Chapter 1: First Day To Work

Today was Claire's first day as an intern. She got accepted a week ago to one of the largest multinational company in the world and she couldn't be more proud. It was a paid internship which she was really thankful for, that way Claire won't ever need to ask for an allowance from her dad. She wasn't very close to her mom because she was cold and distant unlike any Dad. 

Growing up, Claire never felt loved by her Mom. Whenever she got drunk, she always blamed her for ruining her life. When she was young, she never fully understood what she meant but after the grew up, the stories she heard from her aunts and grand parents, about her mom getting pregnant with her college boyfriend terrified her boyfriend and it made him ran leaving her mom stranded.

Claire's mom was devastated when he left and she planned to terminate the pregnancy which was Claire when she was in the womb.

Her grand parents did not allow her mom to do it, and so it caused her mother to drop her studies and take the responsibility of taking care of her. Her mother never went back to college after giving birth. She tried to find her college boyfriend who abandoned her and she learned eventually that he was about to be wedded to a wealthy girl in their town.

Claire's mother was so broken that she started drowning herself in alcohol until she met James, the man who she called her dad. He might have just been a step-father to Claire, but he loved her lie his own daughter. James filled the gap between her Mother and her with the kindness and love for which they both needed the most.

Claire's mother stopped drinking and ended up being so happy with her step-father which led her to start being kind to Claire, while attending to her needs. But then years later, when she was 7years old, her mother met her biological father in a party and things that were almost so perfect began crumbling while she was carrying her.

According to Claire's aunt, her mother confronted him at that party and he humiliated her calling her a cheap ass whore and he accused her by denying he wasn't the father of her child.

Since that day, she was back to being cruel to Claire, and even telling her that she made her sick because she resembled her father.

Claire was young but she still remembered how it hurt whenever her mother dissed her, telling her that she would grow up just being like his useless father and his nasty behaviors. 

But James, Claire's step-dad was always there for her, he always went for her recitals, every one of them, even when it entailed only practices. Claire used to play in an all girls-soccer in high school. Her step-dad would show up and cheer for her, and she remembered him on the night of the big game, when he cheered for her so loudly on the bleachers, shouting her name on the top of his lungs. 

During her mom's absence, her dad was always there. She knew for a long time that her step-dad wanted to leave her mom because she was always drunk and her mom would always yell for no reason and even break stuff in the house with her depressed pussy. She would always start a fight with his step-dad but even if he wanted to leave her, he couldn't because he was always thinking about Claire's safety and needs.

Claire was not his biological daughter so he wouldn't have the power to take her with him, because she was still a minor then. And so he stayed for her until she graduated high school. 

As soon as Claire was 18, her step-dad got her to college where she could stay in a dorm and far away from her mom and he also filed a divorce immediately leaving that bitch in the gutter, 

Claire still got in touch with her mom from time to time, and sometimes she would visit her mom and she would still give her the cold shoulder. The thing was, even if she grew up with her hating ass mother, her step-dad kept her feet on the ground, he would always remind her that she was still her mother and he knew that she loved her in her own depressed way, even if Claire was blind to see it.

Her step-dad would always tell her to be kind with others even if they were not, and to always appreciate without holding grudges. He was a good man, it was a shame he never met anyone else after her mother.

He focused on her, sending her to a good school and he made sure that she had a better future. 

So, today she was starting her internship with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration. She would have pursued her Master's Degree but it would cost her dad a fortune.

It was really an argument between the both of them but she decided not to burden her poor dad anymore.

Claire wanted to start working and earning her own money and pay for her masters but her dad opposed it. 

After she finished college, her dad got her an apartment and he paid for everything, he wouldn't even let Claire do any part-time work, a lot of students did but her dad wanted her to focus on her studies.

To say it was just a mere argument was an understatement, the argument was big and it eventually wore him down, she had him understand that she wasn't a child anymore and she was a woman who could take care of herself.

Claire took one last glance in the mirror and had her hair slightly curled, kind of like a wavy style. She wore burgundy skinny slacks that reached above her ankle, partnering it with a white turtle neck long sleeve shirt and black high heels. The HR who interviewed her, told her that there was no need to wear a formal attire so she could just go with a powerful casual look.

As soon as she was satisfied, she headed to the door. 

"Oh hi, Claire!" Her next door neighbor, Mrs. Riley beamed while greeting her.

"Hi Mrs. Riley, Good morning!" she greeted her.

"It's a good morning indeed, dear. You look beautiful as always." she walked along side her while smiling.

Claire pressed the elevator button and turned to her.

"I'm starting my internship today and I want my boss and colleagues to have a good impression of me." She answered her with a smile.

As soon as the elevator door opened Claire gestured to her to go before she could as a sign of respect.

"Oh dear, I'm sure they will. You look gorgeous." She put her hand in Claire's arm. 

She was really nice, always greeted her everyday in the building.

How Claire wished her mom was like her. But that was just a wish. If wishes were horses beggars could ride. 

Mrs. Riley noticed her face faltering. 

"Oh, dear. Don't worry too much, I'm sure you'll have a great day at work." She tried to assure her. 

Claire looked at her and smiled. "Thank you, Mrs. Riley."

They parted ways she went down the ground floor and Claire headed to the basement where her car was parked.

Claire had a black Toyota Camry 2015, the old car of her dad. He wanted to buy her a brand new one as a gift when she graduated but she politely declined. She wanted him to buy a new one for himself and he did. 

Claire started the car and she prayed that they day would be better.