Aurora's Revenge

Girl's Night Out

Aurora POV:

"GOT IT! AND IT ONLY TOOK ten strokes.”

Friday evening, on hole seven of Potter’s Putt-Putt, Mabel performed a little dance that revealed she may have had one too many beers. It was the monthly ladies’ night and judging by the slew of high scores, none of the three of us would give the LPGA a run for their money any time soon.

White lights decorated the course’s trees. With temperatures in the seventies, it felt as if fall had finally arrived. Shrieks of laughter mingled with top-forty music blaring from loudspeakers. The mouthwatering scent of the snack bar’s trademark barbecue.

"You seem to be having a lot of fun" I grinned

"Every minute out of Mr. Angelo office is a time to be alive"

I couldn't help but imagine the hell I went through and pitied my ex colleagues. Now that I know how it feels to work under someone that truly values your worth, I couldn't imagine myself ever working in such conditions again.

"That bad?" I asked

"His temper grow worse daily, he flips on the slightest error and rages endlessly"

"I'm so sorry" I replied

"Come on, it has nothing to do with you. He has been that way and will always be a bitter soul"

"I don't know how much longer I can withstand him, it took every will power not to smack him Yesterday" Libby spoke for the first time. She has been awfully quiet the whole time.

"At this point, it seems to be doing it to intentionally frustrate us all, because I can't fathom any plausible reason for his madness. I'd stress to find him a secretary just for him to fire them for the most mundane thing, leaving a wide hole for us to fill." She continued "He fired this morning the seventh secretary since you left and within the first four hours of work"

"Firing someone on their first day is wild" I exclaimed.

"Unreasonably wild"

"What could she have possibly done?"

"Brought him a wrong file"

"A wrong file? I know he fidgets over the pettiest reason, but firing someone over that is quite low even for him"

"Every day I think he can't possibly gets any worse than this and he literally does the next day. Every day he sinks to a new low"

I couldn't imagine how worst he would have possibly grown to make Libby this frustrated. She wasn't the type to get so worked up easily. If Libby couldn't withstand him, I doubt anybody in the world could.

"But I wonder how lower he can go after today, he deducted a day's wage from Libby's salary"

"He did" I exclaimed "but why?"

"I forgot to take his mail to the post office. He claimed to have taken it to the post office himself, hence my work for that day doesn't count. It was the same as skipping a day at work."

So that's why I saw him at the post office.

"This is just insane"

"I know right. He's capable of driving the most patient woman on planet earth insane." Mabel said

Libby took another swing of her bear "patience is an illusion with him"

"Having to deal with that daily will be impeding on anyone's health" I said "Libby, shouldn't you quit if you can't take it anymore"

"Oh' Aurora, not everyone can be lucky as you. Quitting would be more catastrophic than having to deal with him every day if I can't find another job immediately. There are several bills to pay."

I sighed.

"This is depressing"

"We should stop making him more than a problem he is actually worth. Let's pick another topic, you are all sucking the energy out this exhilarating night, It's suppose to be a girls night. He can ruin my day,but no one and absolutely no one can ruin girls night." Mabel added

"Yeah, we should do that"

"You are yet to tell us about your new workplace. It was said he has a terrible personality too and get irked easily. And also makes workers cry"

I contemplated it in an heartbeat. The past few weeks has been nothing short of a bliss. I've had so much peace of mind I couldn't have possibly envisioned four months ago. It's bemusing how emotionally healthy a comfortable working environment makes an individual. I like my new boss heartily, my workers are so nice to me it's hard not to feel comfortable and confident with them. Nonetheless, my joy was clouded by my friends woes and the last thing I wish to do is gloat about how good I was having it, despite knowing they'd be rather thrilled to hear about my turn of fate than feel in anyway bitter about it.

"Nothing much to say, just that the reports as per Mr. Jordan are totally false, he's a good man, a really good man."

"A really good man indeed" Mabel teased. "I heard he is very handsome"

"God! No Mabel! Definitely not, I'd be stupid to make the same mistake twice"

"I never asked if you were in love with him, I was confirming his beauty. Or are you?"

I flushed red "No! Mabel! Of course, I would be stupid to do that again"

"Then tell me how handsome he is."

"Well, He is quite a sight for an eyesore"

"That is most definitely the most unorthodox description of the most handsome man on earth, it was said Mr. Angelo is just another average man compared to him"

"Well that's false" I interjected "Mr. Angelo is just as handsome, possibly more handsome"

I bit my tongue immediately I said it. They both threw me a smug.

"come it meant nothing, I was just stating the obvious" I added quickly, but it did nothing to change the smug on their faces.

"Do neither of you have any new man I should no about" I said, desperate to change the topic.

“Oh, sure. As you fully well know, I haven’t been with a man since Lyle, and he was a disaster.”

“Only because you didn’t put an ounce of effort into the relationship. It’s been four years since Hugh left you. You shouldn't stay lonely" Mabel said

“Who said I was?”Libby swigged her beer.

“And who are you to talk? When’s the last time you went on a date?” I asked

"Two weeks ago, thank you very much.” Mabel replied

"You believe her?" I asked

“Absolutely. It was with the UPS man. I witnessed him asking her in the front office.”

“Impressive…” I exclaimed

I push her aside.

"Let me show you how a professional does it…”

“Professional what?” she teased in a raunchy tone.

I struck at the ball cleanly, the shot landed my ball ten feet from the moat’s dragon. Sighing, she stepped over a second lily pad to set up for stroke three.

"Aurora" Mabel called excitedly

"What?"

"As much as it may seems like I'm teasing you... Your boss is here"

It took me quite a while to process it, I felt light headed immediately I did.

"Mr. Jordan?"

"Who else, unless you still consider Mr Angelo one"

"Hell no"

“Don’t look now, but he’s also headed this way…”

Libby downed the rest of her beer.

"Headed this way? As he seen us?"

"I guess so"

“He’s gorgeous.” Mabel chirped

I peeped from behind the pine to see him heading towards us. Clothed in a pair of faded Jeans, an University of Ohio T-shirt and a black cowboy boots. He looks so good it hurts to look.

Upon meeting his penetrating stare, I hit the ball all the way to Hansel and Gretel’s cottage on hole fourteen.

"Ladies" he tipped his hat to both Mabel and Libby. And extended his hands to me.

"Mr. Jordan" I replied, fully extending my hand to take his. I wanted to avoid to getting to close and maintain a safe distance as respectfully possible.

"Please, outside the work premises you can call me Leo" He replied

I caught with the corner of my eye, Libby and Mabel giggling already. I knew what awaits me.

He shook my hand warmly. When our fingers touched, I was unprepared for the breeze of awareness whispering through me. He abruptly released my hand, just like I hastily broke our stare. Had he felt that shift from ordinary too?

"And I suppose I may call you Aurora"

"Offcourse sir, you may"

"You ladies should carry on with your game, I'd hate to interrupt you"

"Why don't you join in" Mabel chipped in

I fixed her a cold stare.

"As much as I'd love to, I have somewhere to be now. Just thought I say hi"

"Thank you Mr Jordan."

"Please, call me Leo" He reminded "till monday right? Or if possible we run into each other again"

"Yes Leo"

"Doesn't that sound better"

Quite the opposite, it felt so awkward. But, nonetheless I nodded in agreement.

"Ok then, Goodnight, ladies" He tipped his hat again.

"Goodnight Leo" I replied

They waited a few seconds for him to dissapear completely out of sight and earshot before bursting into an uncontrollable laughter.

"No Mabel of course no, I would be stupid to let that happen again" she mimicked

"Look I tensed she was, I doubt she breathed once the whole time"

"Her face was all red when he shook her" Libby added

"I may have looked tensed, but it's certainly not what you think, It's not everyday you get to meet your boss in a place like this."

"Oh' please, you can delude yourself, but not us."

"Who tells their worker to call him by their name"

"A really nice one, I guess."

"Goodnight Leo" She mimicked

"Stop that" I hit her softly.

"Goodnight Leo" Libby chirped.

They both cackled with laughter.

I knew I wasn't getting off the hook for the time being. And decided to let them have their fun with it, it's the least they deserve after such a strenuous week. Afterall, that is what girls night was all about.

"Where will you find another secretary for Mr. Angelo" Mabel started "You have to, else we will be crush by the workload."

"I have no f*****g idea" She sighed " And if I did, she would probably get fired again with a week"

"I guess Aurora was irreplaceable afterall" She mumbled

As much as it sounded like a compliment, I wasn't happy with it.

"Do you think Mr. Angelo recent episodes is more or less tantrums because Aurora left?" Mabel asked.

"Why would you think that, he clearly never wanted me. If he is in anyway upset, it's because I am working with Mr. Jordan."

"People don't often value what they have till they lose it"

"A sad loss for them for not recognizing something of value and ending up losing it, sometimes too you don't know you've been settling for less till someone who recognizes your worth sees you." I said "And how on earth did you come to that conclusion?"

"Two secretaries before the last one he fired, he told her 'this is not how Aurora does it' before firing her"

"The poor soul must have wondered who Aurora was" I said. "But nonetheless, that doesn't mean he misses me as an individual, if he does, he will beg me to come back, He misses the slave like work I do for him. I was hell bent on serving him, I did everything without being asked. Now he wants everyone to do it, not everyone would be as naive as I was."

"Which leaves a wide gap for us to fill" she chuckled

"I'm sorry" I replied "Honestly I am. I can imagine how frustrating it is"

"Which......."

Her sentence was put on hold by my ringing phone. I wondered whom it was.... I wiped my face and stared at the phone again, the caller ID remained the same. Possibly I couldn't be dreaming, but if I was - I pinched myself and it hurts.

"What? Who is it?" Mabel asked, possibly noticing my change of facial expressions.

I turned the phone to her.

"Speak of the devil" She exclaimed "I guess he was going to plead with you to come back afterall"

"Who's that?" Libby asked.

I showed her the phone too.

"Well, pick up."

My heart was racing heavily, pounding violently because of a man I was dead sure sure I was finally over.

"Miss Hardy" I heard his rich baritone voice. It was surprisingly calm, just like the day at the post office. You'd wonder if this was the same man that was giving my friends hell.

"Mr. Angelo" I said "Quite a surprise"

"I know it is" he replied calmly "Can we meet up and talk over a cup of coffee"

That was very random.

"Why? I understand we are not in such friendly terms to be invited out of the blue" I replied "Mr. Angelo, if it's about the job, I'd have no choice but to decline."

"No, it's not" he replied abruptly "It's about your father's case" He added

I grew quiet.

"Hello, are you there?" He asked

"Yes, sorry, I am"

"So, how soon can we meet?" He asked "How about tonight?"

"No, it's too late already"

I was always conscious of the time at night, I can't leave my mother all alone.

"How about tommorrow morning 10:00am at Iliac Café."

"That's fine, I'd be there"

"Goodnight Miss Hardy"

He hung up before I had a chance to my Goodnights.

"What did he want?" Mabel inquired excitedly.

"He wants us to talk over a cup of coffee tommorrow.

"You just got invited to a date by Mr. Angelo" Mabel teased

"It's hardly a date" I replied

"What does he wants?" Libby asked

"He wants to talk about my father's case"

"I thought I saw him pulled a similar file but didn't want to jump into conclusions"

"So, what now, will you go?"

"Of course I will, it's about my Dad. I would have to hear him out"

I checked the time one last time.

"Girls I would have to head home"

"Why so soon? We are yet to finish our game" Mabel said

"You know I can't leave my mom all alone"

"Yeah true, we will be chanced to meet again. Surely not till the end of the month again"

"Of course not, we will figure something out"

"I miss seeing you everyday so much. It feels so empty without you" Mabel whined.

I pecked both cheeks before heading out.