I was standing outside of one of the most global enterprises the city has. It was huge, extensively huge. A twenty-story office building of all curved-glass and steel, with LEVINE EMPIRE written discreetly and proudly in steel bold letters over the glass front doors. Several times have I passed this building before, but this was the first time I walked into the enormous and frankly overawing glass, steel in black and white sandstone lobby.
The place was intimidatingly spectacular. Everywhere your eyes turn, you see nothing but perfection at its finest. The employees were immaculately dressed and blended with the high standard and well-maintained building. I suddenly felt a bit awkward with my choice of clothing. I was like a teenager in simple jeans, white plain shirt and converse lost inside the corporate world and surrounded with three-piece suits and blazers.
Well, I didn't go here for business purposes nor to socialize and I don't have any plans of staying longer than I am supposed to. Besides, my mother is expecting me in an hour. Both of us had decided to bond together for the day and I don't intend to be late.
"I'm here to see Mr. Levine. Mr. Gabriel Levine, that is."
Behind the solid sandstone desk, a very attractive, groomed and slightly blonde young woman smiles pleasantly at me. She is wearing a sharp charcoal suit jacket and white shirt, her hair was sleekly tied in a bun which added perfection to her appearance.
"Welcome to Levine Empire. Do you have an appointment with the Vice-President, Miss?"
'What have I been thinking? Of course I need an appointment to see someone in higher ranks in this kind of environment. No one, even the maintenance staff, would grant me access further in without a pass. Now what, Angelou?'
"I'm Angelou… I mean, Mrs. Angelou…"
But even before I could mention my newly accumulated last name, a voice not too distant said it on my behalf that both I and the front desk personnel made a glance at him.
"Mrs. Levine! What a pleasant surprise!" The timbre of his voice and his shock expression made the people near us look at me with speculating eyes. Even the blonde woman I was talking to seemed surprised and stunned.
I was having a hard time remembering who this man was while he smoothly walked towards me, with a huge unwavering smile plastered in his well-groomed face. He must have noticed me unrecognizing him, so he did the liberty of introducing himself again.
"We haven't been formally introduced and I sincerely apologized for behaving unmannerly that night, I'm Howard Jenkins. We met at the charity event, at the veranda? Remember me?" He extended his hand with reverence and respect.
Oh that's it! He was the man who approached me at the veranda the night of the charity event. He is one of Gabriel's subordinates.
"Hello, Howard. Nice to see you again. And yes, I am here to see Gabriel… I mean, the Vice-President" I take his hand and shake it, acknowledging him.
"Does he know you'll be coming, Mrs. Levine? You know, the VP is always busy when he's here."
"No, he doesn't. I just dropped by to personally thank him for his gift. But, I guess I shouldn't have. I don't have any appointment so I might complicate his very tight schedule for coming here unannounced. I better be going" I was about to turn around but his answer made me stop.
"I could take you to his floor, Mrs. Levine. People of your persona don't need any appointment whatsoever. Right, Sophia?" He glanced at the blonde woman who seemed still unable to process what's happening around her.
"I'll just call the front security on the executive floor for the VP wife's arrival. Standard operating procedures, Mrs. Levine, I hope you won't mind" She managed to say after minutes of being in a trance before slipping a visitor pass ID for me. I took it with a genuine smile before walking with Jenkins further ahead.
We walked over to the bank of elevators and past two security men who are both far more smartly dressed than I am in their smartly-cut black suits. Jenkins pressed the twentieth floor and the elevator whisk us at terminal velocity. As the doors slide open, I am greeted with another large lobby, still of glass and black and white sandstone.
Another smart looking and highly groomed young woman, also wearing a business suit greeted me with high respect. Addressing me promptly as Mrs. Levine the minute I got out of the elevator. The blondie downstairs must have informed them already about my sudden and untimely arrival. Almost everyone on the floor looked at me with high regards, smiling with utter respect as I walked along with Jenkins.
"Why do I have the feeling that almost everybody seems shocked to see me?" I murmured softly that made the man beside me laugh a bit.
"This was the very first time someone went here who is personally attached to Mr. Levine, not to mention his honorable wife. This was the first, Mam. And I sincerely apologize if they made you feel uneasy."
"No, that's alright. Apology accepted."
"This is Mr. Levine's immediate secretary and assistant, Emma" The woman he called immediately stood on her heels and widely smiled at me. "Emma, this is Mrs. Angelou Levine, our boss's wife."
"The pleasure is all mine, Mrs. Levine. Thank you for gracing our office with your presence this morning. Would you like anything? Juice? Coffee perhaps? Mr. Levine is currently with someone at his other private office and I don't think he'll be done anytime soon. But I will advise him of your arrival, Mam."
"Just water, thank you."
"Please have a seat, Mam. Make yourself comfortable while I go to see Mr. Levine" Emma politely excused herself after delegating a young woman for my refreshment.
"I have to get going, Mrs. Levine. I don't desire another encounter with Mr. Levine, you know what I mean. Have a nice day, excuse me" I smiled genuinely and nodded in approval after thanking him for his help and kind gestures.
While waiting for Emma to return, my eyes roam around. Behind me is a spacious glass-walled meeting room with an equally dark wood long table and at least twenty matching white leather chairs. Beyond that, a floor-to-ceiling glass window with the view of the New York skyline. Such an amazingly remarkable sight to behold.
'Night time must have been more of a spectacular sight here.'
"I sincerely apologize for the wait, Mrs. Levine, but the securities outside Mr. Levine's private office says that the VP is still currently busy with his companion inside. They were told not to disturb him the slightest."
I looked at my watch. I have been here for almost an hour already and my mother must have been waiting for me at home. I better be going. I immediately stood on my ground and gaze at Emma, who had just sat behind her desk.
"I better be going, Emma. I need to be at my mother's. We have a bonding moment today. I don't want her waiting long for me."
"Are you sure you won't wait for Mr. Levine, Mam? He will be done any minute soon."
"I really have to go. I shouldn't have come here in the first place and just waited for him to come home, but nonetheless, thank you for your hospitality and kindness."
"Alright, Mrs. Levine. I'll have someone assist you."
I heard her calling a certain woman's name to assist me downstairs as I headed towards the elevator. But even before the doors could finally open, my head automatically crane sideways as I hear Emma call out Gabriel's dignified title. But instead of looking at him, my gaze went past him and landed at the woman wearing only an oversized suit jacket and heels.
Even a brainless nobody could tell what had just happened inside the private office, judging on how Lucy looks, even if she tries to look presentable with that suit on that was obviously not hers. I could feel my blood surging to its peak as I stared at them not noticing my presence.
Here I am wasting my time on something I think was noble enough to do, but there he was doing another stunt shamelessly. I quickly walked inside the elevator the moment it opened, pressing the close button several times to shut the doors in an instant. I even heard his last words before the doors completely closed.
"My wife's here? Angelou?"
'Fuck you endlessly, Gabriel! You are really such a pig! A disgusting, sickening and puking son of a bitch! The nerve of you to flaunt your other woman in public! You're shameless, you piece of shit! Now what will everyone think of me? A pitiful housewife who is being cheated with vulgarity by her husband in broad daylight? You really drew the last string this time, asshole! You didn't only shame yourself, that is if you still have that inside of you, but you placed me under scrutiny of malicious speculations and will be in anyone's juicy gossip for a week amongst your employees. Never again will I exert an effort on you, Gabriel. Never again!'
I marched my way towards the exit of the building, disregarding the woman behind me who came to assist me out. I regret ever going here. I shouldn't have wasted my time on that good for nothing scumbag. Me and my noblest thing to do shamed me massively like I was never shamed before.
'Damn you, Gabriel Levine! I wished I never met you! This will be the last time that I will be nice towards you! No words nor any kind gestures from you would persuade me to change my beliefs on you, not anymore. You are a total man-whore to me and a complete package of a jerk ass, nothing more and nothing less.'