EPISODE TWENTY ONE
THEME: The wicked boss
KNOX MARTINS BEACH HOUSE
THE NEXT MORNING
Knox Martins yawned loudly as he made his way to the kitchen. He was tempted to check on Eretia in her bedroom but he walked on. When he stopped at the entrance of the kitchen, Eretia was there working her way around the kitchen as she hummed a song he couldn’t make sense of.
Knox cleared his throat and she turned to face him. “Oh! Good morning boss!” She greeted cheerfully.
Knox made his way into the kitchen. “Good morning my maid.”
Eretia raised her eyebrows by what he just called her. “My name is Eretia.” She said.
“Yes Eretia and you are my maid.” Knox gulped down a bottle of water from the refrigerator. “And personal assistant.” He added.
“Can we talk?” She asked.
“Yes.. as long as it is not about old lady.” Knox dropped the empty plastic in a bin.
“Well it is about my job.” Eretia replied.
“You want to quit?” Knox asked
“Never! I was just about telling you that I won’t be giving up anytime soon.” Eretia said with a serious look on her face.
“Are you sure?” Knox reopened the refrigerator to check out for a fruit to eat.
“Yes.. I am not the type to give up easily.” Eretia replied.
Knox grabbed a green apple. “Get ready we are heading to my agency.” He said.
“But.. the snow -”
“It is not snowing anymore.. and the roads are cleared now.” He cuts in sharply.
“Okay boss. Food is ready.” Eretia said when he was almost leaving the kitchen.
“I am not hungry.” Knox answered as he walked out of the kitchen.
“Okay.” she sighed.
*******
Knox Martins rolled his eyes when he saw Eretia. He was surprised to see her on heels in this sort of weather whereby the roads are still slippery and not fit to walk on.
“You can’t come with me in my car.” Knox said.
“Why?” Eretia’s eyebrow drew together at his words.
“I don’t like sharing my car with anyone.” Knox answered.
“What?” She frowned.
“You heard me.” Knox moved to the driver’s seat and entered the car.
“But I am your personal assistant so I have to be everywhere with you.” Eretia moved to him.
“Who gave such rule?” Knox asked.
“It doesn’t matter. If anything happens or goes wrong with you.. then I get blamed for it.” Eretia tried to make him understand.
“I don’t care. You shouldn’t be in my house in the first place. I didn’t hire you.” Knox Martins grounded out.
“What?!” She glared at him.
Knox glanced at his wrist watch. “I am running late make sure you meet up at Gold Mall.” He said in a commanding tone.
“Are you serous right now boss?” Eretia demanded.
“I am damn serious my maid and personal assistant.” Knox Martins flashed her a wicked grin. He was almost closing the car door but Eretia held it. He tried to pull it but her hold on it was too strong. She was holding it with her super strength.
“Won’t you let go?” He asked.
“I won’t let go until you agree to give me a ride.” Eretia replied.
“No.” He spat.
“How do I get to Gold Mall?! I don’t even know the place!” Eretia said sincerely.
“You can ask around or use your google map.” Knox replied.
“Well you and I both know that no one lives around here. And I have to walk to the next bus station to take a bus which will also take a while to-”
“Like I said.. I don’t care. Meet me at the mall by 9:00 or else you get fired!” He pointed at her.
“9:00?! How…” Eretia loosened her grip on the door.
Knox Martin closed the door and shoved her aside in the process. She staggered backwards on heels and hit the ground hard suddenly.
“Boss!” She shouted but he drove off without looking back at her.
Her cellphone beeped. And when she took it out from her small bag it was Mrs Elaina Martins.
“Good morning, ma’am Elaina.”
“How are you doing?” Mrs Elaina asked.
“I am doing fine.” Eretia tried to sound in the best tone.
“What about Knox?” Mrs Elaina Martins asked in a low tone.
“Oh! He is fine. We are both fine. I mean we are getting along well.” Eretia answered.
“Oh really? So where is he?” The old lady demanded with excitement in her tone.
“He left not quite long.” Eretia replied.
“Are you sure that he is not giving you any problem?” Mrs Elaina asked.
“We are fine. He even prepared dinner to welcome me to his home.” Eretia tried to stand up but she screamed at the sharp pain in her ankle.
“Are you okay?!” Mrs Elaina was scared by her sudden scream.
Eretia wondered if she had broken bone. “Yes.. yes.. I am fine.” She lied. And slowly she removed her heels, tried to get up again and made her way back to the front door.
“Did he tell you where he is headed?” Mrs Elaina asked.
“Gold Mall. Yes he asked me to meet him at the mall.” Eretia limped.
“Did he tell you why he wants to visit the mall?” Mrs Elaina questioned.
“He didn’t say much but I guess he wants to buy some stuffs.” Eretia answered.
“I am just surprised at his sudden visit to the mall. He has not been there for years now.” Mrs Elaina said in a sad tone.
“Well.. maybe he want to check it out today.” Eretia limped back to the door.
“So why are you alone?” Mrs Elaina asked the question on her mind.
Eretia cleared her throat. “Uhmm.. I need to clear something up at home before joining him at the mall.”
“So.. did you talk to him about me?” Mrs Elaina spoke up after three seconds of silence.
“Yes I did.” Eretia answered.
“So what did he say?” Mrs Elaina was eager to know.
Eretia was silent. She tried to think of what to say to the old lady. Lying was not the best in this situation.
“He denied you.” She said.
Now it was Mrs Elaina’s turn to be silent. “I’ll keep trying my best to–”
The old lady interrupted her. “Thank you. At least I am just glad that he didn’t call me up to complain about you. So I guess you are both doing fine.”
“Yes we are fine.” she snapped in immediately.
“Please take care of my son.” Mrs Elaina’s tone pleaded.
“You can count on me, ma’am Elaina.” Eretia replied.
“Alright, have a nice day.” The old lady hang up the call.
“This is so annoying!” Eretia gritted after trying different passwords to unlock the door.
“It is so painful..” Eretia rubbed her ankle gently. “Argg! Knox! You bastard!” She grabbed her cellphone, dialed his number and he picked.
“What do you want?” He coaxed.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.
“Well.. you see boss.. I need to get my phone from the house but I don’t know the password.” Eretia lied.
“Your phone?” Knox furrowed his eyebrows.
“Yes.” she mumbled.
“So what are you using to call me?” Knox asked.
Then Eretia realized what she just said. “Oh sorry boss! Not.. my phone… I meant to say my wallet. Yes.. yes my wallet. I don’t have money in my jacket to pay a taxi.” she stammered.
“4801.” Knox said.
Eretia pressed on the buttons and the door buzzed and opened up. “Oh thank you so much boss!”
In the real sense Eretia wanted to change her heels into a comfortable boot.
“Mr Knox is so wicked for pushing like that. If he thinks I am going to give up because of this… Never!” She grabbed a boot.