She knew if he really wanted to find her place he was perfectly capable, but on the other hand, she didn’t see him ever having a reason to go looking for her, either.
They pulled up to the building and she saw a car turn on their backup lights. She knew she’d have to move quickly or he’d insist on walking her to the door. He stopped to wait for the car and she jumped out before he could stop her and dashed around the side of the building.
She said nothing to him, didn’t even glance back to see his expression. She would assume he was furious with her for getting the upper hand. Once in a while the man surely had to lose a battle, even if she was sure he always won the war.
Amy wasn’t taking any chances and as soon as he was out of her sight, she went into a full blown sprint and hid behind some shrubs. She stayed there for much longer than was probably necessary. Finally, when she figured he was gone, she crept out and snuck to the front of the building, peaking around and looking for his car.
The coast was clear. She sighed to herself. She had about a two mile walk to get back to her place and the shoes she was wearing were not made for it. Oh well she thought, I may as well get started.
She said a silent prayer she wouldn’t get mugged on the way. The neighborhood wasn’t exactly what you would call family friendly and she was usually not out so late alone.
An hour passed before Amy arrived at her place. She sighed in disgust. It was a very weathered, hundred year old home that hadn’t been maintained. She’d scrubbed her room from top to bottom for two days straight before ever sleeping there.
She’d just needed to stay there long enough to finish her college degree. She worked full time while going to school, but had barely made enough to cover tuition, let alone living expenses. She’d always been willing to do whatever it took to make a better future for herself. She wasn’t afraid of hard work and had proven it to herself and others throughout the years.
Her single mother had been about the worst parent imaginable and had taken her from one crack house to the next. Amy had always been hungry, dirty and had to fight her mom’s many friends off on a daily basis.
She was grateful she’d discovered the local libraries as her sanctuaries and fell in love with reading. She’d spent hours going through every book imaginable from opening till closing.
The library had been warm and it was there she knew she’d go to college and never live that way again. Amy’s mother died when she was only fourteen years old and she had been one of the lucky few to be placed in a good foster home. It was there she’d received her first real break in life. Amy had mourned her mother, even though she hadn’t deserved to be mourned, but at the same time, she’d known she was one of the lucky ones to have gotten out of the bad situation.
She’d gone from a drug infested apartment to a family friendly neighborhood with a great school and she’d even earned some scholarships. She already knew how to survive on nothing and once she graduated and then landed the great job with the Andersons Corporation her dreams were finally almost a reality. In one more month she’d finally have a real home of her own.
Amy snapped back to reality as she let herself into her shared rental and looked around her dilapidated bedroom. She lifted her head high, because she was soon going to be out of the horrible place and she’d never once look back.
Saturday morning, Tom was getting ready to head out the door and drive to Amy’s house when his phone rang. “Speak to me,” he said in his usual chirpy voice.
“I’m looking for Tom, please,” replied the very formal tone of Lucas.
“This is Tom. How can I help you, Mr. Anderson?” Why would the boss be calling him on a Saturday?
“Tom, I’m searching for Amy’s address. The one in her personnel file appears to be wrong. She left her purse in my car last night and I need to return it. Since you’ve been carpooling together you must have it.” Tom almost gave the information to him without thought.
The way his boss spoke, came out much more like a command from a drill sergeant. He felt like he should be saluting and shouting, Yes Sir. He stopped himself in the nick of time, remembering Amy had a wrong address for a reason.
“I’ll be seeing Amy this weekend, Mr. Anderson. I could take the purse to her. She’s meeting me at the bar later tonight,” he said. Tom figured this would make all parties happy. He figured wrong.
“Tom, I don’t hand over one employee’s belongings to another employee. I will see to it that Amy gets her purse back, myself. If you would be so kind as to give me that address now, then I can get her the purse.” His voice had been formal before, now it was cold as ice.