I hurried out of the playroom and into the main hall as quickly as possible where I found the landlady of the property, Linda Evers, standing with a grim expression on her face.
"Mrs Evers, what's going on? I thought we agreed..." I started as I approached her. I was distraught, panicking and on the verge of tears.
She took my hand in hers apologetically.
"I know, I know. I promised to give you more time. But these people came to me with an offer I couldn't refuse." She gave me a signal with her eyes so I would know that the purchase was forcefully done and it was out of her control.
I looked behind her and found three men all sharply dressed in suits. One of the men came closer and extended his hand to me for a shake.
"Good afternoon. I am Owen Michael. You must be Leia Sanders."
Surprised, I raised my eyes to meet the man whom I didn't recognize.
"You know my name?"
"Yes." The man replied. "My boss had spoken about you. You must know him, Ethan Sterling of Sterling Holdings Incorporated. I am his legal representative."
"Oh." I said quietly as I shook the man's hand. I should have known. I should have known all along. So he was the one who bought the property: Ethan Sterling. He really did make good with his threats.
"Yes. He suggests that you evacuate the building latest by Thursday because by Friday, he'll begin demolition." The man informed me.
My face fell. Then I became angry. "He can't do that. By the demands of the law, he should have given us at least a month to find an alternative place." I said.
"Well, if you feel like you're being wronged, you can take the case to court. Although that is not really advisable, especially in your position." Owen Michael said. But it sounded like he was saying, you can try, but you'll just fail.
Take my case to court? I can't do that even if it was the last option. An ant like me, take on a giant like him? I would get crushed.
But Friday? It was just two and a half days away. Whatever in the world would I do?
"Isn't there a way that I can speak to him? To extend the time before the demolition to maybe a week?" I asked, hoping to get a positive response.
The man paused in thought. "I am not sure. But if you can book an appointment to see him he might listen to you."
Not waiting for one more word, I ran back to the staff office, grabbed my purse and ran out of the school frantically into the street.
I needed to see Ethan Sterling without delay.
I hailed a cab successfully without being hit by a car and headed straight for Sterlings Holdings.
The twenty minute ride felt like an eternity before the car finally stopped in front of the huge office building.
STERLING HOLDINGS INC. was boldly inscribed onto the building. I couldn't help but be intimidated by the power it exuded. The power to save my life or break it.
I took in a deep breath so I could calm down and worked into the building. At the lobby, there were two receptionists: a younger lady and an older lady. The older lady seemed busy with work on her computer so the younger one who was about my age, attended to me.
"Hello, Good afternoon miss. Welcome to Sterling Holdings. What can we do for you today?" She asked pleasantly.
"Good afternoon." I answered a little out of breath. "Please, I'm here to see Mr Ethan Sterling, the CEO."
The lady looked at me surprised and amused. "I'm sorry Miss, but you can't walk in and ask to see the CEO just like that."
"What do I have to do then? I have to make an appointment right?" I asked.
"Yes, you do. But your request for an appointment has to be reviewed and approved by his secretary. Then you can get a chance to see him."
"Yes please, anything. Just book the appointment." I told her.
The woman just shrugged before lifting up the telephone to make a call.
"Hello, Mr Lawrence, a lady named... What's your name again?" she asked me.
"Leia Sanders." I told her.
"Leia Sanders wants to book an appointment to see the boss.... Okay.... Okay." then she turned back to me. "The president isn't on seat right now. But his secretary will book you an appointment and send you the time via email. If you would be kind enough to leave your contact details here, the time would be communicated to you."
I wrote down my info on a sheet of paper and then turned around to leave.
* * *
The next day, by 12:15pm, I arrived at the company building again because the appointment was scheduled for my by 1pm. It was better to be early so Mr Sterling could see my plight and have mercy.
The receptionist acknowledged the fact that I had an appointment and then she gave me directions to get to the 30th floor, the executive floor.
I gratefully left the lobby and took the elevator all the way up. I felt jittery with nerves and my mind was clouded with worry and regret. Worry because there was a chance he might not hear me out. Regret because I had a chance to meet him before things turned out like this.
My dad was right. I was just like my mother, I let my ego cloud my judgement. Now I was paying for it.
At the executive floor, it was evident that it was reserved for the big dogs of the company. It was tastefully furnished and there was scarcely anybody walking around in the hallway. The place screamed opulence in its finest.
The office at the very end of the west wing. I walked down the hall to the last office down the hall. There was a gold plated sign on the huge double doors: Office of the CEO. I pushed the door and went in.
Inside the office was a cosy room with a desk at one side and expensive furniture littered around. At the desk sat the familiar quiet figure that I could recognize. It was Mr Lawrence, the secretary.
And I had his number. Why didn't I just called him directly instead and asked if the CEO was in. I was so distressed and hurried that I forgot little details like this. Well, I was here now, and I was going to see the CEO.