Sereia's POV
I kicked my heels off as I closed the door of my two-story suburban house.
I then picked up the final box which I hadn't unpacked as I walked up the stairs.
I'd gone from living in the slumps to living in the riches.
Unfortunately, I had to leave my father behind. He had gone too far.
He had gotten so drunk a couple of months ago that he hit me.
He'd never done that before.
The father that raised me would've never gotten physical, not even if I said something to piss him off.
To make things even worse, the Harrington Group needed to know where I lived. Apparently, they only wanted people who lived in lavish neighbourhoods to have authority in their company.
I took out the candles and body washes which were in the box before organizing them neatly in the bathroom.
I was finally finished unpacking the junk that I had brought with me.
I pulled off my jacket, then my skirt, before tying back my hair.
I took off my bra too.
Now I felt comfortable.
I grabbed my laptop before sitting down on the ground and leaning my back against the frame of my bed.
When I turned it on, I was immediately met with a photo of Violet and I when we were younger.
She was ten, I was six.
The smile on her face back then was so bright, it blinded me sometimes.
Oh, the things I would do just to see my sister's smile again, or my dad's, or my mom's.
Or mine.
My real smile.
Like the one in the photo.
I went online and began searching for things to do in this city that don't involve clubbing or bars.
I can't stay in this house by myself. I'll be consumed with guilt and my thoughts.
I'll do things that I shouldn't be doing until I eventually pass out.
I clicked on the first volunteer work I could find and immediately signed up.
My old neighbourhood had a soup kitchen. I would go there and help out when I didn't need to study or work the three jobs I juggled.
Overworking myself kept me occupied for a while, but not all the time.
At night, I would be constantly tortured by guilt.
Why was I the only one not affected in this family?
My sister killed herself, my father became an alcoholic, and my mother became a crackhead. Their lives were ruined and mine wasn't.
So yes, guilt consumed me.
I wish it was me who burdened their pain so they wouldn't have to go through so much suffering.
I don't deserve the life I have. I've done nothing good that makes me any better than them.
I held my head as I tried to remove these thoughts from my head but I couldn't.
They've been here since Violet's death and have never left.
I ran to the closet where I hid the box.
Then, I slowly opened the lid to reveal all the heroin I had bought.
I still remember to look of shock the plug gave me when I told him the amount I needed.
This is why I can't be at home. This is why I need to be fixated on the downfall of Olivia.
But for now, I'm going to get high.
I grabbed the belt before wrapping it tightly around my arm and injecting the drug into my system.
Within seconds, I felt the effects and I lay on the ground.
If that asshole of a CEO decides to request a drug test from me, I'm failing.
...
I slowly opened my eyes while the sound of my alarm clock echoed through the whole house.
I was still on the floor of my closet in my panties and shirt from yesterday.
I held my head as I slowly got up and walked to turn off that irritating sound.
The temptation to fall on my bed and sleep for the whole day was convincing but I couldn't.
Work started in thirty minutes and I was the new director. I can't skip work on the second day.
I dragged myself back to the closet where I picked out one of those awful outfits the rich love to wear.
It was working because Olivia loved yesterday's outfit.
I threw the clothes on the bed before rushing to get ready.
...
I looked at myself on my phone camera as I applied my lipstick while walking into the building.
For a quick second, I stopped to look for the directions of where the elevators for the executives were.
My ability to remember where things were is extremely bad. I even forgot where Violet's grave was at least twice.
I scanned my ID before my eyes landed on him waiting for the elevator.
Smile Sereia.
I forced myself to smile as I walked up to him. "Good morning, sir."
He simply nodded to me before returning his attention to his phone.
I watched as the floor number slowly changed from 54 to 53.
"Lovely day we are having," I said. "Is it usually so bright and sunny in this area?"
He paused before slowly looking down at me.
"I'm not from around here," I explained, still maintaining that smile of mine.
It's true, I wasn't from the city. I came from a small neighbourhood in Illinois.
"I'm aware," he muttered as he looked at his watch before looking at the floor number which was only at 30."
"Ha," I fake laughed as I physically couldn't bear to smile anymore. "Where is your wife? Do you two usually go to work together?"
He inhaled deeply before looking at me. "Ms. Sinclair, is there an objective you intend to reach from asking these useless questions?"
"I was just trying to make small talk," I told him. "Since I'm new here, I don't have anyone to talk to."
The last part sounded pathetic but maybe that's what I needed.
His sympathy.
Maybe he would feel so sorry for me that he would give me dirt on his wife.
He blinked instead, with no sympathy.
I'm guessing he is not going to be the reason I get to take down Olivia.
The elevator doors finally opened and I smiled.
"Looks like your wish has been granted," I told him. "The elevator is here."
He finally stopped staring into my face like a psychopath and walked into the elevator.
When the doors began to close, he held it open for me.
I shook my head. "It's ok sir, you go ahead. I'll take the stairs."
The last thing I needed was for me to lash out at him, which I was almost ready to do.
He seemed puzzled by my sudden change but didn't object to it.
When the doors finally closed, I dropped my smile and turned to the other elevators.
At least forty people gathered around them and I wanted to cry as my gaze turned to the stairs.
Sixty flights of stairs.
I groaned as I dragged myself to them.
Maybe taking the stairs isn't so bad. It'll help me get some cardio in.
I began my climb.
Today I'm going to observe everything that Olivia does and see if anyone is willing to give up any information they have on her.
That's if I even make it to the office before the day is over.