Roles

Opening my eyes, I found myself surrounded by books. This couldn't be my room. I thought and quickly remembered where I was when I realised that I wasn't in my bed either.

"Gosh, what time is it?" I asked aloud and tapped on my laptop screen. It was already morning. I had fallen asleep in the library.

I quickly rose to my feet and gathered up my belongings. The morning was chill and I felt the chillness through my thick cardigan. A few staff were already out of bed, dressed in their uniforms as they cleaned the mansion. I had never seen them wearing anything else.

"Good morning, madam." They greeted me.

"Good morning." I responded and headed for the staircase, yawning as I walked. By the time I reached my bedroom door, most of the sleep had already cleared from my eyes. I slowly pushed the door. Darcy was buried under the duvet, still sound asleep. Sadly, it wouldn't take long before her alarm deprives her of the cosiness of the bed.
~

I strode into Paradox with a mood of triumph and satisfaction, "Happy Thursday, Rachael." I greeted.

Rachael beamed at me, "Good morning."
"You won a lottery or something?" She teased.

"Maybe." I said and headed for the elevator, "See you later, Rachael."

"See you!" She yelled back.

Of course I didn't win a lottery, but it was nearly as good as winning one. This was because today was the deadline that Damien Jaeger gave me and I had just finished rounding up my work last night. I knew this was more than a job. It was a challenge. He had challenged me and this was me on my way to his office to show him that I had won!

I stepped out of the elevator and walked to his office. My heels tapped against the floor as I walked and the sound echoed through the empty passageway. It stopped as I stood in front of the large door of Damien Jaeger's office, adjusting the multitude of files in my hands along with my laptop.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

No response.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Yet again, there was no response. I twisted the doorknob and found that it was locked.

"How disappointing." I said aloud. Now I'll have to do this all over. I turned to leave and hardly realised that someone was closeby until I bumped into him.

"Oh." I exclaimed as I set eyes on a morning fresh Damien Jaeger, "I'm really sorry. I didn't see you there."

"How disappointing." He said and I arched my brows in confusion, "How disappointing." He repeated.

"What?"

"You said that after knocking on my door." He said, "Were you looking forward to seeing me, Mélie?"

His last statement was said in a teasing tone laced with self pride and I felt my cheeks heating up, "I didn't mean it like that." I tried to defend my dignity.

"What did you mean it like then?" Damien Jaeger asked. His eyes were digging into me and I moved mine to the floor to avoid his gaze, "Tell me, Mélie." He urged.

"I just- I thought it would be tiring to have to walk back to my office with all these files and my laptop...that's all." I had found the perfect excuse.

His eyes moved to my legs and I shifted uncomfortably. He noticed and gave a dry chuckle, "Well, Mélie Shapman. We wouldn't want you to do that. Step into my office." How quickly his aura had changed!

I stepped into his office and closed the door behind me. When I turned towards him, he was already sitting comfortably in his seat, "Done with everything?" He asked.

"Yes. Everything is sorted out." I replied and he nodded.

He brushed through the files with disinterest and pushed it towards me, "You may return them to the shelf and the drawers then."

I felt myself flaring up in anger. Was that all there was to it? After sleepless nights of trying to meet a deadline? For all I know, these files couldn't have been so important. It was all part of his test. I cussed under my breath as I realised this truth.

"What's my schedule?" He asked. I puffed a breath he wouldn't notice and removed my tablet from my blazer's inner-pocket. He seemed absent-minded as I read it to him.

"You may return to your office." I needn't be told twice. I turned to leave.

"Mélie." He called.

"Yes?" I answered. I didn't want to call him 'Sir' because it felt strange to me. However, calling him by his full name the way I usually did at home was not going to be ideal in an office setting.

"I'm a bad father, aren't I?" His voice held something heavy. So heavy in fact that it weighed down my chest, "I know I could never be a good husband either."

I turned to face him without hiding the expression on my face. I tried to speak but found no words. Damien Jaeger looked melancholic.

He heaved a sigh when he noticed how much I was staring at him without saying a word and quickly adjusted himself on his seat. The sombre look on his face disappeared in an instance as if it was never there. Clearing his throat brought me back to composure, "You may leave. I'll inform you when I need something." He said.

I was tempted to speak. To tell him to go on talking. To affirm to his thoughts that he was indeed not performing his roles well. That he could be a great father and a great husband all at once! But the time to say that already passed and even if it didn't, I had no courage to voice my thoughts. So, I simply did what I had the courage to do, and that was to walk out of his office.

For the rest of the day, I was sombre. Several calls came in. Several mails I responded to, but none of it took my mind off what had occurred in the office. The sad image of Damien Jaeger clouded my thoughts so much that I was sure he would be standing in front of me at any moment.

Knock. Knock. Knock

I swiftly darted my eyes from introspect and stared at the door, "Who is it?"