MIXED

"The first time I saw a green dress, I became obsessed with it… wishing it could be mine. I wanted to put it on so bad, that all I needed was for you to ask me for a date, a proper dinner date, I kept hoping and eventually, this is where we'd draw the line, Kelvin"

Aggie said as she took her purse and got up from the restaurant chair.

"Won't you hear me out first before this harsh comment?"

Kelvin said to halt her movement but Aggie was done with him.

Aggie kept on moving, paying no attention to her.

Aggie was the Managing Director of the GAG's fashion line, the second-floor section of the KEEP's Company, owned by an Asian.

She walks into her office exhausted, bounces on her office chair and sighs.

"And I wanted him to gift me that green gown, ahh, this is frustrating"

She said as she picked up her phone to call her friend.

"Alice, I broke up with him"

"What? Kelvin? Are you serious? Are you okay? Should I come over?"

"No Alice, stop overreacting, I'm fine, I'm the boss remember"

"You can't boss your feelings away, Aggie"

Aggie gave a second thought to it and nodded her head in agreement.

"We will get fried chicken after work then, it's on me"

Alice said.

"Thank you"

Aggie said as she ended the call and laid her head on the table.

Aggie is a twenty-three-year-old lady who grew up in a Cinderella-like family setting. Her mum died at her birth, and her father remarried but he died when she was a bit younger and since then, life for her has been nothing but trash.

Her stepmother was very manipulative and cruel to her. She grew up working hard covering up for the sins of her father by making sure no one rubs dirt on her face again because of money. 

"Ms Aggie, the Chairman is looking for you"

"Okay"

She said as she got up, taking her coat with her and walking towards the chairman's office.

Knocks the door twice before she opens it.

"Good afternoon, sir"

"Ms Aggie, how have you been?"

"Making sure nothing goes wrong"

"You should have worked harder"

He said taking the remote, putting on the television, revealing a kissing scene with a person who was blurred out. Aggie coughs, as her purse drops on the floor.

"What is this sir?"

"I should be asking you the same question, Ms Aggie"

"What is this? Have you forgotten your position in this company? Have you seen these comments?"

Aggie takes her phone immediately and looks on her social media and sees the hate speech and bad comments, she raises her head and looks at the screen and back to the Chairman.

"This has to be a scandal sir, no it is indeed a scandal, sir"

"I'm sorry Aggie, this kind of mistake should have been avoided, we've sent you a good amount that can be of good use to you, till you find something else to do, we appreciate you for your hard work Aggie"

"I'm fired? Just like that sir?"

"I'm sorry Ms Aggie, you can leave now"

Aggie stood looking at the Chairman, she nodded her head and walked out upset. She went to her office, packed up. Her co-workers looked at her and felt sad, she worked the hardest.

"We're so sorry Ms Aggie"

They said in the chorus as the youngest of them ran to hug her, and then the rest followed. She was upset but then suddenly felt at ease.

"It's fine, just try to be hardworking okay, and rest when necessary"

"Would you come back?"

She smiled and rubbed her shoulders.

"Stay well you guys"

She said as she took the carton of her things and headed to the car, but then there was a guard there who was ready to get the keys from her.

She smirks.

"Really"

"You can keep the house"

The Chairman said as she walked towards her from his car. 

Aggie looks at him and giggles. She walked ahead to the bus stop, waited a little and got into the bus, putting her head on the window as she dialled Alice's number and started crying.

"No, she's not"

Alice said as she ended the call and rushed over.

They went to a restaurant and sat opposite each other.

"What? How can he do this?"

"I don't know"

Aggie said as she burst into tears. Dirt was still thrown at her face, even though she worked hard and had money.

"I worked hard; Alice I did"

Aggie said as she couldn't help herself. Alice was pained as well, but there was nothing she could do at this point.

"He took my car too"

Aggie added. 

She kept shouting out every hurt in her heart and drank as much as she could sober up. Alice heaved a deep sigh watching her friend.

If for anything, she knows that her friend was very hardworking and never slacked at it. 

Aggie got tipsy and Alice drove her home. She keeps her to sleep and keeps warm water by her side as she leaves. Alice took it upon herself to look for this blackmailer.

"You'd be fine Aggie"

Her friend said as she walked away slowly so she did not wake her.

#

The morning approached and Aggie's alarm alerted her aggressively. She took it and snoozed it. She opened her eyes and recalled everything that happened and then she realized that her employed life was over. She heaved a sigh and sank back on her bed. 

"What do I do now?"

She said as she took her duvet close up her face.

"This is making me sick"

She added as she covered her face with the duvet. She was distracted by a phone call from her stepmother.

"Hey Little thistle, how are you holding up?"

Mrs Debby said in a cheeky tone.

"What do you want from me?"

"Oh, nothing really, just a reminder in case you have forgotten what today is"

"What is it this time?"

"Memorial service, aren't you going to take part this year? Mm?"

"I'd be there"

Aggie said as she ended her stepmother's call on a cold note.

"She ended my call"

Mrs Debby said as she dropped the phone on the table. She stared at her two children.

"Billy, when are you going to be serious about Marriage? And you Charity?"

"It's not like we had a better foundation, what is marriage by the way, that sounds so new to me"

Charity said as she jumped on the couch and took up her phone"

Billy smiled and looked at his mother.

"You should talk about marriage to Darla, she's still young, she can be your hope"

Billy said as he laughed out loud and Charity joined.

Mrs Derby stood, looking at both of them and smiled.

"Get dressed, we'd be leaving soon"

"Aren't we going to wait for the heir? The true heir?"

Charity said sarcastically.

"What are you then?"

Mrs Debby asked, looking at both of them.

"Joint heirs"

Billy said Charity burst into laughter when she got the joke.

"No Billy, you didn't have to say that"

Charity said as she laughed away. Mrs Debby couldn't stand them any longer. She shakes her head and moves upstairs so she can go dress up.

In less than thirty minutes, Darla burst into the house, looking like someone in a Halloween costume.

"Wednesday Adams?"

Charity said as she laughed.

Darla looked at Charity and rolled her eyes at her, one of the things Charity hates the most.

"What? Did you just glare at me?"

"Is Aggie here yet?"

She said ignoring Charity, giving off a grin to alert Charity that she ignored her on purpose.

"Hey, how old—"

"I'd be going upstairs then"

Darla added as she walked past her and Billy. Charity was furious.

"Hey, that little brat, does she know how old I am?"

"Come off it"

Billy said as he got up and looked at Charity.

"Smoke?"

Charity looks at him as she gets up and follows Billy.

Aggie heaves a deep sigh as she takes her black jacket and keeps it over her shoulder, standing in front of the mirror looking at herself.

"At least I'm still pretty, and my clothes are with me"

She said as she took her black bag and headed out, only to remember her car was seized.

Sighs and screams.

"This is frustrating"

She said as she dialled Alice's number.

"Please spare me your car today please, it's my father's memorial today"

"I'd sent someone to send it to you then"

"You're such a lifesaver Alice"

"You're welcome"

Alice said as she ended the call.

In less than thirty minutes the car was being delivered to her. She drove in haste and went to her father's house.

She opened the door and smiled. Her father's house still smelt like the retro leather wood it had when she was younger. She stepped inside the house casting her fingers slowly and running them over the cushion, as she wore a smile on her face. She walked carefully over to the portrait area and saw a picture of her and her father.

"It has been eighteen years now father, we have a lot to talk about"

She said as she was distracted by Darla's shout and a big hug.

She sniffed and giggled as she turned around and hugged Darla in return.

"Look at you"

Aggie said as she hugged Darla again.

"It's so good to see you again."

She added as she hugged Darla again.

"You're all grown up now"

"Yes, how have you been"

"I've been—"

"How cruel Aggie, a little family reunion without me?"

Aggie's face suddenly turned ice cold, looking directly into Billy's face.

"Or are we not family?"

Aggie kept looking at Bily without saying a word.

"You smell smoke, Billy"

Darla said. As she drags Aggie away. Aggie heaves a deep sigh and looks at Darla.

"Thank you for saving me back there"

"It's fine Darla, I do not like them either"

Darla said with a smile on her face as Aggie returned the smile too.

"So, tell me, how has it been with your father?"

"He doesn't know anything aside from dumping money on me, and showing off his wealth"

Darla said feeling upset, Aggie looked at the expression on her face and laughed.

"Why?"

Darla asked surprised.

"Why do you look upset, like maybe it's a bad thing"

"I mean, I can't cuddle money, money can't tell me "Oh you look pretty today" money can't say "Darla, you look a mess" it can't do that"

Darla said looking at Aggie, Aggie smiled and held her hand.

"I get your point now, I do"

Aggie said as she smiled.

Amongst all her siblings, Darla was the closest to her. Darla reminded her a lot about herself when she was younger. Darla was the one person who got cheated the most, especially by her mother. A lot revolved around her family.

"Enough of this union let's be going"

Mrs Debby said as she stepped out of the house. Aggie raised her face and looked at Mrs Debby and her ice-stone appearance returned.

"Okay"

She said as she turned around and got into her car.

"Darla, get in, let's get going"

Darla smiled and hopped into the car as Aggie drove off.

"She won't even look at her mother"

"Stepmother"

Charity added as they went ahead to Billy's car and got in.

They arrived at the venue and got out of the car. They went with flowers, one by one, bowed and said a word of prayer and left. Aggie decided to be the last person.

She walked towards his grave and knelt with the flowers in her hand.

"DO you deserve this flower though"

She said as she took her eyes to look at her father's name graffitied against the stone.

"It's eighteen years already, I just lost the job I worked so hard to get, can you believe it? I guess wealth does not have a limit. You can still be made to look poor even with money."

"A scandal was made against me, and that was it, does this world give out anything better? Or it just keeps collecting"

She said as she began to sniff.

"Let's the dead rest in peace, let's get going"

Billy said out loud accompanied by a grin.

Mrs Debby looked at Aggie and heaved a sigh.

"The weather is changing Aggie, let's get going"

Aggie turns her face and looks at Mrs Debby.

"Are you all kids? Don't you know your way back home?"

"Cut me some slack"

Charity said getting irritated. As she hisses and turns around and leaves.

"Don't forget that we get to drink after here"

Mrs Debby said.

"Just getaway"

Aggie shouted in response.

Darla looks at them and heaves a sigh.

"We'd be at J. J's Bar waiting for you"

Darla said as she turned around and left.

"You better go wait for your fellow psychic"

Charity said.

"You should now, your words have no value to buy the time of my ears Charity"

Darla said as she got into Billy's car.

Aggie heard it and smiled as she raised her face and looked at Darla. Charity hisses as she went to the front seat of the car, while Mrs Debby went to the back to eat with Darla, and they drove away.

"Another family drama, mmm?"

Alice said, walking out from behind her.

"How long have you been here?"

"Very long, I was seated over there"

"Alice"

Aggie said as she cried and hugged her friend.

"Let's get going"

Alice said as she looked at Aggie. They went to her car and drove to the bar.

She parked her car carefully when she got there and then stepped out and went ahead to order five bottles of drinks.

"Have room for an extra?"

Alice said trying to put up a friendly atmosphere, not in this family.

"Okay, message well passed with your eyes"

Alice said as she sat down with them.

The drinks were brought and they sat round the table. Mrs Debby went ahead to say the rites and they drank. When they were done drinking, they went home.

"Darla, we'll see sooner okay"

Aggie said, Darla smiled and nodded her head as she left.

"You're closer to Darla than any of them"

Alice said.

"Yes, he reminds me a lot about my younger self. She's open-minded and I like her."

"Let's get going home then, maybe tomorrow we'll get to talk about your employment status"

Aggie smiled listening to Aggie's words.

"My children will get married to yours, as pay"

"I rather take your husband than children"

Alice said as they both burst out laughing, taking their bags and heading back home. The day wasn't over but for Aggie, it was.