The Billionaire's Torment

Chapter 1. Job hunting

Nora

I, Nora Reidy, was a 25 year old medical student. This was my last year as a student, when the results come out l would be a neurosurgeon. I had a mother but l might as well be an orphan. My mother abandoned me for a man and alcohol as a toddler, leaving me in the care of my grandmother, Sophia Reidy.

Granny was now very sick, she needed a kidney transplant. Our dire family situation prevented her from getting the much needed treatment. We were dirt poor but happy and content. Granny's illness threw our little family into a spin. Joy fled from our lives. I needed to make an immediate plan. 

Right now l was on my way to a job interview at Ratliff Restaurants. I had to at least try to raise funds for her kidney transplant.

I turned a corner and the Ratliff offices came into sight. I uncapped my l liter bottle filled with iced water from home. l could not afford to buy bottled water. I took a long refreshing drink and studied the building. 

Two glass doors faced me. l craned my neck and looked at the tallest building in Bluewaters. At the top, the words Ratliff Airlines Group were written in gold against the black backdrop. My gaze moved to the door again. I rushed inside. The security guard stopped me as l made my way towards the reception area. 

“ Sorry miss, where are you going?”

I backtracked and halted in front of him.

“ To the CEO’S office. l have an interview there.”

“ Ok miss, 29th floor. Good luck.”

I nodded and started towards the elevators. There were two, one on the far left behind the receptionist, the other on the far right. The right one had about a dozen people in front of it. I decided to take the one which was clear. 

As l passed behind the receptionist, she swivelled around in her chair. 

“Miss you can't use that elevator, please use the other one.”

I ignored her and went on my way. Why waste time when there was a clear elevator infront of me? I pressed number 29 and waited, then l heard,“ i'm sorry sir, l tried to stop her, she ignored me.” 

Quick footsteps fast approached me. l watched the elevator intently as it came down. The elevator door opened. As i stepped forward, a hand roughly pulled me back. My water bottle flew over my shoulder and hit something or someone. 

I was shoved towards the adjacent wall. My back hit the wall, the pain paralyzed my legs, they slid out under me. My butt hit the ground with a thud. 

My tailbone screamed in pain. Red shoes appeared in my sight. My eyes followed the long legs, a black tight skirt met my eyes. l tilted my head and angry brown eyes looked down at me.

“ Miss, do you want me to lose my job? Didn't l tell you not to use that elevator?  Now you have poured water all over the CEO. That's the CEO'S private elevator!.” 

“ Sorry.” I mumbled and peered between her long legs. A black suit clad man was trying to dab the chest of a tall man, who swatted his hand away. The tall man ‘s face was familiar, then it hit me. My heart pounded in my chest like a trapped bird. What did l do? This was Maxwell Ratliff, Bluewaters's bachelor Billionaire. He was known for his short temper, in short he was rude.

“ Frank, bring that wretched girl here.” 

The man called Frank trotted over to us. The receptionist moved out of his way. He hefted me off my feet. My lips trembled, my heart rate speeded up. Maxwell Ratliff's bad reputation made me plant my feet stubbornly and firmly on the floor. The man named Frank dragged me. My shoes scuffed the floor, crrrrr.

My spine screamed in protest. Frank continued to drag me towards the angry man. He deposited me infront of a scowling Maxwell Ratliff. I raised my eyes and my gaze met the blackest, maddest eyes l had ever seen. 

“ Who gave you permission to use my elevator?.”

 A deep voice demanded. I stared at him, my bowels threatened to loosen.“ Sorry, l didn't realise it was for the privileged.” l mumbled under my breath. My throat tightened with tread. He obviously heard me, because the next thing, my head exploded in pain, Whack!

The force of a hot slap on my cheek snapped my head to the side. Tears of rage filled my eyes. My granny, even my dead beat mother never beat me. Anger and humiliation gripped my gut.

I wanted to retort, protest, anything. I realised immediately it would be a mistake. All l could do was to glare at him though a river of tears. His image wavered behind the tears, he glared back, furious.

He moved his hand, shooed me off like l was a chicken, “ take her away before l kill her.”

Frank dragged me again, this time towards the door. We stepped outside,“ miss, these people are not like us, they value their property. You can't just pitch up and use the boss’s elevator.” 

I sniffed and used the back of my hand to wipe my tears. Frank gave me his handkerchief to wipe my face. I wiped my face, blew my nose and clutched the handkerchief in my hand.

“I didn't know, but did he have to slap me? It's not like l committed a federal offence.”

Frank sighed,“ miss, where were you going?.”

“ These people called me for an interview, only to treat me like a dog.” 

Frank extended his hand,“ give me the letter. Let me see if l can direct you to the correct department.”

I patted my pocket. “ Oh my phone.” 

“ Forget the phone miss, l will get it.  Hand over the interview letter.” 

I fished the letter from my pocket and handed it over.

Frank studied it and handed it back,“ you mixed the buildings. You are supposed to go next door through that gate.” 

Frank pointed to a small gate on the left side. I felt stupid. l would run if l could but l needed this job. 

“ Wait here, l will bring your phone.” He brought it back a few minutes later,“ it's screen is broken, but it is still working.” 

“ Thank you.” My phone was my life, l did everything on it. From my assignments to job hunting. I cursed that cruel man for almost ruining it.

I hobbled towards the small gate, my hand on my aching back. I pushed the gate. A huge one structure building came into sight. 

The signage of Ratliff Restaurants was boldly written in black against the white backdrop. Oh my god, but i forgave myself. l had never been in this part of town. 

The double wooden doors were ajar, l stepped in. The cool air from the air fan caressed my face. Waitresses and waiters were bustling about, in black and white uniforms.

I approached the one who looked less busy,“ hello, can you direct me to the manager's office please?.” 

The waiter jerked his thumb over his shoulder. l followed his thumb and knocked on the expensive wooden black door. 

“ Come in.” 

A singsong voice intoned. A kind, adorable face with a wide smile greeted me as i came through the door. 

“ Welcome, you must be the interviewee, Nora Reidy, right? I'm Marylin Ratliff.”

Well, this was promising, a kind boss. “ Yes mum, l am.”

She pointed to the chair,“ sit down and tell me about yourself.” 

Damnit, the part l hated with everything in me. Nobody wanted to narrate their poverty stricken life. What was there to be proud of?

I stared into her kind eyes.l spilled everything, from my childhood until now. She listened with rapt attention, her chin in her hand. It took a long time to get to the end of my wretched life. 

“ You got the job.” 

What! No questions about if l had experience or not? A knock landed on the door. Before Mrs Ratliff answered, my nightmare walked in.