If perplexed, take a walk to put things in perspective…
******
Picking up the leftover food someone kept on the bench, Mike, distracted, broke them into tinier pieces for the ducks in the water. Seeing the attention he was giving them, the cute birds waffled closer to the edge of the fountain to have more of the food he was throwing to them.Depressed, Mike could not suppress his guilt, he knew he had over reacted just now and he honestly wished he could take back all the harsh words he spat at her.‘For geek sake, the girl was in a coma, a long fearful coma before waking up and to what? To the reality that says she had lost her memories. It honestly would take a strong person to withstand that and not break down.’‘And how she had accepted everything like a gallant soldier, including his lies about her accident. She had listened and accepted his words even though he couldLove is nothing to joke with…******Usually, after a long trip of absence from the office, Mike usually returned with a quiet smile and appreciation for every soul in the company for holding the company together during his absence.Of course she knew Mike did not travel outside the city, he was just few kilometres away from the office in an hospital with Liza, but still, she had expected a better entrance from him.Especially he took her by surprise, she was not expecting him back at the office till next week as agreed and she had intimated some of the staff members about that. Hence, the reason for their surprise when they saw him.Now, closing the door quietly, Stella turned to face Mike and was so shocked to see the miserable expression on his face, she could not control the gasp that came from her mouth.Rushing to his side in acute fear, Stella gripped his arms with
A friend in need, is a friend indeed!...******“I fired her.” Knowing he needed to unburden his heart, Mike went to the crux of the matter that was really bothering him.Deciding she definitely hadn’t heard him clearly, Stella turned to ask.“You fired who?” She asked in confusion.“I fired Liza after telling her I’m done with her.”“Are you crazy?” Stella asked in a loud tone as she moved to stand in front of his desk.“Why in hell would you do that? To a woman who is just recuperating? A woman you claimed to love?”“I don’t know, I don’t fucking know. All I knew was the doctor told us she would be released in a few days time but warned that Liza would not be able to resume her job or daily activities for a while.”“And instead of gratitude to the doctor,
Apologies should go both ways… ****** Pretending to be asleep, Liza knew the exact moment Mike entered the room even though he was so quiet. Probably thinking she was asleep and trying not to wake her.But despite his quietness, she knew he was the one because even before he opened the door fully, the air had changed and even if she had not been aware of the charged atmosphere, the change in her breathing was enough to alert her to Mike’s presence. He was the only man she knew to make her feel that way.After his outburst and he left the room, she had been so cold and scared, thinking he meant every word and would not be back.Lying on the bed in tense silence, expecting his return, she had given up after a few hours of waiting and she had cried into her pillow.When the nurse came in to administer her medications and she saw her puffy face, she had been concerned but when she wanted to go for the
A simple meal of apology…*****Dropping the tray on the table, Mike rested his back on the wall, folded his arms on his chest and calmly waited for Liza to finish with her morning business and come out.They have to talk, he needs to make her know he is deeply sorry and will never hurt her. Hopefully, Liza will take it easy on him without dragging his ass on the floor.Having brushed her teeth and finished her morning routine, Liza went to the door to listen for any sound from the room. Hearing none, she felt Mike obviously did not want to talk to her too, so perhaps he had found it necessary to leave the room.Well, she is not hurt. She prefers it that way. Liza thought with a shrug while opening the door quietly.Entering the room, she honestly did not see Mike until she was almost at her bed. Stopping abruptly, she looked into Mike’s eyes and her heart crumbled.
Kiss the hurt away…*****Mike frowned!“But...but I... Liza.” Mike was short of words so he stopped to take a calm breath to control himself.‘Honestly, he feels like strangling Liza right now, like what is she trying to do to him? Give him heart attack?’ Mike thought in a mental groan of frustration.“There is no Liza about it darling. Did you or did you not sack me yesterday?”Raising his head so fast he almost had a headache, Mike stared into Liza’s eyes and when he saw the mischievous smile dancing in her eyes, he gave a deep groan. Holy cow!“Aha Liza darling, but I already apologised and I also told you I meant none of those words. It was just to stop you from thinking about anything but your health and how to get better.” He explained softly.“Hmm Liza darling, but I already apo
Doctors are God'S gifts to human… ***** The following day, Mike was having lunch with Liza in the privacy of their room when the doctor came in to check on Liza.Moving to the window so as to give them the needed privacy, Mike nevertheless listened as the doctor professionally asked Liza some questions.‘How’s she feeling? Does her head hurt? Any lingering headache or body pain?’Unable to pretend a non interest in her welfare, Mike turned to both the doctor and Liza. Watching the look on Liza’s face, Mike waited with bated breath to hear the answers she would give to those questions which the doctor asked.Seeing the tensed look on Mike’s face, Liza smiled and told the doctor she was fine. Except for slight headache when she did too much, she was feeling better every day, there was nothing to worry about, she assured the doctor.To every soul in the room, from the look the young lady
A word of thanks is a magic word…****** Receiving and understanding the deep message the doctor just passed to her, Liza grew whiter in the face and then, as if she was fighting an unseen battle, she braced her shoulder before lifting her eyes to the doctor. Then she gave a smile so beautiful that not only Mike but also the doctor was amazed.‘What a super smile this woman got packed in her small body!’ They all thought in wonder.“You are right doctor, what should be important to me at the moment is my health, how to get better and back on my feet. And most importantly, how to appreciate the good friends I have around me by staying strong.”Liza told the doctor with a smile but they all knew by friends, she was really talking about the man beside her since she has no other friend.“Good! I am very glad to hear that. Please, continue your interrupted lunch while I excuse myself.” The doctor nodded while mo
An arrogant man will always dislike pomposity in others…*****Entering the manager’s tiny hole of an office without a knock, Tom noticed the man was not surprised to see him.Probably, because the manager was also a loser, he could recognise fellow losers whenever he saw them.Frowning in deep anger and distaste, Tom coldly told the man he would take the job.But when the scrawny man responded with “of course” in that croaky voice of his, Tom almost rammed his hand down his throat. To hell with the job!But remembering he had nowhere to sleep, he gave a short nod while moving outside to sit and wait.Hell! This is definitely going to be a long period in his life. And why? Because he’s a selfish son of a devil who couldn’t love and cherish the good woman the good Lord gave him.For the first time in a long while,
A good ending for all… ****** Two weeks Later, Mike sent a bunch of flowers to Tom’s room at the hospital, having heard he was responding to treatment and would soon be discharged. He had also heard that with the help of his father’s team, his father was flown to London to be with his son at his critical moment. Mike felt for them but he knew they would get through it and survive together. That’s just life! It will throw you but if you are willing to stand again, everything will work out. Liza had heard him on the phone when he was ordering for the flowers and she had thought the flowers were to wish Tom a quick recovery and to also cheer him up. But only Mike knew that the real reason he sent the beautiful bunch of flowers was to silently thank Tom for indirectly bringing them back together. By pointing out some home truths to Liza, he made her see what she should have known, ‘That Mike would always be there for her’. For that alone, it shows the guy had some redeeming trait
We all deserve genuine love… ****** For long moments, they looked into each other’s eyes with trusting eyes that suddenly turned passionate. Mike’s eyes flared with a knowing light and Liza gave an unconscious gasp. Mike grinned as he lightly pushed her to continue walking to the car! “You always seem to be surprised every time I make my love and passion obvious, why?” He had always wanted to ask her. “I don’t know, Mike. Maybe because I never truly believed you could really love me, so I am always surprised when I see the evidence of it.” She admitted softly. Mike did not say anything to that as he opened the door for her to go in. Then he circled the car to join her and only then did he turn to look at her. “But that’s bullshit, babe. I have been showing you nothing but my love since we started dating.” Mike reminded her. “I know, Mike, but I guess it was just hard for me to believe and understand. I mean, I grew up without knowing much love, so how would I have recognized i
Give an option of doubt…*****Putting the phone back into his pocket, Mike turned to go back to Liza and that was when he saw her, watching him with a dazed look.“You heard everything, right?” Tiredly, he asked her, unable to hide it again.Liza nodded slowly.“I am sorry, Liza, but it is not what you think. I can explain, okay?” Mike was worried she might misunderstand.Again, Liza nodded slowly.“I am sure you have a reasonable explanation Mike and I promise to listen without judging you.” Liza acknowledged softly.Relieved, Mike nodded as he walked to her.“Thank you. I promise to tell you everything without hiding a word.” He embraced her soft body to him, knowing that he needed the warmth.Liza accepted his words and actions with a smile as she returned his embrace.******The following morning, Liza and Mike walked out of the old building with Martha who was holding tightly to the purple eyed, immensely bruised Tom.His left eyes were almost closed and Liza feared he might nev
Be honest with your loved ones… ******* What happened the next moment was so sudden, Mike was sure he was about to have a heart failure. “Oh my God—Oh my God—-Oh my God.” Liza kept crying. Recovering himself, Mike quickly left his seat to hold onto her shoulders. “Liza? Are you okay? Talk to me.” He saw the distressful emotion she was in and he could not bear it. It’s a fact that whatever affected Liza would get to Mike. Her joy and sadness were equally part of him. “I totally forgot, Mike. I did not mean to, but I forgot. I am a bad person. A very bad evil lady.” She cried softly while holding onto him. “Whatever it is Liza, we will get through it together, but I will not accept any disparaging word on your person. You are not a bad person and neither are you evil. So right now, I want you to take a deep breath and tell me what this is all about.” A little bit calmed by Mike’s reasonable voice, Liza took a calming breath. “It’s Tom, Mike, I totally forgot about him.” Liza exp
Apologies don't make you less of a man… **** Helping each other to dress up four hours later after a short nap on his office sofa bed, Liza sent a smug smile across to Mike. “You need to apologise to your staff Mike, they did not deserve the treatments you have been melting out on them.” Liza pointed out and Mike groaned. He did not have to ask Liza, he should have known Stella would tell her all about it. “I am serious, Mike, you need to apologise. Just imagine if any of your staff is acting unprofessional just because they are going through a lot at home. Would you accept that, even if you try to be understanding towards their plight?” Liza demanded to know. “I am the boss, Liza, it is different.” He pointed out arrogantly, trying to cover up. but he knew she was right. ‘That’s the thing about Liza, she was always almost right.’ He thought fondly with another groan. “No Mike, there is nothing different about it. They are humans and if you are truly the man I know you to be, I
A forgiving spirit is a kind one…*******Typing furiously away at her system while equally muttering furiously to herself, Stella was not aware of the person at her desk until she heard a chuckle which made her jump in fright.“Is the building on fire or what?” Liza asked with an amused gaze while watching the different emotions flashing across the face of her former senior colleague.“Liza Stanford, you scared me.” Stella cried, turning her full glare on the innocent Liza.“Uh oh wow, take it easy with the glare okay? I’m innocent of whatever the crime was.” Chuckling, she raised her hands in mock surrender.Stella snorted, unimpressed.Innocent her foot! Whatever their boss was going through, Stella knew Liza had a hand in it and even if it’s not in Stella’s place to say it out loud, she just hoped they could settle whatever it was between them.Having been married for several years now, she knew it was not always smooth sailing between couples.Just look at her and her husband Leo
Correct your mistakes once you know it… ******At the other end, Liza kept staring at the silent phone in her hand. Mike had dropped the call. Without telling her it was a joke. Which meant that truly, he was pushing for a divorce? ‘No way! Over my dead body.’ She swore violently as she ran to the bathroom. Almost tearing off the clothes on her body, she hurriedly lathered the washing clothes with soap as she switched on the shower, full blast. Dressing with haste, five minutes later, Liza was walking down the stairs, smartly dressed in one of her office clothes. But before she could cover the last step, one of the maids walked in from the hallway to greet her respectfully. “Good afternoon, Mrs. Stanford.” “Good afternoon Mary. I am on my way out and I might not be back for a while.” She said in a distracted tone while checking her bag to make certain she had all she wanted. “Oh okay Madam, but I was just on my way upstairs to tell you there is a visitor at the door asking fo
A disappointed heart is always heavy…****Glaring fiercely at the door of his office, willing any of his staff to walk through the door so he could at least have an excuse to vent his frustrations, his eyes caught the favourite coffee mug on his table and picking it up, he threw it violently at the wall and the smashing sound gave him a momentary satisfaction.At that exact moment, the Head of Sales Department was on his way to discuss the latest marketing pitch with the boss after deciding to brave the lion’s then. Even his colleagues had teased him when he casually told them he was in to see the boss.There had been teasing calls about his head and they had all laughed, saying by the time Mike Stanford was done blasting him off, his considered small head would become bigger as it rolled on the floor. Someone had even said he was sure he would come out without his tongue in his mouth.Of course, he had scoffed disdainfully, not giving them the chance to see his fear.Only the Head o
The surprise package…*****Liza dismissed the maid and, turning with a determined step, she hurriedly walked to the door just as the person pressed the bell again. Liza groaned ferociously as she pulled the chain from the back of the door.“Who the hell are you that you want to bring down the whole house just to get what you want?” Liza blasted the person with furious eyes even before the door was completely open.The short bald man that was standing at the door blinked owlishly up at her, surprised by the unexpected attack.“I—I didn’t--hmm aha…” The man stopped coughing slightly but when he took a little glance up, he saw Liza was still furious, so he dropped his eyes to try again.“I—I’m—sorry madam. I was just trying to do my job.” He stammered in a voice that was a bit scared.Liza glared the more upon hearing this silly talk. “Excuse me? You mean your job is to disturb my peace?” “No—No—of—course not, madam. I was just trying to get the attention of whoever is in the house.” H