CHAPTER THREE
1084 Words
CHAPTER THREE
BEE’S POV
The day wore on without drama.
I was already savoring how peaceful it turned out to be when the door fell ajar. I sprang up, like one who had just sat on a pin when I saw who walked in.
“Good morn…”
“Shut up that foul mouth of yours.”
I shook like a leaf on a stormy night.
“How dare you sit behind that rotten wood, wasting away the most priceless asset I’ve got when there is a thousand and one meetings I need to attend to, huh?” He thundered.
An apology would have done the trick, but the words died on my lips when his next statement hit me.
“And why does this place have a sh*tty odor, are you sure you’ve taken a decent bath this morning?” Pain jabbed at my heart. I could only nod.
He wasn’t relenting.
“You were supposed to accompany me to the board of directors’ meeting, so you can take notes. But as it stands, you smell like ham, and those rags you have on are not befitting enough for my clients either, it will rather chase them before it got started.” He said, scanning me from head to my toe disgustingly.
I wore a sparkling white shirt over navy blue corporate pants that flared at the ankle. I wore flat, well-polished shoes, applied light makeup on which I knew made me look prettier. Gina confirmed it. I had a good splash of Gina’s oil perfume, which had an alluring fragrance. I stared down at my outfit. He called rag and at that moment wished the earth could swallow me up.
The embarrassment was choking, I couldn’t breathe, I struggled hard not to show any emotion.
He stormed out of my workspace after retrieving the file he needed from my table.
I slumped into my seat and sobbed. I allowed the tears to flow, without restraint. Did I deserve all the ill-treatment I was getting? What is my offense? What wrong have I done against Mr. Page that is beyond pardon? These and many more questions haunted me, seeking for answers I didn’t have to give.
I went about my work wearing a gloomy face until about noon, when a loud commotion in the building brought me out. Feet were racing to and forth across the floor where the boss’ office was located. I hurried out to find out what the noise was about.
Just then, I bumped into Mr. Charles, the company’s accountant general. Sprinkles of gray hair adorned his jet black hair. A horrified look replaced his usual bright looks.
“What’s with the commotion?”
“Come with me, Bee.” He turned to leave before I could even open my mouth to respond.
“What in God’s name is the matter?” I kept asking as we rode the elevator down to the first floor. We were getting closer to where the noise was the loudest. I could make out the sound of an ambulance blaring in a not so far away distance. When we got to the first floor, the ambulance was just pulling into the driveway. Deep down I knew that whoever was the victim was in a very critical condition.
The ambulance had hardly stopped when two paramedics with a long stretcher rushed out. It was then I realized who was at the center of the entire commotion rocking the peace of the company.
None else than my arrogant boss.
His white, spotless, well-ironed shirt had a splash of tomato color on it.
“Blood!” I gasped.
His feet wobbled lifelessly as he was laid on the stretcher. A part of me felt really sorry for him, but the other part badly wanted to laugh and scream. That serves you right. But an unusual sympathy raptured every fiber in me.
The ambulance door was slowly closing up, I didn’t know when I sprinted across towards the two paramedics who were already getting into the ambulance.
“Hey wait, please… p…permit me t.to come with you.” I panted.
“And who are you, his wife?” One of them asked, giving me a stare that bore deep into my soul.
My bowels turned inside out at the thought of that possibility. I couldn’t even imagine it ever happening. Not in reality. Not even in my dreams.
“No… No… I’m his personal secretary”. I quickly thrust my identification card in front of her as proof. I felt almost naked under the scrutiny of her eagle-like looks.
The driver honking cut it short.
“Jump right in now.” The male paramedic on the team ordered.
I did as instructed without a second thought.
Inside, I sat a few feet away from the stretcher bearing Mr. Page. It was the first time I had the opportunity of being really close to this all-powerful man who made every day at work miserable for me, driving me nuts all day long.
I wondered what his reaction would be like if he found out that the shitty girl he constantly reminded of how awful her clothes smelled was the same girl sitting right next to him now. I smiled at the thought. I couldn’t wait to see what he will do when he finally opens his eyes, and I’m the first person he sees.
But something else caught my attention instantly. His face. His usual robust clean shaved face had turned pale, a little purplish, which brought the memories of June 29th floating on my mind. I stifled a sob. I never wanted to relive that experience again, but the scene playing right in front of me was an exact replay of that day, only this time it wasn’t Mr. Page but a nineteen-year-old boy with a striking resemblance to me on the stretcher.
I saw a younger version of myself sobbing at his side as the ambulance sped along to the hospital. I blinked, the tears clouding my vision and the memory vanished. They were baggage from my past that was rather left in the past where they belonged.
One quick look at Mr. Page face again, and I knew if we didn’t make it in time to the hospital, we would be announcing the demise of the CEO of Klint & Sons.
Despite his earlier unruly attitude towards me. I caught myself saying a short prayer for him.
I don’t know why I did it.
- Writer
