Allegra silently cursed the person banging on her door so early in the morning. She imagined it would be her nosy neighbour, Sheila, who complained about everything even though her children were the most mischievous little brats in the apartment complex.
When she got to her front door, she realized it wasn't nosy Sheila.
"Open the door, wench!" Her landlord cursed loudly.
Allegra groaned, knowing she was about to face some serious tongue lashing and threats from her landlord because her rent was two months due.
She finally gathered enough courage to open the door and when she did, Mr Archibald swung the door open with so much speed and force, he almost knocked her over.
Determined to start off the conversation civilly, Allegra greeted. "Good morning, Mr Archibald."
"What exactly is good about the morning, Miss O'Connell? You are months behind on the rent and you think you can get out of it with a sultry smile!" He yelled at Allegra.
Allegra almost rolled her eyes. "I definitely wasn't smiling, sir. And I apologize for my late payment, I promise--"
Mr Archibald cut her short. "Late payment? There has been no payment and that is the problem, you dimwit!" He shouted again, making the vein on his forehead throb visibly. "You have only been a tenant here for a year and you've given me almost as much trouble as that moron, Sheila and her ill-mannered kids!"
Allegra almost snorted but willed herself to focus on the conversation. "I sincerely regret that, sir. You must understand---"
He wouldn't let her finish. "Understand what? That even with a job at Greyworth Consolidated, you're still living like a lowly tramp, trying to escape paying rent?"
Allegra found her temper rising. "That is ridiculous. I am not trying to escape paying rent, sir, I simply don't have the money right now. But if you could give me a week or two---"
Mr Archibald's laughter rang through the small apartment. Allegra watched him laugh, imagining knocking out his yellow teeth. "Two weeks? The wench thinks I run a charity organization!" After his laughter died down in his throat, he pointed a short finger at her. "You have a week, Miss O'Connell, before I throw you out of here."
Allegra sighed in defeat. "I will do the best I can, sir."
The balding Mr Archibald took a few steps closer, staring at her with a sly smile. "Have I told you of my beach house on the other end of town?"
"I know about it." Why wouldn't she, when he had mentioned it to her at least five times since she moved in?
"Then you know you can come around this weekend. Show me a good time and the rent for the last two months would be forgotten."
Allegra rolled her eyes. She wondered why he would not stop suggesting this, since he always offered and she always declined. "I would have to turn that offer down, yet again."
"I would forget about this month's rent too, pretty Allegra---" He attempted to touch her cheek, but Allegra quickly slapped his hand away.
"No!" She had to raise her voice.
Mr Archibald scowled. "Stupid tramp." He said. One would not believe he had just called her 'pretty Allegra' minutes ago. "You have a week!"
Allegra watched her landlord leave her apartment angrily, slamming the door with an energy she didn't know a man of his stature could possess.
Allegra heaved a sigh of relief after he left. She wondered how she was supposed to raise the money to pay her rent so quickly. She already had the responsibility of fixing the roof of her family's home and loans that needed to be repaid.
A knock on her door interrupted her thoughts. It definitely was not her perverted Landlord, the knock was a lot gentler.
Allegra opened the door and a petite brunette woman carrying a big handbag let herself in. "Hey, girlie." Her best friend greeted, giving her a side hug.
"Good morning Trisha." Allegra said, then trudged to her bedroom and Trisha followed.
"Why did I see Mr baldie stomping out of here? Don't tell me he tried something again." Trisha settled on Allegra's bed the moment they entered the bedroom.
"Fine, then I won't tell you." Allegra said as she tied her black hair in a bun. "But if I don't wanna find my stuff on the streets, I have to pay that ogre two months rent in a week."
Trisha's eyes widened. "How are you gonna get the money in literally seven days?"
"I wish I knew." Allegra said, then headed for the bathroom to brush and shower. When she was done, Trisha, a known phone addict, was lying on her stomach, scrolling through Instagram.
"My brother's graduating High school soon, the work I have to do on the house back home, the loans I have to pay off, my expenses have been way above my income recently."
Trisha looked at Allegra sadly. "They always have been." She sympathized. "Did management get back to you yet?"
Allegra shook her head. "I already went for the interview, they have my resume, I was told they would email me if I got the promotion or not."
"I believe you will. All we have to do is wait." Trisha reassured.
"Whatever happened to Mr Greyworth's last secretary?" Allegra asked while brushing her hair. "I mean he just got back to work, how come he already needs a secretary?"
"She was fired. Allegedly." Trisha answered. "Three days after Mr Greyworth resumed work. They say he's been a real grouch lately."
Allegra and Trisha had been best friends since High School. They went to same university and gained employment at Greyworth Consolidated.
"That is expected." Allegra said as she joined Trisha on the bed. "I don't know if I would've survived what he survived."
Five months ago, Nicholas Greyworth, CEO of Greyworth Consolidated and his fiancé, a renowned model, Michelle Perez were involved in an accident. Nicholas went into a coma and woke up without any feeling in his legs and worse, Michelle did not survive the tragic crash.
"I'm just glad he's taking over again. Greyworth Consolidated hasn't been the same without him." Trisha complained.
"Yeah, his first son is doing a mediocre job." Allegra stated what everyone else was thinking. Nobody dared criticize the acting CEO, Jonathan Greyworth, out loud unless they were prepared to face the wrath of his mother.
"His son, or his ex-wife? Come on, everyone knows who's really in charge in Mr Greyworth's absence."
"Okay, let's stop gossiping about our bosses and do something productive." Allegra sat up. "Wanna help me clean?"
"No can do, honey boo." Trisha moved a strand of hair out of her face. "I have other ideas involving a bikini, sunscreen and a body of water."
Allegra suddenly realized the contents of Trisha's bag. "Nah, take your boyfriend with you."
"I go with him all the time, it's your turn." Trisha said, grabbing Allegra's hands.
Allegra groaned. "No, Trish. I'm---"
Trisha cut her short. "In need of a tan. Look how pale you are."
Allegra knew once Trisha set her mind on something, she wouldn't stop until she got it. "Fine, little miss manipulator."
Allegra's heard her phone beep. She grabbed it from her vanity and gasped loudly as she stared at the screen.
Trisha's brows creased with worry. "Is it your mum? What is it?"