Chapter 2

“I was so stressed out that I kind of zoned out when the tap was running. Now, the entire building is a mess, because of me!”

Bowman asked, “But why were you stressed out, dear child?”

“Sir Dion has fired me. My mother is very ill, I need the money, sir!”

DING DONG!!

That was the doorbell. Bowman had been expecting high profile guests. He had invited them over to celebrate his birthday. He never anticipated welcoming them into a flood. Now, Bowman was thinking that if he reached down the stairs and walked out to meet there, things would be better. He thought that maybe, if he directed them to the patio and kept them out of the house until the house was all dried up, would salvage his dignity.

Bowman knew how judgmental his associates were. He knew that his extreme success had made him a target of jealousy and hate, even among the people who frequently smiled at him. It would be damaging if they walked in and found that Bowman could not manage his household. They would most likely sell the news to paparazzi and other news blogs.

It was too sad and unfortunate, the door swung open—it was probably pushed by the wind outside. The 8 guests were standing at the door in awe. It was like they had walked into a hullaballoo. Their eyebrows raised and jaws dropped.

“Ha-ha!” Bowman had to salvage the situation. He had to make them see that he was in control, “My dear friends! You have indeed come!” He cheered, walking down the stairs, “I did not expect you this early. You see, we were playing a flood game. We play a lot around this house.” He knew that they wondered if he really was going to walk on that wet floor. It was uncomfortable and slippery but he managed to cross over to them at the door. He started gesturing them away from the door, they were headed to the patio, “Had you come even a bit early, you would’ve caught the fun. We’ll give them time to clear up. Oh, a feast has been prepared, I have been very excited about you guys meeting my son! He’s a grown man now, I must tell you. Handsome too…” A little chuckle, “takes after me, if I can say so myself.”

Bowman knew that if he was to distract them, he would have to keep talking. They were all still very shocked at what they saw. And probably, constructing a few judgemental sentences in their minds.

………………………………………………………………………………

To Daphne’s dismay, she had another altercation with Dion again. She had thought that f she kept her head down, Dion might never notice that she hadn’t “boxed her rags and gone”. She thought that she would keep working and keep away from the cranky boss’s son.

“Didn’t they tell you that I don’t eat meat?!” Dion scorned at her. He found her dressing up the table with food (as there would be a big feast that evening). “Get rid of all the meat. And the grapes too… And why is the table this loaded? You expect 2 people to finish all of this? You waste food, don’t you?”

“No, sir. Mr. Bowman is expecting guests—”

“Guests?! What guests?!” he was feeling a little bit jealous, Dion had thought that he would be having his father all to himself. He had never liked guests, ever.

“Dion, that’s enough,” Bowman had his guests walking behind him, into the room. They all found him berating the poor employee and she was shaking all that time. Poor girl couldn’t even raise her eyes to make eye-contact with him.

Daphne quickly left the room and all of them gathered around the table to begin the feast. The table was indeed colourful. Just by looking the meals, one could tell how diligently the workers of that mention were. Careful observers could even tell that the meals were made with so much love.

They all seemed be enjoying the meals. However, Dion’s personality was indeed a turn off. Some the of the guests were very curious about him, hence they kept asking questions to try and know him better. The rest of the other guests were avoiding even saying a word to him, they had read all the news exposing his behaviour and he was proving the news right. He was a lifeless young man who was lost. Dion was rude. And his mouth had no filter.

One guest, in particular, held a very vested interest in Dion. However rude he was, she kept probing. She was a woman on a mission. No-one could make sense of it yet. She was willing to go through all of that disgrace for final goal.

Ms. Jones. She was Ms. Jones. Most notorious known as determined and vitious. “I can’t help but notice that you came alone…”

“I came with my butler and my maid.”

“Oh, no, silly!” she laughed. It wasn’t funny, but she laughed. “I mean the mistress… Where’s the mistress?”

Dion was taken aback. He felt that this question was too personal and too forward. He did not believe that he and Ms. Jones had become close enough to start talking about that. “How is that your business?”

Ms. Jones laughed again, this time, in an attempt to soothe the situation. Then she said, “Say, I have a daughter, you know? Very pretty. I birthed that gorgeous girl.”

“Why, I’m glad your push was worth it—”

“DION!!!!” Bowman was caught off guard. He was disappointed at his son. Bowman was very embarrassed at that point.

However, Ms. Jones was quite intrigued by Dion’s audacity, “Now, now… Bowman. It’s okay. My daughter is gonna love this. She’s into this sort of type.”

But Bowman would not let it slide. He glared at Dion, urging him to apologize. Dion could feel the piercing angry stare from the corner of his eye, coming from his father. He thought he could avoid it but he felt a kick on his ankle, under the table. That was his father.

Looks like he won’t leave me alone. Let me just apologize… But then why should I? This woman is the one provoking me and I must apologize?

…

Oh, I’ll just apologize. It is my father’s birthday.

“Do pardon me, my lady. There is no excuse I can make up to reason my behaviour with.”

Bowman was not convinced yet, he glared on. He wanted Dion to say more and to actually be convincing. Dion, finally, stood on his feet. He raised the bottle of alcohol and started filling each glass on the table, starting with Ms. Jones. “Consider this as me enslaving myself at your mercy. Accept my apologies. I am wrong to be this rude and distasteful.” Dion did not mean his apology. Those were only words to him to get people to look past his insults.

………………………………………………………………………………..

Bowman was glad to run into Dion along the corridor. “What is that?” Bowman scorned. They had privacy and so, Bowman could finally talk to Dion. “What is that?!”

“What may be what, sir?”

“Don’t feign ignorance, young man. Discourtesy, offensiveness, disrespect, name it all! You know how much work needed to be done to build friendship with those people? And you want to wreck it all, in a blink of an eye with that spoilt behaviour of yours?!”

“They may go for all I care.”

“What are you up to, Dion?”

“You think I am up to something?”

“Aren’t you?! Dion, if you hope to take over the company someday, you better learn to talk to people. You think you can be an Island? Well, bubbles burst, every man needs a helping hand once in a while.”

Dion began walking away but his father had to pull him back, “We need those people the same way they need us! It’s business.”

“Do not insult me, mister. Never again should I hear you drag me down with you like that. I help myself. For what can mere mortals do for me that I cannot do myself?” Dion was walking away again.

“I am going to bed.” He paused and asked his father, “You know what I see?”

“Certainly, not. I cannot, even once, guess what goes behind those eyes, that mind and your heart—if there is any.”

“I see parasites doing the most to anchor their flimsy little selves into our company, that is what I see. Pardon me, sir, but I don’t see myself—what you may call—kissing their asses. My pride wears the crown and for that, I refuse to bow to anyone and anything, else my crown will tumble. See you tomorrow, sir.”

Dion had spoken. Bowman was not up for arguing. He never was. Normally, he walked away. Sometimes he would apologize even when it was obvious that he was not in the wrong.

Meanwhile, Daphne was outside. Sitting under the night sky. She at the balcony, watching stars. Her heart was heavy with sorrow. She worried about her job. Baby girl loved her job. She never thought she would cry over job, but there she was, her eyes glistened with tears. Daphne was feeling rather sensitive this time because her mother’s prescription needed restoration. Her mother would get worse without medication.

**I curse you, Dion! **

She cried to the stars above her head. Her words were weighted by her feelings of discontent.

**May all the bad follow you. **

Daphne remembered her mother telling her about speaking to the sky when faced with strife. She said to speak whole-heartedly and with emotions. She said she would always feel better afterwards.

**You bounce around with arrogance. You think you’re better than all of us. You’re just lucky to have been born from a rich family. The rest of us didn’t get to have that.

I wish you lose everything. One day, you will wake up to find yourself lost and living in sewage. No blankets to keep you warm at night and a simple meal will be hard to come by. You will remember all of the peasant faces you’ve looked down on. Memories of your abuse will follow you around and torment you.

Dion, you will remember my face. **

Daphne started drying up her tears. She thought she would feel better afterwards but she didn’t.

“Do I really want to be this type of person? A victim?” she talked to herself. “I should go fight for my job. What am I scared of anyway? I have Mr. Bowman on my side! Dion can’t hurt or fire me!”

She thought again, “Oh, but he already has! Oh, God! I have to go and ask him for my job back.” She was running through the passage. “Maybe, if I make things right with him, he won’t be so mean anymore!”

She had already knocked. Now, she was waiting for his response. He was taking a while. Daphne attempted knocking again, and then the door swung open. “Hi, sir.” She got in and stood with her back leaning on the door. “I—I…” she saw the scorn on Dion’s face. He looked like someone who had been bothered and did not like it. It was only now that Daphne realized how close she must have been to his face.

She could see all the makings of his pupils. Her eyes popped with fright. No-one had ever gotten that close to him except his butler and his personal maid. She saw his impatience and knew instantly to start talking. “I want to keep my job. I don’t want to go.” She paused for a moment. She hoping to hear his response.

When she heard none, she continued—maybe if she included her sob story, Dion might sympathize, “I have a sick grandmother and she depends on me. I depend on me… I mean, I depend on this job. I don’t want to lose it."