5. Ruined coffee

HAZEL:

Even though Jennie mentioned a lot of things, there were still some important details she skipped. Like, where to get coffee? I walked down to what looked like a general office with different people seated in cube-like spaces, all chattering amongst themselves.

"Excuse me?" I interrupted. They all turned their heads to me at once. I swallow in nothing but air before continuing.

"Where can I get coffee?"

One of them pointed to a door that was just right behind me. I almost banged my forehead for being so stupid as not to pay attention to details.

"Thank you," I smiled and turned my back to them. Their stare of scrutiny was something else, I felt like a little girl being scolded in the midst of adults.

I was almost done brewing the coffee but it felt as though I was forgetting something.

"Good morning there," I heard behind me.

I tilted my head to the right to find someone already standing at the door. What was up with these people and not making a sound when opening the door?

"Hello," I smiled. I picked up the cup and was heading out. He opened the door for me and I thanked him with another warm smile. I carefully walked back to the office, thinking of the best possible to act causal around my ex-husband. I felt I was the only one being bothered about this. It could be that he already knew it was me. Of course, I used my original name and he knew that already. Why did he pick me? To spite me?

I shook my head. Don't be too emotional about this. You're only here for the money and nothing else. I knocked before entering the office. When I got to his desk, I dropped the coffee cup beside him and couldn't wait to leave but his raised index finger stopped me.

He didn't say a word as he only sipped from the cup.

"What's this?"

I hesitated before answering because I didn't know what he meant.

"It's your coffee, sir."

"Didn't Jennie tell you I like my coffee black?"

That was the important thing I forgot. I completely made the coffee out of instinct.

"I'm sorry, I thought----"

"Listen here, I don't pay you to do what you think. I pay you to do what you ought to do correctly. Understood?" He warned sternly.

"Yes, sir."

"Get this thing out of here and do it properly this time." He flicked his finger. I took the cup and exited the office. My hands were shaking as I walked back to the brewing room. His voice was cold and icy. I almost froze at the spot.

Entering the room, I disposed of the rejected coffee and proceeded to brew another one. The mistake I made was not jotting down the notable points. I pray I get it right this time.

I took a fresh cup of coffee back to the office and dropped it on his desk. With his eyes not leaving the report he was reading, he grabbed the coffee and took a sip out of it. He didn't make any comment. I took it that he liked it better and I understood that it was my cue to leave.

"Please, excuse me." I bowed a little before walking down to my office. I resisted the urge to steal glances at him. My mind ached so badly to know if he ever took a second sip.

I sighed. What had I gotten myself into? The alarm tone of my phone jerked me out of my thoughts. It was almost time for the board meeting. It was time to face Luca again. I grabbed my record file and stationed some pens in my clothes pocket before proceeding out of my office. At the same time, my boss was walking out with both hands positioned in his pocket.

Before I could reach for the door, he opened it and walked out. I trailed behind him, walking steadily yet swiftly, almost like Jennie. We boarded the elevator down to the ground floor. As we walked through the reception, many workers bowed and greeted us respectfully. He only nodded and some times, even ignored the greeting.

He led me to the garage and before we got to the cars, the doors were already opened. The moment I got seated, I fastened my seatbelt. My boss entered and did the same as me. I realized that my anxiety around him had lessened because I was more focused on my work.

Looking around the car, my eyes caught sight of the driver staring at me from the rear mirror. He shot me a smile and I did the same. He started the car and began driving out of the company grounds. I noticed there were two other cars tagging along; one in front of us and the other at the back. The drive to wherever we were having the board meeting was silent.

I mostly looked out the window, to admire the beautiful city and to take off my mind off my circumstances. After a while, the car came to a halt. The doors were being opened for us and only the two of us walked inside the building.

"Do not start any conversation with anyone and on no condition should I see you speaking to anyone, even though they were the ones who initiated the discussion." He warned sternly.

"Yes, sir." I simply replied. His rivals might have been there and I understood him perfectly. When we got to the conference, I sat beside him. He was well reserved and did well to nod at those who greeted him. His eyes were glued to his phone most times and he didn't even see those who waved at him. I had to stand in for him.

I wonder who he was texting like that. Maybe his girlfriend. Unfortunately for me, my heart ached at that thought. Well, it is normal. We were once married. While the meeting was still in the process of starting, I was mentally preparing myself to take minutes. I've always been good at writing, so this should be a piece of cake.

Jennie left some emails unattended to before quitting, so I decided to start arranging them so they don't interfere with my work in the future.

There were still tons of things I didn't understand.

"Excuse me, sir," I called his attention.

He hummed, not sparing me a glance.

"I'm sorry but, I don't seem to know what to reply to these people just yet. Is it okay if I go through them later on?"

"My driver will bring you to the house on Saturday morning. We'll go through it together."

His house? Like, early in the morning at his place? And we'd be doing it together?