To say that my emotions that night were in turmoil would have been an understatement. I hardly slept. My whole world had turned upside down. The career opportunity I thought I was coming to at Dias and Associates was not what I had expected. But I needed to make the most of it. It was my one chance.
I arrived at the office with trepidation the following morning, not knowing what to expect. But the receptionist smiled welcomingly as she always was, and I drifted through security unhindered. This wasn't going to be so bad after all, Nic knew he was out of line and my job wasn't in jeopardy...
"Miss Rodriguez" The guard called after me. "Ms Alves would like to see you."
I turned, about to ask what it was about when he snapped "Now!"
My heart fluttered, but I persuaded myself it was just a regular check-in. After the traumatic ordeal I'd experienced a couple of days before. Just the HR manager doing her job...
This time there was no coffee girl waiting outside and I had to knock three times on her office door before getting a response. "Come!"
It was childish, but a part of me smiled inwardly at the pun and its reference to what I'd done a couple of days earlier in this very office. That thought made me feel a bit better as I opened the door.
That was until Nic somehow appeared out of nowhere and grabbed my arm, like he had done in the office the day before, marching me into stand in front of the HR manager... the feeling of being a naughty schoolgirl flooded through me. As before, she was seated in her chair, foot bobbing and eyes piercing.
"Who do you think you are?" She snarled. "I told you to do what it takes. But here we are. You're nothing... worthless... disposable. There are hundreds like you with their little degrees and petty aspirations. But very few make it. You had your chance, and you blew it..."
"No please... Ma'am... I didn't mean it." I whimpered like a pathetic fool, hoping for some clemency.
Nic had both of my arms pinned behind me as I stood there in my heels, pushing my chest out and my backside towards him. A counterbalance that allowed his hardon to press against me, degrading and intentional. But I couldn't get away, couldn't resist, even if I wanted to. And the severe expression on her face paralysed me, preventing me from doing anything I wanted.