The Minister’s Obsession

Chapter 9

Marissa

Marissa could have spent the weekend resting, probably under different circumstances. But she didn't.

Her work took priority. And it was still unfinished.

There were still chunks of data left to organise, but she was sure that she could finish it all before Monday. Thinking about the end of it brought her relief. And she held on to that.

She would finish the task, hand it in and be done with Adam and his games. Things would go back to how they used to be. She could even petition to get her old project back fully.

By late afternoon, she had worked up quite an appetite. It was harder to ignore the hunger now that she was working at home on the weekend, so she ordered in instead.

She went back to work while waiting, and in thirty minutes, the doorbell rang. It was here.

But when Marissa went to open the door, it wasn't the food delivery person standing there. It was Yosef.

"It's you." She said, surprised at his unannounced visit.

"Surprise." But he didn't sound too pleased.

Marissa stood there, not sure of what to do. And Yosef stood on the other side, waiting to be invited in.

"You should have called..." she started to say, but then regretted it.

His expression shifted just slightly. "Yeah, Mar, I did."

He stepped past her and into the apartment. Before Marissa could get a word in, he added. "You should check your phone."

She shut the door and then went to her room to find it. There were dozens of notifications. Most of them were from him asking if she was okay, worrying why she didn't answer, asking if something was wrong...

Before she could properly process any of that, the doorbell rang again. This time it was the deliveryman. Yosef had already collected the food and set it down when she reached.

He gave him a tip, shut the door, and then came back to sit.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. And the silence felt off.

"Thanks for..." Marissa started to say, but Yosef waved her off.

"How's the project?" He asked.

"Almost done." She said.

Silence again. The weird energy between them was unusual. It bothered her.

"Look, Yosef, I'm sorry I've been MIA," she said, scooting closer to him on the couch. "And for making you worry like that. It's just been—"

"—It's fine, Mar, really," he replied. "You don't really owe me an explanation."

"Right," Marissa said, rolling her eyes playfully at him. "If that were true, you wouldn't be here right now."

He huffed a quiet laugh. "Maybe," he said with a look. And Marissa could feel the earlier tension in the air ease.

"I know you're busy, so I'm not staying long."

"You're welcome to, though."

Marissa took the food to the kitchen, calling over her shoulder. "Want some?"

"Nah, thanks. I have a date later." He said, appearing at the doorway.

"Ouu."

"I did call to tell you about it, but you weren't answering..."

"Is she from work?"

"Nope."

"Interesting..."

"Anyway, I should go."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. You're alive, so..."

"Right."

Yosef put on his jacket and walked to the door, and Marissa followed.

"You work too hard, you know. Don't let anyone take advantage of you."

Marissa felt uneasy at the statement, though she knew he was trying to help. "It's not like that—" she started to say. But Yosef cut in.

"I know. Just saying." He didn't push it further.

Right. Marissa nodded, storing the information away.

"Alright. See you later." He turned towards the door. And just as he was about to close it behind him, he paused and turned. "You owe me lunch on Monday," he said.

Then he was gone in an instant. Marissa didn't have the chance to protest. She shook her head, and a small smile slipped through.

***

Monday finally arrived, and with it some clarity.

By the time she got to the office, she felt ready. More than ready.

She had done a good job. She knew she had.

Whatever bad blood there was between her and Adam, Mr Minister, this show of her efficiency would settle it.

She arrived at the office much earlier than usual to go through her work one last time before turning it in.

At exactly 9:00 am, she attached the document to an email and sent it.

Finally. She felt like a burden had just been lifted off her shoulders, and she could finally relax. She leaned back in her chair and exhaled. She could finally breathe.

She headed to the break room to make herself a cup of coffee, then she went back to her desk.

She'd only been gone for twenty minutes, but there was a new email from Evelyn. It read.

Subject: Meeting

Mr Minister will see you now.

Of course, Marissa thought to herself. He wouldn't just let this go so easily.

She took a long sip of her coffee before standing up and heading to his office. Once again, Evelyn ushered her in.

This time, Adam was seated at his desk.

"Ms Hall, have a seat."

"Thank you." She responded, barely recognising her own voice.

Marissa still felt uneasy around him. She didn't know where to look. He was busy signing some papers, so she kept her gaze neutral, hanging in the space between them.

"I received your report. You completed it rather quickly." He said without looking at her.

Of course, he would think that. He'd probably thought she was going to fail.

"Yes, within the stipulated time—"

"—agreed." He cut in. Pausing before speaking again. "Unfortunately, it is inadequate."

Marissa was completely taken aback. "I'm sorry?"

"Considering your track record, I expected more."

What did he mean by that? She had turned it in less than an hour ago. How had he gone through it in such a short time? Did he even look at it at all? Was he trying to bait her?

"With all due respect, I don't see how the work is inadequate."

"That would suggest a limitation in your perspective, not in my assessment," he said.

He hadn't even looked away from what he was doing for one moment to break this to her.

She had done a good job at it. She knew she had. And now...

What was this?

"Then help me understand what you're assessing differently."

He stopped. Then looked at her. This time, Marissa kept her gaze on him.

"If I have to walk you through it, Ms Hall, then you're not ready for the level of analysis I require."

Now he was suggesting she was incompetent? Something hot and angry flared inside her.

"What does that even mean—" she stopped herself halfway, reluctantly adding. "Sir."

No one had ever pushed her to this limit. Not even Yosef.

There was something in his expression, a glint in his eyes that suggested he was intrigued by this.

He leaned forward, and suddenly the distance between them wasn't safe anymore. But Marissa didn't back down.

"It means, Ms Hall, that your work falls short." He paused. "And that leaves us with two options."

The tension between them was thick, but neither broke the stare.

Adam continued. "You revise it. Or I assign it to someone better equipped. Someone who recognises an opportunity when it's placed in front of them."

Before she could think it through, her lips spoke for her. "Fine."

And there it was once again. The shadow of a smile, dancing on his lips.

"I thought you might say that," he leaned back. "Don't disappoint me again."

Marissa stood and walked out. She didn't care if he saw her stomp. She didn't care about anything but proving him wrong.

But she couldn't ignore the feeling in her stomach that this was just another trap of his, and she had fallen into it with her eyes wide open.