"No."
She nodded, still not believing. She shrugged anyway as she waited in the doorway.
Stella was taller than her, so I picked her longest shirt which would be a gown for her. Walking back to the door, I stretch my hand to her.
She took it and hurried off, thanking softly.
Dressing for the night, I lay on the bed beside Stella and watched her sleep.
As dawn broke through the sky, I woke to see Stella pacing across the room mumbling how late she was getting.
Yawning a little as I raised my body, I observed her before asking. "Going somewhere?"
She was surprised to see me awake, her stunned expression said it all. "Morning love, and yes I'm off for a movie shoot. I was supposed to stay with the cast last night, but I wanted to cuddle you." She smiled at the last words.
Reciprocating her smile, I shifted to the edge of the bed close to her. "Yeah, but you arrived utterly wasted. Didn't know you'd be out drinking." I casually spoke.
She was dressed in a tight-fitted skirt and loose top, which happened to push out her curves.
Her arms rested on my shoulders as she leaned to peck my lips. "The two-day commercial was wrapped up last night, and everybody thought it was wise to celebrate."
"But getting that wasted? You could have been filmed or something," I tried to explain.
"Okay daddy," she rolled her eyes and laughed, pushing backward to pick her bag from the bed stand. "I'll be home early, hopefully." She placed another peck on my cheek, striding towards the door.
A breath released through my nose. "Any chance you'll be free this week?" My eyes raised to her as she hung back.
She pondered for a moment, then turned around to me. She stepped closer and cupped my face with her gentle hands. "I left those works behind when preparing for the wedding, and now it's reached its deadline." She uses her finger to massage the space between my brows.
"So no me-time?" I softly asked, and I received another peck.
"When I'm done, it's all you-time." She said to me, "But right now, I'm running late."
After a goodbye kiss, she rushed out of the door. I doubt she's got the chance to say hello to her sister.
Soon enough, her roaring engine drove past the gate.
Still in the same position, I tried to think of what went wrong. Yeah, Stella always stuffed herself with work, but now something's different.
Shrugging off the subject, I decided to hit the shower and get the day started. Seeing no reason for the week off, I decided to cut it short. Glancing at the wall clock, an hour left before work starts.
My shirt seems loose today. I notice as I look in the mirror while buttoning it. My huge stomach looked smaller. Must have lost weight due to wedding stress. Tucking it inside my pants, I picked up my briefcase and walked outside.
The drive to work was smooth, with less traffic and pleasant weather. I reached my work building in no time.
Parking at the parking lot, I stepped out with my briefcase and locked my car.
Entering the company's building, I saw the receptionist.
"Looking sexy, Martha," I grinned at her knowing it reels her up.
She smiled back, although differently. "Thank you, Jordan," her aged face appeared older today, and her sad eyes on me didn't miss my notice.
"Everything alright, Martha?" I asked, walking close to her.
She nodded her head slowly. "Yeah, everything's fine with me."
Nodding my head at her words, I walked straight to the elevator.
As it indicates eleven, the door chimes open and I walk through. I glanced at my watch, I was exactly on time so I didn't understand the strange stare I was getting.
Shrugging off the negative feeling, I walk straight to my office. Had to complete yesterday's work and submit it.
When it dawned on me that something was indeed wrong, it was when I paged for my assistant and she didn't respond. A knock came on my door before it opened.
"Mr Everyman, the director wants a word with you." My assistant said, unable to look into my eyes. I nodded at her before standing up. I had no idea the director was in town.
My pacing was precise as I strode behind my assistant, but it seemed the closer I got near her hastened her movement.
Reaching the director's office, she opened the door for me. Then hurriedly walked away.
Entering the room, I shut the door behind me carefully. Striding forward, I acknowledged the aged-looking man sitting behind the desk looking through a pile of files.
"Mr Everyman, please have a seat." He said to me, raising his head from the files, then gesturing towards the chairs in front of him. I did as he said, but was unable to relax.
Silence reigned for a second before he spoke again, dropping his eyes back to the files as he signed on them. "Wondering why I asked for you?"
"Yes sir,"
"Well, Mr Everyman, it has come to my notice how much you've neglected your duties. Hope you're aware?"
Yes, I know, but apart from the week off I requested, I've only ever slacked for a day. And it was an emergency.
"Barely sir," I responded.
His eyes left his file to meet mine. "Barely? That wasn't the term I noticed in your file reports." He pushed a file towards me. "Take a look."
Picking it up, I read through it. This was a statement with witnesses for backup. Among the witnesses was my assistant. The statement wasn't entirely wrong, but it was ninety percent falsified.
"Sir, this is not true." I tried to explain.
He nodded. "I said so myself, this was true. But then what's this?" He handed me another file. "And this?" Another file came.
A total of five files with solid accusations.
"Sir-"
"Are those files wrong?"
"Yes, very wrong sir, but not all-"
"So they aren't wrong." He said, leaning back to his chair. "You of all people should know the rules of this company. And you've violated the first five rules. Breaking one is big enough of a problem for anybody, and you did all five."
The deed in the files was done, but it wasn't by me. The fraction I had in it was pure coincidence.
"Sir, I-"
He shook his head for me to keep shut. "You would have been pardoned if it wasn't this exposed. This company has a name to uphold. So I'm sorry Mr Everyman, you can park your stuff."
Honestly, I can't believe I was taking another man's fall. Yeah, the hurried wedding preparation had me less concentrated and had a few crashes with the done deed, but why would anyone frame me?
"Okay, sir." Politely leaving the room, I walked over to my office and filled my stuff inside a box then stepped out of the office.
I did not bother to look at anybody as I walked towards my car. I'd taken the accused files with me.
The ride home was torture. I opted to drive to Gabriel's, but he was very busy by this time of the day.
Still can't believe I lost my job.
I drove into my parking lot and didn't turn the engine off immediately as I let the smothering music calm me down. My head thought about how to get a new job, or maybe work for Gabriel… damnit. I slam my hand against the car and hit my head on the steering wheel in annoyance.
My back then rested again on the seat with heavy breathing. "You've got to calm-" A screen appeared before me with writing.
[Feel like a failure? No problem! Say YES to access this service and NO to decline!]
I frown at this. "What did I touch?" I checked my car and the steering wheel to see if I damaged any wire during my head-slamming rampage. I began to touch random buttons to see what would react to the words. "What service?" I murmured, then decided to turn off the engine since the writing wouldn't go off.
But it was still there.
"Is this a car self-destruction or something?" I mentally slammed my head as I leaned it on the steering wheel. The stress was getting to me. I raised my head to see it was still there. "No?" I wasn't sure it would work.
[Excellent choice!]
Then it disappeared, causing relief through me. I stepped out of the car and walked towards the front door.
Losing my job would cause changes, but I wasn't aware of how much changes.