A return from wherever

"Hello, sir." I greeted mister Stance as I walked into the office building. He was standing by the desk of Cecilia; our receptionist. It seemed as though he had just come in.

"Oh, it's you. I was just telling Cecilia to inform you to see me in my office." He said, "But since you are here, we can step in right now."

"Is everything okay sir?" I asked when we were finally in his office.

He walked over to his table and took his seat, stretching his hand towards an empty seat in front of him. I occupied the seat and he cleared his throat- something he usually does whenever he has anything important to say.

"Did you give my suggestion a thought, Mélie?"

Was he seriously still on my neck about this?

"No." I replied calmly. He shook his head in disappointment.

"Well in that case..." He started drawing the drawer attached to his table. He removed a folded piece of paper and tossed it to me on the table. I picked it up and unfolded it.

"What?!" I gasped in shock, "A sack letter?"

"I'm afraid your inability to sacrifice for this company has cost you dearly, Mélie Shapman.

"How is that fair, sir?" I yelled. He moved back in his chair surprised at my outburst but quickly regained composure, "After all my hardwork and consistency as the marketing director, you sacked me because of some horny man?!"

"And do you realise how much we have just lost because of you?! All your hard work and consistency could never sum up to even half of what the company had just lost, Mélie!" "And it's all because of you!" He added spitefully.

I clenched my teeth and got up from the chair, boiling with rage. The sack letter squeezed with the pressure of my folded fist. Behind that anger was a feeling of great disappointment. 4 years of my hard work had just been flushed down the toilet.

"Wait!" Mister Stance stopped me before I reached the door. I stopped but didn't turn back to look at him. He walked up to me and stopped beside me, "Give me the car keys." He said.

I hesitated before removing the key from my bag. A satisfied smile crept into his face, "You have one week to vacate the house and return the key to the company."

This time, my hands moved sharply to my handbag and sorted out the house key, "I don't need a week. You can keep your house!" I sneered and pulled the door handle without giving him another look. A slam of the door followed and then my noisy footsteps as I stumped out of the building, earning curious looks from my colleagues as I passed. They already had an idea about what just happened. I was no longer the marketing director for StancInk.
~

"What do you mean you can't get into this area?!" It was now time for another drama between the cab driver and I.

"I told you that this is private property and we are not allowed to drive here. Listen, you will have to get down here because I can't drive any further."

"Why?!" I asked again, behind too frustrated to understand what he had just said.

"I just told you that I can't drive here. Stop making things difficult and get down from my car!"

"Why do you have to yell? You could have just said so, you know!" I snapped back at him.

"Fuck off!" He cussed as soon as I got down from his car and my jaw dropped in surprise. But before I could say anything else, he took off into the road.

"What am I gonna do now?" I grumbled in frustration. It was going to be impossible for me to walk all the way to the mansion.

The cab driver had said that he wasn't allowed to drive here, which meant that requesting another cab would just be a waste of time. I decided to remain standing, hoping a car would pass by so that I could flag down. Eventually, a car passed by and I waved my hand at it but the driver did not stop.

Maybe he hadn't seen me?

Another one passed and yet another and all my efforts to stop them proved futile. "What the heck is wrong with these people!" I yelled in frustration. "Couldn't they just help someone?"

I pulled out my phone again and thought of the next plan of action. I didn't have the driver's number on my phone and Damien Jaeger's phone was in my bag. Even if it wasn't, I do not remember having Damien's phone number. There was only one thing left to do and that was to walk it! After undoing the strips of my heels and dropping them in my bag, I began the vigorous journey.

The autumn breeze blew against my sweaty face as I walked. I had already gone a good distance but nowhere near the mansion. My coat was in my hands to prevent me from too much sweat. Once in a while, a car would pass by and the driver would stare at me like I was some mad woman but none of them offered to help, so I ignored them and continued walking.

Pimm pimmm! A car horned. I looked back and saw a black Range Rover slowing down behind me. The back window rolled down, revealing the passenger.

"Get in." He said. It was no other than Damien Jaeger.

I remained standing for a while, unsure of what to do. I was sweaty and confused.

"I don't like repeating myself, Mélie." He said. The driver got down from the car and opened the door for me. I walked without haste and entered beside Damien Jaeger in the car. The door slammed and the driver returned to his position on the wheel.

Damien Jaeger didn't say anything more and I kept giving him side-eyes. In fact, he behaved like I wasn't even there. There was another phone in his hand and he was swiping through it.

"Here." I said almost inaudibly, handing the phone I had taken from him. He collected it without a word and resumed his business.

Wasn't he going to say anything?
Ask where I was?
Why was I walking instead of driving in my car?

I waited for him to ask but he said nothing. After a while, I felt a little at ease. It was obvious that he had no intention of interrogating me.