All in one day

Adele sat at her desk, crying her heart out. She had received a sack letter. She had asked her boss countless times why he was dropping her from work but she didn't get a valid reason. That was the same person who acted kind to her three days ago. What went wrong? She couldn't remember doing anything to offend him.

That was her only source of income. She had dropped out of college because she didn't have enough funds to continue. Before she got the job, she went through hell. She couldn't go through that again. What broke her heart more was that she didn't know why they were quitting her.

As she walked through the merged offices, she heard whispering voices and low laughter from the gossip group. Head bowed in shame, she exited the company. She couldn't go back home yet. She didn't want her friends to see her sad face. They would worry unnecessarily.

"What do I do?" She sat in the park, watching children running around and screaming their lungs out.

"Where am I supposed to look for a job? I don't have a certificate." It was at that point she blamed her mother for being so careless. Tears welled up in her eyes and her chest tightened. Hot tears were about to drop but she still held them back. She wanted to believe that as long as there was life, there was hope.

"Who am I kidding? Not like I have much time."

"It's pitiful seeing you this way."

Adele abruptly stood up when she heard that voice. It was the man from before. But how did he know where she was?

"What are you doing here?" She fumed. She picked up her bag and wanted to leave.

"I've got an offer for you." His hands were calmly situated in his pockets. His demeanor was warm and welcoming, not like the cold and intimidating aura she felt the first time.

"Whatever it is, keep it to yourself."

"You have a pressing need, Adele. I think you might want to hear me out."

"Piss off and die." She didn't wait to hear any more word from him before disappearing from the scene. Mr. Hale just smirked and walked to his car. He entered inside with a calm face but in his heart, he was fuming. No woman had ever rejected his offer before. He always felt he was irresistible and that every lady wanted him.

His ego was wounded but he didn't back off. It gave him more gut to try to woo her.

"Breaking a heart like that would be very enjoyable." He clicked his tongue.

"I would love to see her beg for my love someday."

He needed to devise a way to make her accept him. And that was to look into her past. He wanted to uncover her weak spot.

He picked up his phone and dialed a number.

"I want you to find out everything you can't about Adele Bennett." He ordered and dropped his phone.

"Let's see how far you get with your feisty attitude, Adele."

*****

Running away from her nightmare, Adele boarded a bus heading toward the outskirts of town. She was headed to her one place of solace; her grandmother's house. The mother of her deceased father. If she didn't want to be around her friends, she always went there.

"Hello, mama," Adele greeted sluggishly while dusting off the sand that had accumulated under her shoes. She walked in and found her grandmother seated on the couch watching tv.

"Who are you?" Her grandmother asked with a feeble voice. Her memory got rusty as the days went by. At first, Adele cried her heart out when her grandmother couldn't recognize her. The nurse had to explain the situation to her but that didn't make her feel any better. Her grandmother was going to leave her soon and no one would be there to give her the comfort she desired.

Adele sucked on her tears as she caressed her grandmother's cheek.

"You will be fine, mama." She smiled. She noticed that the blanket used on covering her was slipping off, so she put it back in order.

"Oh, you're here!" Granny's nurse exclaimed. She was taken aback by the presence of someone in the house that she nearly dropped the plates she was holding.

"Sorry to startle you. I forgot to call on my way in." Adele said meekly while standing up.

"How's Mama?"

"She's doing great, dear. And it's fine." She put down the plates.

"Alright," Adele sniffled.

"Are you alright?"

"No, the thought of losing my mama scares the hell out of me. I know it's her time but..." She busted into tears.

"I don't think I'll be able to get used to not having her around."

The nurse sympathized with her by rubbing her shoulders.

"You should, Adele. It's all part of the life cycle. We can't stop death, that's for sure. We just try to spend more time with our family, so that in the end, we don't regret anything. We will appreciate nature for the time well spent before parting ways." The nurse advised. "Alright, Adele? You'll be fine."

"Alright." She took one last look at her granny before leaving the house. Her eyes wouldn't stop staring at the house as she exited. It was the place she grew up with her parents. Her dad had nothing. But he rose to riches. His life story was a typical example of 'rags to riches' but it didn't last long before he was killed.

Yes, his death wasn't natural. Eventually, his colleagues began to get jealous because he was the most praised at the office. Adele came back from school one day to meet her father's corpse.

The pain was severe that she couldn't eat for several days. Everyone thought she was going to die too but luckily, she began to get better.

Every step she took drew her lifeline. She was getting tired and her sight was becoming blurry. She dipped her hand into her back to get her medication but she was shocked when she got nothing.

"Oh no, I'm reaching my limit!" She yelled. "Oh no! Gosh! How stupid can I be?"

Adele ran with the little strength in her to the bus station.

"Please, hurry!" She quickened the driver. The driver didn't know what was going on but he felt she was in distress. He didn't bother carrying any other person. Adele paid him handsomely and scurried away into the yard.

"Oh please be nearby." She prayed as she opened the door. She met Lance and Gina seated in the living room with unreadable expressions.

"What's going on? And why do you have my report in your hand?" She asked calmly. She pretended as though she was fine so they wouldn't question her. She hated questions regarding her health.

"I'm asking a question. Why are you not answering? Why do you have my report in your hand?" Her chest tightened but she ignored it. She hated when people go through her stuff.

She was about to speak when she felt a warm liquid trickling down her nose. She quickly covered it before they could see it.

Lance looked up at Adele. Even though he was angry at her, he was still worried about his friend.

"Are you okay?" He walked up to her and grabbed her shoulders.

"Yes, I'm fine..." As those words dropped, she passed out.