Just Like Work

Chapter 5. "Why are you sweating?"

The Aurelius :-

Maria was on lunch break , enjoying her coffee at the café on the first floor of the store’s building . When the break ended , Maria and her colleagues were talking about the transfer of their manager and the new one who would be taking his place when her phone rang . She excused herself to take the call . She had a quick chat with Soumya about their mother's health .

Once the call ended , Maria got into the elevator . She was alone and the petrified feeling of being trapped once again dawned on her . Her mother’s hospital bills were nowhere near over , her sister’s studies in Canada , and the most pressing of all , Anthony… she could handle the first two , but the last one had been giving her nightmares .

The memory of the time when she had met Anthony , in that very lift she was in . She had felt awful that day , and he had shown how scary he could be .

Flashback :-

[3 weeks ago]

Maria was in the elevator returning to the store after a coffee break . On the second floor , the elevator stopped , and a man walked in .

‘What the …?’ the man was wearing a very strong and peculiar perfume . "Did he pour the entire bottle or what ?" Maria thought as she kept her gaze straight at the elevator’s door and the changing red digits above , but keeping her distaste for the fragrance to herself was getting difficult . She tried breathing with her mouth and ended up coughing .

The man , who had also been minding his business , turned towards her .

“Sorry . Excuse me .” She spoke politely and caught a glimpse of the man’s face . “HIM !! Why ?” this time her breathing stopped involuntarily . It was then that she recognized the smell . It was Anthony , wearing the perfume that she had sold to David two days ago , she recognized the fragrance because it was the fragrance she had hated the most , “F**k my life ,” she cursed , regaining her composure while she took deep breaths to calm herself and act normal .

Anthony glanced once before going back to his stoic posture , chest out , hands in pocket , spine erect , and eyes looking straight ahead . Then he glanced again , “This girl ...?” He found her appearance familiar , he jogged his memory but nothing came up .

“What is your name ?” His heavy voice echoed between the metal walls .

“Excuse me ?”

“Your name ?”

“Why do you ask ?” she wasn’t interested in small talk with him . She answered like she would to any other person .

“You work here ?” He found her hostility to be interesting .

“I don’t . I'm not interested in this conversation ?”

“Why the uniform ?”

“Do I know you ?” Being uninterested wasn’t working , so she opted to be rude .

“Maybe …”

“I don’t . So , shut up now ...”

“aren’t you rude ?”

She didn’t respond . “Just 6 more floors .” She thought about calling for help but decided against it as causing a scene would only mean more trouble .

He smiled at the back of her head , then walked ahead to stand with his back leaning on the elevator door and narrowed his eyes at her . He could tell there was something familiar about her , but he couldn’t point it out .

She took a few steps back . His towering figure made the space feel tighter just like her limbs , as if they were getting stiff at the joints . She avoided eye contact with him while coming up with her escape route once the door opened .

He took a long and lazy look at her . There was something that sparked his interest , her eyes maybe , or the way she was trying to look tough despite her fear . “Why are you sweating ? Is it hot in here ...”

"Has he recognized me ? That can’t be . No , no.." She desperately wanted to be out of there , away from him . "Just 2 more ."

“A nameplate”. His big hand snatched the nameplate from her suit .

“Back off . Ba*tard .” She pushed him away , her fists up over her chest .

“Maria ... Nice to meet you .” His smile was mocking her .

“F**k OFF !” Her heart was again throbbing like it did that night at the Night Bridge .

He was about to say something , but a sly smile sealed his lips , he had a sudden rush seeing her sweating while throwing death glares at him .

"Just one more ," she readied herself , with her back pressed on the metal wall behind her . The images from the shootout at Night Bridge club flashed before her eyes , dead bodies lying across the room , the pool of blood , empty shells , and the pungent smell filling her nostrils . His perfume was strong , and the man was threatening in every way , she couldn’t risk another second . “F**k it.” she jumped to press the open button and ran out as soon as the door opened .

While Anthony still tried to recall where he had seen her . “Those eyes … I have seen them before ,” he mumbled with the nameplate still in his hands as he stared at the way she had disappeared through before the elevator doors closed . “Maria …”

[end of flashback]

Getting out of the elevator , Maria's hands grew sweaty as she imagined some worst-case scenarios , dreading what would happen next when she comes face to face with Anthony again .

“I need to get my finances in order…” She feared that she might end up on the list of unsolved missing cases any day . She would try her best not to but she knew how slim her chances were . The only thing in her control was that she minimised the suffering of those left behind . The least she could do was - make sure her sister doesn’t have to run from bank to bank in order to clear bills .

The bills reminded her of the instalment of the fees for her sister’s studies abroad , "The first installment won’t be an issue but the second and the one after that …"

“Why are you sweating ?” the attendant at the store’s door asked as she saw Maria entering .

Maria smiled awkwardly , wiping her forehead .“I thought I was late .” She said while breathing through her mouth , and rushed to the staffroom . She freshened up and went to her workstation for that day .

It was like any other ordinary day at work , but the latest encounter with that man , Anthony , refused to leave her alone . He was just as scary in the elevator and the car as he was that night in the club , with or without a gun didn’t make much of a difference . She could sense he was violent by the way he had stared at her . She had seen that look before too , many times at that , from her mother , her father , her school teachers , the employers where she used to work as house help with her mother , and the men she used to serve at The Night Bridge .

“Maria , the Manager called for you .” A colleague said , pulling Maria out of her thoughts . The girl escorted her to the Manager’s cabin door and left .

“Sir , you called for me ?” Maria arrived at the Manager’s cabin and found someone she never would have imagined meeting again . "Parth…" his name emerged on her lips as she was charmed by his sweet smile , all over again .

“Ms. Maria …” Parth called her name , reminiscing over something . “Uh… I have something that belongs to you …” his lips stretched in a broad smile , his eyes squinted in the shape of the crescent moon .

"Can he not smile like that…" She opened her hand and was surprised to see her nameplate . “Where did you find it ?”

“Mr. Anthony found it on his way here .”

Just the mention of the name alarmed her to check the room , and she found what she was looking for - Anthony , who had been sitting there all this time .

The fear crawled back in . There she was dreading her unforeseen future and the devil himself had arrived to help her .

“He found it on his way here .” Parth gestured at Anthony with a courtesy smile .

Maintaining her formal demeanor , she nodded . “Thank you , Mr. Anthony .”

Parth joined his hands , saying , “Mr. Anthony is our VIP customer , Please , help him out with selecting the best …”

“I can’t ,” she interrupted before Parth could finish . She would rather quit than be around him .

“Why not ?” Anthony stood up , his stance assertive .

She glared at Anthony and pulled Parth with her , outside . “I am a temporary employee . I can’t attend to clients personally . I don’t know how to .” She whispered.

“He says he loved the perfume that you picked for him last time . That’s why he is here .” Parth whispered back .

“I did that because we were short-staffed at that time . I just flung around . It was pure luck .”

Parth stretched his lips and said , “Ms. Maria , The thing is … he specifically asked for you . He is a regular .”

“Of course he did .” She huffed . “He looks threatening and kind of pervert . And I don’t get paid enough to put myself at risk .”

“What … no one is asking you to risk anything …”

If only Parth knew of the risk she was referring to .

“What if he harasses me or stabs me ? What then , the company won’t be compensating me or filing a lawsuit on my behalf ? Instead , you would fire me the very next day …”

“No , I wouldn’t . Why would I fire you ?” he was confused at first but understood her point . Rich brats do take the liberty of harassing people and getting away with it .

“…Because that would ruin the image of the store and upset your ‘permanent’ employees . Why should I risk it when I won’t even get the commission from his purchase ?”

“Okay . I see your point .” He thought for a minute . “I will help you out to sell him stuff , stick around ‘til he leaves , and I will take the commission and give it all to you . Sounds good ?”

Maria was hesitant but agreed , since it was her college ‘crush’ making the offer and commissions from the sales of exclusive items were really good … it was still risky , but the compensation and Parth's company made it worth it .

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