"This morning the city awoke with surprising news of the arrest of Mr. Daryl Smith, the hotel tycoon who just recently reconciled with his wife after a brief separation. The reason for his arrest remains unknown as the police are being tight-lipped about it, but there are rumors of Mr.Smith allegedly sexually assaulting a young woman named Evelyn Wright whom he had a brief dalliance during his separation. Are the rumors true that is what is going through everyone's mind but we will provide you with an answer when we know more" the newscaster finished up and moved on to other news?
Evelyn who had stared at the television in a trance came back to reality when she felt the scorching heat of the stares of everyone around her. Her inside filled with anxiety spurring her to flee from the scene heart racing hands shaking so badly that she had to clench her fist together to keep it steady. Her mind filled with the chant, " everyone knows" and that was not helping her calm down.
Pressing the lift button harshly with trembling fingers Evelyn tried not to fall apart as her mind presented her with various scenarios of how her colleagues will react to the news of her rape and none of those scenarios were palatable to her.
The lift was taking it's sweet time to arrive and the presence of so many people besides her also waiting for the lift was increasing her discomfort level as she imagined all the worse things they could be thinking about her now, and the piteous looks they are likely casting her way, which Evelyn wouldn't see because her gaze was firmly cast to the ground.
The lift finally arrived, Evelyn made her way to the back and relaxed her back and head against the wall closing her eyes as if to block out the world if only temporarily.
The small interior of the lift felt stifling as if there was no air, and Evelyn had to take in a deeper breath to feed her lungs the deprived air, she couldn't wait for the ride to be over. Once the lift opened to her floor she was rushing out and looking for the nearest bathroom. Running into one she immediately went into an empty stall and threw up the content of her stomach.
Done and feeling like every organ in her body came through her mouth she made her way slowly to the sink thankful that she was the only one in the place.
Staring at herself in the mirror, Evelyn was not surprised at what was staring back at her. Her eyes were sunken, her cheeks bones more prominent, her cheeks hollow. The whole incidence has taken its toll on Evelyn starting with the sleepless nights filled with nightmares and the endless thoughts of how she was going to get through this.
Evelyn bet towards the sink, splashing cool water to her face which helped cool her down but did little to alleviate the tension the news created in her body.
Her phone rang juggling Evelyn out of her thoughts. Getting it out from the back pocket of her jeans she looked to see it was Elena. Contemplating whether to pick or not she picked it.
"Where the hell are you? "Elena barked into the phone. She has just arrived back to the complex with her intern only to reach the office and turn around to tell her something and she wasn't behind her. She had waited thinking she might have forgotten something but forty-five minutes is passed and her missing intern is yet to make an appearance.
Evelyn shook from the harsh tone of her boss, as it added more tension to her already tensed body. I went to the bathroom, Evelyn answered meekly.
"Please get your ass back here I have an errand for you, "Elena ordered into the phone. Cutting the call without giving the young woman chance to respond.
Evelyn released a fearful sigh as she wondered how she was going to brave it out there. The option of just walking out of here and never look back sounded so appealing to Evelyn that she considered doing it, but the thought of allowing Daryl Smith to cost her one more thing upon that which he has already taken made her put on a brave facade a far cry from what she was feeling but will serve for now till Evelyn is where she can freely fall apart.
Touching up her make up Evelyn left the bathroom to meet her boss who hopefully keeps her fully occupied with work and not give her mind a chance to frustrate her with so many bad thoughts.
Evelyn took a deep breath at the entrance of the working room before she entered. The whole place grew quiet at her appearance like a ghost just passed. Without any visible glance in any direction, head held high Evelyn made her way towards Elena's office. The stares followed her like bees to honey, the whispers like a buzz of mosquitoes feeling her ears with unwanted but incomprehensible sounds.
Evelyn wished she could swat them away knowing that it was about her but she couldn't, so she did what she could and that was toned them out. She tried not to care what any of them thinks, believing that no matter what they are all going to have an opinion of what happened and the real truth is not going to matter.
She reached her boss door, grabbing the handle she opened and made her escape from all the whispers and stare. Inside the room, Evelyn couldn't help leaning against the door with eyes close and giving herself a moment.
Elena heard her door open, she looked up intending to scold her intern for disappearing when she saw the look on her face. She looked pale and panicked. So she swallowed the harsh words already at the tip of her tongue and instead asked "What was wrong."
At the sound of her boss speaking, Evelyn leaned away from the door and opened her eyes to be faced with the sharp blues of her boss.
"Nothing, "she whispered beneath her voice looking down.
"What happened between you and Mr. Smith?"
His name made Evelyn's heart skip and not in a good way. So she also heard the news Evelyn thought without answering.
Few seconds without either woman talking as Elena waited for her intern to answer. She heard part of the news when she got upstairs but hadn't believed it because where will her intern have met the business mogul, I mean their world is desert apart, but the look on the young woman's face was saying otherwise.
"Will you tell me what happened? "Elena asked softly.
Evelyn looked up at her boss and only saw curiosity mixed with compassion in her gaze something that is so foreign to those intense blues and what convinced Evelyn to unburden herself to her boss. When she was done the familiar river was once again tracking down her cheeks. Evelyn wiped it away with the paper towel her boss stretched out to her and when she looked back at her, she was able to see behind the aloof and detached look to glimpse the familiar pain. A pain that was becoming so familiar to Evelyn.
"You have experienced this? haven't you?" Evelyn asked softly.
Elena's gaze softened in the young woman's direction before she allowed her thoughts to dig up the most painful and dirtiest moment in her life. She understood quite alright what the young woman was going through.
"I was fifteen and the person was a teacher of mine who I had foolishly thought fancied me but just wanted only one thing from me which he took forcefully when I refused him, and my parents being the assholes they were didn't want a scandal so the whole thing was swept under the rug.
Despite how robotic her boss sounded Evelyn was still able to hear the pain riddled in her words. "How did you get over it?"
Elena closed her eyes remembering all the bad roads she took and the choices she made just to escape the shame and pain that came from the incident.
"It wasn't easy, "she said to her intern truthfully, "but get easier with time, and if there is any way I can help let me know, " she added touching the young woman's hand on the table.
Evelyn was touched by her boss's compassion and nodded her head to her offer of help.
Elena had offered Evelyn a chance to go home early but Evelyn had turned her down, preferring to keep her mind occupied with work.
It was lunchtime and Evelyn not really in the mood to face the whispers and stares opted to eat in Elena's office which she has alone because her boss had gone for lunch with a friend.
Midway into her lunch, the door opened and a familiar head poked in, glancing around and finding the coast clear made her way fully into the room.
Evelyn chuckled lightly at her friend making sure that her boss wasn't present before entering the office.
"What is up? " Olivia asked her friend setting her ass down on the only other available seat which happens to be the boss seat.
Evelyn hitched up her brow at her friend's audacity sitting on Elena's seat.
"What! she is not here, "Olivia said seeing her friend hiked up brow. "So how are you faring?" she asked turning to face her friend her eyes glued to her face as if searching for the answers herself.
The inflection of Olivia's tone let Evelyn know what her friend was asking, and she was grateful that she didn't question her for the details.
"As well as can be expected, "Evelyn answered with a shrug of her shoulder not wanting to lie to her friend.
"I hope the bastard rots in jail for his actions, "Olivia said in a harsh tone, before taking my hand in hers while she looked at me with compassion in her eyes, "if you need anything let me know, " then her look changed and a twinkle appeared in her eyes. "I can't believe you finished your lunch in my presence without so much as an invite to join, children these days and no manners," she said rolling her eyes.
Evelyn chuckled at her friend's words, you do know we are the same age right, " she said smiling grateful at her for trying to cheer her up.
The door rattling had Olivia flying out of the seat and standing beside Evelyn with a scared look in the door direction.
Her action made Evelyn giggle, which she tried to repress with the back of her hand as she felt a pinch at her back from her friend.
"Hello Miss Bennett, " Elena greeted Olivia in a cool voice before taking her seat where she peered at the floundering woman with mild amusement.
"He..hello, good morning, I mean afternoon sir, I mean ma, "Olivia spoke in a flustered tone her cheeks flushing red at her blunder, killing me slowly with mirth. I had to hold my hand to my mouth to hold in the chuckle that was begging to come out.
"Relax Miss Bennett, I don't bite" Elena spoke to the flustered girl in a soft calm tone trying to relax the girl who was fidgeting on her feet.
Her words reminded me of when Daryl said the same thing, a reminder of that incident brought everything back causing me to lose the smile on my face as a pensive look took its place.
"I will see you later, " Olivia mumbled out to Evelyn before dashing away from the office as if hounds of hells were on her heels.
Elena and I looked at one another before chuckling loud into the room.
By the time the day was over I was ready to escape from the office. Some of my colleagues who have been bold enough had approached me offering their support and wishing me well, but most of them were content to just stare and whisper behind my back and that was what is making me so tired than I really was.
Most of the employees have left by the time I was able to finish up with the task Elena gave me, wishing her good night I left her room for the home.
I just made my way into the lobby when a voice that I wasn't in the mood to deal with accosted me.
"Miss Wright, "Caroline hailed the young woman whom she had been trying to get alone with but haven't had a chance because she has been so busy running one errand or the other for her boss.
Evelyn let out a slow sigh before turning to face the woman approaching her in a hurried steps.
"I am sorry for what happened to you, " Caroline said to the young woman when she drew close.
Evelyn nodded her head even though the empathic words sounded fake to her ears. Thinking that was all she turned to leave only to be stopped by a grip in her hand.
"Hold on a second, " Caroline said quickly stopping the young woman from leaving. "I want to write a story about the incident that happened, to give you a chance to tell your side of the story."
"She won't be telling you anything and you won't be writing any story on her, " a voice spoke behind them interrupting their discussion.
Evelyn rejoiced at the presence of her boss as she didn't think she could have dealt with the lunatic in front of her by herself.
"I don't think is any of your business, "Caroline answered harshly glaring at her nemesis.
"She is my intern, so my business, "Elena said and without looking at the other woman took her intern hands and matched out of the door.
"Thank you, "Evelyn said softly to her boss as she drove her home.
"I can't believe she will try such a thing, "Elena said through tight lip clutching the steering hard.
"You and me both, "Evelyn whispered before leaning back in her seat and within few seconds was off to la-la land.
Elena arrived at the address the young woman gave her before dosing off and turned to her shaking her shoulder softly while muttering for her to wake up.
"What! " Evelyn said softly, feeling a little disoriented.
"You are home".
Evelyn grudgingly opened her eyes looking towards her boss muttered "thank you" and got down from the car.
Elena watched the young woman stagger towards her house once she was sure she had made it inside she drove off.
Melinda has been anxiously waiting for her child to get home after seeing the news this morning. it hadn't been easy at work with her colleague's whispers following her around, and so she was a bit worried at how her daughter fared in her place of work.
Evelyn walked into the comfort of her mum's arms who was already waiting at the door as if she had sensed the kind of day she had and knew she needed this.
Evelyn clung tightly to her mum and allowed all the emotions she has been keeping at bay to come pouring out of her body.
Gently closing the door behind her daughter Melinda consoled her allowing her to get everything out as she cursed the man responsible in her heart." I promise you baby will conquer this together," she said to her daughter, pushing her hair behind her ears.
"I hope so mum" Evelyn whispered, feeling tired of all the emotional roller coaster.
"Are you up for dinner? I made lasagna is in the over. "
All Evelyn wanted now was her bed, food can wait she thought turning down her mum's dinner. Getting to her feet she wished her mum the good night before heading towards her room.
Evelyn woke up gasping for breath with sweat running down her body, it was the same nightmares that have been plaguing her dreams since the incident but this time around it featured Daryl's smug face as he was leaving the police station where he was being held, bragging that he was free.
It was pretty disturbing, she thought as the fear of Daryl Smith getting away with his crime, filled her with panic and resentment. Her stomach growled reminding Evelyn of her missed dinner.
Going to the kitchen she took out the lasagna leftover, heating it took a plate to the living room. Finding the silence stifling she decided to on the television and the news of Daryl Smith being released on bail brightened up the screen.
"Fucking bastard!" Evelyn screamed at the TV, her appetite gone.