18. All because of flowers
Later in the day, around the hours of 3 p. m. I receive a call from Evan.
“Hello Eleanor,” He says once I answer
“How are you doing, Evan?”
“I was doing great until my cousin called me yelling and asking me why I was distracting you at work with flowers.”
“He did what?” I ask, shocked. Unable to believe what Evan just said
“You heard me right, Eleanor, and do you know what made it funnier.”
“No,” I say, wondering what more horrible thing Mr. Jason did. I can’t believe he called Evan and told him such a thing. How do flowers at work make me distracted while working?
“It became funnier because I don’t recall ever sending you flowers today, so I don’t even understand why he was accusing me of doing such”
“I am so sorry, Evan. I did not think he would call you about the flowers. I am sorry I lied and used your name in place of the person who sent them”Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g
“It’s fine, Eleanor, and if you don’t mind me asking who sent you the flowers that you would have to use my name in place of the persons?”
“Alex”
“Alex, Alexander Lewis”
“Yes, him”
“Now, it makes sense why you said my name when he asked you who sent the flowers” Evan must also know about the relationship between Alex and Mr. Jason.
“Yes, please don’t tell him you didn’t send the flowers.”
“I am sorry, Eleanor, it’s already too late for that.”
“You told him it was not you,” I say, widening my eyes as I realize Mr. Jason knows I lied. He will pressure me to tell him who really sent it, and I can’t because I am sure he is already angry I lied.
“Yes, I had to. You needed to hear the way he was yelling at me about it. If I knew Alex was the one who really sent it, I would have covered up for you. I am sorry I ratted you out,” Evan says, and I get more confused by the second. I don’t understand why Mr. Jason is making this flower thing such a big deal. Why would he be shouting at his cousin just because I said he sent me flowers? It does not make sense why he would be angry about it.
“I understand, and it’s fine. Thank you for telling me that you told him it was not you. I can at least prepare for my own yelling before it comes.”
“Yeah, and sorry once again.”
“It’s Alright, bye,” I say and hang up.
I don’t wait long before Mr. Jason calls me to his office. I hope the lie I have prepared will let this matter die as soon as possible.
“So, Eleanor, do you mind telling me who really sent you those flowers.”
“I sent them to myself” I lie
“What,” He says, shocked
“I lied. Evan sent them because if I said I sent them to myself, I would look pathetic in front of you.”
“You don’t have to struggle to make yourself not look pathetic in front of me. Your whole life is pathetic.”
“Excuse me,” I say, feeling very offended by his words.
“I don’t like repeating myself, and I will let this matter drop this time, but you would be punished for lying to me.”
“Punished?” I say, surprised. “I am not a kid that I would get punished for lying.”
“I know, and that’s why your punishment is not a kid’s punishment. Go to the storeroom we went to last time. I want you to arrange all the files there in alphabetical order and yearly.”
“Mr. Jason, there are about 100 files in that room, and you can’t punish me. I am not a kid. I know lying to you was wrong, but this is outrageous,” I argue.
Mr. Jason has done many unprofessional things to me, but this one is the most unnecessary thing he has ever asked me to do. He is punishing me like I am a kid who needs to learn lying is wrong. Imagine what would have happened if I told the truth.
“Then you better get started because I want it done by today.”
“Mr. Jason,” I say, shocked.
“That would be all, Eleanor. You may leave my office.”
I bite my lips to hold my mouth from releasing the words I want to say because the things I want to tell this man right now would surely get me fired regardless of the contract keeping me here. I stand up to walk out, and just as I am about to step out of his office, he says another annoying thing to me.
“Don’t bite your lips in front of me,” He says, and I don’t say anything and walk out because even if I do, what difference would it make.
I was not exaggerating when I said they were about a hundred files in that room. It’s 6 o’clock, and I am not even done with half of the documents in the room. I am supposed to close from work by 5 p. m., but I couldn’t leave because Mr. Jason said I had to finish the work today.
By 10 o’clock, I am done sorting more than half of the files. I will finish the ones left tomorrow morning. I will have to come to work early before Mr. Jason arrives and finish them.
I am packing my things from my desk when my stomach growls and the door of Mr. Jason’s office opens. I hold my stomach to stop the growling, but as Mr. Jason walks closer to me, my belly continues to embarrass me.
“Mr. Jason,” I say a little higher than expected, so he won’t hear my belly.
I didn’t know he was still in his office. I am shocked to see him here by this hour. The blinds were down, so I couldn’t tell he was inside. I have heard that he is a workaholic, but I have never stayed late before to see him work overtime. It’s actually good that he takes his work seriously. I think that is the only good trait he has.
“Are you done with everything I asked you to do?”
“Yes, I am, sir” I lie because I am sure if I told him I haven’t, he might ask me to stay back and finish before I leave, and it’s already late.
“Come with me,” He says, walking to the elevator.
“Ok, sir,” I say, walking behind him. I wonder what he wants now.
We take the elevator to the underground parking lot and walk to Mr. Jason’s car. Does he want to give me something from his car? He enters his car, and I wait for him to bring out what he wants to give me. I can bet it’s more work for me to do tomorrow.
“What are you standing there doing? Do you want me to open the door for you?” He says, popping his head out of the car. Does he want me to enter the vehicle? Why? I am about to ask him if he wants me to enter the car when he cuts me off before I speak. “Enter the damn car Eleanor, before I change my mind,” He says, sounding annoyed with me as always. It surprises me how I don’t do anything, but he gets annoyed with me.
“Ok, sir,” I say and open the door and take my seat on the passenger’s seat. Once I have my seatbelt on, he starts driving.
We drive for a few minutes before the car comes to a halt. We are at a diner. Does he want me to accompany him to eat? I never pictured Mr. Jason as someone who needs someone to accompany him while he eats or someone who eats at a diner. I always portrayed him as one of those snobbish rich people who only eat at high-end restaurants.
He steps out of the car, and I follow after him. We take our seat on the first empty boot we come across. A waitress walks over to our table once we are seated comfortably.
“What can I get for you two lovebirds tonight,” The waitress asks, and I choke on my saliva. I can’t believe she thought Mr. Jason and I were a couple. God, no, I can never be with someone like him. He is a player and has little respect for women. He also treats me very bad. It’s never going to happen.
“I will have coffee, and please make it decaf,” Mr. Jason says, surprising me. I thought he came here to eat. I am shocked he is only ordering coffee. Did he come here because of me? Did Mr. Jason bring me here to eat? I can’t believe it. The devil actually has a soul, people. I am beyond shocked that we are here because he knew I was hungry after working so late without even saying it. Maybe he is not that bad after all. This act of his says a lot about the type of person he is. A devil who still has a soul.
“And what would you like, young lady,” The waitress asks
“I would like a double cheeseburger with fries and a vanilla milkshake” I know it’s late to be eating such type of food, but I am starving right now, and that’s what I feel like eating.
“Your food will be ready in a few minutes,” The waitress says and walks away.
20 minutes later, the waitress arrived with my food. She brought Mr. Jason’s coffee earlier.
“I know you have not finished working on the things I asked you to do,” Mr. Jason says, staring at me with those lovely eyes of his while taking a sip of his coffee. I choke on my drink and start coughing like I am dying. “Take it easy. We are outside the office. I won’t do anything to you right now,” He says, with an evil smirk on his face as he hands me water to drink. It’s like this man gets pleasure in intimidating me.
Why is he smirking? He should be frowning, not smirking. I don’t know if I should be worried or happy he is not angry. I lied. Oh my God, I can see why he is smirking. He wants me to lose my mind wondering if he is mad with me or not for lying. And also, what does he mean he won’t do anything to me? He has already given me enough excess work. Does this man want to kill me?
“Thank you, sir,” I say, collecting the water from his hand and taking a sip. “I did not mean to lie to you sir, I was exhausted and needed to take a break.”
“I know, and that’s why I am letting it slide, but next time never lie to me. I won’t be so kind to let it go,” He says, in that familiar stern tone I am used to. I am actually happy he is not pleased with the fact that I lied because that smirk on his face a minute ago only made me crazy, wondering why he was smirking.
“It won’t happen again, sir,” I say and continue eating my food.
“Of course it won’t.”
Once I am done eating, in which Mr. Jason spent the whole time watching me like a hawk, he drives me home. It was so uncomfortable to eat with his eyes on me the entire time. I don’t know why he stares at me. It’s like he wants to know every single thing about me from just looking at me. I was also surprised he dropped me home. What am I saying? I was surprised with everything he did tonight. He took me to eat, he did not make a big deal about me lying, and he dropped me off home. Three things I never saw him doing. Maybe he is not that bad after all.