Chapter 926
It was not easy to work on the side and study at the same time under a student scholarship grant. But she had made it work until she met the father of her son. Then, everything went downhill from there.
“Ria, good job with your first two weeks.” Her supervisor praised her while she stood in front of her small desk. “Even the boss told Sir Alex about your impressive work.” She continued.
“Really?” She could not believe it since she was new at this job. But she tried hard not to impress but to do a good job. “Thanks. I will work harder so you will not get disappointed with me.”
Everything she was doing was not only for her but also for her son. She knew it was not about earning money for his son but giving him a reason to be proud of her mother.
She had worked hard all her life to follow her dreams. That was what she wanted her son to see in her. She was not a loser or a gold digger who only used the father of her son for money. It was a long story.
“I don’t think I will ever get disappointed with you, Ria. You are a good kid.” Her supervisor was walking away when she turned around as if she remembered something. “Why don’t you come with me later? I will treat you with a drink.”
.....
It was seldom she liked interns, but this new one was different. Ria seemed genuinely interested to learn. This young woman was willing to start at the bottom and learn her way up to the top. A rare characteristic she could hardly find in the young people today.
If she managed to have a daughter, she would be proud to have someone like her. But she was married to her job, so having children was out of the question.
“Tonight, Ms. Brenda. You want me to go out with you tonight.” Ria repeated since she could not believe that her boss would invite her out.
Other interns and the employees had warned her about the strict rules that her supervisor implemented. She had experienced it first hand, the reason she had worked twice as hard.
Therefore, she could not believe her boss would praise her and even consider taking her out for a drink. Now, she was in between accepting her offer and rejecting it.
“Yeah. I hope you will not say no.” Brenda looked at her as if she had no choice.
The problem was not just going out with her boss. She had never included going late in her plans to get drunk. Although she had warned her babysitter that she might be late a few times, it was due to work and not because she was out on bars.
“I am...” Ria was still coming up with an excuse when her boss suddenly shouted at someone else.
“Ms. Josey, I am taking Ria out tonight. Why don’t you join us.” Brenda called their COO, who just came in from her meeting upstairs.
Their big boss stopped just by her desk and looked at them. “When is this?” Ms. Josey inquired, appearing like she was interested.
“Tonight,” Brenda answered, and the two started planning it as if she was not even there.
“Then, it is settled. Pack up your things early.” Ms. Josey told her, giving her no time to say anything else.
Then, her supervisor and COO were gone as fast as they had arrived at her table. She was left problematic with what she had to do. First, she had to inform her sitter that she might be late picking up his son.
Afterward, she had to figure out an excuse to get out of there before she found herself drunk. Her alcohol limit was not something to brag about since she could hardly hold her liquor.
Not for lack of trying in college, but she had no tolerance for it. It was the reason she ended up pregnant. She was too intoxicated to say no to her boyfriend that night.
She was not crying rape since she loved him. But she would have been more responsible if she was not drunk. Moreover, she thought her ex-boyfriend understood her concern about not having sex until they were ready. But she realized too late that it was just all a game to him.
“Isn’t this fun?” Ms. Josey told her and the rest of their company. The next thing Ria knew, she was already sitting in a bar with her two bosses, drinking their margaritas.
But fortunately, they also invited two other female employees to join them. So, it was not just her who felt awkward to be drinking with her bosses.
“Yes, it is,” Ria answered, slowly sipping her drinks, afraid that one glass would be enough to inebriate her. Then, the other two were already finishing their first drink.
Then, her eyes roamed around the room since she was not familiar with places like this. The first and last time she was in a bar was the night she got pregnant with Edison.
She never had time to drink, go out, and party since she was never young. As she said, she devoted her life to studying. But when she had to stop because of her pregnancy, she had no choice but to keep working in a diner to earn a living for herself and her baby.
“Ria, I think someone is interested in you. He had been eyeing you since we entered.” Ms. Brenda said, pointing out the man using her lips toward the left side of the bar.
“I think I have seen him working in the mail room.” One of the other employees also followed their boss’ gaze.
Ria finally looked at the man in question. Then, she was surprised to realize that the man was familiar. She had not seen him after their last incident in the elevator.
“Pity. I thought such a good-looking man would be one of the executives in one of the departments.” Ms. Brenda said jokingly, but Ria could tell she was teasing her. “He certainly looked like a Greek God, less the tan colors.”
Ria could see that he had a lean body, but she could tell he was hiding a masculine body underneath his suit. But it did not mean that she was her type. And she doubted he was looking at her because he was interested in her.
She believed it had something to do with what happened the other day. He probably recognized her and had something in his mind to get even with her.
After all, revenge was a dish best served cold.