Alison could barely remember the path as they drove through town. They passed buildings that she remembered being demolished, and ones that were still under construction. She vividly recalls that the roadside market has been replaced by a long row of shops and restaurants.
The road was still being constructed at almost the same pace as the building. So the drive to the Norman Groups Complex took nearly an hour, not twenty to thirty minutes, as Alison remembered.
"Is this the place, Ma'am?" Asked the driver.
Alison looked at him, perplexed. The building in front of her looked nothing like the Norman Groups, even though the large signpost at the entrance clearly says so. She wasn't quite sure what it looked like seven years ago, but this wasn't what she imagined.
"You are sure ... this is it?" She stuttered, staring from the drive to the building.
"No other one, anywhere else?"
Puzzled, the driver replied,
"No ma, the company is just starting out, this is their first office. There are not many people who know them around here, I'm surprised you do."
'When Alexander said the company started out very little, this is what he meant, huh?' Alison thought, before stepping out of the car and gently closing the door behind her.
Not that the building was ugly, it was pretty basic, looking like a small supermarket from the outside. Walking towards the entrance, Alison saw the door slide open and her heart stopped for a moment.
"Hey miss?" The lady who had just walked out the door greeted Alison with a wave,
"Looking for someone?"
"Uhh," Alison hesitated, then nodded and drew closer to the lady.
"The... uhm, I'm looking for the receptionist, but I'm pretty sure she's just at the front desk, as always."
"I am the receptionist, Ma'am," The lady chimed in with a soft tone and a sweet smile.
"My shift just ended and we are closed for the day. Is there a particular reason you wanted to see me? I might still be able to help you if not so much."
Immediately, Alison's shoulders dropped in disappointment. That is because if they were closed for the day, then there were no chances of seeing Alexander. She looked around her, and there were no other cars aside from the one that brought her.
"Are you okay, miss?"
"Oh, yes, yes," Alison replied briskly. It made her very uncomfortable whenever someone asked, but she couldn't help but get lost in thought from time to time.
"Alex, Alexander Norman, he's the one I'm looking for." She finally said, staring at the lady, hoping to get positive feedback. She was willing to come by whenever he was around.
"Alexander Norman," the receptionist repeated, moving her handbag from her left to her right hand.
"Sound familiar," she continued,
"My boss, Mr Norman, has two sons, and I believe Mr Alex is one of them, perhaps that's the man you are looking for?"
"Yes," Alison nodded quickly,
"It's him, is he here?"
The lady sighed, and even before she could speak, Alison already knew what to expect.
"I'm sorry, I haven't seen him around in a while. He only shows up when he drops his father off here."
"You mean, he doesn't work here?" Asked Alison.
"Not physically," the receptionist answered briskly,
"He manages the company for his father, but he does it virtually. He attends our meeting though, but I cannot assure you that there's a day he's sure to be here."
At her words, Alison shifted her gaze to any random objects she could find, trying to manage her disappointment without doing anything awkward or embarrassing.
"I'm sorry ma'am."
The receptionist turned around and was about to walk away when Alison called her back, her tone a little bit more desperate than before.
"Can I get his number, please if you have it?"
"I don't have his...
"I meant your boss's," Alison interjected,
"It's his son right, so can I have your boss's number, please?"
"Uh...
Pressing her lips together, the lady was cautious. She had never met Alison before, and giving out her boss's phone number might get her into a lot of trouble.
"I can't do that," she politely declined, and walked away before Alison could ask any more questions.
"Please, you don't understand!" Alison voiced out, going after the lady until she caught up with her, near the exit gates.
"I really need to find him, you have to help me... please I need him."
"For?"
Alison paused, the question caught her unaware. Before now, she would have prepared an answer, but was she supposed to tell this lady that she is from the future and has come in search of her husband? After all, she's requesting her father-in-law's number.
"I... uhm, Uh.. ni.. need a job!" She exclaimed, forcing the words out of her mouth like it was too difficult to say,
"I just need a job here. I used to know Alex, and I know he'll know me when he sees me. I know it'll be easier to get a job with him here ... you know how things are."
"Right," the lady muttered, nodding with closed teeth.
"I can't help you with that I'm sorry, but you can come by tomorrow morning to submit a job application."
"Oh, okay. Thanks to you for your... time."
Even before she finished speaking, the lady walked out of the way, and she couldn't blame her for it; no one wanted to be bothered after a long, stressful shift.
As soon as she was gone, Alison ran her fingers through her hair, messing it up slightly.
"God, what in the world is this madness? I just need to sleep and wake up to everything returning to normal."
"Are you okay, Ma'am?" Dylan's driver tapped her on the shoulder and, in a fit of rage mixed with frustration, Alison yelled.
"I'm fine, I'm fine!"
"You can't help me anyway, jeez!"
She paused, immediately realising that she had overreacted,
"I'm sorry," she apologised,
"Do you know a restaurant called Lady Gladys?"
"Ye... yes, it's just down the street, not too far." Replied the driver, and without saying another word, Alison rushed back to the car.
Pulling the door open, she looked up at the driver and said,
"Take me there."