Rona again shouted and shrieked but Richard did not stir. Rona approached him in a flash and hit him hard but still Richard did not move nor display his emotions. Then suddenly, tears started to fall in his poker face. Rona realized that Richard was extraordinarily different. He was so distant. Suddenly, a fear enveloped her as she felt her palms sweating. She hugged him but still Richard stood still without even looking at her.
"What was happening? Richard! honey, please talk to me". She was in a panic and run to call for help. One of their employees hesitated for a while but took courage to tell her that Richard was in the office for three days now. They presumed that he also had not had good sleep nor food. "He never left the office and never asked for food or any assistance from us We tried to tell him to take a rest but he assured us that he is fine and asked us to go back to work."
Rona's knees trembled, she felt weak and can't control her tears anymore. Once it escaped from her eyes and she burst it all out. She hugged Richard and slowly fell down, knelt in his feet and cried so hard. It was the first time employees saw Rona cried in defeat. Though Rona was not that good to them, they still pity her. One of the employees, an old lady who was there in the same corner of the office for several decades now stood up and gently touched Rona. She slowly assisted her to stand and hug her tightly. She was whispering something that only Rona could hear. Perhaps, she knew her well. At her age, she might have witnessed how the spoiled Rona grew up. Her ups and downs including her tantrums. Everyone stood quietly, oblivious of breaking the tiny strand that would bring Rona to her usual monster personality. They hear few sobs but it never happened. The monster is defeated. Hopefully for good. The old lady did it. She succeeded in making Rona calm. She led her to sit in the nearest couch. The old lady signalled one to get a glass of water for Rona to drink. She also politely asked the employees to go back to work. Since it's Friday, Rona ordered them softly to go home early. For all the time that this happened, Richard was there, standing still at his previous location. Tiny sobs came out from Rona, her face is showing an invisible pain.