C10 Comfort and Shadows

Lily

I swallowed, standing in front of his office for the second time since.

I didn't know what he was going to say, but considering the look on his face, it wasn't going to be good.

Sucking in a deep breath, I braced myself for what was to come, fully aware of the impending reprimand.

Twisting the lock, I finally entered.

His back faced me,his large frame more of a silhouette with a his black suit and hair.

Closing the door behind me, I felt the tension thicken as silence grew. Holding in my tremors, I silently prayed for the best.

“Sir-”

"Do you…” my blood ran cold at his icy voice.

“Know what you've done?”

I curled my arms to stave away the panic. laced with a disapproving tone,

“Sir, I'm sorry for my blunder in the meeting today. It… it's been a difficult day.” I apologised, hoping it would be enough.

As he turned to me, I knew it was all for naught.

“I see." He drawled out “So will you day this to all the other members present? Perhaps you think your apologies are worth anything in the business.”

“No sir. I-”

He quieted me by raising a single hand, leaving the rest of my words stuck in my throat.

"Your day doesn't matter to me.” he cut me off. “ Or anybody else back there. If this was a critical meeting, would you make this same excuse?”

I swallowed. It was true. There was no excuse in the corporate world.

“You were hired amongst other candidates, who were perhaps more experienced and skilled. And out of all of them, you were chosen.”

The words stung, the implication that I was far from those things weighing on my doubts.

But he continued, moving towards me

“I needed someone capable. Someone who wouldn't waste. My. Time.”

His words were sharp, cutting me to the bone.

Then he faced me again, holding me captive in his emotionless stare.

“So tell me Miss Grace, did I make a mistake in hiring you?"

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. Waves of humiliation washed over me under his frigid stare.

I shook my head, struggling to swallow down my tears.

"I... I'm sorry, it won't happen again." I stammered, my voice quivering with embarrassment.

My cheeks flushed with shame, and I lowered my gaze to the floor, unable to meet his eyes. The weight of my failures pressed down on me.

"I'll do better," I whispered, my words barely audible.

His expression didn't soften at all. He didn't respond, forcing the knots deeper inside me.

“Did you record the meeting?" He suddenly asked.

Lifting my head high I nodded sharply.

“Yes sir.” I replied, hoping for some acknowledgement.

“Good." He nodded.

“Now get out of my office." He said, his tone final.

I scrambled out as fast as possible, holding in the burning in my eyes. With nobody in sight, I raced all the way to my office, before letting my walls down.

The tears that I had fought back earlier dripped down. I choked out my sobs, curling near the wall to cry.

The doubts that had plagued me from the beginning resurfaced with a vengeance.

I crumbled over the weight of everything. My pregnancy and the entire day. At this moment, I wished I could disappear and forget it all, but it wasn't possible.

‘Alexander.’ The memory of his face moments ago made me cry harder.

He was my boss, and he was nothing I would have expected. His words today had wounded me, breaking down the last strand I had been holding on to for the entire day.

I regretted ever meeting him that night. And now, I was pregnant with his child.

So lost in the tears, I barely processed my door opening. A warm hand suddenly rested on my shoulder, startling me. I abruptly whipped my head, only to find a familiar face staring back.

_

Hastily wiping away my tears, I looked at her in shock.

"Hey." Lisa said softly. She wasn't in her uniform, instead wearing a formal blouse with jeans.

“I heard what happened.” she said, settling beside me.

For a moment, wonder at her presence momentarily stalled my tears.

"How did you find me here?" I croaked out,

Lisa chuckled lightly “My boss let me off duty early today, so I came to find you. And…I overheard some people talking about it on my way here."

I nodded in understanding.

“Do you wanna talk about it?" She asked.

I sniffed, shaking my head “Its okay. I'm just…overwhelmed.”

“Its alright. We all make mistakes, some more than others.” she chuckled mirthlessly.

“What truly matters is how we deal with it. It's good that you let it out. Now, maybe you can move forward without the weight on your shoulders.”

I looked up at her, a mix of shock and gratefulness from her advice.

“Thanks.” I said. Her words were a soothing balm and I appreciated it.

It was ironic how our positions were reversed from before.

“Consider it a thank you for the comfort you gave me.” she said, nudging me slightly.

“We've gotta stick together in a place like this. Plus, you're the first real friend I've made since being here. I'm not letting you go anytime soon.” she said

I chuckled at that, all the strains of the frustration and sadness slowly dissipating.

Even if it was only days ago that I met her, it felt like she'd been there for years.

As she prepared to leave, Lisa surprised me once more by handing over a bag of food.

"To raise your spirits." she said, smiling empathetically.

I accepted the bag with a warm smile, touched by her thoughtfulness.

When she left, I wiped the last of my tears away. There was no need to cry anymore.

I worked in sorting out the meeting notes I'd written, making sense of my errors to type. Finally I sent it to his email, set and happy on no longer meeting him.

The beration still stung, but it wasn't unfounded. I had been fumbling with every task. And now my head was clearer, more fixated. In some way, my breakdown allowed me the clarity I was looking for.

There were plenty of things I had to deal with now. It was a long time coming.

Clearing up the remaining tasks for the day. I made my way out of the office.

As I walked through the corridors, I spotted Ron not too far from me.

“It's strange how we always end up meeting eh?” I joked dryly offering a small smile as he approached.

"Who knows? Maybe I'm the one always looking for your company.” he replied.

I smiled at his teasing. As he came closer, I spotted concern.

“I heard about what went on in the meeting today. Are you okay?" He asked.

‘Did everyone know?’ I inwardly groaned, though the embarrassment wasn't intense anymore.

I sighed, mustering a small smile.

"Honestly, it wasn't great. But it's okay now." I said genuinely.

Ron's brow furrowed “You don't have to hide it you know. You can cry in my arms if you want. Or you can curse him out and I'll listen.”

A chuckle left me at that. Shaking my head, I waved away his concerns.

“No need for any of that. I'm really fine. Honest.” I sighed out

“And besides, even if you wanted to comfort me, someone beat you to it.”

“What?” he asked, visibly surprised “Who's my new rival?”

I laughed at his pretence. He was so funny.

“Another new friend of mine came to comfort me afterwards. She's been really sweet." I said

Like a switch, Ron visibly relaxed

"Good for you.” he said, “Don't let yourself get down. Besides, he won't be around for much longer."

I stopped my tracks.

“What?” I turned to him in confusion, what did that mean?

“I…I mean…” He fumbled for a moment, seemingly taken aback.

“I mean, He only comes around the company for a week or two before completely disappearing till goodness knows when. I think he won't be staying here for long.”

‘Oh,’ I relaxed, nodding in understanding.

Of course he wouldn't stay. He was the CEO for goodness sake.

Why then, did I feel a little strange about him leaving?

I pushed away the thought to smile at Ron.

"Thanks, Ron. I appreciate your support." I said.

He reached out and gave my shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "Anytime, Lily."

He walked with me all the way to the lobby before telling me that he still had some more work to deal with.

As Ron bid me goodbye and headed in the opposite direction, a sense of warmth filled me. His kindness, along with Lisa's were heartwarming giving me the courage to face things in a different light, even if it wasn't what they knew about.

‘Should I keep the baby?’ It was another option I had to grapple with. No matter how difficult it would be, even if I hadn't warmed up to it, I wasn't totally against it. It was still too early to tell anyways.

But first, there were two important people I needed to tell. Perhaps, they would guide me out of my dilemma.

I walked down out the hotel, headed for the streets where I could grab a taxi. a creeping feeling washed over me.

What was that?

I stopped in place, the tingling down my spine never stopping. My body tensed.

It felt like…I was being watched.

I turned, my eyes scanning the area, but there was no one there. I sighed with relief, turning back the creeping sensation was gone.

Maybe it was just my imagination after all. I shook my head.

‘It was the nerves.’ I nodded, inwardly agreeing with myself. I was probably feeling the leftover anxiety that was draining away.

I continued on my way home, determined to put the day behind me.