CHAPTER 10 - CONVINCING

The first stop was my office, so I could hand over my resignation letter. The blank Benz car which dropped me and the resignation letter I submitted, suggested to all the employees that I was taken care of by a rich man. It was clear in their eyes when they saw me all dressed up, with a bodyguard who stood outside the doors in case I attempted to run.

They already knew I had become a slut. All the months of hard work that went into making me look like a normal civil employee came crashing down. It must have come as a shock to my colleagues as none of them met my eyes. I could hear distant whispers when I went inside the head's office.

We were a small bank giving out loans to lower or upper-middle-class families. We had only 3 branches in the city. The pay wasn't high, but it was enough for me to feed my family. We already lived in a neighborhood that was deprived of many services and I couldn't ask for more.

'I'm sorry for the urgent decision, but I am resigning from my post,' I said looking at my 63-year-old manager, who could barely hear.

'Okay, Mia' he said taking the form, it surprised me that he dint have any questions to ask. I expected at least a why? Or a what? To come out of his mouth. But he simply agreed. It probably must have to do with the fact that I had worked only 6 months here.

My colleagues weren't the talkative type, except for some women who'd wear 3 layers of makeup gossiping all day. I just informed the women who sat next to me about my resignation, and she nodded between her thick spectacles, her eyes turning back to the figures on the screen.

It was a depressing job, no matter how much it paid. I left the office and saw Richard standing like a pole. He was attracting a lot of attention, standing like an armed bodyguard which exactly was his profession.

I called up Mona and Liam to meet up near a restaurant, by 1 pm, so we could have lunch.

'you can drop me here and leave,' I told Richard, 'No, miss, Sir has told me to accompany you wherever you go,' he said just like his stubborn master.

' I understand where you're coming from but no, you can't, my friends are coming, if they see your car, then I would have to explain about the black trade and I'm not sure I'm ready for it,' I backlashed. 'I will reach the airport on time, give me the address' I laid my hand out.

'Sorry Miss, but we are not supposed to violate orders' he said in a stern voice. Well, he had trained his dog well.

'Fine, just stay 10 feet away,' I said, and 'I will contact you, put down your number here,' I handed over my phone to him, and he saved his name as 'rich'.

'Do you want me to get you anything to eat, I mean it's already lunchtime,' I asked

'No ma'am, I'm fine' he said, and I left the car.

They arrived on time. While Mona hugged me into a warm embrace, Liam joined crushing us into a tight hug.

'So, what was sooooo.... urgent' Chris asked putting his bag on the table. 'Let's order first, I'm hungry' I said rubbing my stomach in circles. We called the waiter. It was an Italian restaurant, so pasta, pizzas, and French fries were a must. After our order was taken, I looked at them happily.

'Well,' I said smiling at them.

'I got 10 million, with this you can pay off your debt to the bank' I said passing over the check to Mona. Both of their eyes bulged out.

'How?' they both asked in unison.

'This morning I was walking towards my office, and there was an old man who was unable to cross the road due to traffic, So I helped him cross over to the other side. Thinking he was poor, I offered him my lunch, he looked thin and his bones were sticking out'.

'Turns out I was wrong!!!! He is a billionaire. Can you believe it.? Well, after a few minutes his Black Benz car came around and he offered me a ride till my office as a kind gesture for helping him out.

'We exchanged talks, and I guess he liked my personality, so he offered me a job under his company. I told him, I would be open to work provided he gave me 10 million in advance, I know I came off as a money-minded person but he dint mind. If he agreed to my demand then I Guaranteed to work under him for a year with a basic salary. He said it was fine, but I had to shift over to the main office in New York, by tomorrow....and that's how I got this check,' I finished.

'Are you insane, what if he sells you or drugs you, you just met him once?' Liam started raising his voice, while Mona gulped down what little French fries present on the table.

'He seemed like an honest man, and it was a good deal,' I spoke back.

'but Mia it might be dangerous, I don't want you getting hurt because of me, please give back the check, I don't need it, not by selling yourself,' she said in a sad voice.

'It's alright Mona, what are friends for and in a way, I can expand my knowledge about finance' I said comforting her, 'but,' she whined like a small kid.

'I agree with Mona, it's not safe for you and what have you told your parents' he asked slumping back to the seat.

'I have already handed over my resignation letter, so there's no turning back. I hoped you guys could convince my parents' I looked at them with puppy eyes.

'Mia, I am worried about you' she said pulling my hand towards hers, holding it tight.

'It's okay Mona, remember, you should always grab the opportunities when they are hot' I said chuckling and she blushed.

'Ladies please....this is an important matter' Liam's hand came between us....but we continued ignoring him.

Well, somehow, I convinced them. Now it was my parents.

I went back home, with 2 pillars behind me, Mona and Liam, trying to convince my parents was an enormous task. They both had old age beliefs but were becoming open to change.

After an hour-long conversation between the 5 of us, my parents decided to let me go provided I call them weekly or in the worst scenario send them a text message.

'Thank you, Mom and dad' I said nervously. They barely talked at dinners and sitting down on the dinner table I realized this is going to be my last meal with them and my friends, I would have never imagined one night leading to so many changes.

But there was no point cribbing about it, I held back my tears as it would ruin the mood. Mona came up to my room, helping me pack my suitcase.

'Once I find that douchebag, I will be sure to make him go through hell,' she said as she packed the last item.

'It's ok Mona, I know you love him, try talking to him' I hugged her.

'Goddd!!! Mia, you are too kind, I don't deserve a friend like you' she sniffled on my shirt, her hands pulling me harder.

'Be sure to find a good boyfriend the next time I meet you, that will make your trip worth it' she said pinching my cheeks.....we laughed, cried, revisited the past, our memories, and it was the dawn, the time had come when I had to part from my family, from my friends, and from myself.