"The Rent's gone up! Again! How on earth am I supposed to pay 200 freaking dollars for this apartment! I am loosing my shit right now" I lamented as i face palmed myself and inwardly cursed. I was still struggling with $150 as the rent and now what do you mean $200.
Then it hit me, my Job as a waitress and chef at O'Neils. I needed a new Job with a better pay and I needed it fast!
I graduated from college with fantastic grades but had never really had luck when it came down to getting Jobs. Every office I have applied to has either not "gotten back to me" or has not even given me the liberty of having attend the interview. The only reason i have been able to make ends meet even while feeding from hand to mouth most of the time is that i tutor Emily- Mr Millers daughter on how to play the violin. The money from there is what I use for my upkeep. I needed a game changer, an actual Job that pays me a decent price, but firstly, let me try my luck…
*knocks on Mr Millers door*
The door was sharply answered by the strict looking man.Does he ever smile!
"What now Amelia?"
"Good evening Mr Miller, I just got the mail for the rent increase." I chuckled slightly "I was wondering maybe….you could reduce it just a little bit please." I finally let out.
"You're lucky i didn't throw you out when last month's payment was due! Get me my money or else kiss your apartment goodbye!" The grumpy man bellowed as he threw the magazine in his hand on my face.
What a nasty being! I was about cursing violently when I saw something that caught my attention!
* We're Hiring at BoldStart Media!*
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OPEN POSITIONS:
Personal Assistant to the CEO
Are you organized, reliable, and two steps ahead? We're looking for someone sharp and proactive to manage schedules, handle communications, and keep things running smoothly behind the scenes.
Content Strategist
Got a mind for storytelling and trends? We need a creative brain to plan, curate, and strategize content that commands attention and converts.
Media Intern
Young, hungry, and passionate about media? Join us to learn, grow, and gain hands-on experience in the real world of digital media and brand building.
Location: [245 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016]
Deadline: [29th March 2024]
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At BoldStart Media, we don't just build brands—we shape stories that leave a mark.
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This was THE BOLD START MEDIA! I mean the one headed by Levi banks!!
Call me crazy but I'm applying surely!
I hurried back to my room and started up my janky laptop.
I searched for my resume in the farthest part of my documents until i finally found it. Voila! My brilliantly written resume and twitched it to fit the position of an intern.
Time to try my luck.
I hit send and then millions of thoughts crowded my mind
"What if it gets rejected"
"What if it goes straight to spam?"
"What if I don't get the job?"
but then as usual, I felt a calm in my soul!
Definitely the holy spirit working its magic.
I soon drifted into a world of darkness and I let the darkness engulf me.
*****
I hit snooze for the third time. The alarm was relentless, but so was rent. I groaned, tossing my blanket off and sitting up in my tiny room, the cold air biting at my legs. My back cracked—great start.
I stumbled into the kitchen, if you could even call it that. It was basically a corner with a kettle and a microwave. Breakfast was half a banana and some leftover instant noodles. Not cute, but survival wasn't supposed to be.
I threw on my usual black jeans and a clean-enough tee. My sneakers were tired, like me. I swiped on some lip gloss in my cracked mirror, whispered a quick "you've got this," and grabbed my bag.
Made it to the bus just as the doors started to close. I gave the driver a grateful look and held on to the rail as we bounced through traffic. Some guy had his whole gym bag spread across the seat like it paid rent. I just rolled my eyes.
As I got off near the café, I caught my reflection in a store window. Messy bun, under-eye bags, determination in full display.
"Another day, another dollar… or two," I mumbled with a smirk.
I didn't have a perfect life. But I had grit. And I always showed up.
What I didn't know? Today… would change everything.
*****
"Hey Ame, 3 chai lattes and 3 chocolate chip cookies at table 3 fast!
" On it Josh!" I replied as i carried three cookies from the display and three lattes straight to table 3.
"Thank you for choosing O'Neils, please enjoy your meal" I said as i disappeared back into kitchen.
"This is one busy day, I tell you. We were so worked up we didn't even know when time flew. Close of business is in two hours and boy I cant wait to go back to my apartment.
At the mention of apartment, my countenance fell and Josh picked it up.
"What's wrong A? Your mood changed instantly I mentioned apartment. Is everything alright?"
I heaved out a sigh before i spoke. "My rent's gone up to $200 Josh. I'm so overwhelmed. I even applied for a new Job to be able to pay for this. Im thinking of working O'Neils part time now if i get the job."
"Oh A, I'm so sorry about this. I could help you know?"
That was sweet of Josh but i knew he had been saving up to sponsor himself to UCLA for months now. It would be so cruel of me to accept money from him. So I politely rejected it.
"Thanks Josh but everything would be fine. I'll get the money"
"Alright A, but just remember, If you need anything at all don't hesitate to ask"he said then flashed a smile with his white pearly teeth. He and Myra were the only friends I had. Myra went on a family vacation in Maldives. She could be of help but I don't like asking people for help or even accepting help. Yup, I'm my own problem.
The next 1 hour 30 minutes went by so fast i didn't realize it was already 8:30pm. That means it was 20 minutes till close of business. The inner child in me rejoiced.
I was enjoying a rare moment of peace, leaning against the counter as the coffee shop was quiet, almost too quiet. A few customers here and there, but nothing too demanding. It was the perfect time to catch my breath.
Just then, I saw the last two customers sitting at a table. Time to get their order. I pushed myself off the counter, plastered a smile on my face, and headed over to them.
"Good afternoon! What can I get for you today?" I asked politely, notebook ready in hand.
As I was scribbling down their order, the man at the table suddenly cleared his throat loudly, causing me to pause. "You're taking forever with that! Why does it always take so long around here?"
I bit my lip, trying to stay calm. "I'm sorry for the wait, sir. I'm just finishing up and I'll get to your order right after."
Before I could walk away, his voice got louder, more condescending. "You don't even know how to do your job properly. Maybe if you worked faster, you wouldn't be here all day!"
I forced myself to breathe. Keep calm. It was just another rude customer. I had dealt with worse.
But I could feel the sting of the words, especially because it wasn't the first time today. As I started to turn away, ready to brush it off, the door swung open. A soft chime echoed through the shop.
I didn't notice right away, still too focused on the growing tension at the table. But then, the air in the room changed, almost as if a weight had shifted.
I looked up, and that's when I saw him. The man who'd entered wasn't particularly tall, but he had this… presence about him. Something about the way he carried himself made everyone in the shop aware of him instantly. His gaze was steady, cool, but sharp. And when his eyes met mine, I couldn't help but feel a little... uneasy in a way I couldn't quite explain.
But the man at the table? He didn't seem to care. He was too wrapped up in his anger to notice anything else.
I was about to continue taking care of the order when the rude customer suddenly stopped, his face flickering with confusion as he looked toward the man who had just entered.
The stranger didn't seem phased by the attention. He walked toward the counter slowly, calmly, and then he spoke, his voice low but full of authority.
"Actually, I'm part of this," he said, his eyes narrowing just slightly as he focused on the rude man. "I can't stand seeing people treat others like that."
The man shot back, defensive. "What's it to you? Who even are you?"
The stranger didn't even flinch. "It's everything. This is about respect." His eyes shifted to me, then back to the man, who was starting to squirm. "She's just doing her job. And she's doing it just fine. So maybe you should rethink how you're acting."
The rude man opened his mouth, but there was no fire left in him. He looked at the stranger for a moment, then huffed out a frustrated noise and stormed out of the shop without another word.
I stood there for a second, frozen, not entirely sure of what just happened. The man had just stood up for me. A complete stranger. I hadn't even had the chance to thank him when he started walking toward the door again, his hands in his pockets like it was no big deal.
"Thank you…" I called out to him before I could stop myself.
He turned, gave me a small nod of acknowledgment, and then he was gone, disappearing into the street. I stood there for a moment longer, watching the door swing closed behind him..
I didn't know who he was or what brought him into the shop, but I couldn't help but feel a little lighter after what had just happened. Not every day did a stranger stand up for you like that.