FATE - The billionaires' love triangle

VICTORIA: "Hey, stay positive. It's a hard time, and you will be giving yourself more headaches if you continue worrying." Hayley, my friend, tried encouraging me. I stared at her and wondered if she understood my position at all. This was the last chance I had to prove to the universe that I was not worthless. Since Mom passed on, going through life has been extremely difficult. It was as if a curse had been placed on me from birth that starting from me, my generation would be embraced by bad luck and denial. Every interview ended with 'we will keep in touch', of which none ever did.

My bills were piling up, I was out of food, and I had even sold most of my clothes to gather a few bucks for food. And now, if by the end of the week, I don't get called, I would probably spend the remaining nights of the year on the streets. Thinking about this alone made my head ache, and badly.

Hayley hardly understood the gravity and depth of debt I was drowned in. I had almost resolved to steal from a trader just so I could pay part of the debt. Had it been I stole that day, I would not have been able to explain the level of beating I would have gotten from the trader whose face looked like it was crushed by a heavy-duty machine.

"How about I give you a treat to a resort so you can get this ugly scale of worry off your face?" Hayley asked, smiling between words. Slowly getting up from the bed, and halfway processing how she was able to have made such money to waste on a resort while I was here killing myself on how I would manage to offset my bills, my phone rang.

"Hello, Victoria on the line," I answered tiredly.

"I believe you sent in your CV to JobSearch.com, applying for the post of housekeeper, right?" the voice at the other end of the phone asked.

"Yes, I did, yes."

"I am calling from Mega Hands Corporation. We happened to have come across your CV and decided to reach out. We do not need your services as a housekeeper. But..." the voice continued. Hearing this already made me weaker and unhappier than before. I wasn't interested anymore as to what the person was saying. My thoughts were going far.

"Hello? Victoria? Did you hear what I said?" the person called out.

"No, I'm sorry, your voice trailed off".

"You have been hired to resume as the new secretary to the CEO of Mega Hands and you are required to start on Monday. Details of your employment will be sent to you. Do well to show up on time and look presentable."

With that, the call ended. I couldn't believe what I just heard. Mix emotions ran through my head as I put the phone down. My puzzled state made Hayley more confused.

I instantly embraced her, crying and laughing at the same time that I was finally able to get a job. Not the job I applied for, but something way better, and I was going to offset my debt.

***

Hayley had helped me go through my closet in search of a fitting dress to wear on my first day at work. We finally settled for a peach, half-patterned, long-sleeved, three-quarter gown which I wore with my worn-out loafers. I packed my hair up in a bun, applied light makeup and looked at myself in the mirror. Though I wasn't looking so presentable, I was a bit of an escape from being wretched. Gathering all the morale and confidence I had, I made my journey to Mega Hands.

"I said look presentable. PRESENTABLE. What manner of wretched dress are you putting on? I wonder why he chose you to be his secretary. Gosh". The woman said as she turned away from me and walked into the next room. Flushed with embarrassment, I kept looking at the ground in shame. I could feel every eye on me, and if it were possible, I'm sure they could see my underwear. Though life had tossed a lot at me, all summed up, it will not amount to the humiliation I feel right now.

"Hey you, this way'', she called out at the door, irritated. Still unable to bring my head up, I hurried towards her. Walking into the room was like walking into heaven. I could feel the soft floor beneath my shoes. The air was filled with a mix of lavender and cigarette. The room looked like a hall – spacious and spotless. On the right side of the room, the walls were replaced with transparent glass, giving a see-through view of the garden which housed flowers of various colors and sizes. On the left side of the room were couches neatly arranged with a tea table close to them. On the table laid the finest set of china cups. Behind the old man was a huge library, having a thousand books.

The atmosphere carried evidence that a heated argument just ensued. I could hear the voices in the air - some spoke in anger, and some spoke calmly. Looking forward, my intuition was confirmed.

Before me, at the other side of a well-furnished desk made from the finest Oakwood in the forest, sat an old man whose aura spoke power. Even in his old age, he still could pass for a 'no-nonsense' sugar daddy. A bit away from him stood two young men. Identical twins, though one was more handsome than the other, while the other had a better body build.

"Dad, what do you mean by 'I' am not fit for the position of being CEO? All my life, I have longed for this and now you are saying you would rather give the position to Jacob, my younger brother, than your first son? You are cruel, just a purely wicked fellow!" one of the sons raged out. He stumped his fist onto the table, grinning his teeth tightly. The other stood, with hands in his pocket, not saying a word or expressing emotion. Instead, his gaze was fixed on me.

'Please don't look at me. I know I'm not looking my best, but don't stare at me,' I said to myself, trying so hard to maintain composure.

"Excuse me, Mr. Wills. This is Victoria Cobbs, your new secretary," the lady said, casting a disgusting look at me. "In my opinion, I would say you reconsider hiring her. She doesn't look like what Mega Hands represents or what our high-profile clients would like to see, sir."

"Well, your opinion is not needed, Theresa. The earlier you learn how not to look down on people, the faster you get promoted", Mr. Wills replied. He was the CEO of Mega Hands, and from his looks, you can tell he has invested more than half of his life in the growth of the company. And beside him were his sons who he doesn't fully trust to continue the legacy.

"Hello sir", I greeted. Immediately, one of the sons looked at me with irritation and disbelief and walked away, while the other stayed put.

"Theresa, show her to her office and brief her on what she has to do"

"Yes, sir". Without looking at me, she ordered me to follow her.

***

"Mega Hands is so big and beautiful. You need to see the interior, the exterior did no justice to how exquisite the company is. I do not believe it is owned by just one billionaire. You needed to see the fleet of cars lined in the garage, the whole fittings on the curtain drapes, the furniture of gold, and the ambiance of light busting through every corner of the building. It was semi-heaven!" I squealed in excitement. Hayley kept browsing the internet, trying to see if my description matched what the internet displayed. And truly, my description was nothing close to what the internet displayed. It looked so real, so divine. But honestly, I was in doubt as to whether I would last in that organization. I had hoped luck would shine on me and make me redeem myself from the hands of ill-fatedness. I know I have skills and what it takes to become who I want and do what I want to but there had never been a chance to prove my worth, and now that I have been fortunate enough, everyone seemed to hate the sight of me. I wasn't ugly and wretched, but I wasn't so beautiful and rich either. I believe one's class should not be a criterion to get a job, right? Why was I chosen to be the secretary in such a reputable company, even with my appearance and lack of experience? Was I going to have a good work relationship with my colleagues? Will I, one day, be able to show them my worth?