He worked for the time being on his documents, signing them and giving anticipating receivers the benefit of the doubt.
Reading was a bust but he couldn't be lenient anymore, so he went through the files himself with overviews by his PA, Macy Grant.
'He wants to sue,'
Edward wrote back and he would be sending an army of lawyers even, to thwart 'his' schemes.
No one was laundering money from him without the consequences. "I'll give him something to pout about,"
He dumped the files aside to 'case files' and resorted to conversing with Tasha on the updates and what he heard baffled him. She wasn't leaving. "Even under the commands of the head of the board committee...I see...Do what you like?"
He said on the receiver and tapped the table watching Odetta step inside. He noted her presence and then checked the time, it was almost nine am. "Shoot,"
"Mister Cummings? You called?"
"Give me the keys," He propped his hand and she gave it back.
My, office seems smaller. She tugged her collar and then turned to leave.
Edward took a second look. "Fine,"
"What's fine?" She asked and her hair bobbed.
He arranged his documents and she gulped.
...
Caroline fastened the earpiece while typing on her laptop, she assembled the logo and it beeped. She answered.
"Hello, this is Danica Charlie speaking, how may I help you?...oh,"
Odetta paced about the hall with her bag "I'm getting a promotion,"
"Oh, that's good," She brightened up.
"No, not that good...okay, it's good but I have to be in the same room with Miss Olivia Reyes. It's not that good!"
"Doing what, picking up the pieces?" She snorted.
"I'll be working for her and running errands," She raised a package she just retrieved from the distribution unit.
She blinked "That's bad, alright, just quit your job,"
"Quit? I can't just quit if I...I need a real job as Odetta Lawrence, hi," She said to an office worker and turned. "I can't quit,".
"How about I hire a lookalike?"
She scoffed "What is this?"
"Well, I'll be texting Edward that your project has to be cancelled,"
"To some other time? I'm going to be of use next time,"
"Odie, you haven't been promoted, just outmanoeuvred, I say you demand an overtime," She nodded typing the brand name and pressed save.
"Over time, aww shucks Carrie, if that's a way to get a sack letter then I'd like to stay,"
"You should try asking. If you need me to send the word, just say when," She cut the line.
Odetta puffed coming out of the elevator and she walked to his office. "Um, Mister Cummings,"
The locksmith was installing a new lock and she stopped at him. "Excuse me, have you seen the boss,"
"Never have I ever, I was called here," He worked with a plier and
"How long?"
"Thirty minutes ago," Odetta dropped her bags and went to his office.
The contemporary style office was quiet, she stepped inside and looked around. "Mister Cummings," She checked the extra doors and hesitated at the bathroom.
She knocked. "I'm sorry,"
His tie was plopped on the floor and she looked up. "Hello?"
The door swung open on its own and she blushed and tilted her head at the black thing in her view. It was his suit. She looked in and saw him bent over the sink. He wasn't moving.
"Mister_Ed!" She took his shoulders and he slumped. "Eddie, you've gotta wake up,"
She pulled him to the ground, he was heavy and she checked his eyes. He was still okay. But they were sunken.
His voice was muffled when she brought a glass of water to his lips.
He shoved it away from her hands and it broke. Sapping him of the strength he had left.
He shivered and was sweating heavily and his eyes rolled back slipping from consciousness. He wouldn't let her have her way with him.
"Are you hungry? I've got food," She scrambled for her package and seized a jelly doughnut in its napkin and put it up to his lip.
He barked in refusal.
"Just one bite,"
There was no cause to alarm anyone.
"Get away from me you witch," He was gasping.
"If you don't eat, you'll starve and possibly develop a peptic ulcer, you're too young for that,"
He swallowed and he ate a morsel and felt like spitting up.
"Eat,"
In his mind's eye, he would rather starve, it was easier not to swallow. His brain was low on oxygen and he snivelled as he could barely breathe.
He gripped her wrist eating much and recouped from his dizziness.
Odetta smiled at the improvements and extended a bottle of juice.
He sneered at the orange liquid. "Take it,"
She looked at the bottle and chuckled. "My, it's unsanita_"
"Drink from the damn bottle," He barked.
"Geez, it's not poisoned," She tipped it and he grimaced in waiting for a sign.
"Give me that," He grabbed the bottle and chugged the content. Tossing it aside.
She smiled in contentment at that and set the air conditioner to make the room more pleasant. He was panting as if he was trapped in a box and he sat up.
Tugging his tie, as if he forgot, he took it off. He mustered up the strength to get up and fumbled with the walls for support.
She helped him to the office and he brushed perspiration off his face while he sat.
"It's alright Mister Cummings, sometimes I forget to eat too," She crouched in front of him and he brushed his eyes.
This was beyond forgetting, he thought he could make it and then he slumped.
Edward forgot to pack lunch.
"What time is it?" He shrugged off his jacket and the perspiration outlined his inner vest.
"Nine after twelve,"
Miss Stareyes was not making an appearance today. He attempted to get up and paused when she talked.
"You need to rest. I'll make sure I pack up some food and bring it to you," She said shoving her hands into her back pockets.
She wore a brown flower print blouse with cap sleeves and a white inner shirt under, brown jean pants with loose ends and sneakers. Her short hair was above her neck and ruffled around her cheeks.
"I have no doubt about that," He sounded bitter and she bit her lip.
"I should check on the locksmith," She pointed a thumb out and he sneered resting his back.
She set the bags inside and walked outside, she backed away talking and he passed her the keys. Then he tipped his hat and Edward brushed his chin at Miss Lawrence. She laughed with the locksmith and saw him off.
Edward shuddered and pulled out his phone to email her and then nudged it back into his pocket. He quirked his eyebrow at the other bag and pushed up to see what was in it.