Chapter Six

Subtitle: My Contract Marriage

Written by: Marvy Hyacinth

The next day...

"Jace!"

Alexa called out to her brother who was upstairs in his room.

"Yes, Lexie."

Jace answered from his room.

"I'm off to get a new job"

Alexa said.

"What did you say? I didn't hear you!"

"I said I'm going out to get a new job!"

Alexa repeated, but this time louder.

"OK. Good luck"

Jace replied from his room.

"Won't you come downstairs and wish me luck here instead?"

"Oh... I'm coming"

Jace yelled after her and soon enough, true to his words, he came down from his room.

"I thought you'd not come"

Alexa rolled her eyes and Jace laughed at her.

"Why wouldn't I?"

Jace asked.

"I don't know... Why wouldn't you?"

"Come here"

Jace said and pulled her towards the only sofa in the living room.

"What?"

Alexa asked and giggled.

"You'll see"

Jace said as he guided her to stand in front of the sofa while he climbed up the arm of the sofa.

"Are you trying to fall from there?"

Alexa asked and Jace chuckled.

"Of course not."

Jace answered.

"I just wanted to do this"

He continued, held Alexa's head gently, and crashed his lips on her forehead.

"You'll get the job you want Lexie"

He said with confidence.

"Awww... You sweet, little thing."

Alexa awwed and smiled hard.

If there was something she was sure of in this unsure, wavy world... It was that her brother was the cutest and most loving pumpkin she'd ever seen.

"Is that good luck enough or do you want more?"

Jace smiled.

"Of course, it's enough. I'd love to get more though"

Alexa said and at that, Jace leaned forward and kissed her forehead again.

"Thank you my prince charming."

"You're welcome my Swan princess"

Jace replied and both of them giggled.

"OK OK... I'll be off now"

Alexa said and Jace waved her goodbye.

"Make sure you eat your breakfast. It's on the table"

"OK, I will."

Jace replied and closed the door after her.

Alexa's POV

I didn't have anywhere in particular in my mind. The only important qualification I had was my Senior High School Certificate.

I finished high school about a month before my dad died. I was making plans on going to college, but after my dad died, I had to drop those plans.

It's not like I didn't wanna go, but financing myself through high school alongside my dad was hard as it was, how the fvck was I gonna sponsor myself through college without assistance when I had another mouth to feed and buy sustaining drugs for?

Oh yeah!

Today's the day I'm supposed to go get Jace's drugs. The problem is I'm getting low on cash, the money from the government was surely sustaining, but not enough.

It'd have been easier to get a job if only I had qualifying certificates.

My dream job had always been working with one of the top companies, I had a long list and the Green Empire topped my list.

Well, it's indeed a dream because, with only a high school certificate, I don't see that coming to reality.

Alexa walked down the straight road where restaurants, cafes, and bakeries adorned its side and looked out for a # Helper needed # signboard, but found none.

It was almost noon, and so far... I've found nothing impressive.

Who said searching for a job was easy? That person was lying.

She was tired out and sat down on a bench by the side.

She was wiping her sweat away with her handkerchief when she sighted the signboard she was looking for on the other side of the road. She looked to the top of the building and quickly realized it was a bakery.

"Am I cut out for factory work?"

Alexa asked herself but quickly discarded the thought building inside her.

She needed money, and she was going to do whatsoever, So far it meant she'd have clean money in her palms.

She stood up from the bench and waited a few moments for the coming vehicles to pass by.

After waiting some moments, she crossed when she was sure no vehicle was coming.

She was gonna make sure she got money for Jace's medics today.

She walked only a few distances and found herself in front of the bakery.

"God, I know I don't believe in you. I don't even care much about you, but please let me get this job. If not for me, For my poor brother"

she prayed silently before pushing the door open and walking inside.

She thought she was gonna meet a smoky environment but she was proved otherwise by the clean and clear air that greeted her at the bread shop.

She met a line in front of the desk she sighted afar and got in the queue. The line wasn't too long, so before five minutes, it was already her turn.

"How can I help you miss? What kind of bread are you looking for?"

The lady behind the desk asked her politely.

"Ugh... I'm here because of the sign outside."

Alexa replied a little bit unsure. The lady was staring at her dress and Alexa wanted to turn back, and outside the bakery, because she realized that truly her dressing was lacking.

But it was too late for that as the lady behind the desk spoke.

"Follow me," the lady told her, but before they left, she apologized to other people waiting patiently.

"Please, I'll be back shortly"

The lady told them and they grunted in disapproval, but an elderly woman smiled at her and urged her to be fast.

"Thank you, ma'am."

She smiled back and left immediately with Alexa.

They walked through a corridor and after the lady knocked, they went into a door by the left.

"Boss, someone is here concerning the job"

The lady informed someone behind the desk.

Alexa tried to make out the man's face because it was a man, but the man was on a black swivel chair and his back was facing them while he continued whatever he was doing on his phone.

The man turned to face them.

"OK." He dropped his phone on his desk. "You can go"

The lady left and Alexa was about to leave too. She wasn't sure about this.

"I wasn't talking to you young lady"

The man called out and Alexa turned back to him.

"Have a seat miss"

He offered and she sat down on the opposite chair.

"So, you're here for the job right?"

He asked and Alexa nodded.

"Then why are you dressed this way?"

He asked as he ran his eyes over Alexa and Alexa gripped the hem of her dress and bit her lower lip. If only she could get money to buy better clothes for herself.

"What qualifications do you hold to be a baker here?"

The man asked when Alexa didn't say anything to his first question.

"I finished high school about 2 years ago," Alexa answered.

"So the highest qualification you hold is a high school cert?"

The man asked and Alexa nodded.

"Well, I'm sorry. This job isn't yours then"

The man dropped.

"Sir, please let me have the job. I can bake well. You won't regret ever hiring me here, I promise you"

Alexa begged.

"There's nothing I can do for you. Please do make sure you see yourself out"

"Please, I need to get my brother his drugs. He needs to take it since he hasn't gone in for surgery yet"

Alexa tried to make him reason with her, but it was all in vain.

"Do well to close the door behind you when you leave"

He said and turned his chair back around, the way it was before Alexa came in.

Alexa looked back at the bakery when she got out. The lady behind the desk disapproved of her dress and when she was leaving, she didn't bother to hide the 'I knew you'd never get the job with that dressing of yours' eyes of hers.

It wasn't the lady's fault but it hurt her so bad. It hurt that she couldn't finance her brother's medications. It hurt that not being able to go to college hit her hard today. It hurt her that for once, she couldn't be presentable.

She looked at the bus station to see if she could get a bus back home, but suddenly she changed her mind.

She couldn't go home yet. At least not now. She wasn't going to give up.

She broke down after being rejected by three more people and she decided it was enough.

She had never been this tired. Suddenly she decided to go back to her ex-job.

The abuse there was much, but at least she got paid. She took a bus and was dropped off at a bus stop near her home. She walked the rest of the way to En Lunch.

Taking a deep breath, she pushed the door open. She put a smile on as soon as she saw Tina.

"Hey Tina"

she greeted.

"Alexa!"

Tina screeched and went away from her desk to hug her.

"How've you been?"

Tina asked.

"I've been fine"

Alexa replied

"I heard about what happened. I couldn't come to visit because my mom got sick and all"

Tina said.

"It's OK. How's your mom now?"

"She's getting better. Thank you."

Tina smiled sweetly.

"So what are you doing here?"

"I came to see Judy"

"Judy? What for?"

Tina asked.

"I want to take back my job"

Alexa said and widened her jaw in a fake and tired smile.

"Things are not working out fine with you?"

"Yes, and I need to get Jace his drugs"

Alexa replied and Tina's smile left her face.

"Oh, I'm sorry about that Alexa. Judy's in his office"

Tina said.

"Thanks" Alexa gave her one more hug before going to see Judy.

After knocking and being ushered in, she was finally standing in front of Judy who was on the phone placing orders for what sounded like ingredients for meals.

"Well, well, well... If it isn't the fiery Alexa" Judy passed his comment as soon as his phone hit the desk.

"Hi Judy"

Alexa greeted trying to be as courteous as possible.

"Why are you here?"

Judy asked not wanting to waste any time.

"I just came to ask if I can have my job back"

"I thought you slammed a resignation letter in my face in front of a known man. Why the hell do you want the job back if I'm as abusive as you said?"

Judy asked with an evil smirk on his face.

"I'm sorry. I just need money for my brother's medics"

"Well well, you still got all those problems your wicked parents happily heaped on you" Judy wickedly smiled.

Alexa's emotions flooded her.

She hadn't taken the job yet here he was insulting her family.

Why did she come here?

Oh yeah!

The money.

"Well"

Judy continued "your space has been filled in. It didn't even take more than three hours" Judy announced.

"Can I be an extra then?"

Alexa asked hoping Judy Would said yes.