Chapter 7

• It was barely a week since Ivy started working and Mrs. Smith appeared to be getting worse. One minute she’s feeling better, the next minute she's battling for her life.
• Leaving her all alone at home was not always a good idea to Ivy but she had no choice, she had to make money and she possibly couldn’t stay at home and make money to pay bills and cater for herself too.
• This time her symptoms were more deadly, her breath was ceasing, looked like she would not survive it and could give up any moment.
• “Mum, I think we’ll have to see the doctor, I don’t like the feeling I get from all these,” Ivy suggested.
• “N—no Ivy….Y—you would be late for wo…work and I’m sure you don’t have such time and won’t want to have issues with your boss, don…don’t bother about me,” Mrs. Smith said, struggling to put her words together.
• Ivy clearly didn't accept that, she was working to keep her mother alive and not to make her die.
• “Wh—where is your fa…father? He can look after me while you’re away, we would go see the doctor when you get back from work,” her mother added, trying not to get her worried about her situation.
• “Mum, there is no way I would leave you all by yourself in such an unpleasant condition. You already know dad doesn’t stay home and there is little he can do to help on all of these,” she said trying to persuade her.
• Mrs. Smith finally gave in and they both left for the hospital as fast they could as she was almost late for work already.
• Getting to the hospital, they were asked to wait for the doctor who was busy attending to another patient.
• “Good morning Madams, sorry I kept you both waiting,” the doctor said as he got into the office, taking off his lab coat and hanging it on a spot in the corner of the office. “Ivy, are you ready to make payment for your mother's surgery?”
• He took a quick look at Mrs. Smith and he could not help but notice how pale and lean she had gotten. Each time they visited, her condition kept worsening.
• “N—No doctor, not yet she's just been really having worse symptoms lately and I don't know if you could help treat her, at least temporarily, we would come for the surgery as soon as I gather the money,” she answered.
• That was the last thing he had expected to hear, the last time she had rushed Mrs. Smith there, he had thought the next time he would see them would be for her surgery because she was almost giving up and it took so much for him to revive her and place her on temporary medication.
• “Ivy, look at your mother. Do you want her to die?”
• Death was far from her thought. She was scared and trembling already at the mention of it. She did not want to imagine losing her mother, “Doc, please my mum must not die. I promise I’ll get the money for the surgery soon.”
• “I just started working, and I'm yet to get my salary, please doctor do something for her just this last time I beg you,” getting on her knees while Mrs. Smith sat there nearly unconscious.
• It hasn't been up a year since she lost her brother to the cold hands of death, and she could not stand the chance of losing another family member, especially not her mum.
• “Pleasee…doctor, just this last favor and I’ll be forever grateful.”
• With pity for Mrs. Smith, he just had to find a solution for her even though it would sustain her for a short period of time.
• “Okay, okay…I’ll see to that, but please make sure at most in two weeks time she comes for her surgery. Or else, I really can't assure you on what would happen next,” he said.
• She wasn't pleased with the ultimatum, but getting settled for the first time that day, Ivy could not contain her gratitude, “Thank you so much!”
• He administered some treatment for her and made prescriptions of some drugs that they could get at the pharmacy.
• Although Ivy was already late for work, she had to take Mrs. Smith home first.
• For a while she had forgotten she had a strict and rude boss, one that would lash at her, at every given opportunity. She knew she was in for it when she got to work. She just had to be ready to receive all the insults he would throw at her.
• But that was not important at the moment, her mum’s health was her bone of contention and she was happy she was able to do something about it, even though it wasn't a permanent solution.
• In no time, they were already home.
• “Mum, just have some rest, I need to rush down to work now.”
• Holding on to her daughter’s hands with a smile that faded right immediately, Mrs. Smith said, “Thank you, Ivy, I am so proud of you and I'm happy I've got you as a daughter. Plus I'm sorry I am the reason you're late for work.
• “No mum, It’s fine. I should be saying thank you to you for staying strong. I'm sorry you have to go through this. But don't worry, you'll be fine soon,” she assured.
• It was about 11 a.m. and she was yet to get to the office.
• She was pretty much concerned about how to sort out her mother’s surgical bills and it had limited time to be sorted.
• Although, she had a plan which was her only way out or maybe not, but wasn’t sure if it would work out or not.
• Hurrying into the office, she’s greeted by her furious boss, Jay, who had most likely been looking for his supposed secretary. His eyes were red as he held his fists tightly.
• “Where have you been madam???” he yelled. “I can't have any more of this habit of lateness, meet me in my office now!” he instructed as he walked out on her.
• Scared at what he might decide to do, she knew for sure he was no joker, he wouldn't let her get away with her repeated lateness which he had overlooked right from her first day at work.
• Maybe if he was always ready to listen enough she could have explained things to him and made him understand how things were for her.
• And clearly realizing the risk she had taken, she was gripped by the fear of losing her job, at least not when she needed money the most.
• Ivy was startled by Jay, who had returned back after waiting on Ivy in his office, “Are you deaf or playing stupid?”
• She was lost in thought and had stood there forgetting Jay had asked her to meet him in his office.
• Walking right after him, tons of thoughts went through her mind. She had hoped on getting things right with her boss, but each time she failed and gets into his dark book which was not necessarily her fault.
• Yes! she had a plan on how to raise enough cash for her mother’s bills, but how does she go about it with the current rage between herself and her boss?
• “Shut the door!” Jay raved, noticing she had left it opened as she came into the office.
• “Sir… I…My mum…she has not been feeling too good so I had to take her to the hospital,” Ivy stammered.
• “You always have some sort of excuse, to give uhn? Do you think I employed you here to play and get paid?”
• With her head bent downward, trying to hold the cloud of tears that had gathered in her eyes, “ N—no Sir, I am sorry.”
• “Obviously. You are here to work and not play around. All you do is, give me headaches every time,” he shouted.
• Unable to control her tears as they dripped down her cheeks, “I apologize sir.”
• “This better be the last time, else I won’t have a second thought on dismissing you,” Jay replied.
• As she stood there, she could feel all her plans ruined. She had wanted to meet with her boss if she could speak with him and get him to pay her in advance. If not for anything, but for the sake of her sick mother.
• However, with the situation at hand and how angry Jay was, he wouldn’t even want to listen to her and she could tell.
• “Yes? Why are you still here? Don't you have work to do on your desk?” he asked, seeing she hadn't moved an inch since their conversation ended.
• Carried away and paying less attention to him as she was long gone in her thoughts.
• “Ivy!!!”
• “Sir!… Yes!… Erm..I,” she stammered.
• Contemplating on whether she should tell him or probably just wait for a good time, but with Jay, there was never a good time. It was either she spoke up or remained quiet about her predicament, even if he was going to decline she would know she tried her best.
• “Anything else?” he inquired, giving her a nasty look, not like he was concerned though.
• Ivy decided to finally let out, “Sir… I was thinking if you could please… pay me upfront, I am really in need… My mum is terribly sick and has to undergo a surgery as soon as possible else I will lose her.”
• Silence greeted the room for some seconds, before the eruption of laughter could be heard.
• Jay instantly made a mockery laugh, “I know your type, you don't want to work. Get out of my office, Now!”
• “You must think I'm stupid,” he said angrily.
• As expected, she knew he would refuse her and even if he was going to accept it would take a miracle for him to finally give him.
• Nevertheless, Ivy felt beneath the cruel personality was an angel, a person with emotions, who was just trying to play tough.
• Her only option had declined her and she was almost losing it. She was definitely not going to watch her mother die!