Little Brown Benefit novel Chapter 2

Twenty minutes later, I arrived at a ten story building at Downtown Los Angeles. I walked through the building's entrance and I found a gloomy face front desk clerk typing rapidly in a computer.

"Excuse me, good morning. I'm here for an interview. I saw an ad on..." She didn't let me finish,

"Eight floor." She said without taking her eyes off the computer.

I made my way to the elevator and got carried up to the eight floor. Getting out the elevator, someone rushed passed me and knocked my handbag off my shoulder.

"Watch it lady!" He rudely shouted.

'How should I watch it when you bumped into me and instead of saying sorry or picking up the bag, you're telling me to watch it!" I wanted to yell at him but I held my tongue.

"Two rude persons so far." I mumbled as I walked up to an empty desk. "So that's why they're in need of a receptionist, there's no one here."

I looked around. I was the only person in sight but there was a door to the right of me. I knocked and waited then knocked again.

"Come in!" I heard a voice commanded.

I turned on the door's handle and walked into the room. There was an old man sitting behind a desk. He looked like he was in his early seventies. His desk was covered in stacks of paper but he seemed not bothered by it. His silver eyes met me.

"Yes?" He asked.

"Good morning sir, my name is Sacha Rish and I'm here to be interviewed for the receptionist position you posted on your Facebook page two days ago."

"Oh yeah." He answered with a laugh.

'What was so funny about that?' I wanted to ask him but again, I held my tongue.

"Have a seat Miss. Rish. Come. Tell me about yourself."

I walked over and sat down in a tiny chair. It was hot and uncomfortable in his office and I gazed around to see if he had an air conditioning unit or a fan. He had nothing.

'Would it always be like this?' Again I asked myself.

"Miss. Rish?"

"Yes Sir?"

"Tell me about you."

"Of course. I'm twenty-one years of age and I previously worked for a telecommunication company before getting laid off. I'm a compassion person and when I put my mind to something, I will accomplish it. I'm reliable, diligent and professional."

"Wonderful. Why do you want this job and what are you willing to do for it?"

"I want this job because I think I can contribute ideas and visions to make your organization even bigger and better and I'm not quite sure what you meant by the second question, Sir." I answered.

He cynically laughed again.

"What I meant was, are you willing to go the extra mile." He replied.

"It depends on what I'm going that extra mile for."

"Oh. Allow me to show you then."

He rose from his seat slowly. He had a huge beer belly. He wobbled around his desk and came to stand behind me.

And then the unthinkable happened. He ran his hands through my thick hair then held onto my shoulder. I froze but when his hands tried reaching for my breasts, I shot up from my seat.

"What are you doing?!" I asked with a shout.

"To get this job, I have to get with you." He answered.

"No! Get your old ass away from me!"

"Come here sweetheart! Big daddy wants you to be a 'professional'. Stay still!"

With unbelievable strength, he launched at me and cornered me against his messy desk. I screamed as he raised my skirt but he placed his other hand over my mouth and attempted to kiss my neck. His wet tongue made my skin crawled and I used my given courage and kneed him right in his private area.

He hunched over in pain, holding himself with both hands and I used that opportunity to hit him with his desk phone over his head. He fell like a sack of potatoes and I ran for the door.

I ran for the elevator, streaming tears on my face. I ran out the building and for a bus to head back home.

Remy was still at my apartment but Judy had left for school.

"What happened, did you get the job?" Remy asked as I came through the door.

"I don't ever want to go back there."

"Why, what happened?"

"The manager tried to force me to have sex with him."

"WHAT? But he's like seventy three years old!"

I nodded my head yes. Remy retrieved her cellphone.

"How much did he pay you?" I asked.

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me." I repeated his previous words. "It's obvious you're in his pocket because you're speaking like you were there. He assaulted me. What was I supposed to do, sit there and enjoy it? I had to protect myself and that I did."

"Is there any proof he assaulted you? Any marks, bruises, scratches?"

"No!"

"Without proof, there's no case. I cannot take your words for it."

"You know what, thank you for your time, officer. I hope the same thing doesn't happen to your daughter or someone you're very close to." I got up and walked out of the police station.

"What did the popos say?" Remy asked as I walked through the door.

"I really don't wanna talk about it Remy. It's like a bad energy is out to consume me. I can't think, I can't keep anything down in my stomach, I can't catch a damn break!"

Remy joined me on the chair where I was lying like I couldn't carry on any longer.

"Hon, it's gonna be okay. You'll find a way. You'll move pass this. Okay?"

I nodded yes but really I didn't have a clue on what to do next.

Judy arrived several minutes later. At that time, I had taken a shower and Remy had left. I made a snack for Judy as I usually does and assisted her with her homework assignment.

A knock came on the door. I went to open, thinking it was Remy again.

"You little BRAT! WHERE'S MY MONEY?" Wayne, my landlord, shouted.

"Wayne, I promise I'll have your money in full this weekend."

"No way. NO WAY. I've put up with your crap long enough. You'd either have my money by tomorrow or you're out of here!"

"Okay. Tomorrow." I responded and quickly shut the door after him. I turned to Judy, who was looking on with tears in her eyes now.

"He's really angry." Her voice carried fear.

"You don't have to worry about him."

"What's going to happen to us, I don't want to go back to the foster home, Sacha."