MY BOSS

All my life, I never knew I would meet someone so domineering as Mr. Casino Vincent. It all started when I graduated from college and decided to look for a job. But nothing seemed to work out. Every application I sent was either ignored or met with a polite rejection. Things only got worse when I had no choice but to pair with a roommate, Bella, who was evidently jealous of me. It wasn’t hard to tell—every comment, every look she gave me was laced with envy. But I had no choice; rent wasn’t going to pay itself.

The next day, I woke up bright and early, feeling a rush of excitement and nerves. I quickly freshened up, skipping breakfast because I wanted to get to the office early and make a good impression. Bella was nowhere to be seen, and honestly, I didn’t mind the peace and quiet. Without another thought, I grabbed my bag and headed out the door.

When I arrived at Marcs&Co, something felt... off. As I walked into the building, people were staring at me, but not in the usual “new employee” kind of way. Their eyes were filled with a strange pity, as if they knew something I didn’t. I brushed it off, thinking maybe I was just imagining things. It was probably first-day jitters.

Just as I was trying to figure out where to go, a woman in her late thirties approached me with a warm but slightly tired smile. "You must be Grace," she said, extending her hand. "I’m Mrs. Danielle, and I’ll be the one to show you the ropes around here."

I shook her hand, relieved that someone was finally talking to me. "Yes, that's me! I’m excited to get started."

She gave a quick nod and motioned for me to follow her. "Come, I’ll take you to your office. You’ll be working right opposite the CEO’s office."

Opposite the CEO’s office? My heart skipped a beat. I didn’t know whether to feel honored or terrified. I had heard whispers about the CEO, Mr. Casino Vincent, but I hadn’t yet met him. If I was going to be working so close to him, I’d better be on my best behavior.

We walked down the sleek, quiet hallway until we reached an office door. Mrs. Danielle opened it, revealing a spacious but minimalistic office with a large desk and a view that overlooked the city.

“This is where you’ll be working,” she said, glancing across the hallway. "And right there," she pointed, "is the CEO’s office. You’ll be interacting with him a lot, so just a heads up—he’s very particular."

I swallowed nervously, nodding. "Thank you for the warning."

As she left me to settle in, I couldn’t help but glance towards the CEO’s door. What was it about him that had everyone walking on eggshells? I was about to find out.

Bella had a job too, but her paycheck was, well, let’s just say it was barely enough to fuel her perfume addiction. I could feel the tension between us grow as the days passed. She had a job, yet her life seemed stagnant, while I was still jobless, but hopeful.

Then, finally, after months of searching, God answered my prayer. I applied for a job at Marcs&Co Ltd. I had heard they were hiring, and although it felt like a long shot, I decided to give it a try. Days went by, and just as I was beginning to lose hope, I got an email—I got accepted!

I could barely contain my excitement as I rushed out of my room to share the news. Bella was sitting on the couch, scrolling through her phone, when I blurted out, "I got the job!"

For a moment, she froze. I could feel the jealousy radiating from her as she forced a smile. "Oh... that’s... good for you," she muttered, her voice dripping with bitterness.

Her reaction didn’t surprise me. Bella had always been the type who couldn’t stand seeing others succeed, especially when she felt stuck. She had her own job, but the payment wasn’t nearly as much as what I would be earning at Marcs&Co. That much was clear by the way she grimaced when I mentioned the company’s name.

Still, I wasn’t going to let her sour mood dampen my joy. I had finally gotten the job I prayed for, and nothing was going to take that away from me.

The real challenge, however, was yet to come.