Now Liv stood in front of the general manager in charge of their department store.
Her palms tightly stick to each other, she stood composed still trying to figure out why she was called and why her manager had been quiet all along
Before getting to her office, she had been thinking of why she was being called. At first, she thought it may be because of the customer earlier, maybe one of them reported her.
But seeing how quiet her manager was, she knew it wasn't because of that.
If the customers didn't report her, then why was she summoned?
" Would you mind explaining to me that you miss Olivia? Is that even your real name?"
Finally the silence in the room was broken by her question.
But it only raised tension in Olivia's body, she tried to convince herself that it wasn't what she was thinking.
The manager tosses her files on the table enough for Olivia to have a clear view.
Olivia catching a clear view of what this was about,
' So this is it, how did she find out so soon?, she wondered with her fingers pitching her palms tightly.
Since she already knew what this was about, she was gladly ready to accept any consequences that came after because she wanted to keep her job.
Back in college, Lucy was one of the top notch in her school in terms of intelligence. But when her dad's illness hit, it also affected her. Her mother had made her work just to raise money for her dad's surgery.
Not only that, she had to pay off her mom's debt.
She kept dropping so hard in her CGPA. Until one day, one of the rich kids approached her with a large amount of money just to help them in tests and exams.
When caught, her scholarship was revoked. She tried using her other degrees to get a job but to no avail, so she started stealing people's resumè to get a job.
" My name is indeed Olivia", she answered, heads down.
It wasn't the first time Liv was caught in the act, maybe it is because her manager had always treated her differently.
She always acknowledges her in every aspect and believes in her. Liv felt embarrassed about this situation.
She had planned to resign on her own after she raised the amount of money needed, she never wanted the manager to see her this way.
" I'm sorry", she said out, her voice shaking.
Even the manager was surprised,
" So you have finally figured out why I called you. That means this isn't your first time", her manager yelled out.
She felt disappointed in her, why would she do such a thing that could implicate her future?
The manager thought. She withdrew the files back and tore them.
Liv's head lifted at that moment, confused she asked,
" What are you doing ma'am?"
Her manager dumps it in the wastebin close to her desk.
She inhales deeply and said,
" What do you think? This isn't even your resumè. I am very disappointed in you, I couldn't believe you could do such a thing".
Liv's eyes were trying to tear up, but she tried all means to hold them back.
Those words really hurt, her mom had never for once cared about her but the manager did.
She always treats her to lunch when she notices she skipped it not because she doesn't have money but because Liv knew she had to save every bit of money she was earning.
All this to make her mom turn her eyes towards her direction.
Liv herself was disappointed, no one needed to tell her that. But if life had treated her differently, would she be this way? Would she have to suffer just to gain the love of a mother? Would she have to be such a mess?
" I'm sorry, I'm…I'm truly sorry"
She finally broke into those tears leaving her manager softened.
She believed Liv wouldn't have done this, but maybe she has been pushed too hard.
" You're fired"
Those words came like thunder to her ears,
" Ma'am..."
" Don't try to beg, it won't help you trust me", she notifies
She clears her throat and proceeds,
" I don't know how the real person found out she was impersonated, she made a call and now I know she wasn't lying. I'm not going to nail this on you so it won't affect your future. But just know you can't keep working here"
Liv understood everything she said, being spared was already something big for her. She was expecting much more punishment than this.
" I'm sorry I disappointed you. I know I don't deserve your forgiveness but I'm deeply sorry"
She apologizes, places her name tag which she takes off from her uniform and places it on the desk. She steps back and was about leaving when her name gets called out by the manager,
" Olivia"
She turns to face her.
" Yes ma'am"
She breath in before talking,
" Don't waste yourself like this, don't try to live for others. Try to live for yourself, you only got one life so live it to the fullest"
Liv, not able to look into her eyes, just nods in response.
" Also, I didn't hire you because of what you submitted in front of me but because I saw potential in you. Determination, that is what I saw"
Hearing this, Liv looks up into her eyes. There was all truth coming from her and she felt happy about it.
She nods,
" I'll remember all this. Goodbye ma'am".
*******************
She left the building and took the last view of it. She didn't even have the courage to tell Lucy goodbye, she didn't want to be looked down on.
She was about to take her leave when her phone chimed.
She pulls it out from the bag and reads the contents.
HEAD GAMBLER: your mom owes me twenty thousand dollars, I am giving you just this week to pay it off.
The next message pops up,
HOUSE RENT: your rent is due, make sure to pay it up this week.
Funny but this is how she saves names on her phone. It was just her way.
Still the pressure started coming back to her, earlier she believed she would be free. Now she felt she was back to reality.
Her phone rang, the vibration drawing her back.
She looks at the screen, it was her mom.
What kind of attitude was she going to use on her now? Liv really felt like scolding her mom. How can she be so childish and not mature?
Other kids had their parents taking care of everything while she was the other way round.
Despite all this thinking, what could she do, she was still her mother.
She picks it up,
" If you are still working that stupid job of yours, quit it now. I've got something better for you", the voice came quite ordering, or how else did she expect it to sound. Comforting?
Liv closes her eyes and opens it again, giving herself time so she won't lash out,
" Mom, did you borrow again? You know I just cleared your debt, how can you be so heartless to borrow again. We talked about this, didn't we?"
Her mom felt insulted by the way she was talking.
She didn't like that tone of hers,
" Are you now the mother Olivia?!! That is why I told you to come back home and quit that stupid job of yours. This will pay better".
With that, she cut the call leaving Liv clueless.
***************
Arriving home, Liv tossed her bag on the sofa and sank into it.
She used this moment to rest until she heard a door to a room opening,
It was her mother.
Knowing she was never going to hear the end of it, she helped herself to the kitchen to avoid contact with her.
" You are back, did you resign?", her mom asked with no sign of care on her face.
" I'm talking to you! Can't you hear me"
Her voice went higher this time, she just watched her daughter drinking water. It wasn't the way she was drinking water, it was the fact she didn't spare her any look.
Liv ignores her till she finishes with the cup of water and heads back to the living room, her mom following her behind like some pest.
She throws a short laugh seeing her daughter's silent mood towards her. She didn't care, after all she was still going to do what she wanted from her,
" This is the client's number, you are to meet him. It contains the address in it, he will give you the job",
She places it on her lap and Liv doesn't bother looking at it.
" You were asking if I resigned, right? Well guess what, I didn't resign, I got fired"
Liv revealed looking up to see her mother's reaction, maybe she will give in eventually.
"That is good. You don't have to bother about that anymore, just go to that address and call the number on the card. Also, do not carry that look on your face when you are meeting with the client, so you won't chase him away",
Those words weren't surprising at all to her.
Her mom was about leaving, when she remembered something else,
" Oh, and wear something attractive too, all these hoodies and jeans you like putting on, please put a stop to it".
Liv became confused at this point, why does her dressing matter when meeting with the client, what was her mom up to now?
" I got a dress for you, it is on your bed in the room. Do not fuck up, we have a rent to renew. I could think about giving you a break if you pull this through".
" You are still gambling aren't you?" Liv questions her. She remembers giving her mom money a few days ago and months ago to add up to her dad's treatment. This was to buy herself time to save up some more.
" Why wouldn't I" she replies, looking into the sharp eyes of her daughter. She had always had that temper of hers when things didn't go the way she planned.
" My husband is sick, do you want me to sit all day doing nothing? I have to raise money too"
" You don't have any right to question what I do with my life"
She warns before leaving to her room.
After spending some time resting on the sofa, she went straight to her room. She figured her mom wasn't joking after seeing the dress displayed neatly on her bed.
Liv kept her bag aside on the bed and picked up the dress. Her eyes ran through every detail of it, it had a revealing back, it was red, it would be very catchy if someone word it. This wasn't Liv style though but the color was.
" what is she really up to".