Tom and Betty

Chapter 6-Mad Woman

He stared at me with a slightly bored expression, his pen suspended on the paper, slightly shocked by my reaction. I could see how his eyes twitched in annoyance.

“I assume you didn’t read my email. I gave you the iPad to keep track of my emails.”

He resumed to sign more documents while I silently fumbled on the iPad and, indeed, he sent an email at 12:40am saying he had already made the report and there was no need for me to report to the office.

How the hell would I read this? 12:40 in the morning? No one reads an email that early!

“Okay, I’m sorry I overreacted, but do you honestly think we would read emails early in the morning? Yes, it’s part of our job, but please do respect someone’s time.” Way to get fired, Betty.

“You could’ve read it this morning, isn’t it the first thing you will do in the morning?”

“I was busy preparing your breakfast!” I know I will get fired after this, so I am taking it all out. I don’t want regrets in the end. Because I tend to get mad at myself for not saying what I want to say.

His face softened as his eyes landed on the lunch box I am carrying. Slightly scratching his head with his eyebrows up in the air, he is at a loss for words. It was the first time not to hear hurtful remarks from him. I stood there at a loss for words as well. I was astounded. I dared to shout at him. I don’t know if he is more shocked at me shouting or feeling bad for himself.

“I— sorry.” I must break the silence first before it gets more awkward than it is. I slowly put the lunchbox in front of him and made my way to my cubicle adjacent to his table. Unfortunately, my cubicle is all covered with glass, adding the anxiety of me being with him in one room. I tend to assume he is always looking at me from my peripheral vision. You know it, and you can feel it, right?

I slapped my mouth for not controlling my anger. I settled on my chair feeling bad for how I acted earlier. I turned to Mr. Dawson once again, but he is all so immersed in his documents.

“Betty, you messed up.” I was waiting for him to say I was fired or ‘go home’ but so thankful it wasn’t the case anymore. I can’t help myself but feel anxious about what happened. Time ticked by so fast it was almost lunch break and I didn’t know how I was supposed to tell him I would go take a break.

Knock knock~

My head snapped at the door and Mr. Dawson is staring at me with a blank expression. He was no longer wearing his coat and his eyeglasses still on.

“Aren’t you going to take a break? Follow me, Ms. Hernandez.”

He padded his way to the exit, and I made no time to lounge there any longer and followed him as he instructed.

He took me to one of the restaurants near the business center. Awkwardness really gets to me whenever we are alone together. I mean, is it normal to eat lunch with your boss together? He should be going out with one of the executives, but instead here he is sitting at the lone table with his personal secretary.

I stared at him while he said something to the waiter, nodding while pointing at the menu. I sometimes don’t understand this man’s attitude. He can be kind, thoughtful, but most of the time evil. The constant look he is always wearing while walking in the corridor, a straight face and scary-looking. I guess it’s his mask to let people think not to mess with him, or to gain respect from them. But here I am even shouting at his face. I try not to think about it anymore, the thought of it is crawling on my skin like spiders. How dare you, Betty.

“Ms. Hernandez, what’s your order?”

Mr. Dawson and the waiter are staring at me waiting for me to say something. So, I ordered the simplest dish I could get. Fresh greens and grilled meat on the side.

“About earlier, I’m sorry.” He muttered, not meeting my eyes. He is fumbling with his phone, scrolling up and down. Is he shy or something? A chuckle almost escaped from my mouth while I tried reading his actions. He is indeed shy and guilty about what happened. But I have something to be sorry about too.

“I’m sorry, too. I shouted at you sir.” He just nodded and, thankfully, bubbles of awkwardness slowly popped away and left us in peace.

“About that, you’re the only one who has the guts to raise a voice for me. But it’s fine. I know I have a fault too.” I know he is trying to intimidate me about what I did. He seriously doesn’t want to lose from this.

Now, that made me want the ground to swallow me up. My face will probably be as read as beets.

We finished eating with him, slightly discussing our upcoming meeting with the investors. He will be going to Europe next week, and, of course, I will be doing his report for real this time.

“I will let Robert drive you home early today. I heard you’re going to the party tomorrow?” he asked, looking at me over the rear-view mirror.

“Uhh yes, sir. I’m going with James. James Collins. He’s from the Impex Department. He—”

“Uh yes, I know him.” His tone suddenly turned cold, and I just shrugged it off as the feeling of nostalgia was slowly eating me away with the fact I would be going home early today.

We both parted our ways with him going to visit one executive in the third wing of the company. I walked alone to our office when Elizabeth and two of her friends came at me like bulldozers.

“Hey, come here.”

I pointed at myself at them waiting for me at the reception counter.

“Yes, you Betty. Come here.”

“Hey, how are you?” I asked weirdly. It’s so odd of them to talk with me during office hours. I mean, we were friends but not that close for them to call me over and have chit-chat.

“Is it true?” Rebecca, the one with short hair, asked first.

“What do you mean?”

“Is he really divorced, Ms. Jennifer?” Elizabeth whispered, pretending to be arranging some of her stuff, eyeing every passerby.

“What? How—How do you know all this?”

“So, it’s true.” Lila chimed in from behind me, carrying a stack of papers.

“Don’t worry, every single issue here can’t be kept a secret. Everybody knows everything.” Elizabeth smiled at me, noticing my nervous expression.

“So, what about it?’ I asked innocently.

“Girl, don’t you know? The issue here is you are the reason why he finally pushed through his divorce with Ms. Jennifer.”

That caught me off guard. What the heck? As far as I’m concerned, I arrived here at the company they were already planning a divorce.

“What?! No! That’s—”

“Betty!” I was interrupted by someone calling my name. James appeared right behind us with his hands in his pockets and a scowl on his face.

“Everybody, stop it! Breaktime is over.” James appeared raging like a bull. He is right on time to cut this conversation. I don’t like where this is heading to.

“Come on, let’s go.”

“Girls, that is not true!” I shouted whilst James dragged me slowly out of prying eyes.

“James? Where are you taking me?”

James looked at me straight in my eyes and I could clearly see how his face was shadowed with anger. Frustration? He is silent and I can’t make out if he is mad or just thinking something. He is acting weird right now.

“Is it true?” He asked calmly.

“True, what?”

“You already heard about it. Is it true?” a voice as hard as a rock. So different from the softy James I know.

That came out of nowhere. What made them think me and Mr. Is Dawson in a relationship? Instead of getting mad at the idea, a laugh escaped from my mouth.

“What are you thinking? I can give you a million reasons why I and Mr. Dawson is not in a relationship. Gosh, what happened to all of you? I have nothing to clarify nor to explain, James. I am not in a relationship with my boss. What made you all think that I am? You are all not making sense.”

Four employees are looking at me with disbelief in their eyes. Maybe they are thinking how come this ordinary lowlife woman had the audacity to say the Chairman’s name in the corridor and the word relationship.

I gave them a good glare and turned my attention to James, staring at me with wide eyes.

“Betty, wait!”

I stomped my way to the office and packed my bags hastily and almost bumped into someone as I made my leave. Mr. Dawson with his famous blank expression and long face. He probably heard about the issue and anger is clear evidence on his face. I can totally understand him. Who would want to have issues aside from the problems of the company? Here comes another problem? His reputation lies here.

“You don’t have to be affected by what they say. We both know what truly happened.”

His only remark before taking his turn at his table. I made no attempt to say anything. I am at a loss for words. So, I know now how it feels to be part of a somewhat big issue with big people. It doesn’t feel nice. Not a single part of it.

I’ve been here at this company for a good three months now and I am already with this issue. I hope I can stay here longer without killing somebody. I swear if I get involved in another issue, they will surely see what I can do. Psh, all talk Betty.

“Hey, where are you going?” Elizabeth shouted and I didn’t bother looking in their direction. Until a hand clamped on my arm, jerking me in surprise.

“Let me take you home.”

“You don’t have to. If you’re sorry, you could just tell me you’re sorry.”

“Betty, I insisted. I am so sorry, please just let me take you home. It’s the least that I could do.”

Gracing me with his infamous puppy eyes and sincere apology, I mean who would want to say no to that face?

“Fine. Just don’t say a single word about it.”

“Okay, I promise.”

A mellow music is blasting through his speakers. James is driving me home as he is sorry for what we had talked about earlier.

“I just can’t let you go home this way. I don’t want to go to the party tomorrow with you getting mad at your date. I just can’t.”

Thanks to James' light personality, instead of me getting mad at him, I ended up laughing. Sure, this man has charms that attract girls, and he uses them well.

“I just want to make you feel better.”

“I don’t know what made them think that Mr. Dawson and I are in a relationship.”

“I’ve known him for life. It was the first time he let his secretary handle almost all of his personal matters. He never goes out to have lunch with his secretary, nor lets them cook his breakfast, Betty.”

So, what are they implying? Mr. Dawson likes me? No way.

“Uh, wait. You know him for life? Are you his best friend?”

“Uhh—n—no. I mean, I’ve known him since I started working for the company.”

“To be honest, I did not apply for an assistant/secretary position. I applied for an associate, but Mr. Dawson offered me, uh no, he bribed me to be his secretary, double my salary, give me a free apartment and car in exchange for one condition.”

James looked at me for a good three seconds, making me slap his head to focus on driving.

“Sorry, what condition?”

“That I’ll help him process his divorce papers with Ms. Jennifer. I bet you know her, right?”

“He asked your help to push his divorce papers?!”

“Yes, It took me three weeks to go to her house just for her signature.”

“What did my—I mean, Ms. Jennifer say? Did she just sign it?”

“Yes, no questions asked. At first, I thought it was weird, but I guess her intention is clear after all.”

James was drowned in deep thought once again. Something is clearly bothering him.

We remained silent until we arrived at my apartment. It’s already past 4pm and I must prepare for tomorrow’s event and go straight to my apartment. I am a bit nervous for tomorrow. I must be there as early as I can since my boss will be attending too, so I must assist him no matter what.

I fumbled for one of my luggage and knocked something off. Picture frames. Of me and Ricky. Yep, the freakin’ Ricky Sullivan.

I don’t know what had gotten into me when I suddenly held the frame firmly. It feels like time stopped and it was just me and the frame. It was a picture of me and Ricky back when we were still in college. Back when we were still in love, free and young. A sudden pang of sadness washed over me. I cried and cried, not because I am still longing for him, but I am mad at myself for still feeling this way. I want this feeling to disappear. I am all too tired crying over him for no apparent reason. I must end this, or else I will be stuck like this forever.

Wiping the tears away, I shrug at whatever discomfort and distraction I have in my body and focus my mind on my main agenda tonight. Prepare for tomorrow’s event. It wasn’t long until Mom called me about how I was doing, if I ate on time, if I would visit them this summer. I obliged myself to say yes, though most of it is a big ‘No’, especially having meals on time.

“Mom, I’m okay. I will visit you and Dad this summer. That I can promise you.” Hearing my mom’s voice instantly made me feel good. Nothing can really make me this happy but hearing their voices, even over the phone.

“Sleep early, sweetheart. Good night. Call me tomorrow, okay?”

“Okay Mom. Talk to you tomorrow.” We hung up and I felt empty once again. But knowing that someone is always there for you and will never leave you alone, everything will be okay.