Chapter 2: A Fresh Start

The fragrance of cigarettes spread around the room. "Sit down" said the boss as he's looking at the painting in the wall. Nicholas took a seat near the owner's table. As he had sat down, the owner turned around and put his cigarette in his ash tray and sat down.

The owner's interviewer and assistant was out of town, so he had to interview Nicholas by himself. "Let me introduce myself, I'm Gabriel Muscere. What about you, what's your name?" said the Mall owner. "I'm Nicholas Dagro" he said as he hands over his resume in his hand to Gabriel.

Gabriel took the resume and started to review it. He was impressed by Nichola's resume. He already went to Police training, probation, and as well as the SIA training. His criminal history is also clean.

As Gabriel's sight was drifting every word and image in the resume, what Gabriel had read next made his eyes pop out of its sockets.

It says that Nicholas used to be a bodyguard for the famous artist, Sylvia Nora. Gabriel didn't have any doubts of hiring him based on his resume and history, but he needed to ask a few questions.

Gabriel asked, why did he want to become a security guard. Nicholas responded and said that he wanted to support his family now that he has a child. "A man of responsibility i see" said Gabriel.

Gabriel nods and then proceeded to ask another question that was rather personal. He asked Nicholas, why did he resign as Sylvia Nora's Bodyguard. Surprisingly Nicholas replied, "My wife said I'm always going to get myself hurt, so i dropped the job a few weeks after getting the it."

Gabriel then nods, and then exclaims that he will contact Nicholas in a few weeks to let him know if he got the job, Nicholas then left after they shook hands.

Gabriel snickered a smile when Nicholas walked out of the door, it was because he extremely impressed with Nicholas.

A day had passed, Nicholas decided to visit Lucas. Lucas didn't have a shift that week, so Nicholas went to Lucas' apartment downtown on a rainy Thursday.

Nicholas went to his apartment door, he pressed the doorbell while holding an umbrella. While waiting, raindrops at the edge of his umbrella drop on the pizza box that he's carrying with his other hand.

The door opened, Lucas exclaims with a surprised expression "What are you doing here, man?" he said. "I came to visit, i had nothing else to do" replied Nicholas.

Nicholas realized and then added that there's also a game tonight. So Lucas turned on the TV, while Nicholas brought over the food to the living room.

While they were watching, Lucas asks Nicholas in civil way, "How did the interview go?" he said. Nicholas answered, "It went well, I think I'll get hired for sure."

"Well you were a bodyguard of all people Sylvia Nora, if that isn't impressive I don't know what is." Lucas replied. They're favourite team got another point and is now on the lead, and they continue watching the game.

It was getting late when they finished watching the game, they cleaned up the living room and washed the dishes. Then Nicholas started to head home shortly after.

Before he left, Lucas said that he was worried for Nicholas that he might end up getting unemployed.

Nicholas told Lucas that he shouldn't worry, he claimed that he can go back to the café while looking for a new job if he won't get accepted at Star Mall. They ended the conversation, then Nicholas got on his car and left.

Another day had passed, Nicholas and his wife Bellamy were eating there favorite dish for lunch, it was lasagna.

Then all of a sudden, Nicholas' cellphone started ringing. While Nicholas was pondering who was calling him, he suddenly recognized it. Its the number Gabriel gave him. His heartbeat increases, his breathe got deeper. He answered the phone as a sweat run's down his face.

As soon as he answered the phone, what he first heard was "Congratulations Nicholas, you got the job." Nicholas was confused, because he didn't recognize the voice. "Who are you?" Nicholas said. The person on the phone chuckled, and said "Oh sorry, i forgot to introduce myself." She then added "My name is Mary Li and I'm Mr. Gabriel's assistant."

Nicholas chuckled and apologized for his rudeness. "You don't have to be sorry, you didn't know me until now." Mary said as a smile forms on his cheek.

Mary added that Nicholas need to go to the mall tomorrow to get information about his job and also measure them for there uniforms. Mary then further said that he will be working at night shift because most of the guards already worked at day. Nicholas didn't mind working at night, then the call ended.

Nicholas jumped of excitement, he told the great news to his wife with joy. They both hugged from relief. Nicholas then called Lucas that he got employed.

Bellamy wanted to do a small celebration, so she decided to cook chicken and pasta for dinner later that night.

A few hours past by, it was night time. Someone knocks on the door, Nicholas answers by asking who was knocking, it was Lucas. Nicholas opened the door, and he came by with a Soda in his one hand, and his jacket on his other one. They both smell the fragrant scent of the chicken that Bellamy cooked.

They were excited to eat, but they had to pray first. Lucas doesn't usually pray, but Nicholas and Bellamy were both grown in a strict catholic household, Lucas had to be patient. They started praying for a thank you to the lord, that Nicholas got accepted to work at Star Mall. After praying and doing the sign of the cross, Lucas couldn't help himself but take a slice of smoked chicken already.

While they're eating dinner, Lucas said hysterically that he wished that he won't get accepted so that he can go back to the coffee shop. Bellamy and Nicholas laughed, "Well i wish i can still there but, i have responsibilities." Nicholas uttered.

After eating Lucas then helped them clean and he left as he was really tired, cause it was getting late.

It was becoming midnight, and Nicholas and Bellamy then went to bed.

Next Morning, Nicholas took the bus to the instead of driving with his car because it was only a few miles away and wasn't that far unlike the coffee shop. He went to the mall early, and arrived on time.

He was told to go to the Locker room at Building C.

The mall is divided into three buildings. The Building are named as the first 3 letters of the Alphabet. So there is a Building A, Building B, and a Building C.

Mary texted Nicholas and gave him directions and as well as the floor blueprint. As he's looking on his phone, he felt a pat on his back. He turned around to see who it was, it was Gustav, Nicholas sighed from relief.

Gustav wondered and then asked what was Nicholas doing there. "I got the Job, and Gabriel's assistant wants me there." Nicholas said. Gustav nodded and he gave Nicholas directions to where locker room is supposed to be.

He then arrived at the door of the locker room.

When he entered, there were 4 other people.

While waiting he then made friends with one of the new workers, her name is Joshua Reynolds. She said her parents wanted her to be a boy even though they knew she was a girl. So her parents decided to give her a boyish name, and she even has her hair cut short like a boy.

Gabriel's assistant Mary then enters the room from another door at the front, she then went straight on discussing about there work.

Mary said that they will guard the mall for 9 hours. She also mentioned that there are only two surveillance rooms, its near the locker rooms on Building A and in C. One person will seat each surveillance room, but since they're out numbered, there will be one person in one of the surveillance rooms. Both surveillance rooms have access to all buildings so they don't have to worry. One person will guard outside, and one person each building will guard inside. After Mary explained all that, she called in a measurer for there uniforms.

After getting measured, they were given mall emergency exit routes. Then one of the people there named Sofia Lopez, noticed a locked wardrobe in the room. "What's with this Wardrobe" she said. Mary answered "That's a Storage for weapons." Mary also exclaimed that these weapons are for only emergency purposes. Everyone agreed to not open it.

But from the look on Sophia's eyes, she really wanted to open it for her curiosity.

After a few minutes they now wrapped everything up and left.

Nicholas was talking to Joshua as he's leaving. Apparently she also lives in uptown, so they will be taking the same bus going home.

As they're waiting for the bus, Joshua had a passionate look on her eyes towards Nicholas.

"So are you single?" Joshua discreetly asked.

Nicholas replied, "No, I'm married". Joshua replied with a down look on his face. Joshua's look was like her heart had broken into two. She had passionate feelings for Nicholas the first time she saw him.

The bus then arrived, and they got on. They had quite the conversation while they were standing on the bus. Joshua and Nicholas then exchanged contact information.

After a few minutes, the bus stopped to Nichola's part of the town. As he was getting down, he waved goodbye to Joshua. She waved back as her lips form a smile and her face turns red.