Chapter Two
Aurora’s POV
“You’re not a match…” The doctor's words hit me like a ton of bricks as the color drained from my face. I suddenly found it hard to breathe.
“Are you okay?” The doctor asked, of course I wasn't. I peered up to see him looking at me with his face full of sympathy.
“I’ll be fine, I'm sorry, what were you saying?”
“We need to find a new donor as soon as possible. We have it under control for now but it's only a matter of time before his system starts failing.”
“How fast can we find a donor?”
“I'll work on that. All you need to do is focus on raising the money for the procedure.” I nodded and thanked him.
I left the hospital with a new bill in my hand and a fresh wave of vomit in my mouth. I bent over the bushes in front of the hospital and puked.
The world around me didn't stop spinning. It felt like I was drowning in a sea of uncertainty and what-ifs. A world where money was always an issue, and Nico’s life was teetering on the edge.
I struggled to process the news, my mind reeling as I asked questions. Questions I didn’t have answers to.
Would we be able to find a donor?
Where was I supposed to find 1 million dollars to pay for the surgery?
Was my son going to die?
I burst into tears on the sidewalk as the weather changed and rain poured down my back.
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After another long week of endless torture, one plane ride to another, I had finally reached my limit. I hadn't spoken to anyone about what happened in Mr. Marcus’ office the other day, with everything else going on that was the least of my problems.
I made my way to Mrs. Brown's office. The head of the company’s human resources department. As soon as I walked in, I knew something was wrong. I hadn’t even begun to speak before she cut me off.
“Ms. Daniel, I’ve been meaning to call you” She looked at me with a serious expression.
“Oh, why’s that? Is everything okay?” I asked genuinely curious. I don’t think I did anything to warrant a call from HR unless Mr. Marcus finally did his job and reported the error to them.
“You have been reported for negligence of duty and unprofessional conduct at work. These are all contract-terminating offenses, which were clearly stated in your contract before you started working with us.” I stared at her, mouth wide open. I couldn't believe what happened.”
“Negligence of duty? Unprofessional conduct?” I repeated in shock.
“Ma’am I have been nothing but professional since I joined this company, my assessment record speaks for itself.” I rushed out.
“Mr. Marcus reported to you a few days ago and he has never spoken against anyone for absolutely no reason” Realization dawned on me.
“Mr. Marcus assaulted me!” I exclaimed.
She reared back; shock apparent on her face.
“What do you mean he assaulted you?” She asked once more.
“I’ve been working here for a year and six months and I passed the assessment test conducted 5 months ago. I sent multiple emails to Mr. Marcus informing him about my salary, he never made any move to do anything about it. I only went to his office to ask him about it just in case there was an error or something but he straight up assaulted ma’am.” I explained, brewing with anger.
“You can leave now; I'll call you up in two hours.”
“Yes ma’am.”
I closed the door behind me as I stepped outside. I almost screamed out loud. The nerve of this vile man, I couldn’t believe him. I walked to the small cubicle I used as a senior host where I filed the final reports from trips and everything.
One would think a promotion like that after working a year comes with a salary increment, but here we are. I wished I could sue him for this but all my energy and money needed to go to raising Nico’s treatment money.
I received the call from the secretary almost four hours later. I headed back up feeling confident Mr. Marcus would definitely get punished for what he did.
Nothing prepared me for what I saw as soon as I opened the door to the conference room. I see Mr. Marcus, Mrs. Brown and a couple of other people I don’t know. I thought this was going to be a private discussion.
“Have a seat, Ms. Daniel” Mrs. Brown said while gesturing to one of the chairs. I took a seat before she continued talking.
“I spoke to Mr. Marcus about what you told me and he said you lied to me. Is that true?”“No ma’am, why would I lie about something like that?” I said exasperated.
“I would appreciate it if you didn’t lie to the company Ms. Daniel.” Mr. Marcus said with such smugness I wanted to smack it off his face.
“Ms. Daniel, was there anyone who witnessed what happened between you and Mr. Marcus?”
“No…” I was about to answer, when I remembered the knock on the door. “Greg’s knock on his door distracted him and allowed my escape.”
“Well Greg here said he didn’t see you come out of the office Ms. Daniel.”
“What?” I turned to Greg stunned. “You saw me come out of his office. You saw me, Greg.” He looked down in shame and I immediately knew what was going on here.
“You can leave Mr. Greg” I watched as he glanced over at me before he took his lying ass out the door.
“Ms. Daniel, I would have to terminate your contract for defamation. Mr. Marcus said he will not be pressing charges so I hope you apologize and thank him.”
Oh my god, she’s firing me. I can’t believe this, this can’t be happening. I need my job. I need this job for Nico.
“Mrs. Brown, this is unjust.”
“Your witness said he didn’t see you. I will need you to leave now, get your things and leave the premises in two hours.”
I almost broke down right then and there.