Drinking In Broad Daylight
1409 Words
When they arrived at the first floor, Amanda’s attention was immediately drawn to a scuffle in the main lobby.
“Please honey, can’t we talk this out at home?”
“You don’t get it, Tania, I don’t want to see your face anymore! I already moved out of your apartment. Just sign here and we’ll be done with each other.”
Amanda sighed heavily. What a shitty day. She glanced at the security behind her. “Do you mind if I take this last case?”
“Not at all.”
Amanda nodded and stomped towards the couple. “What’s going on here?”
Tania turned, her face flush with embarrassment. “Oh, Ms. Pierce, it’s… it’s nothing! I’m sorry for the disturbance. We’ll take this outside.”
She grabbed her husband’s arm and tried to drag him out but he shook her off violently.
“Shut it, Tania. I’m not going anywhere until you sign this marriage annulment agreement. I saw your medical report, you’re barren! This is a fraudulent marriage!”
Tania sobbed, “No! No… it’s not like that. It’s not 100%, there is still a chance for pregnancy, it’s just a little harder.”
“Just stop, Tania. You know I’m the only son in the family and I want a big family. You can’t give me that so just sign here and we can part ways.”
Amanda watched Tania’s stout body racked by sobs. She grimaced and stood in front of Tania.
“Sir, this is a public space. I will have to ask you to leave.” She gestured to the security behind her and they walked up.
The man looked at her box of personal items and sneered, “Mind your own business! You’re just some poor sacked woman.”
Amanda turned and placed her box into one of the security men’s hands. Leading Tania to a corner of the lobby away from prying eyes, she placed a soft hand under Tania’s chin and lifted it gently.
“Women should never look to the ground in front of imbecilic men. He doesn’t know what he’s just signed away. Do you still want to fight for this marriage?”
“I… don’t… know,” Tania only managed to spit out between sobs.
“What’s there not to know!? Just sign here and let go.”
Tania started to weep in distress so Amanda held Tania’s hands in her own. Tania leaned on Amanda’s shoulder and sniffed, slowly gaining her composure. After a while, Tania looked up into Amanda’s gentle eyes and whispered, “If it were you, what would you do?”
Amanda thought long and hard before she answered solemnly. “Annul the marriage.”
Tania’s eyes furrowed, “Why?”
“If he doesn’t love me for just me, then it’s not going to work out. Today he’ll ask to annul the marriage because I’m barren, tomorrow he’ll divorce me because he found someone better. Thank heavens you’re still young and he didn’t waste all of your youth. Ditch this moron and find someone better.”
Tania sniffed, before she could say another word papers were shoved under her nose cutting her chin. Tania pulled back from the sharp pain and a small red beading line appeared on her face.
Amanda inhaled sharply, her eyes widened as she saw the blood mix with the salty tears.
“Oh sorry about that,” the man muttered nonchalantly, “Just sign here, will you?”
Tania sniffed and took the pen to sign. The moment she did, the man smiled, snatching the paperwork he turned to leave.
“Hey! You forgot something…”
The man turned, “Huh?”
CRUNCH!
The man crashed to the floor and blood splattered across the marble floor. He held his bloody nose gingerly and glared up at Amanda.
“f*****g b***h! I am going to sue you for assault!”
Amanda shrugged, “Who saw it? Did you guys see anything?”
The security guards looked at each other, “Nope.”
The man screamed, “They must have security cameras!”
“Oh there are and there aren’t many blindspots, save this one,” Amanda waved around her, “That punch was for being an asswipe of a human. Now get out.”
Tucking her brown hair behind an ear, she turned and patted Tania’s back kindly. “Ask for the rest of the day off and rest. Don’t lose any sleep over this trash.” Saying her piece, she took her personal box back from security and walked out with her head held high.
***
“Who is that?”
Johnson stood with his friend and fellow billionaire, Dustin Roger. Johnson had wanted to call security but Amanda stepped in before he could do anything. Both men watched mesmerized as Amanda did a number on Tania’s husband.
“Huh?”
Dustin snorted, “The brunette who just decked the man.”
“Oh, that’s our HR supervisor, Amanda Pierce. Looks like my old man finally pissed her off and she quit. What a pity…”
Noticing Amanda leaving, Dustin waved absantly at Johnson and hurried after her, “Let’s reschedule. I need to go.”
Johnson raised a hand grabbing air. “Hey… hey!!”
Dustin was an old friend and Johnson knew Dustin tried to pursue his ex-wife last year but failed. Now Dustin is just a rich bachelor with a broken heart. Johnson smiled wistfully, maybe the poor bastard’s getting a second chance.
***
Amanda sat on a stool at an empty bar sipping from her glass. This was the first time in her life she went drinking in broad daylight. She had passed by several bars on her way home but they were all closed, she finally found this one that was cleaning before the start of business. When the owner saw that she desperately needed a drink he opened early for her.
Amanda sighed loudly and sipped her cocktail.
The owner glanced over while wiping the counter. “Want to talk about it?”
Amanda sighed again, “I just quit my job on the spot because of a shitty boss.”
The owner snorted and poured himself a glass of whiskey before he raised it towards her. “f**k him!”
Amanda grinned, “Yeah, f**k him!”
The doorbell dinged and the owner looked up, “Oi! We ain’t open for business yet!”
The handsome blonde man’s eyes settled on Amanda. “Who is she then?”
The owner looked at Amanda and whispered, “Is this the fucker?”
Amanda glanced over to the open door and then looked back down. “Nope. Don’t know him.”
The owner nodded, “Well, I guess one customer or two won’t make a difference. What can I get you?”
The man sat down a stool down from Amanda. “What she’s having.”
Amanda looked up and acknowledged him properly. “You should change your order.”
“Why?”
Amanda downed her drink, “Mine is lightweight. You’ll want a more potent poison if you’re drinking in the middle of the day.”
Amanda stood up and dug into her purse but the owner waved his hand. “It’s on the house. You’ve had one hell of a day, someone may as well show you some goodwill.”
Amanda smiled and nodded, “Thank you for your hospitality.”
The owner smiled and winked. “Good luck out there.”
Amanda snorted, “Yeah, I’ll need it.”
The owner shook his head and turned to the blonde man. “Have a seat, I got to grab some stuff from the back and I’ll make your drink when I’m back.”
The blonde man didn’t say anything but just watched Amanda walk up the steps and open the heavy door to the bright outside world. Quietly, he took out a hundred-dollar bill and slapped it on the table before walking after Amanda.
When the owner came back with a box of wine bottles, the first thing he noticed was that his store was empty and he frowned. Where did the man go? He saw the crisp bill on the counter and rushed out of the store. Was the man a stalker?
Looking left and right frantically, he didn't see either customer. With a heavy sigh, the kind-hearted owner went back down to prep for opening.
- Writer
