It was a very busy Monday. Miriam began to work as soon as she arrived at the office and didn't take a rest until noon.
She went to the company's twenty-first-floor cafeteria, carrying her purse and a brown-paper lunch after her colleagues from the administration department. They bumped into Reginald whereupon exiting the elevator.
The air grew solid as the man emerged from the elevator with a take-charge style.
The rest of his team withdrew to one side and looked down silently.
Miriam looked over at him and was suddenly caught by his icy stare. Panicking, she instantly looked away. Was the Devil staring at me?
I beg your pardon. "Do so," said Reginald.
And before a delighted staff. They were over the moon since first they heard Jesus speak to them personally."
Reginald settled himself into a window seat. Ambrose left him for a moment to get his food with two guards in tow.
Miriam looked at him again. He was bathed in golden light as the sunlight reflected off of him like that of a Greek god.
If only my triplets' father was this man.
Miriam shook her head and came to her senses, Then she went and got her tray of food and walked over to where everyone from the office sat.
She sat down, then that obnoxious Nigel appeared. "Hi!" To avoid him Miriam rolled her eyes and moved to the side.
"Nigel!" Miriam said through gritted teeth as she stabbed the salad on her plate with a savage hatred only a hungry pregnant woman could feel. "How can you eat so little?"
He looked up from his tray, the amusement clear in his eyes. "What do you mean? I always stuff myself. Our cafeteria delivers the best tasting food free of charge. It's better than five star hotels."
Miriam bowed her head ignoring him and focused on her plate.
Hello, may I ask why Mr. Deveraux is eating at the cafe today? Fiona, Miriam's officemate, asked.
I'm curious too. He never goes to our cafe according to Lily, one of my officemates. She lowered her voice and glanced at a table across theirs. We're all on edge with him here notice how silent the whole cafe became.
"Yes, I am trembling in my hands." Yolanda did not dare to look up.
"Ah, don't be nervous." Nigel seemed unfazed. "He is actually quite friendly despite his cold face."
You know Mr. Deveraux, Mr. Forsythe. One of the male workers said. "The last time, I saw you greeting him."
"Naturally. We're tight, the president and I," Nigel answered.
It almost sounded like he was implying to something else in his words, the way his voice trailed.
Makes sense why you got promoted in under six months. Seems you and Mr. Deveraux here, are buddies.' His male colleagues warmed up to him quickly.
"Mr. Forsythe, do take care of us from now on."
Never fear. You'll get promoted fast if you do well, Nigel boasted.
Miriam was ready to snap. She pushed her chair in and got up to leave.
Nigel followed. "Just hold on a moment, Miriam!"
Miriam quickened her stride irritably.
Nigel followed her, coming up beside her. "What is the reason for your hurry? Allow me to accompany you."
"Mr. Forsythe, I do not know you well enough."
Someone smashed into Miriam before she could complete the thought.
Half-eaten Bolognese pasta sprayed Nigel's face as she lurched forward against whatever had hit her.
Everyone gasped as the noodles slipped off his face. Nigel just stood there - frozen in disbelief for a moment before he snapped back to reality and wiped the Bolognese sauce off of his face.
Miriam erupted with giggles. She quickly apologized, thinking her reaction was rude. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to – someone bumped into me and…"
She had turned to see what happened only to find that it was Reginald who had ran into her!
Reginald hurried passed her, his expression icy.
Miriam stared after him dazed. Was it him that ran into me before?
There's so much room here, and he always has four bodyguards on his side, how could he have accidentally bumped into me?
Don't even tell me. Did he do that on purpose?
"Miriam, don't you watch where you're going?" Nigel grew irritated and shouted at her.
"I'm sorry, I apologize!" Reginald had disappeared around a corner, and Miriam made the gesture and said under her breath: "It was the President who bumped into me, that's why I be gosh-darned."
"You're even placing the blame elsewhere."
"Mr. Forsythe, are you saying that it's Mr. Deveraux's fault?" Ambrose interrupted Nigel with a serious question.
"No, no, no. I wouldn't dare. "\I meant her... no, I meant myself,"\ quickly clarified Nigel. \I'm me who is blind.
"\It sounds more like it.\ "\ After a satisfied nod Ambrose warned him sternly, "Next time pay attention where you'er going specially in the restaurant "
"\Wast of food it is not good!"
"Fine!" Nigel hung his head in defeat.
Miriam smiled inwardly at the look of embarrassment on Nigel's face. Finally, a taste of your own medicine. I'm pretty sure you won't be harassing me from now on!
Reginald's lips curled slightly as he saw how Miriam was none too subtly gloating.
The elevator doors were closing, and his phone rang. He waited to answer it until the last second. "Spit it out."
Mr. Deveraux, Pardus has been caught, but he doesn't have the chip with him. He probably had hidden it somewhere else. I've used every method to force him to admit it, but still can't get him to tell me. Looks like we might need to use more extreme way!"
"A person since young he had undergo barbaric training. Torturing is useless on him."Reginald told."
Sure. Let me check that now!
..
Mrs. Della had lunch fixed by the time Miriam got back home from work. Pretty soon the family of five were sitting down to supper.
Pippin flew in the door and landed on Tessa's shoulder, rubbing his head against her fat cheek.
Tessa reached out a hand to it and closed one eye but it was no good. "Come on, Pippin! You've got to try harder than that!" Tessa said sternly. She popped a melon seed in its mouth with her fingers.
Just then Pippin lurched forward. It put its head in between its knees and took a deep breath. Then it peered up at Tessa.It swallowed the seed properly this time."Hey, you did it! Wasn't that easy after all?" Tessa offered it another melon seed but suddenly looking back up at her child's face she stopped smiling..
"What's wrong?"
When Miriam stroked Pippin's small, hairy head it felt totally limp.
"Maybe Pippin is not yet recovering from the fright it got at the mall the other day." "We'll take it to the vet tonight," Mrs. Della suggested.
That's exactly what we'll do," Miriam agreed.
After shooting a look at Pippin, Cedric hesitated. But it didn't last long as he just couldn't bear the tension and blurted out loudly, "Mommy, actually, Pippin ate a gold thingy. It's yucky because of that."
Miriam blinked in surprise.
Indeed, it was so large. Cedric pointed with his finger. "About the size of my pinky."
"I don't think we have anything like that at our house." Miriam was a bit stunned.
Not inside our house. A black man, in a mask gave it to me when we were at the mall, Cedric stated.
"Are you watching too much cartoon?" Edwin rolled his eyes at Cedric in a grown-up manner.
Yeah, that's right.
Cedric explained shortly all what had happened that day. When he was finish, everybody's face was marked by shock.
Mrs Della laughed out loud "Cedric I like your story a lot. You know?"Too much cartoons" Edwin rolled his eyes and continued his lunch.
"Why don't any of you believe me…" Anxiety reddened Cedric's cheeks. "Mom, do you think I'm real?"
"Yes," Miriam said, spooning more food into his bowl. "But after we eat, we'll take Pippin to the vet, okay?"
Yes, let's take Pippin to the vet first. Tessa didn't want to know the truth; it was her parrot she was concerned about.
Cedric sulked, resentful.
Pippin was brought to the vet by Miriam and her three kids after dinner. After examining Pippin, the vet diagnosed indigestion, probably caused by an unsuitable food. The vet then prescribed it a medicine to aid its bowel movement.
Hmph! thought Cedric to himself, pouting. I was saying the truth, and you'll all know it when that gold stuff comes out of Pippin!