CHAPTER NINE

"All females are full of disappointment and deceit" Alex blustered.

"What did you say?"

Thelma turned to him. She gave him a piercing stare. 

"How can you say so? Women are passionate, sweet and awesome. How dare you say that? It is men that are generally full of disappointment and deceit. Try quoting me wrong!" she fumed and placed her arms akimbo on her waist.

Alex dragged his hawkish gaze towards her and he cocked a brow, surprised to see Thelma's reaction.

"It's not fair! Aren't I a woman? And here I am working my butt off for your benefit," she hollered on.

"That's your job," he replied with a nonchalant expression. 

"Why didn't you employ a man if men are that wonderful?" she shot back. She was trying to be calm since Alex was her boss but his words were too offensive.

"You have a mother, don't you? Then, you are indirectly referring to her because she is a woman," Thelma yelled.

Alex's mood changed completely. He became more  furious and his body tensed at her utterance. He took slow steps towards her. Gripped by fear, Thelma strode backwards. Her heart drummed against her ribcage.

"I didn't...mea... mean...

to insult your...mot..her... mother. Please!" Thelma stammered as she staggered in her footing. Her back slammed to the wall and she was in a tight spot. Nowhere to run!

"Plea.. Please..." she faltered.

He interrupted her and yelled, "Shut up! I said shut up! Go and do your work. I mustn't hear anything from you. Is that clear? Because you will truly regret it"

Thelma nodded rapidly and scrambled to her chair. She operated the laptop as her fingers trembled. 

"You are so cruel. I won't lie to you. What you said was absolutely wrong!" she whisper-yelled.

Alex grunted and glared at her until he sat down and switched on his laptop.

An idea sparked in Thelma's mind. Alex was the guy called Xander in her high school. She checked the yearbook and he was the one. She could remember vividly that students said he had a big heart and could easily be emotionally blackmailed. Maybe she should check it out, she thought.

Thelma sighed with a gloomy expression. She intentionally made noise to get his attention and it was working. His gaze lingered on her for a second and got back to his work.

She cleared her throat. Alex looked up at her and asked, "What did you say?"

Thelma shrugged.

"That means you said something," he responded.

"I didn't!" Thelma pushed her bottom lip out to give the ideal sad look. "Don't talk to me".

"I shouldn't talk to you?"

"Guilty much!" Thelma mumbled.

"Aargh! Thelma, stop that. I mustn't hear anything from you. What's so hard to understand about that?" he snarled.

She stayed silent. After a minute, she cleared her throat again and pretended to cough.

"What did you say?" Alex grumbled.

"Guilty conscience!" she whispered and blinked her gloomy eyes.

"What did you say?" he boiled up. He had heard what she said.

"Me? I said nothing" she tucked her strands of hair behind her ear and shrugged.

"Liar! You said something about a guilty conscience," he howled. He slammed his hands on his desk.

"Are you feeling guilty of what you said earlier?" she stared at him through her long lashes.

"What?"

"I know you won't. Even with the look on my face, you didn't feel pity. You still downgraded the ability and qualities of a woman," she uttered with a depressed look.

Alex placed his hand behind his neck and took a deep breathe. Thelma gave a sad puppy look and went back to her work. Suddenly, she shut the laptop close and got to her feet. "I would be leaving now" she announced.

"You can't leave. I'll take you home. It's too late" his imperative voice boomed.

"I don't need the help of someone who doesn't appreciate other people but himself," she sneered and rolled her downcast eyes. "You know, a saying goes that behind every successful man, there is a woman".

"Okay! Okay! Okay! Wow! I have heard! I am sorry! Gosh! You can kill a person. Why are you acting like you've been crushed? I'm sorry. Women are not bad; just some. Please quit doing those sad face. Urgh!" Alex huffed in defeat.

Thelma smiled. That was a mission accomplished. Alex do have a heart. He is still the Prince Charming I knew. He is just trying to change himself. Why?

***************************

Theresa heard a knock at the door. Quickly, she stood up and went to open it. Thelma stood at the door, stared at Theresa and gasped, "What's on your face?"

"My face?" Theresa arched a brow. "Oh! My face! Well, it's a face mask I made with egg. It helps my skin. I want my skin to glow" she replied. Theresa's face was plastered with a creamy paste. She softly tapped her cheek and nodded.

"Ugh! Back again with that. I thought you bought a face cream?" Thelma walked in, tossing her bag on the bed.

"Yeah, I did. It had finished so I thought, why not go natural?" Theresa giggled.

"I left some lasagne and sauce for you".

"Thanks. Today had been stressful" Thelma stretched and yawned. She rubbed her sleepy eyes and sighed. But it had a nice ending in the office for her. Alex! Alex! I can't get why you are on my mind! Well, I can't be blamed. How can a woman forget that hot, sexy man?

Thelma thought of him. He had this perfect symmetrical face with thick and dark eyebrows. Not to talk of his dark lashes! His high cheek bones and full lips were so mesmerizing. It always looked so kissable most especially since it was so rich in color, always pink. She couldn't even forget that perfectly toned athletic body fitted into those expensive suits. His manly scent beats her imagination. She wouldn't be surprised if she was told he spends millions on his cologne. It was just too good.

After, she had eaten. She picked up a novel to read and stared out the window. She was startled when Theresa yelled, "Thelma come and answer your phone call. Some freak keeps  calling".

"Oh!" Thelma dashed to the room. "Who could be calling?"

She picked the phone and looked at the caller ID. It was Oscar. Thelma smiled and pressed the green icon that flashed.

"Hi!" she chirped as she pressed the phone close to her ear.

"Hey, Thelma! How are you doing?" Oscar greeted.

"I'm good! You called, why?"

"Yeah! It's about Kelvin. His new attitude is creepy. He is too quiet and that is messing with my brain" he voiced and heaved a sigh. There was rustling before the other end fell silent.

"Oh!" Thelma sighed.

"Can we meet?"

"Sure! I'm on my way" Thelma hung up and averted her gaze to her sister. "Theresa, I need to go somewhere. I'll be back soon".

"No way! You just got back from work. Why do you want to go now? No, Thelma! You need to rest," Theresa replied.

"I want to meet Oscar and talk to him for some minutes"

"What's happening between the both of you? You are going nowhere," she yelled and sat in a trance-like pose.

"Well, I will be receiving a call. Please don't interrupt me. I will be in the bathroom" Thelma yelled,  feigning anger. Theresa shrugged with an unconcerned expression. An exasperated sigh escaped Thelma's lips and she walked into the bathroom. She shut the door behind her, tapped on her phone and dialed Oscar's number. He picked at the spur of the moment.

"Hi! I'm sorry but I can't meet you. We can still have a conversation by means of our cellphone," Thelma suggested.

"Is it possible for Theresa and Kelvin to make up?"

"Theresa? Apologize?" she laughed for a moment and added "Impossible! Don't you know Theresa? Gosh, the chance of that happening is thin".

"What if Kelvin apologizes?"

"Then there is hope!"

"I think I have an idea"

"I am all ears".