Bracing myself I entered the office, ' Mr. Sinclair I can explain'
Without my volition, my eyes flit over the contents on the desk. It is as immaculate as it can be.
'Bring me the sales report for the January product. I want the finance team to set the estimated costs for the upcoming project. Make sure the Budget file is on my desk tomorrow. Also, a daily report on the progress of the project. I want it to be launched before the holiday season. Set a board meeting tomorrow. 'he says or rather rumbles.
'What does your other assistant do?' I enquired listening to his demands.
'Let me handle who works for me Ms. Anderson. You are my indentured servant for as long as I want. Do not question me'
I controlled the urge to not beat him over the head with my bag, no matter how much I might have liked to. Thoughts of quitting the job entered my mind, but I squashed it before it overtook my mind. He merely gave me a squinted look and continued,
'Now, start your product analysis of our competitors. I want the file to be submitted by the end of this week. And, where is my coffee?'.
I lifted my head from my notebook, ' Um, Mr. Sinclair, Vivian took it for herself', I said apologetically not at all feeling sorry for throwing bombshells under the bus.
He pressed the extension and rumbled,' Vivian, you will bring my coffee from now onwards.'
Placing the phone back, ' do you want anything else, Ms. Anderson?'
What? No rant on asking permission before taking leave!
'No Mr. Sinclair', I stuttered leaving the room.
That day set the pace. Raphael (I call him Raphael in my thoughts) is a vigorous taskmaster. I hardly get the time to eat lunch. Anticipating the next step and planning beforehand takes a lot of work. Forget about 5 pm, I will be lucky if I came out of the hellhole before 7 pm. I feel like Rapunzel, locked in a tower, away from the merger friends I have at this workplace. One day blended into two, eventually easing into 2 weeks.
Raphael is a mystery, sometimes he glowers at me, giving only curt nods and loads of demands. And other times he stares at me when he thinks I'm not looking. We quickly established a rapport with each other. The word 'silent work environment' took new meaning with us. I would like to think we have a connection, a way with each other. And I would bitch-slap him and bombshell if he has the same connection with her.
On Thursday night I got a message I was waiting for.
Meet me at the cafe near your office
Finally. Something to look forward to.
The next afternoon I breezed through the building, my steps eating up the distance to the cafe. I took a corner booth in the cafe checking my watch, late again.
I heard Harley and a smile took over my face. The cafe door is pushed open as he saunters inside.
'Hey', my voice hitching in my throat.
'Hey kid'
I rolled my eyes. A sophisticated and superior gesture that was lost on him.
'You know I'm 21 now', I chastised.
'Still a kid for me', he said in a voice that sounds lazy, just like his demeanor. Careless and reckless and all the less-es. But I know better. He projects laziness to camouflage his sharpness. His eyes roam around the cafe checking for any potential threats.
I first met Kade when I was at my lowest in my life. Struggling with my bills, my body battered in bruises after losing every fight. I almost lost hope when I stumbled upon him. He was one of the owners of the place. He took me under his wing. He taught me how to fight. I still remember his voice,
We come into this life, kicking and screaming, bursting with all the energy. There's no shame in having to fight. There's no shame in having to kick and scream. There's no shame in being a warrior. Pick up a sword and fight. Just reach out, Kid, and pick it up. That's all you must do.
It has been 3 years since I last saw him. He still looks the same if not hotter. I can sense the jealous looks coming my way for my luck. If only it's true, but he saw me as a kid for his 28 then. Unbeknownst to me, my mind compared him to Raphael. Kade is like a cheetah, looking harmless before pouncing. Whereas Raphael is like a lion, roaring and announcing his presence.
'You look good. Life treating you well?'
On that question, I lost my smile.
'What happened?'
'My Sister, Sophie, died'
'How?', he enquired.
'Some crazy psychopath, you know that serial murderer who murders auburn hair girls. He got her. It's stupid, she was like a timid flower, never harming anyone. Why her? She suffered a lot already. It wasn't her time to go. She was finally getting a chance to live happily and now this. ' I ranted pouring my frustration on him.
He got a thinking look on his face. 'Guilty?'
'Yes. I wish I searched for her', I said deflated.
'Here looks. Maybe you could feel better after this', he handed me an envelope.