Listen to Mean by Taylor Swift
Mia
For a fleeting second, I felt an uncomfortable churning in my chest as I stepped out of the elevator. I halted and got hold of my breath before resuming my steps.
What the hell was that?
I batted my eyes sharply and turned in the direction of my seat.
I was now on the seventh floor, working with the editing department, and I must say, they were kind of bougee.
Every individual seemed to be so prim but classy and posh. They understood their responsiility.
The usual helter skelter that was experienced on the fourth floor wasn't in practice here. And by helter skelter, I was referring to Keith. His inability to stay put. I always assumed he had nails attached to his butt.
I had to admit, I sort of missed him too. His annoyance and snobbery.
I slipped into my chair and placed my bag on the desk. My phone vibrated and I reached for it. It was a text from Jane.
I replied, telling her not to forget to call me so that we'd go for lunch together.
Setting my phone aside afterwards after silencing it, I got out the manuscripts that needed massive editing.
Between time intervals, I'd check my phone to see if Alan had texted or called. But there was nothing like that. I wondered what that demon of a brother had done to him.
I decided to text him instead. I waited for an immediate reply but none came. I sighed and put my phone away.
Just few hours to lunch time, and I had neared my target for these few hours.
As compared with the typing, I was in love with being an editor. It was hectic but you knew what had to be done so there was no additional headache to the one you'd already get from performing your exact duty.
My phone beeped and I reached, positive it was Alan.
It's time for lunch.
The text read, and unfortunately it was from Jane.
****
"Oh! I love this. So soft and mmm." Jane licked her lips as she nibbled on some meatloaf.
I scooped some strawberry ice cream into my mouth.
"Alaric's here." I burst out before she could bit into her next chew.
"What do you mean by that?" She set her meatloaf down, her eyebrow raising up and down in sheer annoyance.
"Alaric's here. I was with Alan when he showed his face in his house." I clicked my tongue.
I still wasn't able to get his rude remark out of my head. He had issues, big issues and I would appreciate if he didn't descend them on me.
"What does he want?" She asked, almost rhetorically.
I shrugged. "Aren't you going to finish your meatloaf?"
"I suddenly lost my appetite?" She pushed the plate away from her.
"Ha!" I gave her a ridicule look. "Can you believe he insulted me?"
"Sister, I ain't surprised about that. Alaric is an asshole. But, I do know one thing. Alan has at least three months to go before the turnover so it can't be what I'm thinking about now."
"What are you thinking about?" I decided to torture her. Her facial expression when I told her about Alaric was priceless. It was almost like she'd seen her father's ghost. The color from her face dropped like wiping off a canvas painting.
"You know what I mean. I see you're laughing at me. This ain't no laughing matter. You better pray. That man can make your life a living hell."
And I didn't doubt that. Deep down, I knew this was no funny matter. Alaric showing up here for whatever reason was like the rising of an apocalypse.
Not that I knew him like Alan, but first impression said a lot.
"We need to get rid of him." Jane said in a serious tone.
"How?"
"Haven't you heard of murder."
I laughed. She was joking, right? I searched her face for a humorous expression but found none. She gave me a smug look instead.
"You really can't be serious." I rolled my eyes at her.
"I ___"
"Do you mind if I join you guys?" A soft female voice interrupted Jane.
"Sophie... Umm sure." I hesitantly replied while Jane threw daggers at me for accepting her request.
"I was seated back there and I heard you speaking of Alaric."
Oh dang it! Now this woman would blab it to the entire world that we were gossiping about Alaric.
"No, we're not." I said too quickly.
"Don't worry. Mia, I also don't want him here, like Jane. It's like he has a problem with the entire world."
"He thinks the entire world revolves around him." Jane added to the fire.
"You know right!" Sophie exclaimed.
I wasn't getting it. Alaric was the one topic that could make Sophie want to hang out with us. I never knew Alaric was hated by that lot.
"How do you see him Mia?"
"Umm.. He's intimidating and intense." I said, poking the spoon into my now melted ice cream.
"If he takes over I wouldn't know what to do." Sophie sighed.
"Why?" I asked.
"He fired me five months ago when he was here. He saw me making a phone call at the hallway. I told him it was an emergency about my mom. He didn't change his mind, infact, it was like I was speaking to a log."
"When Alan returned, I came to him. You know he's compassionate. And he hired me back."
"Wow." I stated bewilderedly.
"He's heartless, Mia."
"We need to get rid of him." Jane banged her hand on the table.
Sophie laughed and I rolled my eyes at Jane.
"Get a feasible plan."
We finished eating and strolled back to the workplace. Sophie was still with us. I had to admit, she opening up about Alaric made me see how she really was. Not concerning the mean comments she pronounced on Alaric, but she wasn't as bitchy as I thought her to be.
I guessed she was one of those people you shouldn't judge before knowing.
I bid Jane and Sophie goodbye as they got out of the elevator on the fourth floor.
I settled down on my seat in a haste to check my phone as soon I got to my floor.
"Miss North, Mr Starvnos would like to see you in his office." A petite, chubby woman with black rimmed glasses said to me.
Finally, the one person I'd been longing to hear from.
"Okay, thanks." I smiled at her and stood up.
I shimmied out of the elevator in a haste and unscrupulously bumped into a hard strong figure, stepping directly on their shoes.
"Oh my God____"
"Look what you did, you idiot!"
A deep tenor voice roared. That voice. It made me stop right in the middle of my impending apology.
My head went up and my eyes landed on Alaric.
"I'm sorry." I whispered yelled in an irritating voice.
"Get out of my sight!" He yelled in a dismissive tone and stomped away faster than a lion after his prey.
What was his problem?
I wasn't in the mood to be affected by his icy and austere attitude. I let his worthless tone slide out of my head as I marched to Alan's office.
"Did you see Alaric?" Jane's eyes bulged out like they were about to pop out of their sockets.
"I did. He's got issues." I whispered and skipped her as I entered Alan's office.
He gave me a soft kiss and held my hand to the seat.
"You're okay?"
"Yes, I'm fine."
Your brother however, is not.
"Mia, I need to talk to you."
"Okay." I let out. He took my hand in his and I wondered what the hell was going on? Nevertheless, I gave him a small smile.
"I'm going away to Greece."
The smile fell from my face. "What, why?"
"Family business needs my assistance, well expertise."
"Yes, but this company also needs your expertise." I stated as I rolled my eyes.
He chuckled. "It's complicated but I'm the only who can take care of things right now."
"But who will manage this place then." I gulped, bracing myself for a reply I foresaw coming.
"Alaric. That's why he's here. He'll take over while I'm gone."
No!
No!
I can't work with that maniac, I'd rather walk and be eaten alive in a pond full of crocodiles.
I gulped down empty air as I thought of Sophie. With Alaric as the new boss, what was she going to do?
Maybe Alaric had forgotten he'd fired her. At least, that was the only contingency we could hold onto at this moment.
"I would love if you could come with me." Alan jolted me back to life.
"I would have loved to go with you." I said as I held his face in my hands. It was true I would gone anywhere with him, not because I didn't want to be working with his devil brother, but everything and everywhere with him felt right.
"But Papa and Jay, I can't leave them all by themselves."
"Yes, I totally forgot." He gave a small chuckle.
"How long would you be gone?"
Please say a week.
Maximum, a week and a day.
"A month."
A month working for Alaric?
Terrific!
Hopefully, Alan would make it just in time for my burial.
Or Alaric's.