Ashes Of Her Name

The glass doors of Sinclair Properties were colder than I expected. Or maybe it was just the sweat in my palms trying to make themselves known. A gast of cold air, probably from the various air conditioners, hit my face as soon as I stepped foot into the building. I’d practiced this walk two hundred times in front of Leila’s apartment mirror and here I was. I could not turn back now. I discreetly wiped my right palm on my olive green slacks as if to smoothen it, my left hand gripping my handbag tightly as I made my way over to the reception desk. The receptionist must’ve heard me approach her from the silent, clicking sound of my heels against the tiled floor because she started speaking even before I got to her desk. “Elena Bishop? 9am with Mr. Sinclair. 42nd floor. He’s expecting you” She finally glanced up, ran her eyes over me from head to toe, then quickly looked back down to take a black visitor’s card from her drawer and slid it across the marble. “You’ll need this. Elevators are to your left. Don’t be late” I picked up the card and quickly made my way into the elevator. As soon as the door slid shut, I slouched against the mirror wall, lifting my head up as I took long, deep breaths to calm myself down. I looked at the numbers that were blinking on the panel…1…2…3… My breathing stopped when it got to 7. Seven years, seven scars… Everywhere I looked in that elevator, I could see Elena Bishop slowly shrinking into the weak girl from seven years ago. My right hand immediately clutched the top of my blouse as my heart drummed against my rib in such a rapid motion. It felt like I was about to have a full on heart attack right there in that elevator. There was another ding. My eyes shot open to look at the panel. 20th floor. The doors opened but there was no one in the hallway. I sucked in enough air to ground myself back into reality. I could not be caught lacking on my first day. I opened my handbag with shaky hands and pulled out a tissue, gently dabbing under my eyes to prevent my makeup from messing up. Leila’s words began ringing in my ears. You’ve got this. He doesn’t know you and he never will. Not until we want him to. And she was right, she always is. He wouldn’t know even if he decided to pull his head out of his evil, self-conceited ass. I sucked in air like I was drowning underwater and forced my spine straight, rolling my shoulders back in the process. I’ve got this. By the time the elevator reached the 30th floor, my hands were still shaking and by 40, I was Elena Bishop again and I was not about to be stopped. The doors slid open once the panel showed 42 and I stepped out with a soft smile etched on my face like I hadn’t just died in there for 15 seconds. *** “Miss Bishop,” I heard as soon as I entered the rather large office of my boss, “you’re late.” I checked my wristwatch. Liar. I was three minutes early, just seven years too late. “I’m sorry Sir, I had a bit of trouble getting up here” I apologized looking at the man whose dark-haired head was fully immersed in whatever document he was signing. I stood there for a couple of seconds before he finally raised his head, looking at me with familiar green eyes for just a second. Eyes that loved to invoke pain and fear in others. My demeanor was calm and steady alright, but my heart wasn’t. He looked back down, going through his document again. “I’m certain whoever scraped you off the unemployment line mentioned two important things. First off, I despise incompetence. Two: I never give second chances. This isn’t a daycare, Miss Bishop. This is my kingdom and I don’t suffer fools or their excuses in it. So you have five seconds to quit with what’s left of your dignity, or I’ll take the pleasure of not just firing you…I’ll erase you. From this industry. From this city. Am I understood?” Typical Roman “Clearly, Mr. Sinclair. I’m sorry this is never going to happen aga-“ I bit my tongue slightly in annoyance when he cut me off. Stupid fucker. “Cleveland…you left everything. Why?” he asked, his eyes slowly raking over me from head to toe. I shivered slightly in disgust. He never looked at you… “Right. I…uh…lost my husband a year ago to cancer. It’s just been me from then and everything there kinda reminds me of him. I just needed a fresh start and what better place to start afresh than New York. Plus there are also a lot of opportunities here” “Kids?” My heart stopped for a second. Maya’s innocent face flashed before my eyes, but I quickly gathered myself. “None, Sir” he nodded. Lie number one. “I expect a cup of coffee to be on my desk by 8am each day. Black, no sugar and served at 160 degrees. See HR for any other necessary information. Get out.” he commanded, shooing me away with his left hand as he attended to his documents once again. “Thank you” And with one final look at the man who turned my whole life upside down. I backed away and turned to the door. He won’t know what hit him. Not until I was done erasing him.