Chapter 8

• The whistling of the wind outside was almost deafening as it swept through the empty space, rustling Adam's hair. He unstrapped King's car seat, and then scooped him into his arms. King's head rested on his chest, but his legs flailed wildly.
• "I want--I want popsicles, uncle Adam. Get me one, please. Daddy isn't being nice to me today."
• "King, I know you want it now, but you need to listen to your Daddy. Your doctor friend wants you to--"
• "No! I want it now! Nana will–will--"
• Sighing deeply, Adam stroked the little boy's back as he watched his face crumpled like a handkerchief. Facing the sturdy skyscraper, his phone rang. With one hand firmly holding little King, Adam shoved the other into his pocket, rooting his phone out.
• From the other end, a grey haired woman in an elegant white gown idly sat in a rocking chair, her legs crossed, facing a huge fireplace with a wide mantle. She watched intently as the fire crackled. The glowing flame illuminates the dimly lit room. Behind her, a king sized bed covered a good amount of space in the large room.
• "Is that my sweet grandson crying, Adam? What would bring tears to that beautiful face?!" She furrowed her forehead.
• The high-pitch startled Adam glanced at the weeping boy, then spoke in low tune, of course.
• "I am sorry, ma'am, King wants--"
• "Save your blabbing, Adam!" Her wrinkled face contorted in fury. "No one wants to listen."
• "Ye–"
• "Get my baby whatever it is he wants, even if it's your head!" She snarls, cutting Adam off.
• A shiver ran down Adam's spine.
• Stuttering, he said, "Ye–yes, Mrs. Blakes."
• "Let me speak with my cutie."
• Adam took a deep breath, then put the mobile phone against King's ear. He swep it off, and it almost fell to the ground.
• "It's your Nana, King. Speak to Nana."
• "Nana! Nana!" Stretching his hands to grab the phone, King called his grandmother frantically. Adam once again put his phone to the boy's left ear. With a close-up view, a cat sticker stuck to the back of the phone.
• "Nana! Nana!"
• "Yes, sweetheart. My treasure, your Nana is right here. Stop crying now."
• From the other end, the woman stood, clutching the phone to her ear. Her expression softened as the tiny voice slipped through.
• "Mean daddy won't get king his popsicles! I want Nana now!"
• "I know, my love. Nana knows best. Soon, darling, soon, my baby boy will meet his Nana." She planted kisses on the phone. "Uncle Adam will go get your popsicles now, okay?"
• "Really?"
• The glistening eyes of the young man widened in excitement, grinning like the little angel he is.
• "Go enjoy, my love."
• "Nana is the best!"
• "Of course, darling."
• Chuckles and crackles escaped Nana's lips.
• ******
• In an industrial kitchen elsewhere, the swinging door burst opened. As the kitchen staff lifted their heads, the intruder clutching an apron, drew closer. It was Syntia who came into view. Sweating profusely, she scanned the kitchen, grinning awkwardly at the busy staff.
• "Stop right there, Syntia!"
• A muscular figure wearing a blue chef's hat approached her menacingly. Syntia took a step back, swallowing hard, avoiding the bearded man's ghastly gaze.
• "Don't bother putting on your apron, Syntia. I've had it with your constant lateness!"
• "I am sorry, chef. I was--I...um--" She stuttery. Her words hung in the air as she stood stiffly, clutching the apron to her chest.
• "You see? If you are confused, Syntia, what will you say about us? Uh?" Grimacing, the chef pulled Syntia by the collar.
• "You are fired!" He shoved her off, sending her stumbling backward.
• Syntia staggered, clutching the counter beside her. The bearded chef turned around and walked closer to the stove, ignoring her pleading eyes.
• "Bye guys. It was, um... nice working with you all." Scratching her head, she bit her lip. "Thank you for everything... I've learned a lot while working with you guys."
• Downcasted, Syntia turned around and dashed out.
• Standing outside the restaurant, Syntia took one last look at it, her eyes fell on the sign in front of the building that read, 'Eat Well And Live Healthy.' She pulled her hood to her head and sprinted through the whistling wind. Drenched from head down, she walked into Diamond Shopping Mall, then strolled through the aisle. Her eyes shifted nervously from left to right.
• Then her phone rang. Several shoppers stared at her awkwardly as she answered her call, focusing their gaze more on her old model phone bound with a rubber band.
• "You think you're tough, right?"
• Syntia knotted her brow at the sharp male voice of the caller. With one glance at the unknown caller appearing in her cracked phone screen, her face hardened. "You must have dialed a wrong number, mister."
• "You're Syntia, right? With the letter S?"
• "Yeah?"
• "I'm Kelvin Blakes."
• "Who might that be please?"
• A silence swooped in for a moment there.
• "You were asked to come for an interview. I'll be needing you in my room tomorrow morning." That deep voice came out smoothly. "You'll be well compensated if I'm satisfied with the different positions you can–"
• "Sorry, what?" Her eyes widened.
• As shoppers flooded the mall, Syntia roamed her hand about as if blind, just to find a spot to sit. Her legs felt wobbly.
• "You're no child, right? I need to fuck a fresh woman and you fit that description despite your pretty, low, classless life. I'm gonna test and see how you perform to know if you'll be warming my bed longer."
• "Now I'm pretty sure I didn't make a mistake shoving that appointment up that man's ass!"
• "Are you–"
• "Get the bloody hell off my phone, you pervert!"
• "You little–"
• "Fuck you and your job, asshole!"