Chapter 2: THE CORRECTION
932 Words
BIANCA’S POV
“No, that's wrong sir,” I said.
My heart raced, he kept on talking, he didn't hear me at first. Murmurs and confusion started spreading.
“Excuse me”
The word flew out of my mouth louder than before.
Everyone turned, the hall went quiet immediately.
Gabriel turned to me, his eyes locked on mine. Surprised that someone dared to speak.
“There's a mistake, a miscalculation in the return rate. It should be twelve points five not five points two.”
The room went silent again.
“Oh no, why did I do this?” I whispered to myself.
One global investor looked back and smiled. “Is that so?”
Gabriel looks down to his papers, then back to the screen. He corrected the slide calmly and replied, “She's right.”
The murmurs increased.
The few investors who had been waiting to watch him make mistakes looked annoyed.
Gabriel went on like nothing had happened, but he kept staring at me like he had found an answer to the problem he was wanting to solve.
Then I realized that standing there after correcting a powerful person made me feel seen and wanted.
When the program ended, I tried to hide, but it was a bad idea.
“How do I hide now?” I said in my head.
Immediately a hand gently went around my wrist.
I turned.
It was Gabriel Wilson. He stood in front of me, too close. He looked more attractive and more intense.
His voice low, “You're new here? You're not my staff. Who are you?”
I swallowed. “Urm..”
He stared at me waiting for a response.
“Translator,” I replied.
“For which company?”
“Short term hire… I mean temporary hire,” my voice shook. “… For the summit,” I added.
He stared at me, not my face, not my clothes.
But my mind.
“You corrected me?” he said softly.
“No.. I corre.. The numbers,” I replied.
He let out a faint smile. “Many people in that hall would rather be quiet than to correct me in public.”
“Yes, I saw,” I replied.
He examined the almost empty hall, then went back at me.
“Follow me,” he snapped his fingers.
My brain screamed, “No,” but my feet said, “Okay.”
He led me through corridors, then into a glass-walled room. It was empty, just us.
He stood and so did I.
“So.. How did you spot the mistake so fast?” he asked, folding his arm.
“I study law.. Or I did.” I said, “I did more numbers in contracts.”
“Hmm, past tense?” he asked.
My chest tightened and I let it out. “I was a scholarship student. I lost my scholarship.”
“To what?” he looked up to me.
“Wilson Global bought my sponsor and canceled my scholarship.”
“Oh, I see,” he nodded.
He didn't say anything else nor did he apologize.
He replied calmly, “So you corrected the person you think is responsible?”
“You're getting it wrong. I corrected the numbers,” I said, trying to sound braver than I did.
I watch him stare at me like he's looking deeply into my soul.
“You need money, not just that. Help too” he said. He wasn't rude, he just told the truth.
“And you need someone who isn't scared to correct you in your numbers,” I said before I could stop myself.
He stared at me again, another long pause.
He stood up and walked towards his desk. He stopped and sat back on his chair.
“The meeting is over, we'll talk again tomorrow,” he said, finally breaking the silence.
The conversation ended like nothing had happened. I watched him close some files he had brought out. He stayed calm and stared at me like he hadn't just ruined my life after expressing my pain.
I turned away and left the hall. I walked home, but I didn't go straight home. I went back to the bakery, I stood outside. I saw my mum through the glass, she stood behind the counter looking slumped.
She opened the box where she kept money and began to count slowly. She stared at the bills, the little money in her hand and sighed.
My heart burned.
I hid behind the neighbor's shop's wall. I didn't want her to see me like this, empty and looking helpless. “She shouldn't be counting coins,” I said to myself.
Suddenly the bakery doorbell chimed. It was my little brother, “Mom, I'm hungry.”
My mum's face folded, then she smiled again.
“I know I'm coming, I was cleaning up,” she said, sliding the bill papers out of sight and folding the coin into her palm.
“Go get the bags”
He nodded and ran to the back.
Her smile faded when he left, tears running through her eyes. She sat down, her eyes closed for some seconds, long enough to show how tired she was.
I held my stomach and folded my lips, tears burning.
“I must fix this,” I said. “I must.”
I stepped back slowly before she saw me watching her struggle.
As I walked away, Gabriel's voice echoed in my head. “We'll talk again,” and this time I had no choice but to open up completely.
- Writer
