Chapter 14
“I asked if you’re, okay? You seem a little out of it.” It was the guy from downstairs, Warren or William or something...
“Yeah, sorry I’m okay, do you need this machine? I’m done with it anyway. Thanks.” I replied kinda monotone. “Hey, have you seen Mrs Shapiro lately?” I asked as I put my bedding in the dryer.
“No not in a week or so, why?” He asked as he put his own laundry in a machine.
“I’ve been trying to get in touch with her, I used to get her groceries after her fall. But she was able to go herself in the warmer weather, now it’s getting cold again I wanted to make sure she knows I’m here if she needs anything... But she hasn’t answered her door the last few times I’ve knocked. I’m getting worried she’s fallen again and is stuck on her floor or in the tub or something. I’m trying to talk myself out of panicking and calling the police or an ambulance or the super when she’s just out enjoying her freedom before her hip gets sore in the cold.” He gave me a strange look. “And now you think I’m a crazy person. Don’t worry I think I’m a crazy person too.” I laughed only half joking.
“No, no, I think it’s sweet that you worry about her. I tell you what, I know the super pretty well. Let’s go knock on her door and if she doesn’t answer, then I will call him and ask if he can look in on her.” He smiled and shrugged his shoulders like it wasn’t a big deal.
“Thank you, so much, yes, please, that would be great, thank you,” I mumbled, floored by his kindness.
“It’s nothing, really, come on let’s go.” He smiled and held the door open for me. I managed a small smile his way as I followed him towards Mrs Shapiro’s apartment. “So, was it a bad break-up or something?” he asked as we climbed the stairs together.
“Sorry, what?” I asked completely confused.
“You’ve been crying, and you look kinda depressed.” He shrugged. “You kinda look like you just had your heart broken.”
“That obvious huh?” I played with the ends of my hair, embarrassed that I was this upset over a dream.
“Yeah, I was in the same boat not too long ago, so I recognise the signs.” He chuckled humourless. “We were together for a year, and I found out she was sleeping with someone else, someone from work. It’s not an original story but it still hurt like hell.” We got to Mrs Shapiro’s door, and I hesitated, he saw me freeze but just waited for me to pull myself together. I took a deep breath and knocked on the door. We waited for several minutes, I knocked again, but still nothing. I was officially getting scared. He must have seen the fear on my face because he put an arm around me. “I’ll call the super now, see if he can call her or check in on her tomorrow, okay? Let’s not worry just yet, she might be out?” He gave me a little side hug squeeze, and I felt a little bit better. “You coming back downstairs or you going back to your apartment?” He asked as we reached the top of the stairs. I looked at my apartment, the idea of going back in not appealing in the slightest.
“I’ll come down; my dryer probably doesn’t have too much longer left anyway.” I tried to smile, but I think it was more of a grimace. He burst out laughing at my lame attempt.
“It’s okay, you’re sad, so don’t fake being happy, at least not with me, I get it.” We walked back downstairs as he dialled his phone. “No answer, I’ll try again later.” He said, and I felt relieved I didn’t have to fake being happy. We walked into the laundry room as the dryer with my clothes in beeped, signalling the end of the cycle. Will or Warren, I still hadn’t asked, jumped up onto one of the empty machines, swinging his legs as I folded my now dry running gear. “So, tell me about the breakup.”
“It wasn’t so much a break-up as a realisation it wasn’t going anywhere, he was amazing, but we had no future and I didn’t want to miss out on something real, while I was seeing him.” I tried to be as honest as possible while still being vague, he was nice, but I wasn’t about to spill all my secrets to someone I hardly knew.
“Well, just because you’re being mature doesn’t mean you can’t still be bummed, especially if you had feelings for the guy. Why wasn’t it going anywhere? If you don’t mind me asking?” I shifted uncomfortably not sure what to tell him. “It’s okay, you don’t have to tell me if you’re not comfortable with it.”
“He just wasn’t able to be a part of something real, and even though it was only a few months, I did, I do love him...” I couldn’t make eye contact. I felt bad for not being 100% truthful but I didn’t want him to think I was completely unhinged.
“Give me your phone.”
“Huh?” I wasn’t expecting that, I handed him my phone and he typed something before handing it back and pulling out his own phone.
“I saved my number and rang my phone, when I hear back from the super, I’ll call you and let you know. And maybe when you’re feeling better you can call me, and we can go out for a drink?” He told me. I flushed red, I was nowhere near ready for that, besides I was kinda starting something with Elaina, I thought it would be a while before I could let another man into my heart. And Elaina seemed like someone fun, who wouldn’t get too serious too fast. It was something I was hoping to talk to her about when we went to dinner. I didn’t respond, by the time I finished folding my clothes, my sheets were dry. I pulled it all out and threw it in the basket. I just wanted to go to bed and deal with everything else the next day.
“I’ll see you later, and please let me know if the super hears anything from Mrs Shapiro,” I said as I hastily hauled my laundry upstairs. I didn’t have an appetite, so I put my laundry away. It was only six, but I had to be up at five if I wanted a run first, so I set my alarm, took my first pill and went to bed.
I woke up before my alarm, after a dreamless sleep, it was a little after four, and was still dark outside, my apartment was cold. Wrapped up in my comforter, I headed for the thermostat, I had forgotten to set it before I went to bed, so I programmed the timer, and I headed over to the kitchen and switched on the coffee maker. I was still groggy and depressed, but I knew I would feel better after a cup of coffee and a run. I finished my coffee, and the apartment was a little warmer, I threw on my running gear and a beanie and set off before my alarm had sounded.
It was a cold dry morning; the air was crisp and despite the fact that it was still dark the empty streets were oddly comforting. I never run through the park when it is still dark out, so I took my second favourite route through the well-lit streets. I got back to my apartment an hour later, which left plenty of time to get myself ready for my first day. I reset the machine before I hopped in the shower and allowed the hot water to soothe my tense muscles and warm my cold skin. My second coffee of the day finished, and my hair and makeup done, I had nervous butterflies in my stomach, but I was feeling confident. I got dressed quickly, double-checked my bag one last time and left for my first day.
I arrived at the Appletree building twenty minutes early. The receptionist was in the lobby but seeing as I didn’t have a signed contract or an employee badge, I had no choice but to check in with her. The last thing I wanted was someone calling security and to get fired before I even started. I approached her with a confident smile.
“Hi, I’m Charlie Phillips, it's my first day, I believe I have a meeting with Mr Ben Summer at nine?”
“Yes, I have that all here. Take the elevator to the fiftieth floor.” She responded, in a clipped forced tone, I had no idea what I had done to this woman, but it was clear she hated me. I walked straight to the elevator and rode it to the top, anxious but a little giddy. I walked out to see a beaming Elaina behind the desk.
“Hi, I’m a little early,” I stated the obvious.
“That’s ok, I can take you through and one of the girls will get you a coffee if Mr. Summer isn’t in yet.” She sashayed around the desk and entwined her fingers in mine, pulling me down the hallway towards Mr Summer’s office.
“Does he have a private elevator or something?” I asked, how else would she not know if he was in or not, and I saw several doors in the office that could have led to anything.
“Yeah, from his private parking structure underneath the building, only the Summers use it, it was built by Mr Richard when he was CEO, Daniel and Ben's dad.” She explained as we approached the second reception area with the models. Ms Michaels was behind her desk.
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