Chapter 25
The next day, Alyson couldn't go to work with the bruises on her body. Her body ached her badly and she was experiencing severe discomfort, she called the old man to inform him that she was sick and wouldn't be able to make it work that day. The old man who thought she was lying as she didn't feel like coming to work fired her on the spot and withheld her pay. She tried calling him back to plead with him at least to pay her half her salary as she had worked for more than half a month. But he refused to take her calls.
Alyson's phone dropped from her hand as the tears she had been trying to hold back started to stream down her face. She buried her head face down into her pillow and wept bitterly, not even noticing her mother came into the room with her breakfast in hand.
"Aly baby, wake up now so you can have your breakfast and take some medicine," Lucy said when she saw her daughter face down and thought she was still asleep.
Lucy moved closer in a bid to wake Alyson up but found out she was awake. "Aly, c'mon get up," Lucy said, tapping her daughter.
Lucy bent her ears downward, and Alyson's sobs became audible, confirming that she was indeed crying.
"Aly, wha.... what is the matter? Does your body ache you?" Lucy asked, her concern growing evident as panic set in.
Alyson sniffed as she wiped her nose with her forearm and sat up on the bed. "I got fired from work today." She broke the news to her mother.
Lucy's face contorted in agony as Alyson broke the news to her. "Why, what did you do to your boss?" Lucy asked.
"Nothing," Alyson sniffed again. "I told him I couldn't come to work 'cause I'm sick...." Alyson broke into another round of tears before she continued. "And he fired me 'cause he thought I was lying and I didn't sound sick to him."
Lucy knew that Alyson didn't deserve to be fired from work. She knew she was the cause of Alyson's predicament. If she hadn't gotten so drunk and acted recklessly with her daughter, Alyson wouldn't be in this situation.
"I am so sorry Aly," Lucy apologised as she too started to weep. "It's all my fault. He wouldn't have fired you if I didn't...." Lucy couldn't complete her sentence as she choked on her words. Guilt had started to eat her up to this point. She contemplated hugging Alyson to console her, but she knew Alyson hated her now for what she had caused so she decided to leave Alyson alone so she could mourn the loss of her job.
Lucy got up, wiping her tears with her clothes. "Uhm. I think I should leave you now. Your breakfast is on the table in case you're hungry." Lucy said but Alyson kept mute and went on weeping. Lucy stood staring at Alyson, she deeply wanted to hug out all the pain from her but she thought it wise to just leave Alyson alone as she walked out of the room.
Alyson had developed a genuine liking for her job. Beyond the provision of sustenance, the old man offered her the freedom to take breaks as needed. His infrequent presence allowed her ample time to explore the intricacies of the house, uncovering hidden corners and novel spaces. She learned to navigate within the boundaries set by the old man, adhering to specific rules that dictated her movements and interactions.
Despite the seeming aloofness of the old man, he displayed a unique brand of care, only expressing concern when it came to fulfilling his basic needs. Alyson spent most of her free days wandering through the vast corridors and rooms, gradually becoming acquainted with the nooks and crannies of the residence.
Her adaptability was evident as she learned to respect the areas and items deemed off-limits. It was a delicate balance, maintaining the harmony of the household while enjoying the autonomy granted to her. In this dynamic, Alyson discovered a certain sense of peace, finding solace in the routines and the unspoken understanding she had developed with the old man.
Now what hurt her the most was not the job that was taken away from her but the fact that she had worked diligently for him since her first month and now that she worked halfway through the second month, he should have compensated her for her efforts.
She felt as if she was lost in a maze. The old man was being unfair to her but there was nothing she could do about it. She tried the man's line again and again but it wasn't reachable. She didn't want to believe that the man had blocked her.
She made up her mind to leave first thing in the morning for his place. At least if the man wouldn't listen to her pleas to take her back, he should compensate her for the days she has worked for him. She wiped her face as she got up from her bed and went to take her breakfast.
Pixel rose from the bed quietly, ensuring not to disturb Lance who was still asleep. Making her way to the bathroom, she took a refreshing bath and decided to don Lance's clothes. Taking charge of the morning, she placed a call to the hotel, arranging for breakfast to be delivered for both her and Lance.
"I'll need some fried eggs, pancakes, and bacon," she wanted to ask what Lance would love to have, she turned to him and saw that he was still fast asleep.
"He'll have the same." She said and ended the call.
Returning to bed, Pixel settled in beside Lance, her gaze lingering on his body as if seeing him for the first time. Her hands traced gently across his face, and she leaned in and kissed his lips lightly.
"You don't know how much I love you, Lance," she said against his lips. "I will do everything within my power to make sure that we stay together."
Lance's eyes were starting to flicker open and she withdrew and sat back up.
"Good morning babe," she said with a smile when he finally opened his eyes.
He sat up, rubbed his eyes, and turned to her. "What are you still doing here?" He demanded. His voice was deeper than usual as he was just waking up.
"Lance darling, it's too early to be rude to me," she said as she tried to cup his face with her hands but he shoved her hand aside. He sighed heavily as he stood up immediately to draw the curtains open.