C6 You did well, Calista

I smiled at him but heaven knows it was a cynical one. “Alright then, Mr. Donnelly. I guess we’ll be meeting at the site tomorrow. Will you be arriving after all of our materials are moved or before?” I asked.

“You look like someone who knows exactly what she's doing, so I'll trust you, Ms. Fairchild. I will arrive after the materials are moved to see for myself if everything is intact. I like to be precise.” Shawn stated with a professional lilt in his tone.

Look at him acting like he's not so rotten on the inside; I grimaced to myself but played along anyway. “I’m honored to have your trust, Mr. Donnelly. You won't regret it. Guess I'll see you tomorrow then.” I extended my right hand in the initiation of a handshake.

He stared at my hand for a split second before taking it. I could tell that he was battling something inside. Probably the guilt of his past misdeeds. Although I do not look like the old me, I was glad he was able to pick on Calista’s face on mine.

It meant every time he saw me, he’d be rendered restless. My face would haunt him. My presence would haunt him. Luck was on my side. The game was just about to get started.

That was if he ever felt remorseful for what he did to me anyway. People like himself hardly change. But then, he seemed quite different from the Shawn of before.

As his hand took mine and briefly shook it, a wave of nausea hit me. The bastard touched me. After all he did to me. I want nothing more than to snap his neck with that hand he was shaking.

“Bye now.” He dismissed me as he released my hand and settled back in his chair.

“Bye, sir,” I replied, proud of myself for the control I was able to muster.

I walked out of the office. The first breeze that blew on me seemed like a hard drug. I suddenly felt my stamina weaning and I think I staggered as Shawn’s blonde Secretary gasped and asked me…

“Are you okay, Ma’am?”

I waved my hand at her and tried to smile. “I'm fine, thank you.”

However, that was a blatant lie that soon caught up with me. Something was burning inside of me. I needed to use the restroom.

“Where is the nearest restroom here?” I hastily asked her and she gave me a straight direction.

I hurried over and went straight to the sink. There, I threw up, my head spinning. It wasn't after I vomited over half of my breakfast that I felt a little better.

I poured some water on my face too. In the end, I bent in front of the mirror and stared into it. “You did well, Calista.” I commended myself.

It was the most demanding thing I've ever had to do — meeting the punk who ruined my childhood once again. He took everything from me. He shamed me, and humiliated my parents. I bet they never really survived the scorns from the people in Stetson City.

They moved out of there a year later.

All because some boys were busy being a dick over a bet. Oh, Shawn would pay.

I wiped off the water from my face, adjusted my dress and hair, and braced myself to move out of the toilet.

I bumped into a lady who was also trying to get in. “Sorry.” I hurriedly put forward and left the company.

I got into my silver-colored Kia Optima car that the company had rented for me for the four months I'd be spending on this project. I knew how much the country’s fate lay on me and understood that I shouldn't let my spite for Shawn get in the way.

If I messed up, it was the end of our company. But then again, that wouldn't stop me from getting my revenge. I zoomed off.

.

.

“Hey, Alice, I'm home!” I called out to Alice, Gabe’s cousin who is currently pregnant.

Her husband is gone on a business trip just like me and Gabe spoke to her to accommodate me because he insisted I needed a friend and not some hotel room while dealing with this…

He knew about Shawn. He was the only one whom I told my story to. Even our third friend, Brielle knows nothing.

Thankfully, Alice was more than glad to receive me as she also needed a presence in the house since she was pregnant and her husband was away.

“Burnt the..” Alice’s voice trailed from the kitchen, filled with both frustration and laughter. “I burnt the lasagna again! Sorry, I'm busy trying to get it right.” She grunted and I rolled my eyes.

Alice was a bad cook. I just needed to spend three days with her to know. I told her to stop trying but…

“I have to make you feel at home by making some homemade food for you, Snugglebug.” Were her words.

I think Alice was just too kind of a woman. Unlike me, she was married early. She’s twenty-three and pregnant.

I waltzed to the smoke-filled kitchen, coughing. “Oh, dear!” I groaned before planting a kiss on her cheek.

We've gotten so acquainted in just a few days, all thanks to her outgoing spirit.

“I told you, Alice, cooking is just not your calling!” I scolded, putting off the oven.

Alice’s protest boomed immediately. “Come on, don't do that! I threw the burnt ones away. I promise these ones are sure to come out yummy!” She swore as she turned the oven’s switch back on.

“I don't want to imagine what yummy means in your cooking diary.” I rolled my eyes at her, knowing that I’d rather smack on plank than eat those Lasagnas.

She moved closer to me and patted my shoulders, “Yummy means yummy, Pookie. Yummy is yummy.”

One of my hands was holding my briefcase and the other went on my waist. “I had a dream, Alice.” I began.

With a concerned gaze, “Heavens, me — what is it?” She demanded.