Thirteen

"She is a writer?" Alex said to Patrick as he looked at the file in his hand, a smile on his face... "Yes, sir... she works for DB publishing company and helps with a few books that have been published, also screen writing. From what I've heard, she is working on her own book" Patrick explained and dropped another file in front of Alex. "But I think she is planning on quiting soon" Alex raised his eyes up to look at Patrick, confusion etched in his eyes. "Why is she planning on quiting" "Well she isn't the only one... Their publishing company isn't doing to well lately and most of the workers have started quiting... only a few of them are left, including Her" Patrick explained and Alex sat up in his chair... He picked up the file about DB publishing company and read through it in silence... They were in debts and were having a hard time... "How long as she being working there" he asked "About a few years now. She started working there as an intern while in college and continued when ssh graduated. She is one of the first employees" Alex sighed... If she still hadn't quit when the company was in such a terrible position then he was sure would keep holding out... He placed his hand on his chin and Patrick immediately squinted his eyes at Alex. He knew that look too well... it was the look Alex had on when he was planning to do something he shouldn't be doing... "We should help them, don't you thinks so. They help with advertising too... How about making them work on it for our hotel" Alex suggested and patricked sighed deeply. He knew it... Alex wss intervening again. Just what was going on between Alex and this woman... "Sir but..." Patrick tried to protest but Alex cut him off before he could... "Get the car ready" Alex said with finality in his voice, indicating That he had come to a final decision and there was no room for any more discussion about the matter... Patrick nodded and left to do as he was instructed... "Where are we off to sir" He asked when Alex was finally in the car. "Her place" Alex said and Patrick almost face palmed himself. How else could he tell Alex that he was almost becoming a stalker... "What!" Patrick said and Alex raised his eyes to look at him... "You heard me start the car"... Patrick almost rolled his eyes as he started the car... This wasn't the workaholic Alex he knew... Patrick was just about to take a turn that led to Juliet's house when a gathered small crowd got his attention... his eyes grew wide when he saw two woman and one of the women immediately caught his attention... "Oh! isn't that her" He said and Alex looked up immediately... "stop the car" Alex said and Patrick stopped the car... Both woman didn't look like they were having a friendly conversation and... he trailed off and his eyes became wide in shock when the woman smacked juliet right across the face... he turned to see if Alex had seen what he had seen, but Alex was already out of the car... _____________________ ______________________ Juliet froze when she saw she saw a familiar person standing across her at the grocery store... Was she seeing things! no she was wasn't... it was really aunt Claudia! why was she here... Oh no!... She looked the complete opposite of happy and was about to bolt away but Claudia who had spent the whole day searching for where juliet lived and decided to get a drink at the grocery store, immediately spotted he... "Juliet" Her aunt yelled and Juliet immediately turned away and walked out of the store... Claudia immediately went after her. There was no way she was losing her now after spending so much searching for her... She rushed out of the store almost running and blocked Juliet's way before she could escape... "I was calling you..." Juliet swallowed and tried to calm her nerves but it was hard to when this woman was standing in front of her... her blood slowly started to boil with anger... her day was ruined now... "Don't you have any shame? How can you show up here!" Juliet snapped at her aunt... She was trying her best not to raise her voice so she wouldn't gather the attention of people, but Claudia seemed to want otherwise. "How can you speak to your aunt like that, you brat! Didn't your mother teach you better!" Claudia raised her voice, causing the passer-bys to look at them, and she closed her eyes and sighed. and she thought her day was going great... it was too good to be true... "Please leave, I want nothing to do with you anymore... you didn't bother to show up all this time, and you are showing up now?" "I was occupied. You should be understanding. am I not here now?" Juliet scoffed at her aunt's words and shook her head. The Claudia that she knew only showed up when she needed something. She was a selfish person who cared about no one but herself, and she had been that way for as long as Julia could remember... Even her mother, who was a nice person, had cut her off and said she didn't have any family... and her mother didn't cut people off easily... "You rude brat! I always knew you would turn out this way..." Claudia said, raising her voice again, and Juliet had had it... She turned to leave but couldn't when Claudia forcefully held her arm and drew her back... "I know you got insurance from her death... I want my share," Claudia declared, her shame far gone... "What!" Juliet couldn't believe what she was hearing... "You can spend it all yourself... how much did you get. you have a job now, don't you... I need it more than you!" Her aunt continued and juliet wondered where she got such an audacity from... "I didn't get any insurance money. Please leave now and let go of my arm!" "You lying b*tch!" Claudia said and yanked juliet, causing her to almost trip... "Let go of me!" Juliet yelled at her, forgetting about being cautious at gathering attention... "Just give me my own share, and I will get going!. I won't show up anymore! I saw a bank close by. " Claudia finally let go of Juliet's hand and tried to reason with her, like a normal person even though what she was saying wasn't normal... "I've told you already I didn't get any insurance money! How can you act like this mom was your only sister!" Juliet felt her heartbreak... She hoped her aunt would feel guilty, even though it was a tiny ounce of it, but she didn't look like she felt guilt... "Are you drinking again?" Juliet asked, and Claudia saw red... She raised her hand and smacked Juliet right across the face... This was enough to finally get people's attention, and everyone looked completely shocked... Juliet was shocked also... and before she could process what had happened, her aunt raised her hand once, and juleit closed her eyes, bracing herself for the impact!