Read Online Thirty Days: Part One by Belle Brooks - Free Book Online Page B

happy for this early in the morning. The hands on my watch read 9:04 a.m. Yep. Late. Why would I, of all people, be on time?
    “Good morning, Abigail. I hope you’re well rested. We have a busy day today.” As she looks up at me, her smile beams. “Come over here.” She signals, so I drag my feet behind the counter. “Let me fix this for you.” Her long, manicured nails pull the scarf from my neck. She loops it and then places the gavel pin in the centre. “Good. Now put it back on,” she orders, fiddling for a bit before declaring that it’s perfect. “Are you ready?”
    “Yep.”
    “Good. Level two. You need to go to Jasmine’s office. She’ll be waiting for you. Tell her I had forms you needed to fill out, which caused your delay.”
    “But I didn’t fill in any forms.”
    “Exactly. But you will be later.” Asher winks before placing her hands on my shoulders and turning me in the direction of the lift. “Off you go. Chop, chop.”
    As the lift door opens on the second level, I’m greeted by a scowling face… Jasmine’s.
    “You’re late. This will be the first and last time, Abigail.”
    “Yep. Gotcha. I had forms to…”
    “Don’t speak like a bogan. That will not be tolerated here,” she interrupts.
    “Sorry.”
    “There is a list on your desk of today’s morning duties. If you need me press six and then the hash key on the phone in your office. This is my internal number. On your desk, in a red folder, you will find...” She stops speaking and looks over her shoulder. “Please keep up, Abigail.”
    I hustle until I’m back beside her again.
    “As I was saying, in the red folder on your desk is documentation that needs copies printed. There is a blue folder under that one. Put the copies into that and then put both folders on my desk.” She stops again. “Abigail, are you understanding this?” She rolls her eyes.
    I guess she’s always an uptight cow. “Loud and clear.” The urge to salute her is strong, but my hands stay by my side.
    “Good. Both folders on my desk. Here is your office.” She opens a light-coloured wooden door. “On a sheet of paper I’ve laminated and secured to your desk is an internal phone directory. Do not, under any circumstances, call Mr. Sims. Understand?”
    “Clearly.” Looking around the small space, I sigh. Is it home time yet?
    Two filing cabinets, a black table, and what appears to be a fake fern in a ceramic red pot complete my office. Jasmine must see my reaction to the dullness.
    “You can decorate it however you like. Bring in a picture of your boyfriend or something to look at.” Her disinterest is obvious.
    Sure thing. Because I have one of them. “Thank you.”
    “Get to work.” Her tone is harsh.
    I have a feeling I’m going to hate Jasmine.
    Sitting down on a high-backed chair, I inhale a deep breath. “Photocopying. You can do this, Abi.”
    I hug the red and blue folders against my chest as I walk down the corridor, which seems longer than yesterday, in search of a photocopier. There’s a door to the left that has Jasmine’s name embossed on it in big bold letters. The next one along says ‘Anetha Springs’. No idea who she is. Rosetta Cutters’ name is on the next door. No clue as to her identity either. “Where is the bloody photocopier?”
    “Abigail, have you completed that task already?” Jasmine’s voice projects loudly.
    “Umm. Well, no. I’m looking for the...”
    She holds her finger up and then huffs.
    How am I supposed to know where the hell it is, I want to yell, but don’t.
    “Level one.” She scowls, as if it’s obvious. “Abigail, see the frame there?” Her long pointed fingernail points to the wall beside the lift.
    “Yes.”
    “Well, read it. It’s a map of the building.” Her eyebrows rise as her lips purse. “Move along.”
    “Great, thanks.”
    I clutch the folders in my now angry hands as I take the lift. “God, what a witch,” I mutter, mad as hell. “It’s on level one. You