Shiver. - Kate (the reading strategies book .txt) 📗

“You’re fired,” my boss stated simply. All my fears surfaced, wait, what. My feet seemed to lose their weight, but I continued to support myself so I couldn’t lose balance.

“Why,” I demanded with a courage that only came from my ability to deceive people. Mr. Parker smirked, and then leaned forward propping his elbows on his desk. He motioned me to take a step closer and I did, if it could help me get my job back. Before he says anything to me he tells all of the others in the room to leave. It made my perception of getting my job back fade. This is something completely different.

“Simply it’s because you’re an ugly, stupid, and gross. We have enough employees but, a costumer of mine has a niece who is quite the looker, so I needed to get a spot open for her,” he told as if he was saying something important, as if he was trying to wound me. I laughed out loud; I hadn’t even tried to hide it in front of him. I was worried it was because of my skill, thank god it is nothing more than him playing a petty game.

“Oh my, how immature,” I whispered trying to keep the statement to myself, but failed. He looked at me with blazing eyes, once that could kill. That’s when I knew it was time to say goodbye. Suddenly before stepping out of the office I looked back at Mr. Parker and showed off the smirk I had stolen from him. As I wave good-bye to all the employee’s that see me, I feel abandoned, but it all runs away once I see Janette coming to a stop in front of me.

“This sudden speed to get out of the building, what’s up,” she asked casually, as if this happens every day, but for me it’s close to that. My sulking expression twisted into a smile as if to show her I was strong, and that’s what I needed to be. But she didn’t buy it and I don’t blame her, the smile a too faux to believe. Janette shook her head at my attempt; it made her have hope in me. She grabbed my arm and started dragging me out of the building, which only complied with my desire to leave. That made me smile not whole-heartedly, but it was real. Once we were out she skipped over to her sporty car dragging me along, it seemed like I was unwillingly moving my feet, but that wasn’t entirely true. I loved her R8 Audi, but I wasn’t in the mood to skip. The R8 Audi is highly expensive and Janette, who has an impressive Father, got it for her college Graduation gift. My present wasn’t nearly as exciting as hers, but that didn’t stop me from loving the collection of books to fill my apartment my parent’s had bought me here in San Diego, CA. My thoughts slowly bring me back to my confidant self, or at least the Ivy with exceptional self-esteem. She arrived at our apartment in no time thanks to her life threatening speed, but today I was grateful, I really just want to go sink into my extremely comfortable bed a take a light hearted nap. As I ran towards the elevator I noticed Janette’s gaze roam away from me, and as I stop, I saw her start to drool. With a raised eyebrow I follow her electric gaze to an incredibly nice looking suit, but I knew that wasn’t what she was drooling over so I looked up to the suit’s face. Tall, Lean, and handsome, how much better could it get? But I shrug his charm off looking back at his suit, and from the moment I saw the details on the suit I knew who made it. Valentino, my eyes lit up at the thought, he has good taste.

“Janette,” I hissed as I saw her drool dripping, it was completely funny. I bit my lip keeping the giggles from coming, a tiny one escaped then the rest came flooding. Janette whipped her head around and looked at me like I was some crazy fool that of course only made me grip my stomach and laugh harder.

“Drool, who knew,” I sang while giggling like a schoolgirl and wiping tears of laughter from my eyes. Janette cold glare was sent to me, but that didn’t stop the laughter. I needed to laugh and it gave me a good excuse to cry, when the tears came down I tried to laugh it off.

“Ivy, don’t,” she whispered then wiped the drool from her chin as she approached me. That makes me laugh, and then a sigh escaped me, without my permission.

“Geez, your make me laugh so hard I’m crying. Oh what happen to the Valentino suit wearing guy,” I asked wiping the tears away, trying to digress. Then he appeared as if I called his name. He wore a cold smile, one that hides everything you’re thinking, and I knew this guy has troubles, just like I have, but he is stronger.

“Excuse me, I just bought this apartment’s land so I’m the new owner, if you have any complaints tell me.” His voice was low and business like, and it made me wonder what his casual tone was like, but of course I shook that thought vigorously, and knowingly.

“We won't have construction or people being kicked out of apartments, correct,” I asked with my own business like voice cutting through my teeth.

“None.”

“Very well. Nice too meet you Mr. West, I was informed that someone was buying the property, and that we wouldn’t be kicked out, so thank you.”

Janette beside me stiffen at my business like mood, she knew that I had escaped myself again, but I felt it good, not to be Ivy, but to be Ms. Blair.

“Well Ivy, I believe you were just leaving with me,” she said nervously trying to bring me back, because she knew I would stay this way and wouldn’t tell her anything that was bothering me.

“Ivy,” Mr. West repeats, as if he was tasting my name on his tongue. It made me shiver, and then step back trying to break the small spark it set between us. I let Janette drag me from there on as I try to release my eyes from him and his now noticeable charm that didn’t come from Valentino. Quickly I turned away from his charm and follow Janette to the elevator. Once we were locked inside the elevator I started to breathe again, which made me realized that I held my breath.

“Janette, let’s go out for a drink.”

“Of course we’re going out for a drink, Ivy.”

Janette knew that what I said wasn’t a command or a request, just a simple fact she had to reply to. The edges of her lips drew as she thought of just the place to go, she always got that look when she thought of an amazing club. The heavy weight on my shoulder was still there even after the thought of alcohol and drunk dancing. However the hangout didn’t sound too grand. That thought didn’t stop Janette from jumping up and down in the elevator waiting for it to finally reach the penthouse. Once we reached the penthouse I typed in the code, but it didn’t let us in. My eyebrow rose as I tried again and was denied access to my own apartment. I raked through my Jimmy Choo handbag and got out my phone. Looking through my numbers I found the last owner’s name then called it.

“Mark Millers speaking,” he answered in a bored tone. It made me smile but then I shifted my phone to hold it between my ear and shoulder so I could punch in the number again and talk to Mark at the same time.

“Hello, Mr. Millers, its Ivy Blair calling. I know you informed Janette and I of a new owner, but you didn’t tell me the penthouse code changed. Would you mind giving me Mr. West’s number so I could call him and address this matter,” I questioned in my business mode once again although mark is my friend. It was a force of habit so I brushed it off then snatched Janette’s phone from her hand and type in Mr. West’s number to call. I said my thanks and farewell before hanging up then slipped my phone back into my purse. My left hand went up to my neck and rubbed it as my right hand pressed send then went to my ear. The phone rang…and rang… and rang, I almost gave up but at the last minute I heard something shift and the rings stopped.

“Hello, Mr. West’s office,” a light airy voice answered, obviously his secretary. A sigh came out of me involuntarily realizing I didn’t have to speak with Mr. West.
“Yes, hello. I am Ivy Blair, I live at the apartment which Mr. West just bought is there a chance he is there or if you could leave a message,” I asked my business tone never straying. I heard the tapping of a keyboard as I spoke, but ignored the rudeness, she was busy so I don’t completely blame her.

“Mr. West is free, I’ll go inform him he has a call from you.” With that small sentence all the air in my body was blown out, I don’t know why though. Shaking it off I waited as I heard their exchanges in the background.

“Okay he will talk to you, I’ll switch you over now,” she told me with an sharp tone as if I somehow did something to her. I rolled my eyes as I leaned back on the elevator. The fact that I was in the elevator made me think. How is it that Mr. West and I were just in the same building but he was now at work, it shook me, perhaps his office is close to here? The click on the phone brought me back, then Mr. West said he cold businesslike hello through the phone.

“Hello, Mr. West. I’m sure you heard from your secretary who I am. I’m in a bit of trouble here at the apartment, didn’t you say that no one is being kicked out of an apartment,” I asked hoping to get this over with, but my voice didn’t say anything but I need help and you can give it to me.

“No one that I know of, why what is your problem Ms. Blair,” he questioned then moved back in his chair, or so I assumed with the squeal of a chair in the background.

“Well, the penthouse code isn’t working, I asked the original owner you bought this apartment from and he said he didn’t change the code. Perhaps you did,” I implied getting straight to the point so we could get this over with. In reply I heard a laugh, one I didn’t expect to hear. It was musical and I couldn’t imagine it coming from the same person with the voice of a chilled demon.

“You don’t waste any second,” he laughed then continued returning to his cold businesslike attitude, “I gave the penthouse a new code because I didn’t believe anyone lived there. I checked my records and it said it was