Chapter 15: Chapter 15

It was horrible. If Alexis thought Mr. Jerkface was mean that first day, she found out later what a devil he was. He'd explained to her what she needed to do. Get him coffee first thing in the morning, black no sugar, inform him of the day's appointments, remind him when it was time for lunch, and time to leave the office, get his lunch, go on errands when he needed her to. All that on top of her job and she'd thought that for someone so proud, his schedule was simple. Until the next morning.

She'd arrived early so she could make his coffee but he was already there and he'd taken pleasure in telling her off about the importance of arriving at the office earlier than the boss. His face was a mask of anger and irritation but his eyes danced with humor clearly enjoying torturing her. That was just the beginning. Every time she made him a cup of coffee he'd claim something was wrong with it then tell her to make another cup. By midmorning, she'd made at least ten cups. All rejected. Pissed at him, she'd brought the whole coffee maker, beans and sugar and told him to make one that was perfect for himself. He was damn lucky she hadn't thrown the machine at his head.

Then he'd started with his schedule. He'd decide to have a meeting at noon, then change it to the afternoon and when his client arrived at said afternoon, he'd ask her why she changed the meeting. Even though he was the one who'd told her to do so. As if that wasn't enough, he'd make her apologize to his clients for messing up with their schedule and wasting their time. Alexis had smiled meekly, apologized then left the conference room, bristling with anger. She wanted to punch him but that would definitely make her lose her job and she wasn't about to prove Jayden right. That little shit. This was all his fault. He'd dared her to hold the job for a whole month after she'd gone home complaining about how awful her boss was. Now she was stuck with that idiot who was determined to make her life hell. Dammit. She had to find a way out without losing the bet.

It was the end of the week and she was seconds away from pulling her hair out. Bella, the girl who'd greeted her that first day, walked towards her with a smile on her face. Turns out she had a crush on Mr. Jerkface which was why she'd checked her out that first day. She was also the queen bitch of the office, always making remarks about how she should just quit because she didn't belong there. Although Alexis didn't know why the girl felt threatened by her since she was dressed like an old woman. Maybe Jayden had been right. The clothes didn't really hide who she was.

"So ready to leave yet?"

"What do you want?" Alexis snarled. She was fed up with how Jerkface had treated her all day. She didn't need crap from someone else.

"Feisty. We'll see how long you'll last."

"No. We'll see how long I can take your bullshit comments before I rearrange your face. Bella." She said the girl's name in such a sickly sweet voice that made Bella turn around and go back to her workstation without another word. Heavens what had she been thinking when she'd decided to work? Eight to five job her ass. This was hell on earth. And she was still doing it because of the bet. How did people who actually needed it survive? People like Donnie and Anna. The only two who had taken her under their wing because they were the underdogs. Donald was a male version of her while Anna was the 'fattie' of the office, as Bella liked to call her. Not that she was actually fat. Alexis had seen fat people and her new friend wasn't one of them. The rest divided themselves like any other workplace, although it was more like high school. Bella had her own entourage that consisted of Georgia and Lemon. Uncreative names for uncreative people. Then there was the other group that consisted of Angela, Janice, and Maeve. Not friendly but not bitchy either. They minded their own business.

Kenneth was the perfectionist, Ruth the girl whose laugh was too loud, Pam the gossip, Blaze the flirt, Dale the party boy who came to work high -which was a wonder Jerkface hadn't noticed him and fired his ass-, Chuck the smelly guy who always smelled of onions or garlic and Albert the loud mouth. Everything they did wrong, he was the first to point it out. Or if he was having a bad day, he would take it straight to the boss. You guessed it right. Jerkface. Oh yeah, there was also Holly the slut. People always forgot about her but not because she was ugly or quiet or something like that. No. She was always away from her workstation and Alexis figured she was living up to her name. Holly slutty. Guess who gave her that name? If your guess was bitchy Bella then you were right. One thing was for sure though, they were never short of entertainment. If Mr. Jerkface wasn't providing some by complaining to her about something she did or didn't do, someone else was.

Currently, Alexis was sitting at her station, taking a breather from Jerkface since he was in a meeting. "Hey, girlfriend. Wanna go out later? Donnie and I always have drinks at this cool bar that's just around the corner" Anna said leaning on her desk.

"No. Maybe next time" she lied. The thing was Marj had been complaining about how neglected she felt since Alexis had started her job so they'd decided to go out tonight. "I'm really tired from running around all day and with my awful mood, I fear I'll ruin your night."

"I understand. Mr. Copeland was unbearable before but now he's just an ass. Whatever did you do to him?"

"I guess we just don't mix. Bad blood or something like that"

"Yeah. Anyway I hope you can join us next time even though all we do is just watch people"

"I promise to try"

"I'm sorry, am I paying you to sit around and chat all day?" a deep angry voice asked. Great. Jerkface was back from his meeting. If she didn't know better she'd say he finished it early so he could go back to making her life miserable.

"I'm sorry sir" Anna muttered doing something like a skip walk back to her seat.

"My office. Now!"

Lord give me patience. While you're at it, baptize me in it, please?

"Yes sir," Alexis said out loud getting up to follow him. But then the idiot slammed the door on her face knowing very well that now she had to knock then wait for his approval so she could go in. Dear God. Where is the patience I asked for? She raised her hand and knocked.

"Come in" that came after five minutes. Taking a deep breath, she opened the door and walked in.

Keep calm Alexis.

"What can I do for you, sir?"

"Call Miss Elizabeth Austin for me"

"Excuse me?" she blurted out without thinking because she was sure he hadn't made her wait for five minutes just so he could tell her to call someone for him.

"Have you gone deaf now?"

"It seems so. Will you please repeat what you just said?" she was really trying here but this guy was testing her patience. Scratch that. She didn't have any of that virtue left.

"I said, tell Miss Elizabeth Austin that I need to speak to her"

"Couldn't you have told me that while I was at my desk?" Alexis almost yelled. Almost.

"Excuse me?"

"Who's gone deaf now?" she retorted walking out. One of these days she was going to do what she'd been itching to do ever since she met that moron. Knock his teeth off. Leaving his door wide open was some sort of revenge on him since she knew that he hated it. Leaning on her desk, she tried to get her breathing back to normal. Thank God it was Friday and she had the whole weekend to recharge.

Alexis turned around to go call Elizabeth then she realized she didn't know anyone who went by that name. If there was, then she wasn't on their floor. Could he have sent her to get someone imaginary? She wouldn't put it past him. But making up a name so he could send her on a fool's errand was too much even for him. So she asked Anna. "Hey, do you know of anyone who goes by the name Elizabeth Austin?"

"Keep your voice down."

"Why?"

"Because that's Bella's real name"

"No way."

"Yes, way. And she forbade everyone from ever calling her that again"

"You don't say" Alexis straightened up already concocting one of her plans. "Okay. Thanks" walking back to her desk, she counted to five then yelled "Excuse me" it was impossible for anyone to ignore her. They all stopped what they were doing and faced her. "Mr. Copeland wants to see Elizabeth Austin." she noticed how the room's temperature had dropped a few degrees and how some people even gasped. Turns out they really were scared of Bella. "Elizabeth can you hear me?" she said to no one in particular then added "Would you like me to call you Beth? Or Bertha? Or Eliza?"

She watched as Bella got up, Her face red with anger and marched towards her. "Don't you ever call me that again. My name is Bella. Got it?"

"Yes, Beth" she replied chewing on her fingernails.

"Listen here, you ugly bitch...."

"Shall I tell Mr. Copeland you're not available?" Bella narrowed her eyes at her then stormed to Jerkface's office. Alexis noticed how she hadn't knocked but most importantly, how she wasn't kicked out so she could go back and knock. So this is how Jerkface wanted to play it? Fine. She'd give him a taste of his own medicine.

It was almost time to go home and Alexis had decided to hide out in the bathroom so Jerkface wouldn't come up with excuses just so he could keep her there. He'd done it before. She couldn't believe that idiot had reduced her to one of those girls who hid in the toilet. Never in her life had she felt the need to do so until then. Could she last for another three weeks? She wasn't sure. What she was sure of was proving her brother wrong. Not just him but her parents too. They had to know that she could maintain a steady job if the need ever arose. She wasn't a spoiled Princess who lived off her trust fund. She would show them that. Which meant she had to suck it up until the end. She pat herself on the back for pep talking herself into not quitting but that small feeling of victory lasted for five seconds because Bella walked in. Alexis was in no mood to fight so she ignored her.

"Good that you're here. We need to talk" Bella said locking the door.

"I have nothing to say to you so go on about your business and leave"

"See that's where you're wrong" judging from the small steps she took towards her, she was clearly looking for a confrontation. "Everyone here knows my name is Bella. It would do you good to know that too"

"Cool Beth"

Bella stopped in front of her glaring daggers "Don't you dare test me, you bitch. You don't know what I'm capable of"

"Enlighten me then" Alexis faced her. Really why did people take one look at her and decide she was defenseless? Weak?

"One word. That is all it would take for me to get rid of you"

"Ooh. I'm so scared"

"You should be. I've gotten rid of people like you in the past. Don't think I'll hesitate to do the same to you"

"Okay, Beth. I get the message" Alexis dismissed her which only made Bella mad because she tried to slap her. The nerve. Good thing she'd seen it coming and blocked it by grabbing her wrist midair. "Beth, Bella, whatever the fuck your name is, don't you ever try to lay your hands on me. You have no idea who I am or what I'm capable of. Just because you think you're better than me doesn't make you so. I've also gotten rid of people like you. Bullies who prey on others just to make themselves feel better. You won't get away with it if you try that with me. I will crush you like the little disgusting bug you are. Don't test my patience!" letting her hand drop, Alexis pushed her aside and left the bathroom. She was going home. Let anyone try to stop her.

*****************************************

Bella, Bella, Bella, how many times have I called your name Oooh? Stay away from Alexis.

I feel like its been forever ever since we heard from Ray.