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“Hope so,” I reply bravely, looking away when his eyes meet mine because they’re so intense.
Could he like me too?
He wanders away, whistling happily as he goes.
The speaker on my desk beeps, and so does the piece in my ear signaling an incoming from the boss man.
I hear raised voices coming through the door, mostly Mrs. Conti’s so I press the button to accept it and immediately remove my earpiece when her shrill voice assaults my fragile eardrum.
I’m about to disconnect the call, realizing they obviously didn’t mean to come through to me, when Mrs. Conti snarls, “You’re going to take her word over mine?”
“She’s not our nanny,” Mr. C replies and I wonder if they’re talking about me. “And she’s not your employee, she’s mine.”
“We’re married. If I need to use your employees…”
“Then do so but let me know so I can pay them accordingly! And don’t speak to them like shit. Especially Rose.”
There’s a pause and I find myself holding my breath.
“What do you mean, especially Rose?” She is really mad, practically seething, I could hear it in her voice.
“I mean because she’s soft spoken and kind, she doesn’t need to be yelled at and that’s not your job. It’s my job to discipline my employees. Not yours! Especially when she’s doing your errands for free.”
I want to cheer him on, happy that he’s got my back.
Her voice gets scary as she asks, “Soft spoken and kind?”
“Yes. She’s good to me, to us…”
“Did she tell you I’ve been shouting at her?”
“Liz…”
“What else do you say about me when I’m not here?”
I hear him hit something, maybe his desk, and his voice grows louder with frustration. “We don’t talk about you. We don’t fucking talk at all!”
“Sounds like you do more than talk the way you’re defending her.” Now she’s being irrational and stupid, she’s grasping at straws for things to fight about. “Have you fucked her?”
My hand flies to my mouth. I can’t believe she’d even ask that.
“Elizabeth,” he rebuts, his tone one of warning. “Don’t test me.”
“Have you?”
“NO! Have you seen my wife lately, she’s fucking gorgeous? Why would I need to go elsewhere? Especially to somebody who still dresses like a twelve-year-old emo.”
“She is a bit embarrassing to look at.” Mrs. Conti laughs, happy at their insults as I look down at my black oversized blazer and dark purple button-up. “You promise? You’ve never even thought about her like that?”
“No,” he replies, the word elongated. “The only time I’ve ever thought of her body is when I’ve been trying to decide if she even has one or just a floating head and fabric.”
“She must be a big girl, size of her clothes. She probably buries herself so we don’t notice. She ordered a man’s size jersey for Maria’s soccer practice.”
“Of course she did,” he utters, laughing too now like his wife just was. “That’s so like her.
“Come here,” he says to his wife and her laughter becomes a soft, seductive giggle. “I love you. I’d have to be crazy to cheat on you with her. She’s got nothing on you.”
I end the call, feeling my fists clench. I count to sixty this time because I’m so fucking angry.
I’m just the butt of their joke. The meek little girl.
I head to the bathroom to wash my face, turning the corner of our floor near where Pax’s office is and his terrible PA Julia sits outside chatting as per usual.
“Did you hear them bang?” Julia’s voice whispers on a laugh and I stop at the corner.
“No, we got disconnected after they started talking about Rose.” Miranda is the one who says this, her tone amused.
Oh my God. It must have been a glitch, either that or Mr. C hit the wrong button. Did everybody hear what they said?
“So true though. She looks like a walking charity shop. Those suits and those glasses.”
“Right? So gross. My grandma wears those shoes.”
“Ladies,” Pax barks. “Don’t you have work to be doing?”
“We were just——”
“I know what you were just,” he snarls. “I don’t want to hear you talking about your colleague like that again, am I clear?”
“Yes, Mr. Pax,” Julia mutters, sounding ashamed.
“You’re too old to be bullies, I’ll not have it. If I ever hear you talking ill of Rose again, it’ll be your job.”
Miranda laughs, “Chill out, Pax. It’s not like we were saying anything bad about her personally. She’s a sweet girl, she’s just a bit weird.”
“Go back to your own office, Miranda,” Pax replies and I hear his door slam.
I rush back to my desk, shaking with sadness. My heart is beating wildly in my chest and I feel sick. Pax had my back, but he didn’t disagree with them. He didn’t say he liked the way I looked.
When Mrs. Conti leaves looking more disheveled than when she arrived, I stand and knock on the door to Mr. C’s office before entering.
