbone, on the same scar I’d trace when I felt lost.

Even then, it had the same calming effect I usually sought from it.

“Charlotte.” She was now smiling, and crying. “Your name is Charlotte Knowles. And this,

all this–” she gestured all over “– is yours.” She pulled me into a deep embrace and my

worldfelt warm for the first time in a long time. Warmth.

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