Chapter 1

• Jayda's POV
• It was so nice to be in my new car. I tried to concentrate on driving but I just couldn't, I was really excited to have bought a car on my birthday. My mom would call it an achievement and also make fun of me.
• "Peee........." A driver behind me in a Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta honked into my thoughts. It was obvious that he wanted me to drive faster but I was not ready to move more than the normal speed rate.
• He ventured out of the lane and swore when he narrowly missed crashing into an oncoming black Hyundai. He toots his horn when he levelled with me and upon gaining my attention, he parcelled out his anger at me in a ton of obscenities.
• Ignoring him, my aloofness only infuriated him the more. "Fool!" He roared and zoomed off.
• The traffic lights had turned amber and two undisciplined drivers sped recklessly past me.
• ******************
• Immediately I drove into the parking lot, I got down from the car and gently closed the door. Madeline, my personal secretary ran towards me with a bright smile on her face. "Good morning ma'am." She greeted me as soon as she saw my new car.
• "How are you?" I inquired as I held my purse tightly.
• She giggled excitedly. "I'm fine ma'am. Happy birthday ma'am."
• She was actually the first individual to wish me apart from the messages and calls that I got earlier. "Thanks Maddy, I' m so thankful for this. How's the company going?" I asked.
• Her face broke out in a grin as her eyes were still focused on my new car. "T&D publishers recently topped the chart of publishers this week." She answered.
• That was one also one of the best news, I was excited to know that my company was progressing. "It's great you're checking the list." I replied.
• "Ma'am, did you buy a car?" She asked, giving me a sweet smile.
• I rubbed my brown eyes tiredly as I stared at her, a little bit surprised at her question.
• "Yeah, I did."
• Our boring conversation was interrupted with a phone call and I hurriedly picked it. "Hello Mom, I'm at work."
• I couldn't hear exactly what my mom was saying over the phone but she fumbled with some of her words and I heard her mentally cursing herself. "Are you listening?" She suddenly asked.
• I awkwardly cleared my throat and my voice was raised slightly, disrupting the quiet atmosphere in the parking lot, hence causing a few people to look in my direction. "Mom, do you mind calling me back in the evening?" I humbly requested.
• "Why?" She asked with a ragged sigh.
• Her tone left no room for arguments and I was not going to continue the conversation for a long time because I didn't want to argue. I let out a low chuckle. "I' m at work."
• "You've bought a car, right?" She inquired.
• "Y-yea," I stuttered.
• I was getting to brace myself for what was coming, she was definitely going to either mock me or.. ....
• "What's the last two numbers of the plate number of your car?" She inquired.
• Now,that was a heck of a question!
• "Is this important?" I was forced to ask with a frustrated sigh. The question didn't seem relevant to me and I was not ready for an argument.
• "Check that plate number immediately." She snapped.
• I stepped back a little and stared at the plate number, I rubbed my brown eyes again and stared at the number, trying my best to concentrate. "Thirteen."
• A gasp escaped from her lips and I braced myself for what was coming next. "Can you return the car to the showroom?" She suddenly asked.
• I scoffed. "Unbelievable, they are never going to take their car back and I'm not going back there to return this lovely car." I answered, quickly.
• "The German forces during WWII bombed Buckingham Palace on September 13, 1940. What do you think?"
• No, what did I think? I didn't want to be rude to her but why was she doing this?
• "I don't know. It's just a story." I replied.
• She scoffed. "It's real, I don' t like that number,"
• I leaned on the car and stared at the floor, speechless. "Are you listening to me?" She asked.
• "Yeah, I'm with you." I answered in a cold and soft tone.
• " A British 13-year-old boy was struck by lightning on Friday the 13th, at 13:13." She muttered.
• No, she wasn't doing this right now. Why would she make me feel bad for buying a car?
• " Alright, I'll figure out something." I lied.
• "The Costa Concordia sank into the ocean on January 13, 2012." She continued.
• I shrugged and let out a frustrated sigh. "Mom, I'm going to hang up now, I'll be late for work. You didn't even wish me a happy birthday or send gifts to me." I reminded her.
• "According to National Geographic, a Swedish flight disappeared while flying over the Baltic Sea on June 13, 1952. And for 40 years, the Swedish government was stuck by the story that the plane was merely performing training exercises....."
• I interrupted. "Alright, I'm hanging up right now."
• She cleared her throat noisily. "Happy birthday, sweetheart!" She finally muttered and I couldn't stop myself from smiling.
• "Thanks Mom." I murmured.
• There was a minute of silence before she finally talked. "After the buyout of United Airlines fell through on October 13, 1989, the ripples were felt throughout the stock market, specifically the junk bond market."
• And then the call was cut off, apparently by accident.
• She was trying to tell me the terrible things that happened on the 13th but I wasn't ready to listen. I slipped my phone into my purse and looked for Madeline but she was no longer in the parking lot.
• Holding a document and my purse, I walked into the organization putting on a bright smile on my face even though I was still thinking of what my mom told me. She was probably right but I didn't like how she emphasized on the negative view of the number.
• All the workers greeted me as I walked in and I could see the excitement on their faces as they wished me "Happy Birthday, ma'am."