Whispers of lies

Have you ever had one of those days where everything seems to be going smoothly, and then the next minute, it all goes to shit? You see something you're not supposed to in your boss's office; your phone gets stolen on the subway, and now you have to walk up six flights of stairs just to get to your apartment and finally eat dinner, dreading the very next morning at work.

If you know that feeling of dread just after happiness, you know exactly how I feel at the moment. Could my day get any more difficult? I make my way up the last flight of stairs, balance my bag in one hand, and open my apartment door with the other. Surprise! It looks just like how I left it-clean, tidy, and unused.

I come home late every weekday and stay in on weekends, putting in extra hours, and before you judge me, my job at Movantick is paying off my student debt, funding my outrageous wardrobe and lingerie addiction problem; do not ask! But if you did, I like to look sexy; it gives me the confidence I need in a male-dominated field. Besides, I worked my bum off to get it, so I'm keeping it. My boss might have other plans for me, though.

He doesn't think highly of women.

On my first day here, Mr. Tomford had outright told me that women are only good for looking pretty and smiling; that was the only reason he hired me, because I was pretty. His words stung, a sharp reminder that no matter how hard I work, I'll always be reduced to my appearance in his eyes, which was flattering and infuriating at the same time.

Last holiday season, I closed deals and brought in some of the firm's biggest clients. That was the only reason I was allowed to sit across from CEOs and negotiate contracts worth millions. He had finally started warming up to me, and then this happens? I wish I did not have to see his face tomorrow. Maybe no one saw me snooping. Who am I kidding? He has security cameras in his office and hallway. I'm so fired tomorrow.

Too tired to make a proper dinner, I throw leftover pasta in the microwave and make my way to the couch. My living room reminds me of a movie I saw when I was much younger. It was about a teenager who finally moved to another city for college, fell in love with a vampire, and became cold-blooded and a shadow of who she once was. But then she lived to see different eras where she reunited with her lost love. Scanty.

There's a black couch at the center of the room, a dining table to the far right, and a portrait of graffiti art hung on the wall. There are three doors: one leading to the kitchen, the other to the balcony, where I sometimes read with a bottle of wine, and the last to the bedroom. It's a very small apartment; all I could afford at the moment.

I hear the microwave bell and make my way toward the kitchen to grab my makeshift dinner. It smells edible, so I dive in, bringing it to the couch so I can watch a show comfortably. After switching through so many shows, I give up and turn the television off. Alone with my thoughts, I remember I need to pick up a new phone tomorrow and report the old one stolen. Just what I need-extra bills.

I need to get some sleep; I cannot afford to be late tomorrow. What a long day! I make my way to the bedroom; only the nightlight is on; luckily I know my way around in the dark. I need my bed; it's comfort and safety, so I make my way over to it. The feeling of relief washes over me the moment my head touches the silk pillow, calming my nerves.

That's when it hits me-Kate would probably be worried sick. I promised her I would call her back when I got home, but with my phone stolen, I hadn't been able to. Knowing her, she'd already called everyone we knew, including my dad, trying to track me down. Kate and I are best friends; we've done every major move together; now we live next to each other in the same shitty apartment building.

The difference between us though is that Kate actually landed her dream job a year ago and is saving up for a better apartment, while I, on the other hand, recently got my job and still have student debt to pay off. I'm not moving anywhere soon unless I get a promotion, and knowing my boss, that may take a while.

I just have to knock on her door tomorrow on my way to work. Think happy thoughts, Vanessa; go to sleep, I tell myself. Finally, it came naturally when I least expected it. Minutes later, I was out like a lightbulb.

The next morning, I wake up to the sound of someone banging on my door. My head feels heavy, and my body protests as I drag myself out of bed. The events of yesterday come rushing back-the stolen phone and, most importantly, what I saw in Mr. Tomford's office. My head hurts just thinking about it.

"Vanessa! Open up! I know you're in there!" Kate's voice echoes through the door. She sounds pissed.

I groan, rubbing my eyes as I stumble to the door. The moment I unlock it, Kate barges in, her face a mix of relief and frustration. She's already dressed for work, her blonde hair perfectly styled to the side, and her makeup flawless. Meanwhile, I'm still in my pyjamas, my hair a tangled mess, and my breath probably smelling like death and fear.

"Where the hell have you been? I've been calling you all night!" Kate scolds, hands on her hips. "I was this close to calling the police!"

"My phone got stolen," I mumble, shuffling back to the couch. "And I was too tired to come over last night. I just wanted to sleep. I needed it."

Kate's expression softens as she sits down beside me. "Are you okay? You look like you've been through hell."

I sigh, leaning back against the cushions. "You have no idea. Yesterday was a disaster. I saw something I shouldn't have in Mr. Tomford's office, and now I'm pretty sure I'm going to get fired today."

Kate's eyes widen. "What did you see?"

I hesitate, glancing at her. "I can't tell you. Not yet. It's... complicated. But let's just say I wasn't supposed to see it. He finally has the excuse he needs. I'm probably going to be packing my things by the end of the day."

Kate looks upset with concern. "Vanessa, you can't just drop a bomb like that and not explain. What if you're overreacting? It can't be that bad."

I shake my head. "Trust me, it's bad. Mr. Tomford's not going to let this slide. He's been looking for an excuse to get rid of me from the very first day."

Kate sighs, running a hand through her hair. "Well, whatever happens, I've got your back. But you need to get ready for work. You can't afford to be late, especially today."

"I don't have much of a choice," I reply, pulling out a sleek black dress paired with some Victoria's Secret black lingerie. "But I'm not going down without a fight. If they try to fire me, I'll make sure they regret it."

Kate smirks. "Vanessa, just don't do anything reckless, okay? I know you. We'll figure this out."

I nod, though I'm not entirely convinced. As much as I want to believe that things will work out, I can't place my fate in the hands of chance; I have to do something fast.