Love comes knocking

I’m fired?

Did my boss just tell me I got fired? For an accident with coffee? Surely not. I managed to pull myself together, open my mouth, and stutter: “Mr. Hayes, it was an accident. I am sure we can fix your computer and…”

He was not amused and clearly had no time for me, but shouted “Sally!”. I did not try to argue with his red angry face, but shut my mouth and let him continue. “Your performance has gone downhill the last couple of weeks. You ordered the wrong food for our board meeting last week, we wanted meat sandwiches not those vegetarian wraps you got us. I am sure you are only working at half-pace at the moment. And now you have ruined my computer!”

My ears were ringing. Wrong food? Ava, the other secretary, had called to tell me that Mr. Hayes said he wanted the veggie option. Working at half pace? I was trying to fill in his new control lists at the same time as doing my normal duties. Did he think the lists magically appeared filled in on his desk every morning?

 “I cannot have someone like you here and I DO NOT want to see you here again!” He had finally come to the end of his rant. My eyes filled with tears as I realized there was no way of reasoning with him. I quietly left his office, grabbed my handbag from my office, exited the building, and found myself on the street, tears coming down my cheeks. Without a job, I would have no money. How would I be able to get a present for Carl’s birthday next week?

I did not think this day could get any worse. Well, it did.

I turned to go home, go to bed and try to restart this awful day. Carl would have left for work by now, so I fished my phone out of my bag and tried to call him to tell him the news. I could really use some comfort right now and I knew the sound of his voice would calm me down.

Carl did not pick up his phone. I tried to redial a couple of times but realised he might be in a meeting. I texted him: “Something happened. Really need to hear your voice XX”. By the time I was done, I was standing outside the apartment building where we lived. I opened the door and ran inside and up the two flights to our apartment.

I thought I heard some weird sounds as I was standing outside our door, digging through my bag for my keys. Maybe it was my neighbors’ cat. They had just gotten a lovely Bengal kitten and it did not appreciate being left home alone during the day. I shrugged as I found the key and could inserted it in our door.

The lock did not turn. Was our door unlocked? Maybe someone had broken into our apartment? I stopped to listen for sounds and thought I could hear someone moaning through the door. Maybe Carl had been in the apartment as the burglars came! I needed to check that he was OK!

I pushed the door open. A pink sweater was dropped just inside and there was a hint of jasmine perfume in the air. Strange, I thought. I registered Carl’s black shirt next to a white top on the floor further into the flat before I heard the sounds. Someone was clearly enjoying themselves inside. My eyes teared up again as I followed the trail of clothes from the entrance door to our bedroom.

 The bedroom door was open. A petite dark-haired and very naked woman was clearly enjoying herself in our bed. Carl had buried his face between her legs and was massaging her left n****e with his right hand. He seemed to be using the fingers on his left hand inside her. She moaned in pleasure, her back arched. Her hands were gripping Carl’s hair, holding on and pulling his hair.

He flat out refused to give me this treatment the two times I begged him, but it seems he did not deny others. His eager work at the moment suggested that he was more than happy to please this other woman in this way.

My handbag must have slipped out of my hand and made a loud noise as it hit the floor. The two in bed startled and turned to look at me. I could feel my face turning red in embarrassment for finding them and was angry with myself for the reaction. At least it stopped the tears.

“Don’t let me interrupt. Please continue,” I spat out, turning on my heel to get out of here. I was already shaking my head at my stupidity for letting them discover me and for my insane choice of words. I could hear Carl behind me yelling “Sally!” as I ran through the door, down the stairs, and out on the street. What was I to do now?

I did not want to face Carl with juices from another woman dripping from his chin, but I had no idea where to go. My face was getting wet with tears again and I found myself running in the direction of The Corner Coffee. Ryan was standing outside, enjoying the sun, and probably heard my heavy breathing approaching. He turned in my direction looking startled.

“Sally! What happened?” He opened his arms to welcome me and I threw myself at him, burying my face in his chest.

“I just…” I managed to say before my voice disappeared.

“How about some coffee,” he answered.

Ryan guided me with his strong arms into the coffee shop, past the tables and counter, and into the back room. How had I failed to notice how strong and compassionate he was? Not to mention how good he smelled of coffee, vanilla, and chocolate.

Ryan helped me sit down. “Hang on a minute,” he said and disappeared into the coffee shop. I looked up and found myself in a corner of the kitchen, seated by a small round table with a red-checkered tablecloth. There were 3 more chairs around the table; one of the chairs was holding a stack of magazines.

I heard the familiar noises of the coffee machine before Ryan reappeared with a full cup in his hand and a worried look on his face. He gave me the cup and sat down.

“I thought you could use a pick-me-up. You look like you’ve lived through seven years since this morning!”

“Well, I kinda have,” I admitted.

“Care to talk about it?”

“I… I don’t know…” I wanted to tell someone about what happened, but I did not really know Ryan THAT well. I didn’t get to explain further, as we heard the shop door open. “Sally?” It was Carl’s voice. How could he already have found me?

I sent a panicked look to Ryan, who smiled reassuringly and whispered: “Let me take care of this!”