I was right. Caring for these beautiful souls definitely made me feel a little bit better. I played with them, fed them, let them lay on my lap and some I carried like a baby.
Maybe if I had a dog or a cat in my apartment, every time I go home, all my stress and depression will be washed away as soon as it greeted me.
How I wish I had the time for the responsibility that comes with owning a pet.
I ran a little late going to the office as I spent a little bit more time in the shelter, I needed it, my soul needed it.
"Good morning, Car!" Brian greeted me as soon as I stepped out of the elevator.
"Hey, good morning." I greeted him back.
"I was trying to find you yesterday, but they told me you went with Al. Everything okay?" Brian walked me to my table.
"Umm, yeah, yeah, everything is okay." I put my bag in my drawer and opened my computer while Brian stood still in front of me.
"You know that I can be here for you as a friend, right? That you can tell me anything? After all, I know everything already so... Well, I'm just saying, I'm here if you need a friend. And Claire, you can text her or call her..."
"Bry, I will be fine. I mean, everything will be fine." I smiled, assuring him.
"Hmm, okay. Wanna grab a coffee in the pantry?"
"You know what, that sounds about good." I stood up from my seat and walk with him toward the pantry.
Brian put his arm around my shoulder, I am used to it as he always does that when we were in college. And that was the scene Alex saw when she stepped out of the elevator.
I saw her body stiffen looking at both of us, she even stopped walking and it made us stop as well.
"Morning, Al." Brian greeted her. That made her back to her senses.
"Good morning." She greeted him back before meeting my eyes.
"Good morning, Ms. Williams." I greeted her and avoided her gaze, I tapped Brian on the back to signal him to start walking again which he gets.
We walked past her without her greeting me back, I'm not sure if she noticed my agitation toward her but I'm sure Brian noticed the tension building up between Alex and me.
"So... That was not awkward at all." Brian joked as soon as we entered the pantry.
I glared at him which he took lightly as he just laughed it off.
"Well, I just hope that you both work on whatever is going on with you two." He snatched the coffee maker from my hand and poured it both into our cups.
"Really? I mean..."
"What? You think I would hope for you both not to work it out? Do you not really know me, Cara Greene?"
I let out a soft laugh hearing him saying my full name before hitting him on his arm.
He acted like it hurts him and made a face, it made me burst out laughing.
"Well, at least somebody's having a blast this morning."
Brian and I were both startled when we heard someone speak behind us.
"Would you both excuse me, please? I would like to get a cup of coffee." Alex's voice was so firm and the way she was looking at us sent scares into my insides.
Brian and I made a space for her and eyed each other. But the way Brian was talking to me through his eyes was so funny that I couldn't contain my giggle.
"What's so funny, Ms. Greene?" It was full of annoyance and she wasn't even hiding it.
"No-Nothing Ms. Williams." I stuttered.
I signaled Brian for us to leave the room.
As soon as we left, I let out a deep sigh.
"That bad, huh?" Brian asked and I answered it with a smile.
"I'll see you later?" I bid him goodbye and when he nodded, I walk to my table.
I haven't had the chance the sit on my chair when I heard Alex call my name.
"Yes, Ms. Williams?" I nervously said.
"In my office, NOW!" Her voice echoed in the four corners of our floor that all my colleagues trembled with fear. Well, not really trembled but I'm sure they got scared.
Who wouldn't? The way she yelled, I think even the insects of this room, if any, would've hidden themselves.
My colleagues were looking at me, probably scared for me. I even see David mouthing 'What did you do' to me.
Alex was waiting for me at her door with the coffee in her hand. I looked at mine sadly on my table, I was looking forward to having that coffee.
I gathered my notes, pen, and my laptop and headed to her office.
As soon as we were in, I sat on the chair in front of her table and set up my things while she dialed on her land phone.
"Get me all Europe contracts and agreements from 2020 till date... Yes, all of it... It doesn't matter, just get them all here!"
When she put down the phone, she glared at me.
What did I do?
I dared not to speak and just looked down.
As she sat down, she spoke.
"You're gonna be busy today M.s Greene, the only break you're gonna have is when you need to use the bathroom."
My head lift up to meet her eyes that were still glaring at me, I wanted to ask her badly what did I do but just dismissed it as I was thinking that she might just tell me nothing and it is all work stuff.
Technically, this is work stuff. I mean, she is entitled to give me a mountain of work because I work for her, but I know, this is not that. I know there is something else and I don't want to dare tell her.
"And don't worry, you will be able to eat, I will order food and we will both eat here, you don't need to go upstairs and have lunch."
When I didn't speak, she continue.
"You will have to categorize all agreements from 2020 till the date, I will prepare the sheet that you need to follow. Judging by the date, you can expect that you're gonna be working with me for at least 2 weeks. In the morning, you come to my office straight, regardless if I am here or not, got it?"
I nodded at her.
"Use your words, Ms. Greene."
"Yes, Ms. Williams." I answered her.
Alex smirked at me, the kind of smirk that looks bitchy.
"Anyways, I'll take this opportunity to speak to you, Ms. Greene, since I'm guessing the documents will take time to get here." Alex sipped into her coffee.
Damn, I could've at least drunk half of mine.
I stared at her intently, waiting for what she was about to say.
"About yesterday..." Her voice softens a little.
"Thank you for that, I didn't have the chance to say it yesterday."
"Don't worry about it." I told her making a straight face. I don't want to show her that I was a bit hurt, well, I don't want to show her any emotions at all.
After yesterday, I thought to myself, I have to act tough, just like when I was little and my own Mother was belittling me. This shouldn't be hard as I mastered it ever since I was young.
"Well, Okay. Umm... I wanted to talk to you about... us!"
The pounding of my chest became erratic. At every beat, it's making my eyes grow hot that I had to blink multiple times to stop myself from crying.
I think I know where this conversation is going, I prepared myself for it but how come when it's here, I don't feel stable?
I have to pull myself together, I cannot show defeat or weakness in front of her.
I shifted a little on my seat and took that chance to look down and compose myself before meeting her eyes again.
"You don't have to say it, Ms. Williams. I get it."
Perfectly. I wanted to add.
"Just... Let me say it, so we avoid misunderstanding in the future."
Here we go...