Alaia's POV
"Wow, this place is reallllllly fancy, can definitely see myself working here for sure" Rita announces as she walks around the lobby, taking selfies everywhere she can..... couldn't help but shake my Head.
Rita is one of my best friends since childhood, and also my neighbour. We have been through everything together, well almost everything. She graduated from University a year ago and is currently job searching after she got fired from her last job.
Why? well, her married supervisor wanted sexual favors from her, in exchange for her keeping her job and getting promoted. And well, Rita being Rita, quit the job but not before causing abit of drama before she left the company. So now she is looking for work and staying with her parents again, which is a bammer, but atleast she is staying close to me again.
I on the other hand, finished high school with Rita, but was unable to attend college due to my blindness. Yep, am blind, have been so since i was 8 years old, its a sob story.
Anyway, completing high school was hard enough obviously. As a person with disabilities, all the special attention made things quite awkward for me. I didnt think i could handle a college experience like that.
Plus,with so many financial problems at home, me going to college was last on our list of priorities. So i guess my high school diploma will have to be my highest academic achievement for now for now i guess.
'Huuuhhh', i sigh.
I Cant help but fantasize what some extra money would do for my family right now. My Mum was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer 4 years ago, but luckily, she fought it and survived.
But the medical expenses put a toll on the family, we are still trying to pay them off up to now. Currently, she runs our family Diner down town called 'Sunny's'. It used to be my grandmother's and i remember spending literally all my time there when i was a child.
The business is steady but doesnt bring in alot of money anymore, probably because its quite old school compared to everything else that has evolved so drastically around there.
I have two sisters, my immediate being Sienna, who is now a Senior in college, there is no scholarship there, so basically more bills to takecare of, and my youngest sibling is Zara who is still in high school.
Then there's me,, am soon to turn 24 years old. Am told am 5"7" tall, brown hair and green eyes. I do remember my eyes though.
I read alot, brail ofcourse. I can also sing though i don't do much of that lately, and i play some musical instruments, my favorite being the violin.
I also work at a dry cleaners that's close to our house, and in case you're wondering how, i basically iron, fold and pack clothes there. Trust me, after years and years of practice, its one of the things i can do very well without my eye sight. I can easily differantiate fabrics by touch.
Anyway, i have also been trying to save some money for an eye surgery. My boss Mr Lee told me about a doctor he heard about that is doing wonders. It's still experimental but i think am willing to try it out, i have nothing to lose anyway. I haven't told anyone about it though, apart from my dad, for now.
My Dad works, well not anymore, at one of the companies that is owned by the Bishops who apparently are a big deal in the city. But recently, he and two others got into some trouble there. They all got fired and arrested but shortly after were set free due to a deal that Mr Bishop wanted to make with my dad.
Apparently, my grandma Sunshine, Sunny for short, put me as a sole owner of the Diner my mom manages and Mr Bishop wants to buy the property because they want to use the land for a project or something like that.
Problem is i can only sale or transfer ownership of it a year after my wedding and since am not married yet, that kind of causes a bit of a problem in the whole deal.
Anyway, Mr Bishop asks my dad to make the deal 'work' somehow if he wants to avoid going back to jail. I feel bad because i know the reasons my dad is even in this mess is because of all the financial problems at home, and even worse cause there isn't much i can do to help and yet am the oldest child.
And i know that he also wants to make some extra money to help me get that operation for my eyesight.
Everyone is so stressed at home and i feel so bad being unable to help. Am the eldest daughter yet am the biggest burden to them all. Which brings me to why am here to meet Mr Bishop today.
"Ms Crowe.. Mr Bishop will see you now, follow me" The man who am guessing to be his Secretary tells us.
Rita grabs my hand and we start to follow behind him to Mr Bishop's office.
" So, gat any job openings around here, in this place, i can do anything, but preferably something in public relations?" Rita asks the man seriously.
"Rita!!! dont start" I elbow her.
"What, this place is humongous.. It could definately use some more people...right man? The man doesn't respond.
"So.... What do you do here? Are you his secretary or something?" she continues talking and strikes a nerve.
"Personal Assistant...and no, we do not have any openings here for YOU" he answers, emphasising the 'you' and possibly taking offence to being called a secretary, whatever the difference might be.
We get to an office at the end of a hall and he knocks on a door twice before opening it and announcing our entry.
I get very nervous now, starting to regret coming here. Maybe this was not such a good idea. I mean what do i possibly hope to achieve by talking to the man. What was i thinking. Rita should have known better and stopped me, instead she encouraged me, the damn fool.
Miss Crowe? A deep voice says with an accent,, must be Italian i think.
He must have been reffering to Rita because i quickly hear her say "Ohh no,, am Rita.....Rita sinclair, Ally's bestfriend and eyes on the ground, THIS is Ally.......Alaia...i mean Miss Crowe" she mumbles at the end.
I notice she is using her 'sexy' voice, she is trying to impress him already. Oh boy.
He must definately be good looking then. And old right, but then again that has never stoped Rita.
"Am Allesio Bishop, this is my Son, Nickolas..... please do take a seat. Salva, can you bring the two ladies something to drink. What will you have?"
"Well, it depends on what time it is now... We've been waiting a very long time.. i lost track?? Rita asks although she can easily check for herself on her wrist watch or phone.
"Huh...11:30", the secretary replies hesitantly.
"In that case, is it too early for a martini?" she continues. Oh my god, i mentally face palm myself.
"Uuuhhmm, we will have two coffee's, one black with no sugar, the other with creame and two teaspoons of sugar please" I quickly cut in before she can embarrass us both and get us kicked out of here.
"Well Okayyyyy, i guess tea will be fine then" Rita murmurs.
"So, Miss Crowe, what can we do for you?" A male voice i can only assume to belong to Nickolas asks with a sigh.
Ok....Here goes nothing.