Chapter 15

DIANA THORTON

"Hey, I was hoping we could go out tonight. You know, with Caroline on leave now, it's just you and I," Celeste says.

"I'm so sorry Celeste, I have an engagement later today. Rain check?" I say, without taking my eyes off the computer.

"You know that I see beyond the facade" Celeste points out.

"What facade?" I take a glance at her

"I know you don't like me and Caroline used to be the reason why you talked to me and now that she's no longer around, I have figured you didn't want to be associated with me anymore."

"Oh Jesus, Celeste. That's not even the case. Yes, you are very much expressive but I don't even have a problem with that. The thing is I have a..." The security guard cuts me off halfway

"These lilies came in for you," The security said.

"Thank you!" I said to her before she left.

"What do you have tonight? Is it a date? Is that why Gabriel sent you flowers? Celeste should very much be an interrogator at this point.

"Gabriel and I are not together anymore?"

"And what does that mean?" She asks with curiosity plastered all over her face.

"We broke up, officially"

"Shut up" Celeste shuts her already wide-open mouth with a palm above it.

"I did not see that coming" she added.

"Yeah, yeah. I guess it was never meant to be" I say before going back to what I was doing on my computer.

"The more reason why we need to go out tonight and find you a rebound, Steve"

Tsk tsk, typical Celeste.

"No Celeste, I don't need a rebound," I emphasized

"Okay, Miss goody-two-shoes whatever you say"

Miss Goody-two-shoes? If only she knew.

By the time it was noon, I was already done with all that I needed to do and it made me feel happy because it means that I get to leave work at closing time.

Just when I was about to head to the break room for lunch, Alexander stepped out from the elevator, and behind him were all the PDs.

They were all headed to his office and the sight of the image before me made me cringe.

They were sucking up to him, latching on like a fucking leech with fake ass-kissing smiles. Who could blame them? It's not fancy in the world of unemployment.

But the last thing I would do is to ass-kiss someone as selfish as Alexander. I adjusted the position of my glasses just above the bridge of my nose as they walked passed me.

According to the timeline, the ingredients for all four products must be ready today, and were seemingly trying to sweet talk or rather convince Alexander on the topic but he was as usual not intrigued. I wish I could slap that stupid frown off his face.

Those poor souls are doing all they can and just because he's our means of survival, it doesn't grant him the power to lord over us.

5 minutes to clock out time, my fingers drum on my wooden desk while I anxiously chew on the butt of my pen. And just when the hour strikes and I start to pick my bag from the floor, my boss shows up.

"Going somewhere, Ms. Thorton?" That voice. Cold yet effective.

"I umm already told HR that I have an emergency today and she said I could leave early if I finished all that needs to be done today."

"Is HR your direct boss?"

I stammer before finally grabbing a thin line of courage to talk. "No sir"

"Do you think she is the go-to to decide whether or not you leave early?"

I shake my head.

"Did someone just die?" He asks

"No" My brows furrowed in confusion

"Then there's no emergency. You are working late today"

"But I really have to..." He stops me mid-sentence

"Did I fucking stutter Ms Thorton!" He yelled

He just fucking yelled at me. I froze, his voice was loud enough to scare me to death. The cold look in his eyes made me shiver in fear.

"Need I remind you that I pay you excellently well to do what you're told. Everyone is working late and so are you" And on that note, he stormed off back to his office.

I'm working late. How late? I check my wristwatch, it's a few minutes past five. Maybe if I'm able to do all that he wants quickly, I should be able to make it to the cemetery before they close for the day.

Shit! That's in one and a half hours.

I managed to stay motivated and get things done quickly. I've never missed my foster mum's death anniversary- it's the only way I still feel close to her and my foster Dad.

As I sat in the conference room my thoughts were scattered I checked my wristwatch constantly while tapping my feet on the floor. What exactly does he need me here for again?

Oh yes! I remember, taking notes. Of all days to let his dominating side take over, it just had to be today.

"Miss Thorton" His voice breaks through my wall of distraction.

My body jumps on the awareness of his voice "Yes?"

"Coffee," He said, sternly.

I hurriedly stood up and headed out. On my way to the break room, I see the flowers I had ordered sitting nicely on my table. I walk to my desk while blankly staring at the lilies.

I am frantically thinking yet my mind is like a blank canvas.

"I knew I'd still find you here." Celeste showed up. "The boss says we're working late and I figured you won't be going to that engagement of yours again" She added.

I simply hummed without taking my eyes off the flowers.

"You look like you need a drink" Celeste brings out an already opened and nearly half-consumed bottle of vodka from her.

"We're drinking downstairs and as the good friend that I am, I decided to share the joy with you. Want a glass?"

"I'm afraid I will need the entire bottle."

I am not reckless and I probably won't be drinking in the office but I knew deep down that the alcohol would be my solace at home.

"I'm quite generous so have it" Celeste placed the bottle on my desk. "God! Alex's mood today is something else. That man makes me squirm even when he does the worst"

Enough of that Celeste! The last thing I want to hear is the name of that bastard.

I wish I could just tell her to shut the fuck up about her fantasies for once. Jeez!!! Take a hint girl, it is evident that I am not in the mood.

"I have to go get them coffee," I say as a sign of dismissal and make a move to leave.

"Ok, errand girl" She struts off before me.

Errand girl? Not today devil, not today. She's probably the one who consumed half of the Vodka hence the reason she's gibberish at the moment. Let it slide, Diana.

***********

I down the last cup of vodka before scrambling for my things on the floor. The image of me right now looks pathetic; legs sprawled to form a V on the floor with my head resting on the wall and an empty bottle of vodka in one hand.

I honestly didn't want to drink in the office but, it was too much of a temptation and I just could not resist. Not after the shitty day I've had.

It's 10 p.m. and I sure as hell can't visit the cemetery again. My emotions hit me hard, so much so that all I wanted to do after the meeting ended was to consume the entire content of the bottle and strike cheers to my shitty luck, and then depressingly wallow in my sadness. I was close to tearing up and I tried really hard to stop them from falling but I just couldn't keep fighting any longer. So I just let them fall.

I stepped into the elevator on wobbly legs after gathering my things and when I turned around, I wasn't sure if what I was seeing was real or maybe I was just too tipsy and this image of Alex in front of me was just a fragment of my drunk imagination.

Just before the elevator doors shut close, I meet Alex's eyeline. "I fucking hate you" I mouth with tears dripping down the corners of my eyes.

If I didn't need the money, I would have cussed him out hours ago.

Stupid, crazy, jerk, foolish, evil, beastly, crazy, asshole, stupid and devilish asshole. Yes, I know I mentioned crazy, asshole, and stupid, twice but don't blame me. I'm drunk.