BEHIND THE BLINDFOLD (A Tagalog Story)

Lucy.

All the workers at Harrison Journal sat around the conference table at the center of the meeting room, waiting for Mr. Frederick to show up. He had called a meeting early this morning. I doubt what the meeting was all about, that it had to be held so early, given that we usually have our meetings at noon.

Moments later, the door to the meeting room swung open and  Mr. Frederick, graciously mapped in, with his usual straight face hung up high, like he owned the world.

The moment my eyes caught sight of him, I became a sweating mess. The packet of chips I  held in my hands almost fell. I bowed my head and looked at the floor because I didn't want to meet his eyes. I didn't want memories of what he tried to do to me in his office to resurface again. He had been trying to do that to me for about two months now, but I couldn't tell anyone, because he had threatened me with the life of my mother and younger brother.

He further went ahead to threaten me with my job, given that it was the only thing I had sustaining my family and me for the moment.

I was completely lost in my world, with no one to talk to. 

"I told you to keep those…" Debby, a colleague of mine, looked at me with a scowl on her face as her index finger pointed to the chips on my lap. "And eat them after the meeting. You know Mr. Frederick hates it when people eat in his presence. And now, he is looking at you." My heartbeat skyrocketed when she told me he was staring at me and I know for a fact that I would receive one of his punishments after this.

I folded the packet on my tights and cleaned my mouth, before looking in front, with my heart constantly thumping hard in my chest.

 His face looked dark and murderous. I immediately knew that something was up, aside from me eating in the meeting room.

This meeting wasn't ordinary.  There must be a problem.  He was a cold man, but today was different.  His appearance looked even colder. 

He strode behind the chair he was supposed to be sitting on. 

He adjusted his gray business suit which  matched the color of his gray hair.

He grabbed the edge of the chair with both hands and then glanced around the room, with his normal dark expression. His cold eyes rested on my face for a moment, before he turned away.

"One of you will be going to Caspian Power tomorrow…" he announced with a deep and threatening voice and for a moment, I was glad that he didn't talk about my clumsiness or my eating in the meeting room.

Wait! Did he just mention Caspian Power? 

 

My eyes almost rotated out of their socket. That is the biggest and only company that supplied electricity here in Chester. It is owned by the famous Christian Caspian. Without him,  this country would be in darkness.

Just wow!

Why would someone be visiting him?

I strained my ears as I listened to him give his reasons.

"We are owing a light bill of two months, making a total of ten million dollars…"

He paced in front of us. 

He can't possibly say we.  We do not owe Caspian Power. He does.

"We need to plead with him to give us a maximum time of two weeks. So that, I can see how to raise the money. I can't go to see him, so I will be choosing one of you to do that on behalf of the company."

He stopped moving, his attention was directed towards me.

For God's sake, I hope that he was not considering sending me.

I already have enough to deal with. 

The old man beseeched,his voice sounding cold as always. 

"Caspian Power! Who will he send it? Because on God, I will write my resignation letter, if he send me." Debby the drama queen emuttered next to me.

Of course, who wasn't scared of Mr. Christian.

"Maybe the old man woke up from a terrible slumber". I scoffed.  We understand that his company is famous and he stands  a chance to talk with Mr. Christian, but not his workers.  

Christian would have his guards throwing us out of his company like some bag of thrash.

I have been opportune to see him only  on TV shows, interviews,  and read about him in magazines, articles, journals and others.

Wouldn't it be a miracle if I happen to meet him one on one. I dreamily thought about it. But I greatly doubt if that would happen.

There was a time that the man had put  the city in complete darkness for two days because a politician had infuriated him and it was only through an apology that electricity was restored. 

And now, my boss Mr. Frederick Harrison was trying so hard to step on the lion's tail. If that happens, there is no doubt that his company would be shut down. If it comes to that, then I will be done for, because this was my only means of survival. 

"But Sir…" Debby was about to say something, but Mr. Frederick cut her off

"You are too dumb to interject or give any suggestions.  I had rather you stay quiet and say nothing." He growled, with veins evident on his forehead and the entire hall went silent. 

"As it stands now, just one of you will do that and the rest will put more effort into working at the company." Mr. Frederick angrily said as his head snapped to my direction. 

"Meet me in my office, Lucy"  I heard my name and my heart immediately started thumping heavily in my chest again. I glared at him in confusion, but he was already on his way. I detest this man, with everything in me.

He was mean, heartless, cruel and all the bad things you could ever think of. He was not only doing that to me but to most of us.

With my bag pressed against my chest I stood in front of Mr. Frederick's office ? I took in a few deep breaths to calm myself down, I placed my free hand at the knob and gently pushed it open. 

"Have a seat" He pointed at the chair opposite him, without even lifting his head up. I felt relieved because each time he looked at me, my stomach would twitch and the memories of what he tried yesterday, recurring in my head.

 Waving that off, I pulled the chair behind, adjusting the long black gown on my body, I sat on it trying my best to keep a steady mind.

"You will go to Caspian Power tomorrow. Try by all possible means, to make him change his mind and give us some time to be able to raise money for the bills. At most, two weeks."

He leaned into his chair, his gaze dancing on me. Try all possible best not to look him in the eye.

How was he so calm, talking to me like nothing ever happened? Like he didn't try to kiss and forced his way with me yesterday, right here in his office?

How could he be so calm? 

A man in his mid forties and old enough to be my father. He did that and told me not to ever say it, or he was going to make my life a living hell.

"You shall convince him and tell him to give us some time. I haven't been able to make sales lately and you know that. I would not let out the little money I have so far."

He glared at me. I knew the look in his eyes, the look which always makes me uncomfortable around him. That look which told me to be careful.

Swallowing the pain, the anger inside of me, I clasped my hands tight on my tights and looked at him.

"But Boss, I'm no one to go talk to Mr. Christian. Someone  else should do that."

I suggested in panic wishing that he would change his mind. 

He googled me for a while, with his eyes leaving my face, to my chest. They lingered a little longer on my chest. I became aware and clutched my bag  tightly against my chest. 

" Ofcourse, I can send someone else..." A smile surfaced  on his face.

My eyes lit up in hope.  Thank goodness he was reconsidering his decision.

 But the grin on his face was a little bit suspicious.  

However the moment he got up from his seat and stalked  towards me with a menacing smile, I knew that he was up to no good again.

With panic, I quickly stood up and stalked behind.

"You know, I have liked you for a very long time now. You are one of my best workers, just like your father.  You're smart and intelligent and I trust you to do this work.  Forget about his status.  He is just a normal human like us…"

He removed his left hand from his pocket and cupped my cheeks, which irritated me so bad and I wanted to throw up.

"But since you don't consider yourself worthy enough, then, I have two other options for you." He took his hand off me and stepped backwards.  

"W-what other options?" I asked nervously hoping that it would be something that I can handle.

He scoffed, with a sinister smile on his face 

"Sleep with me or I will fire you." His cold tone echoed in the room and I blinked my eyes at him.  Was he kidding me?

He was still determined after what he did yesterday? What did I ever do to this man

" I can't sleep with you, nor can you fire me..." I said in a determined tone, ignoring the tears that were at the brim of my eyes, threatening to fall down.

He scoffed and then said "then you go ahead and do as I say.  I want, results within two days"

 He walked back to his seat, like he forgot to say something, he walked back where I was standing, his hand cupping my cheeks.

I tried to peel his hand off my face, but he was stronger than me. His fingers were almost entering inside my flesh. He was hurting me.

The tears that were at the brim of my eyes, fell down. "You don't have to cry at every little thing, peanut butter."

He leaned down, his lips a mere inche away from touching mine.

 " And If I don't get the results within two days, you would be at the risk of losing your job."

"And again, the words of what happened yesterday or now, should ever leave the walls of this office."

He yanked me roughly to the floor. He walked away. I stood up from the floor, cleaned my tears and made my home.

 

 

***

After leaving the office, I made my way home. I had decided to go to Caspian Power tomorrow, because I had no choice. Though I was anxious, I had to do it, for me and my family.

Changing out of my work clothes, I took a quick shower. Completing my night routine, I set to give a call to Caspian Power. 

Mr.Frederick had given me their contact details before I left the office. 

I sat at my table, wondering if I should give Mr. Christian a call or send him an email 

A call would be faster but I was quite nervous to do that, I didn't want to mess up, so I settled for an email.

I checked my time and it was almost 8 PM.

Perfect timing. Perhaps, I would get a reply before going to bed.

His reply would determine if I would go to his company tomorrow or not.

I finally composed the email with shaky hands and taped the sent  button and the message showed that it was delivered. 

Apparently, I didn't know if it would work because I was a nobody in emailing Caspian Power.

With that ideology, I included Harrison Journal.  Perhaps, that could get their  attention. 

My laptop was on the entire time as I anticipated a reply from the CEO of Caspian Power.

If only luck would be on my side. 

I stirred from the bed and clicked on my laptop

"11PM and still no reply" I whispered to myself.

I was beginning to feel worried.

 What if it doesn't  work? 

Mr. Frederick would definitely fire me and then what?My family and I will suffer

No way!

If I didn't get a reply from Caspian Power tonight, I will definitely go to their company tomorrow

I shut my eyes tight, hoping that they would reply to me. 

Ding! Ding!

The moment I heard the laptop ding, my eyes flashed opened and I quickly woke up from bed.

I clicked open the laptop  and my eyes lit up in excitement and hope, as I looked at my screen. 

"Two unread emails from Caspian Power."