BROKEN ALPHA'S WITCH MATE

Chapter 21: That first friend

Lynn

Mona's rumor and speculation would come to pass. That very day after the shoots I was taken around the entire office and introduced to my new workmates and no, that didn't go so well because they were like...oh she is the new bird in Kai's beautiful cage and she did get this job because of him....You see now why I like climbing the ladder myself?

But anyway. It didn't do much damage to me because at the end of the day, people are gonna talk, when you feed the poor you're a show off and when you don't you are selfish. For the record I didn't need Kai to get me that job, but since he did I was qualified to do it. Maybe I didn't deserve it but I really was qualified. My parents made sure I went through school up to college and attained an MBA in marketing but I chose to use my talents instead of my brains and so far it was working so well for me.

"Day one and you're already more famous" Mona teased as we walked to the cafeteria, I could feel the dozens of eyes poking holes through the closely woven fabric of my grey shift dress, it reminded me of high school all over again. Except back then everyone wanted to be my friend.

"You have no idea, I hate fame" I said as we took our seats.

"Says the girl on a billboard at the ski city ring road"

We both laughed. It really was ironical to hate fame and to have the entire city having to see you daily while they are driving, watching TV, scrolling on their phones or reading a newspaper.

"Okay, let me paraphrase this. I hate the fact that am cute and people think that's the only thing am good at"

She looked at me with raised brows.

"What else are you good at?" She asked shrugging with spread arms and a twitched mouth that made her look like a hella cute clown.

"You bastard" I said poking her head, "and all this long I thought you are on my side"

"Get us a burrito please!" Mona made the order.

"Okay, seriously, what's the deal between you and Kai? I still don't get it, I mean you're new"

There she went again, seeking clarity even after I made it clear I didn't owe anyone any explanation about my decisions. Perhaps she just wanted to make sure am fine. Being the only one who hadn't warned me against Kai my guess was she was afraid of being against me.

"Just go ahead and warn me against him like everyone else, you're my friend and that means you got to tell me the truth even if it hurts"

"Okay, I didn't want to do this" she said exhaling sharply.

"Give me something new, not the same old Kai is arrogant bullshit"

"One of my girls worked as his secretary and girl she told me he is untamable, he doesn't care about girls, they are like...."

"Toys, I've heard that before. Don't worry I'll be fine"

"No you won't, are you f*****g him already?"

Even the waitress seemed surprised by her lack of manners. We saw her smile and I glared at her with a low growl she just gasped.

"You're paying for this burrito" I hissed taking a bite, chewed it thoughtfully and my eyes lit up when its tastes titillated my taste buds, "yummy!"

"Another reason to work here" She said and buried her cute little rat teeth in hers, she was fun, I mean crazy too but overlooking crazy, pure fun.

"Why did you ask if am f*****g him already?"

"You got that glow like someone who had one hell of a spine wrecking orgy"

"You really are verbally inconsiderate" I said looking around to see if anyone in the vicinity could hear us.

"Well, just so you know apart volunteering to be your assistant am the occupational therapist"

That one was a surprise. Maybe it was my fault I didn't notice she was wearing glasses, a symbol of being smart not just for beauty purposes.

"Ooh I should have realized with glasses, you psychologists call a spade a spade"

"No sugarcoating baby"

"Why did you volunteer to be my assistant, I mean its way below your pay grade"

"It's fun to spend the whole day like this rather than listening to adults whine about being adults the whole day"

"Who's taking your place then?"

"Am off for the week, and instead of sitting at home with my cat eating all-day why not hang out with an amazing person like you"

I could already see her life through her eyes and her beautiful concealing smile. We were not that different after all. She as lonely, perhaps heartbroken by men...no surprise there, or still healing from the loss of a family member, it could have been anything that just made her trust in people very thin.

"So, no husband, no boyfriend just you and your cat what's her name?"

"Katie"

"You named your cat after my aunt?" I asked sending us into a frenzy of laughter that lightened up the mood a little. She seemed sad so was I but at least I had Kai to be happy about while she had none, it was upon me to cheer her up.

"You got me there. But am happy, you see the problem with shrinks..."

"You have everything figured out" I said through a mouth full of food in my mouth and she raised her beautiful concave brows in surprise, I wasn't that dumb, "people ran to you for help and you seem so perfect not to mention you profile people and Know what to expect from them. Well, from my three and counting heartbreaks I am afraid to tell you a few men on the planet like that"

"Three and counting?" she asked amid laughter.

"Not funny what's your body count?"

"Well I haven't killed anyone yet except in the call of duty..."

"You're deflecting" I said maintaining my guess at her as though the answers were written on her forehead.

"Promise not to laugh"

I crossed my heart and gestured zipping my mouth and throwing the keys away.

"Fff...Five" she said grinning hesitantly.

"Not bad, am also there"

"So I was right you f****d Kai Watson possibly yesterday" She said her face lighting up, funny how human beings cherish being certain.

"I'm not speaking without my lawyer" I said laughing it off.

"You're a hoe baby" she whispered leaning closer to me.

"No we are very tough hoes" I whispered back before we burst into a laughter that caught the attention of the other customers.

She went ahead to pay the bill and we left laughing and holding each other like teenagers. It had been long since I had someone who matched my energy and am telling you it felt so great. If I wasn't staying for Kai then perhaps I was doing it for Mona.

"Okay seriously, as someone who knows your struggle, I wish you the best with Kai give it your best but create room for disappointment"

"Attacking while defending" I said when we got to her office, real office.

It had a red brass plate above it: Dr. Mona McCain PhD.

"Call it whatever you want" she said and opened her office.

"Dr. Huh?"

"When boys are not interested in you, read girl." She said leading us to the client’s area.

The office had every aspect of a shrink. Huge with her desk opposite the entrance. On her left a shelf of huge books, Lots of them. On the right there was the client’s area with a green carpet, her arm chair and a sofa bed for the client surrounding a lacquered coffee table with a pen and a notebook. A TV screen hanging above the wall and also a set of pictures, art and a wall clock. There was a small fridge with a hot and cold water dispenser close to a potted plant.

"Cool!" I said looking around.

"It's designed to make you feel comfortable talking to me" she said collapsing in her seat, "welcome"

"Let's hope I'll never be send here to get your clearance" I made myself comfortable on the sofa bed supporting my head with my hands, staring blankly in the white ceiling.

That relaxation was however cut short by the buzzing of my phone. It had been buzzing for quiet sometime and that look from Mona said it all; she was fed up.

"Are you going to pick that up or we are just going to look at each other?"

"It's my mum, she is ranting and raving about my relationship with Kai, she has this phobia of billionaire play boys"

"Listen to your mother...when you still have her around"

"Am sorry" I said and sat up, “I didn't know that"

"Because I didn't tell you. Pick up, lie you're busy but never ignore your mother... I'll leave you the room" she said and walked away.

It was just me and that phone on the table, every good memories I shared with my mum flashed my mind. I couldn't imagine my life without my mother. Yes she was annoying, overprotective and patronizing but she was an inextricable thread in the fabric of my life and living without her would have made it meaningless. I expelled a lungful of air and picked up the phone. It rang twice before she picked up.

"Lynn, am sorry"

"No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have talked to you like that"

"It's okay, I can be a handful sometimes I just don't want to see you get hurt again, it breaks your father and I"

"Have you considered that maybe it's my fate mum like am just paying a price for being too pretty, looking so perfect"

"No, don't say that!" She said sadly, "no one wants to suffer, no one is meant to suffer because of something that is free and for the willing"

"I want you to trust me mum, I Know this is going to be hard for you" I went on my feet, "for the first time mum let me be, let me make this one last mistake on my own because I've chosen it and you don't have to pick the pieces of me when I get through it"

"I'll always pick what's left of my daughter as long am alive"

"Mum"

"Okay, just he safe and call me every day. Anything happens call"

"I hear you mum, bye. I got to go and ooh, I have a permanent job and I made a friend, her name is Mona and she is amazing"

"I should meet her"

"In future mum, say hi to dad"

After hanging up that call I felt relief, the door opened and Mona came in. She hugged me. I really needed it. Perhaps having a friend who was a shrink wasn’t that bad.