Chapter 1
2000
When you are bullied as a child, it can have a detrimental effect on the rest of your life and may change the person you are destined to be.
She was so excited when Sydnie started her apprenticeship with Steel & Co solicitors. The start of a new chapter in her life was about to unfold.
Landan waved across the street as she set off to catch her bus, wishing her every success. And she returned the wish of success to him as he was about to start a new chapter. He had just enrolled at the fire academy and had to train as an emergency medical technician. Being at school with him, she knew he’d be good at his chosen career; he’d always been knowledgeable. The fact that he had got ten GCSEs didn’t surprise her.
On arrival at Steel & Co, Ashton, the receptionist, met her. She seemed really friendly. Then, she was introduced to Dillon and Beatriz, both senior solicitors and Wade, a junior.
Dillion Steel took her into the office and told her she would be working with Ashton. He went through her role and duties and then took her back to Ashton.
“Ash, show Sydnie the ropes.”
“Will do… Dillon.”
“Ok, Syd, you don’t mind me calling you Syd, do you?”
“No… not at all.”
“Ok, first things first… Wait until you meet Elliot.” Ashton. Oozes
“Who is Elliot?”
“You’ll see in a minute.”
After about ten minutes, the door flung open. Sydnie’s jaw dropped when she saw a handsome young man walk through the door. Standing six feet tall, with sandy hair and piercing blue eyes, he was so beautiful. All suited and booted, he was so beautiful.
“See what I mean.”
“Elliot, I presume?”
“You got it in one.”
Elliot knew he was good-looking and played on that. As he passed Sydnie, he looked down her nose at her, turning his head to say good morning to Ashton.
He didn’t seem that friendly. Nonetheless, it didn’t stop Sydnie from developing a major crush on him. She just had to tell Claire all about Elliot.
Not only did she like him. But she fantasised about him taking her in his arms, kissing her passionately, making love to her, and even wanting to marry her.
As time passed and days became weeks, Elliot and Wade used her to make tea and run to the shops.
Ashton told her it wasn’t her job.
“It’s alright, I don’t mind.”
“That’s not the point, don’t let them use you.”
Wade overheard Sydnie telling Ashton she thought she had fallen in love with Elliot. When Ashton went on her lunch, Wade decided to play a little joke on Sydnie by telling her she should ask Elliot out for a drink.
“Oh, I don’t know, he wouldn’t want to go for a drink with me.”
“You might be surprised”.
Sydnie thought Wade knew something she didn’t and plucked up the courage to ask Elliot for a drink. When she saw the look on his face, she knew she had made a big mistake.
“You are joking, right?”
“I thought.”
“Don’t think in future, I’d be a joke if I was seen with you.”
Sydnie ran off to the toilet crying. Wade appeared to be in a fit of laughter.
“Did you put her up to that?”
“Yes, that was funny; the fucking look on your face was priceless.”
“You are such a fucking knob head”.
Ashton reappeared and asked what they were laughing at. When Wade told her, she said it was an awful thing to do and that they needed to grow up.
They had made Sydnie feel so ugly. She had been bullied as a child, and as a result, she had no confidence in herself. She put herself down way too much. She didn’t like her looks. She thought she was too plain, and she didn’t like her figure, which wasn’t shapely enough.
The one thing she knew she had going was that she was brilliant. And she had a good head for business.
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