Novel Square
83
Archie hurriedly rushes down the stairs to the dining room. He meets Melanie and his father in the dining room, already eating breakfast without him.
“Eating without me? That’s the number one act of betrayal.” he groans as he sits down beside Melanie, to eat his breakfast of macaroni and cheese.
“Good morning to you too!” Melanie chuckles and rubs his now short jet black hair.
It’s been weeks already since they got back from their short vacation, Archie cut and dye his hair black, days ago after much taunting from Olive.
“I didn’t greet you, you know?” he glare hard at her, totally ignoring his father’s presence in the dining room.
This past few weeks, Archie has grown fond of Melanie and it would be hard to tell that she isn’t his mother, at first encounter.
“I thought you did.” Melanie grins, glancing at her wristwatch to check the time. “I’m running late. Archie, I’m sorry, but you will have to follow your dad this morning. My schedule starts in the next ten minutes.” she conveyed, standing up from the seat.
“I have a meeting to attend too in the next five minutes.” Mr Gordon chuckles dryly. He faces Archie for the first time since the boy got to the dining room. “I’m sorry, but you will have to go to school on your own. Perhaps by cab,” he says with a rueful look.
Archie scoffs at them both. “Who says I’m going with any of you guys?” he raises his bike key for them to see. “I’m going with my baby.” he winks and stands up, ready to leave.
“Hey, where did you think you are going? You can’t ride that, you do not know how to ride it.” Melanie yells after him.
“Why won’t I? Who says I can’t ride a bike?” Archie stops on his track, and he turns around to face her. “Where were you in 1890, when I learned how to ride a bike?” he smirked as he watch confusion plaster Melanie’s face, obviously calculating the numbers.
“What the heck? 1890? Even your father hasn’t been born then.” Melanie chuckle, she glances at Mr Gordon to see him glaring at her.
“What? You should be happy that we mention your name in our conversation.” she scoffs and walk up to Archie. “I will walk you outside, son.” she smiled in a way that only shows her upper teeth, then took Archie’s hand, walking him to the front door.
*Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.
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Getting to the office as early as 8 am on the dot. Melanie meets March in her office, arranging some files on her desk.
“Good morning, how was your night?” March asks, stepping forward to help her with her bag.
Melanie smile, tucking a few strands of hair behind her ear. “Good morning, I slept well. What about you?” she gets to her chair and sits down with a slight grunt.
“Still feeling sick?” March ask worriedly.
Melanie nods her head slowly. “I still feel sick, a little.” she smiles, indicating the ‘little’ with the tip of her pinky finger.
March scoff angrily. “Either little or a bit, I’m going to fill out a form for you after today’s shooting and you must rest at home until you feel better,” she instructs, packing the file from the desk.
Melanie has gotten fond of March and they both now communicate as friends. “Today’s shoot?” Melanie asks with a slight grunt. “My first schedule this morning is checking the sales record of team four,” she utters, checking her tablet to confirm that she was right.
“Oh, you didn’t know?” March asked, moving her palm to her mouth. “Your schedule got changed on Tuesday. It skip my mind, I’m sorry I didn’t inform you.” she apologise with a slight bow.
“It’s fine, don’t be sorry.” she rubs her kneel slowly, and packs her bag to leave. “You say I’m having a shoot this morning? So, let’s be on our way.”
March stands up also and collects the bag from Melanie. “You might want to hear this.” she grins, hopping as she walks up to the door first, opening the door for Melanie.
“What is it?” Melanie asks curiously, she’s unable to think of anything so she asks instead. “What’s that you want to tell me that you’re this happy?” she smiles as the look on March’s face tells her something fun is going on.
“Snow Pearl; the proud model is here in the company after months of abandoning her job, fogging her accident.” she rolls her eyes, no one like Snow Pearl and she wonders why it’s like that.
“She got back this morning to resume her abandoned projects, only to hear that the new Director has taken up her role and she has been fired. She has been waiting by the Chairman’s office door, hoping he would let her in but she can only hope.” March laughs wholeheartedly as she speaks.
Melanie suddenly stops walking, unable to believe Snow Pearl is at the company. She walks out of her office and runs up in the direction that leads to the chairman’s office.
On getting there, she meets a young lady by the chairman’s door, banging heavily and yelling at the top of her voice. She abruptly stops the ranting when she hears the rustling of footsteps behind her.
“This is bad, you can’t treat me like a piece of work. I worked so hard for this company and I hope this place burns into ash for taking away my right.” she hisses and tries to walk away when she sees Melanie standing in her way.
She needs no one to remind her that she’s not just anybody but the person that takes up her position. “I never wish to take your position,” Melanie utter slowly, closing the little space between them.
“They need you since you’re the only person that fits the role. But you were not reachable, that’s why I took the job.” Melanie tells, hoping she would understand her. But instead, Snow Pearl scoffs and shoves her out of the way making Melanie hit her back on the wall.
Melanie groans and watches the lady stare hatefully at her. “Just because you were lucky enough to make the product sells massively shouldn’t make you all proud, one day they will have you replaced as they did to me.” She spat angrily and walk out of her.
Melanie stares at her back till she’s out of sight.
“What are you doing all alone here?” A voice asks, she needs no curtain-raiser before she will know whose voice it is.
“Andy!” she calls out happily, almost forgetting about Snow Pearl’s taunt.
He strides up to her and takes move his hand to her face. Moving the strands of hair from her face. “Are you here to see the Chairman? I thought we
“Are you free, let’s go and grab a drink before work starts.” Melanie chuckle and take Andy’s hand happily.
“What if I decline the offer?” he raises his eyebrows in questioning.
“Then I will have to drag you along with me.” they both chuckle before walking away with her.