I'm late! How could I be late—today of all days?
My name is Lily Morgan. I'm 22—soon to be 23.
I live downtown in Agass with my mom and siblings, and I'm the eldest. My dad had died when I was eight, Ivy my younger sister was four then and Ethan our last born was only six months old.
I remember the day he died clearly like it was just yesterday. Mom was in the kitchen making dinner, Ethan was in his crib mumbling rubbish as he played with his toys.
I was sitting on the stairs in front of the house along with ivy, waiting for our dad and the goodies he always brought. I smiled remembering how Ivy and I kept making guesses of what we might get that night.
Or might not.
Instead of Dad's car pulling into the driveway, it was the cops.
Mom had noticed the police vehicle parked in front of our house and came out the front door holding Ethan in her arms, her face filled with concern.
The men in black uniforms approached Mom and delivered the most painful news of our lives.
Dad was gone.
His car had been hit on his way home by a truck whose driver had lost control of its brake. And by the time the ambulance arrived at the scene, he was already dead. The truck driver, on the other hand, got away with just a couple of broken legs.
I remember wishing the roles were reversed—Dad with the broken legs, but alive... and the driver, well…
Don't blame an eight-year-old.
Mom was badly affected by Dad's death the most. She stopped humming in the kitchen. The framed photo of Dad on the mantel disappeared. Some mornings, she forgot to comb her hair. And for a whole week, she burned dinner without flinching. But quickly patched herself up for our sake, I guess.
Ivy and I on the other hand were sad we weren't going to see our dad again except when we went to heaven as well. No more goodies, bedtime stories in that husky funny tone he'd always use or the dramatic entrance he'd do each time he comes to wake us up for breakfast.
Gone, he was gone.
Mom refused to remarry, saying she wasn't ready yet, which was a lie. I knew it was because Dad had left along with the key to her heart and she couldn't bring herself to break the lock. Instead, she got a job at a private law firm. The pay wasn't much, but enough to put food on the table, pay the bills and school fees.
Late! I can't be late
Snapped back to the present by my alarm, I rushed to the bathroom, washed my face, and brushed my teeth again.
How did I let this happen
It was 12:30 in the afternoon, and I had been scrolling through my social media accounts looking for interesting news or gossip. I didn't have many friends and the little I had, barely talked after our graduation from college.
Out of boredom, and the fact that there wasn't anything interesting, I decided to check my mail.
I always check my mail first thing in the morning.
But not today
I had applied for like eight jobs and was also expecting a recommendation letter from my college. Out of the eight applications I'd submitted, I got a response from one of them and it happened to be the one I wasn't expecting.
Kings Estates.
It was one of the most successful companies in Kingsland. Adam king, a multi billionaire and the founder of king Estates, was a strict and feared businessman who took business seriously. Along the line, he passed down the company to his son, Michael King, who was also like his father, a strict businessman, also passed it down to his son.
Richard King.
And so, the traits follow, strict.
Maybe even worse.
But just like the witch's cottage made of candy, the King's family were blessed with beauty.
Done combing my hair, I dashed to my bedroom closet searching for a corporate wear.
12:40pm, I'm not going to make it
Out of luck, I ran to Ivy's room, our model and fashionista. Scanning through the collection of clothes in her wardrobe, I barely found something corporate to wear.
Crop top
Leather jacket
Bum shorts
Office pant, yes!
Collecting the office pant, I checked for a matching top or jacket but couldn't find one.
12:47
"Hey vy?" I yelled; she was in the bathroom putting on her makeup.
"Got any top to go with this slack of yours?" I moved towards the bathroom door to show her the slack.
12:50
"Oh, those are mom's, I borrowed them for a play we had in school, the top is in her closet, but I don't think it'll suit you well" she turned to face me after applying her mascara.
"Why don't you wear the cream-colored shirt you got from the mall last month, and pick a jacket from Mom's?"
Like I said, our fashionista
12:56.
Heeding to Ivy's advice, I sprang to action. Firstly, heading to Mom's closet and picking up the jacket. She wasn't in her room and I guess she was in the kitchen downstairs.
Then back to my room where I collected the cream shirt lying there untouched ever since I bought it.
I had picked it when I followed Ivy to the mall. It had caught my eye as it was displayed on the mannequin.
It was a silk cream colored shirt, with long sleeves and buttons with glass gems, the lookalike of a diamond. Though I barely went out much and did not need new clothes, I bought it anyway. If I had known that in a month's time, I'll be wearing it for a meeting, I'd have bought slacks with it.
1:00pm
Once again, my alarm rang, I had set it for every one hour since I saw the email. My recommendation letter.
Just last week I had received an email from king's estates, stating their requirements of which a recommendation letter from my school was needed.
Strict businessmen
I was to submit the requirements today by 02:00pm for review.
Immediately, I had notified the admin of my school about my need of a recommendation letter and he had replied with a non-promising reply
"We'll get back to you miss Morgan"
I had placed a call 3 days later to remind them and was told to keep checking my email. And that was the beginning of my daily morning routine of checking my email.
But eventually I had lost hope, just a day to my deadline and I still did not have the recommendation letter.
Mom still checked my inbox every night before going to bed. Ivy left sticky notes on my mirror: "It's coming today." I, on the other hand, had already buried the dream beneath my unfolded laundry. If I could not get it that night then I should just kiss king's estates goodbye.
And that was the reason I did not check my email this morning as I usually did, and why I did not see that the email had come in early this morning.
And which is why I am running late right now
Fully dressed, I stood in front of the big mirror hanging by the left side of my bed close to my bed side table. Looking back at me was a soon to be 23-year-old lady, with long black hair, hazel eyes and a small lip. Even without makeup, I looked smart and beautiful.
Picking up my bag and the already printed copy of the recommendation letter, I glanced at my phone screen, the time was 1:20. Eighty more minutes to reach the company.
"You look amazing" Ivy was first to comment. And when she says you look good, it means you look good.
But she said 'amazing' and that means 'OMG! I'm rendered speechless by your beauty'
"Wow, Lil you look stunning" It was mom's turn to compliment. Her eyes on me adoringly
"Thanks Mom and thank you too Ivy, for the idea" I walked towards the kitchen where they were seated eating lunch. They were eating my favorite pasta. And for a second, I wanted a plate too.
1:29
Sadly, I teared my eyes away from the food and looked at mom, " I'll be going now, see you guys later and wish me luck"
"Good luck, break a leg". Mom and Ivy replied in unison.
And with that I left home.