Episode 32

"You had no right to undress me!" I exclaimed when I could finally speak again. He had no right to even take me to that hotel in the first place even if I was drunk. He could've taken advantage of my condition but luckily he didn't. That didn't mean he couldn't have. . . . .
"Can't I?" He smirked "you're my assistant, I have every right"
"What?" I couldn't believe what he just said.
"Besides," he continued, his eyes lowering to my chest "you were a sight worth seeing"
My first instinct was to slap him for being such a pervert without shame but I didn't. It felt good. No,no,no! I wanted to slap myself right there and then. How could what he just said make me feel good about myself!
Slowly, I forced my gaze down from his before saying "you had no right to do that" where did my fire suddenly go to?
He leans back and took a step back before breaking into laughter,causing me to look back up at him.
"I'm sorry okay? You we're so drunk,it's not in my nature to leave a woman at such vulnerable state like that. Are we okay now?"
I nod slowly, not really having any other thing to say.
"If we're gonna work together now,I have a condition too"
"Condition? You have a condition too? You're not even in the place to. . . . .".
" just listen to me okay? Call me Ric. That's my condition "
I stared back with surprise. That's his big condition?
"I need you back at the office tomorrow okay?" He said "I could increase your pay okay?"
"I'm not coming back because you'd increase it. I just need your respect"
"Fine. You'll get it. Are we okay now?"
I nodded, a part of me still feeling embarrassed with the way his eyes watched me.
By the time I left his house,it felt like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders.
When I broke the news of going back to work with Ric,she was all hysterical but I assured her that everything is gonna go alright this time around.
*
*
I dressed up in a faded blue jeans with an orange polka doted tank top under a denim jacket. As I stepped out from the elevator and started towards my office cubicle, it felt like I was starting this job for the first time,all over again.
Trevor was walking out of his office room when he saw me,stopping immediately to look blankly at me.
"Ashley? What's up?"
I gave him a small smile with an approving nod of my head "I'm back,T"
"That's. . . . good news,Ashley. Welcome back"
I got to my office and sat down,my table looking clean and dustless like it's been cleaned for me.
Mona appears before me,screaming my name and slamming her schedule board on my table in front of me.
"Thank goodness you're back,Shawn," she said breathily "that is Mr Marcello's schedule for today. I advice you go through it right now"
"Thanks Mona. Is he . . . . in?"
"Yeah," she whispered conspiratorially "he's been here before any of us in this office"
"Really?" What would he be doing so early this morning?
She nods before quickly turning away and disappearing. I watched the door to Mr Marcello's office, wondering what he could possibly be doing in there before deciding to go through the schedule. After going through everything, I walked into his office.
He was seated at his table,his body wight slumped against the chair's back rest as he swung left and right. He had a black pen in his hands,his eyes glued to it. But his eyes soon flew up to me the moment I stepped in. And they lingered for a while longer before he put the pen away and his eyes away. There was something about his eyes,something I've never seen before. Like there's sadness in them. Did something happen?
Stopping at his table,I greeted "good morning, sir. . . ."
"What happened to 'call me Ric?'" He cuts me off.
"Yeah,forgot. Ric" I started flipping the papers "um. . . . you're having a meeting with the constructor of the casino downtown,I scheduled for 11a.m so you could leave for lunch after then. I got a call from a Mrs havens. Said she talked with you yesterday and would be meeting today so I scheduled for 1p.m. Trevor has to brush you on some work about the teams sent to China two weeks ago and that would be 10 O'Clock. Thirty minutes from now"
"Very well. Thank you"
Him thanking me totally surprised me but I don't let him know that as I quickly nodded and turned towards the door.
"Ashley.. .. " he called.
I turned around "yes?"
He doesn't speak again. He just watches me for a while before tearing his gaze away from mine and saying "uh. . . . you are accompanying me to lunch right? Don't worry, I'll buy your meal this time" as cocky as that sounds coming from him,I gave him a small smile before walking out.
I hurried over to my desk to prepare for the meeting. Thirty minutes later we were all hurled around the conference table. Everything seemed to go smoothly and soon,I was sitting back on my desk,going through some of the papers submitted to me which would be needing Mr Marcello's. . . . .no,Ric's signature before the end of the day. After meeting with the building manager of the casino project,Ric's driver drove us to a different restaurant.
For the first time,I felt satisfied with myself as I sat there in front of Ric. He'd ordered my food and I'd eaten quietly, embarrassed for some reasons unknown to me. He barely said a word to each other and it felt like this man had completely changed into a better person. But I knew that was impossible. I knew he was just acting up only to go back to being the jerk he was. But each time I caught his eyes,I saw something different in them. I saw sadness,I saw loneliness and I saw emotions I couldn't quite decipher.
After having lunch,we were driven back to the office. I watched him leave again but I couldn't care less. The last thing I wanted was getting dragged out of this office. I was exhausted as it is.
"I see you've eaten out" I look up to see Trevor leaning against my office cubicle, his arms folded across his chest.
"Yeah," I replied,not really knowing what else to say.
He just nods with pouted lips "it's. . . . uh good to have you back"
"Thanks"
"Mr Marcello called you back?"
"Uhu,you wouldn't believe he could actually do that right?"
"Exactly. But. . . . . you should be careful though"
"Don't worry,T," I gave him an appreciative smile "we already talked through somethings. He knows I'll be out of here even with the slightest bit of maltreatment. "
"Good. Um. . . . okay. I'm just gonna head to the next floor"
"Yeah,okay," he started to turn back "nice presentation today" he turns back to me "your team did great"
He gave me a smile "thanks" before leaving.
At exactly 1:52,Riccardo walked back into the office, his face Moody. I didn't know where this was coming from but I was getting a little concerned. I knew something was up and also,I knew I wasn't in any place to ask. What do I care anyway?
Just then,my phone started to ring. I couldn't check who the caller was so I just picked right away and put it on speaker,still typing on my computer.
"Hello?" I said
"Hi,Ashley"
I stopped,recognizing the voice immediately. I quickly picked the phone and put it from speaker before holding it against my ear "Frenchie"
"How are you doing?"
I rubbed a palm over my forehead "I'm . . . . great. Why are you calling?"
"Um. . . . . just wanted to confirm why I. . . haven't heard anything from you. You told me you were gonna get back to me about my proposal. . . . "
"Yeah,about that. . . listen,Frenchie, I'm gonna have to turn you down. I'm sorry" I spoke quietly into the phone.
"Any reasons why?"
"I'm working with. . . . . my boss again"
There's a long silence before he spoke again "that's okay. I hope your decision doesn't affect our friendship"
"Of course not" are we friends? Silly,I'm not gonna ask that.
"Okay. . . . I guess I'll see you around then"
"Yeah"
When I heard the disconnecting beeping sound,I slumped against my chair's rest and blew out air. Air of relief that is.
Just as I put the phone down,it started to ring again. Was Frenchie gonna try to talk me into taking his proposal? What am I gonna say to him? But when I picked up the phone and saw the caller's ID, I felt my heart leap from my chest and sank into my stomach.
"DAD"
my dad was calling. I stared at my phone ring continuously, contemplating on what to do. Pick it? Whatever am I gonna say? My heartbeats accelerated incredibly and just as it was about to ring to voicemail, I swiped the pick button. Slowly,I placed it over my ear,my eyes poised and my ears strained for that voice. And when I heard it,my stomach sank deeper.
"Hello?" His voice sounded tired than the last time we talked,than I remember.
My lips trembled as I fought for words to speak,my breathing intensified. Then I decided to just breathe and face this.
"Hello dad"
"Ashley," his voice is foggy "how you been?"
"I'm. . . . fine dad. You?"
"I'm alright. It's been how long,Ashley? A year? Two?"
I shot my eyes,pleading with my mind not to think about what was slowly resurfacing at the back of my mind.
"I've just been really busy,dad. How are you holding up?"
"I thought you weren't gonna pick my call,Ashley. It'd feel really nice to . . . . see you again" it was impossible not to notice his hard breathing.
"Dad,are you alright?"
He chuckled like he always did "yes,I'm fine. What about you?"
"I'm. . . ." I gulped "fine. How's. . ."
"Don't you worry,Ashley"
"I'm sorry I never called,Dad," my eyes stung and I could feel it's sudden wetness at the corners "I was gonna. . ."
"You don't have to apologize. I just wanted to know how you're doing. And now I know,eh?"
"Dad,I. . . . . . " He laughs at the background and it was like he was right here. And I smiled too. It was impossible not to smile. His laughter was always contagious
The disconnecting sound kept resounding to my ear after he cut the call. I brought the phone to my face,watching it till it went blank. And I heaved a deep sigh. I sighed more deeply as thoughts hits me like waves.
Suddenly, there's quick steps approaching along the hall. I couldn't careless who that person was as I continued to stare at my phone in hand.
"Come with me,now" Ric's deep voice shook me by surprise as he walked past my office cubicle. I looked up to see him walking towards the elevator, his hands dipped into his pockets.
I rose up,just as he stepped into the elevator and the doors closed. What the hell was wrong with him again? I didn't wait to find out from anybody. I wore my jacket and hurried to the elevator.