MANIPULATIVELY TURNED AS OUR STORY
CHAPTER 7

The next few days, we were busy. From December until mid-January next year, Randolph will be on vacation with his family and girlfriend for 15 days. Before that, he wanted to close a business deal, so he was assigning back-to-back work to me. In contrast, it was worthwhile for me to be at ease for a few days when he was far away from me.

Another important thing was that we were going to receive a bonus, and Randolph promised to transfer a good amount of bonus this year, purely for my hard work saving that jerk so many times. Trust me, he cannot replace a loyal employee like me; he is a damn lucky one.

This year, I have planned so many things with this bonus amount. On top of that, I have only a minimum balance in my bank account, as he guided me to invest in some stock. In terms of money, I can trust him; I invested without giving it a second thought. He is damn good at this investment thing, so this bonus means a lot to me.

I need to grab so many branded clothes as it’s Christmas and New Year, and discounts and offers will be everywhere. I have selected a few, just waiting for sales to open up and also the bonus amount. I need to visit my orphanage like every year with lots of gifts, and I need to purchase other girl-related, necessary items.

It’s been three years since I joined Anderson Company. At last, I am going to fulfill my dream of shopping till I get bored. It was already evening. I packed my things and left. When I reached home, it was 8 p.m., too late to prepare food ordered online. Meanwhile, I was lying on my bed.

Before, I didn’t replace time to make any friends as I was busy building my career. Now, I am not getting time to make friends as I am always preoccupied with other stuff. I am not worried about dying as a virgin; my concern was that I would die alone. If I am busy like this, not giving time to anything else, my future will be hopeless.

I should pass a resolution in the new year to make good friends and also want to replace a good husband, definitely not like my ex or like Randolph. Oh god, my life will be a disaster. I want to build my own family and need to get a husband who loves me dearly and kids. Can I expect that much? Will I be lucky? Whatever the future holds, will I be blessed at least with these basic things?

As an orphan, growing up is not easy. I have seen many girls who grow up in an orphanage and how they end up surrounded by girls becoming sex slaves, prostitutes, miscarriages, committing suicide, giving birth at a young age, and children again ending up in an orphanage. By seeing all these things, I have sworn to myself that if I get into any relationship, I will make sure everything is perfect before giving birth to my child. I don’t want any other life to experience what I have gone through in my past; no one will bother to ask or understand these things. At first, they will decide everything without giving any thought to the other person’s feelings or what they have gone through. It has already been 30 minutes since my order arrived. After a few minutes, I finished my routine and went to bed.

Today was the day for which I was anxiously waiting for Randolph to be on leave, and I was going to get my bonus. I thought of reminding him about my bonus but gave it a second thought; he had transferred in previous years and will do the same if I try to remind him; he will throw some cocky reply; better to wait a few more hours.

It was evening. I started packing my stuff and left. While I was going my way, I bumped into a few colleagues who were beaming with smiles. After seeing me, they asked whether I received my bonus, and in return, I inquired whether they received it, and everyone at once answered ‘yes’. They were all going to have dinner after that pub. I immediately picked up my cell and searched for a notification from the bank, but I received none. I immediately checked my bank balance, and it reflected the same amount he had not transferred till now. Please don’t tell me he has forgotten. No, that’s not possible. He might be stuck somewhere, not getting a server or something. Let me wait a few hours or for another day, and he will transfer. I consoled myself, and again they spoke, asking whether I would join them. I didn’t have anything else to do, so I joined them.

When I reached home, it was 11 p.m. Again, I checked my cell for any bank notification, but none was received when they were discussing the bonus amount, how much they received, and so on. Inside me, something was burning if that bastard forgot or, for any other reason, if I didn’t receive my bonus amount. I am so not going to spare him.

The next day, when I woke up, the first thing that came to mind was checking my cell. Again, I haven’t received any notification; he is on leave right now, spending time with his family. Is there any chance he would remember my bonus amount? Hell, he should. I got freshened up and went to the company.

After reaching the company, I started doing my work while checking my cell. If he wants to die, please tell him to credit my bonus before dying; that would be the first good deed he would do. After having lunch again, I checked my cell. Wow, great. I was starting to get a panic attack. No, don’t tell me I am going to miss my branded dress, asshole. Is he going to pour water on my plans? I started checking his social media; he had not updated any pictures. I immediately checked his girlfriend’s profile; she had updated so many pictures. Sure, he was enjoying.

The next thing I did was to call him, and his cell was switched off. I thought of dropping a message on his social sites; I am following him on every site, but that idiot didn’t bother to follow me back. Such a jerk. Now, how the hell am I going to contact him? Can I still stay positive after this? Clearly, he was having a good time with his family and with his girlfriend. Will my bonus pop up in his mind? If everything is going to get ruined, I am not going to spare him.

It has been ten days since Randolph didn’t credit my bonus amount; five more days, I have bottled up everything, waiting to explode in front of him. What a year to start! Whenever I see his picture uploaded by his girlfriend, I feel like going wherever he is, holding his collar, and asking why the heck he forgot to credit my bonus amount if I had gotten sufficient balance. Maybe I should have done that. How the hell could he forget to credit my bonus? I am only an assistant working under him if I could tear him like a piece of paper and distribute it in the air.

Finally, Randolph was back with a broad, fucking smile on his face. Of course, after spending time with his family, that’s what anyone is going to expect, right? After a few minutes, I prepared coffee and made my way towards his cabin. Chores were erupting from his cabin. Don’t tell me he got company this early morning; yup, he had none other than his bloody friends. Don’t they have timing for anything? Is it their home whenever they want, they will just pop up, bloody idiots.

I didn’t know my stare was so intense until they stopped whatever they were doing was facing me, like hell, I will care I was waiting for this day, and these idiots showed up from nowhere, thinking to ruin everything, like I will just shut it and let it go.

Randolph spoke, ”Do you want to speak with me?” I replied, “Yeah, but I will come after a few minutes. I waited for 15 days, and I can wait for another few more minutes, and there is nothing more to happen. Anyway, whatever has to be done is already done, so I will come when you are totally alone and free.” alone and free came a little high pitch, “Say what you want to say; it must be important. You waited for 15 days; surely you tried to reach me, so what is it?”

You asked for it, jerk; don’t blame me for my wrath.” Mr. Anderson, how can you do this to me? You successfully forgot to credit my bonus to date; you promised me to pay extra too; and you completely forgot enjoying yourself with your family. I am not blaming you for enjoying, but how can you ruin my plan? For 15 days, not even once did you think of crediting my bonus; this is how you repay me for my hard work, which I have done for a whole year. I had planned so many things, and the topmost thing was shopping. I had selected a few branded dresses, and finally, I thought of grabbing them, but they are all gone thanks to you. On top of that, you turned off your cell too. I tried to drop a message on social media. You are not following me on any site, not even one. No matter what, I was not able to contact you. You made a very good profit this year, which I know very well. It was not a burden to credit my bonus; don’t you think I rightfully deserve it?”

Finally I stopped to catch my breath, than he spoke, “Thank God at last you stop, removed your frustration which you were holding from few days, can I speak now, I am really sorry totally forgot, I was thinking to transfer but something came up and totally it was out of my mind,” There are around 2000 employees who are working under you, without your approval they won’t receive bonus right, everyone received their bonus and by this time they enjoyed too, I am only assistant working under you, how can you forget only mine”, “Idiot, I was thinking to calculate separately for you and to transfer, for other employees HR will do calculation, it totally slipped my mind”, “How can only my bonus slipped out from your mind”, “Oh God spare me ok, I will calculate and transfer you by evening”, “After hearing so much, nearly you took 15 days, now you want another few hours to transfer my bonus amount, please tell me have you used my money anywhere else, like have you invested”, “Are you idiot, why the heck I will use your dam money”, “Why not, you are making me to think that way, you are still taking time to transfer my rightful bonus, you don’t got any intention to transfer my bonus right”, “Shut the hell up, 5 minutes ok hold on”, with that he took his cell.

I was waiting anxiously. Randolph told me to check my bank balance, and yup, at last, I received my bonus. I thanked him for not using my money and for crediting too. I walked out of his cabin with a broad smile. I had received more than I deserved; I could hear laughter erupting from his cabin; they were holding till now, I guess, like hell, I will give a dam.

What the hell? I really forgot to credit her bonus; it completely slipped off my mind. My girlfriend was giving me a last-minute headache, and until this idiot came and asked, I wouldn’t remember, I guess. Why the hell did I make her open her big mouth in front of my friends’ god? They have not stopped teasing me; can’t she just remind me and walk off? Was it necessary to say so much? For the past few days, she has been holding so much at once that she blasted. Should I be happy that she didn’t hold my collar and ask for her bonus amount? I guess so.

I never thought I would meet my copy who values money like me; she likes money as much as I do; why doesn’t she need to look after herself? Maybe she doesn’t have anyone to depend on, so I can’t judge her. If she is greedy or whatever for money, she has her own reasons. This is a good lesson for me. I should be very careful next time before telling her to open that mouth.

For the first time in 3 years, I felt a soft corner for her. After a few minutes, one by one, my friends started leaving my cabin; they had enough for the day, for sure.

There were so many files on my table seeking my attention. I started working on them but could not concentrate because I took a long break from work. My mind is still wandering, rewinding time spent with my family. I was already missing them; this morning we bid goodbye. Adults’ lives suck.

I have achieved so much; without my family, it was impossible. How my mom coped when my dad went through a huge business loss, suffered so many days that we were not able to get a single meal a day and were on the verge of coming to the road by selling everything, but at that time, how my mom stood for us, for our family, day and night she started working. My dad had given up on his life and on us too, but my mom changed everything, stood by his side no matter what, and never once thought of leaving us. I am blessed to have a mother like her.

My sister, who is my second mother, gave up on her studies because of me. She wanted to become a fashion designer but gave up on her dream as my mom was not able to afford an education for both of us. She started working like my mother and supported her in every stage. I love these two women in my life so much; my achievements and success are solely dedicated to them. No one can replace them at any cost, and I can keep them happy at last. I am glad they were my inspiration at every stage; if they didn’t push me, I would never achieve anything, and I try my best to keep them happy always.

I was watching the city; everyone was so busy, always running. I was in that group once upon a time. I didn’t know where to go, but I was carving to achieve something. My struggling days, which is nothing when you have a family with you.

It started raining. I realized it was already evening; I didn’t feel hungry, I didn’t have my lunch, and the food was on the table untouched. After so many days, loneliness started engulfing me. Why? I got everything, but I still felt empty inside, carving for more and needing to achieve more and more. I want everything perfect in my life. I don’t want any changes in my plan, and bloody no surprises like hell no.

There was a knock on the door, of course; who else could be? With permission, she entered, and I waited for a few seconds; I didn’t hear her voice. I turned to see whether it was her or someone else; she was standing beside me, enjoying the rain. Thank God, other than money, something else was also matching between us.

After a few minutes, for the first time, I felt like I wanted to be drenched in the rain. I never knew rain could also make someone happy, so whenever it was raining, I cursed. I don’t know why, if money comes, we start to like everything or see things differently. I was not getting it.

I spoke to her, “Common, let’s go and play in the rain.” “What?” She was taken aback by my sudden demand, for sure. “Have you not enjoyed it while it’s raining?” “Yeah, I have; that was long before.” “Than common, let’s go and enjoy it. It’s raining heavily, don’t you think? On the way, we will have dinner too.” She was gazing at me, like, did I turn into a maniac or what? I didn’t give her a chance to react, so I dragged her towards my car.

I drove for 30 minutes and parked my car near the beach, where there was a food stall. I was damn hungry; I was about to get out of the car, but she stopped me and said, “No, no, stay here; I will get something for you; I don’t want any attention, ok?” By saying that she left the car. I came here to enjoy myself, not to sit in the car. I got out of the car and was standing in the rain. I was feeling so happy that I needed this. She saw me, I guess, and came running towards me and spoke, ”You idiot, get inside. I don’t want to grab any attention because of you towards me.” She was shouting, but I didn’t listen to her. I grabbed her and started dancing in the rain. She tried to convince me, but gave up and joined me. We started dancing together for a few minutes. After that, we got tired, ran towards the food stall, had spicy chicken, and made our way to the car.

I dropped her near her apartment and told her to take some tablets so that she could not catch a cold. She said OK and ran towards her apartment; she was feeling pretty cold, and even my blazer was not useful. After that, I made my way towards my apartment.