"Would you like to go out for a meal with me?"
Joshua throws the question out into the tense space between us as he approaches me. His voice is indifferent and limp. I'm getting more terrified by the minute. What is he trying to do?
"You are one of the few people that think of me as a snob...." he begins.
I can see where this is going. Or at least I think I do. I stop him before he can continue.
"No, I am actually part of the majority of people who think that. I just happen to be able to express it." I say.
I can see he's taken aback. His secretary in a stiff blue suit behind him looks like he's trying hard to hide his smile. Mark looks away and I can hear his muffled snickers. I flash Joshua a smile and clear my throat.
"I am busy this week. Maybe if I could cut down on my work schedule, but because of someone, I'm going to have to do some advertising and fix us another deal, so....."
I chew at my dry lips. He hasn't said a word since I started talking and he looks angry enough to swallow me whole.
He doesn't though. He simply stares at me hard and then walks out of the gym without a word. His secretary scrambles to pick up his bags and shoots me an apologetic smile before he hobbles after his grumpy boss. I feel bad for him. His life must be hard.
Mark behind me whistles through his teeth as their car pulls out of the parking lot.
"That guy has a hell lot of self control. He didn't blow up! If it were me I would've exploded like a bomb. You're hella annoying, you know." he says as he walks toward the janitors' closet. He pulls out a mop and flings it at me. I catch it and climb over the ropes, into the ring. It's spattered in sweat. I try to empty my mind, but I can't help but think about this irritating rich boy who's showing up everywhere.
What is the matter with that jerk? Does he have a grudge against me or what?
"I mean, it could be a coincidence, but so many times? If it happens even once more I'm not sure I'm going to take it well...."
"Take what well?" I look around me wildly. I didn't realize that I had spoken out loud. Mark is looking a question at me from across the room. I begin to answer but he hold up his hand to stop me. He mimes me stabbing a person who I can only guess to be a certain rich brat. I turn away before he can finish and plug my ears before he starts talking. He makes a supposedly disappointed sound and returns to his wiping. I close my eyes and am lost in the music.
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I leave half an hour before lunch and walk up to the fast food joint that's the closest to the gym. I order a sandwich and and a large coke. I take my time listening to a podcast, as I gaze out the window and down on the street buzzing with a dull activity.
I tilt my head up, close my eyes and stay like that until my phone begins to vibrate. I lift it up to my face and see that it's Cindy calling. Probably to try convincing me to go to the fabric shop again. I sigh and answer her call.
"Cindy I'm-"
"You will not believe what just happened!", she gushed. "Your feminine touch thing worked! We've got him back, that customer you told off yesterday...."
Instead of feeling relieved, I feel more burdened. This story just went from thriller to horror in the blink of an eye.
I wait for Cindy to finish talking, murmur a reply and hang up.
'I'm going to quit being bothered by that guy' I tell myself. I finish off the last sip of coke in the cup and leave the café. Looks like it's going to be a tough ride from now on.
I call Jay on my way home and have him schedule a meeting with Joshua. He must be over the moon now that he's cancelled the cancellation. He gets to see me work my ass off to cater to his little whims and fancies. I know he's going to make me want to quit the one job I love.
I sigh as I drag myself home. I'll still smile through it though. Because that smile, will drive that brat up the wall.