A RESTLESS AFTERNOON

Chapter 3

A Restless Afternoon

The movie continued playing on the television. The actors cried and argued dramatically, but she barely paid attention anymore. Her mind kept drifting to places she didn’t want to revisit.

Gabriel.

Even after she changed the channel, the memory of his face refused to leave her mind. She hated that. Hated that after everything he had done, a single glimpse of him on television could still stir something inside her.

“Pathetic,” she muttered to herself.

She stood up abruptly and began pacing the sitting room. The apartment was big—more than enough space for her and Aunt May—but right now it felt like the walls were closing in on her.

Her eyes wandered again to the photograph sitting on the table.

Her mother’s warm smile seemed to follow her no matter where she stood. Maria sighed and rubbed the back of her neck.

“You would probably scold me for sulking like this,” she murmured quietly. “You always said I think too much.”

The memory made her lips twitch slightly, though the smile never fully formed.

She picked up the remote again and turned off the television. The afternoon sunlight had shifted, casting longer shadows across the room.

For a moment she considered going down to Aunt May’s restaurant to help out. But the thought of facing people, smiling politely, pretending everything was fine… it exhausted her already.

So she stayed where she was.

A vibration on the table caught her attention.

Her phone.

She frowned and walked over to it, expecting it to be Aunt May checking in on her. Instead, the number on the screen was unfamiliar.

Maria hesitated before answering.

“Hello?”

“Hi… is this Maria?”

The voice sounded male, hesitant.

“Yes. Who is this?”

“Oh—uh—it’s Daniel. From the interview yesterday.”

Maria stiffened slightly.

Her heart skipped, and she hated it.

“Yes?” she said cautiously.

“Well… I just wanted to let you know that the email we sent the previous night wasn't directed to you.”

"Meaning?" she tried not to sound desperate.

"It means a mistake was made from the HR department. Hence, the rejection letter you saw on your email last night."

"That is huge incompetency from your company" Maria said before she could stop herself. She heard a slight cough in the background.

"Yes Miss Maria we know, that's why we sent you email of apology early but there was no response."

No wonder her phone was buzzing that time.

"I wasn't with my phone earlier." She lied easily. "So know you are saying...."

“Congratulations Miss Maria Brooks, you have been hired. You can come tomorrow for necessary documentation."

"Thank you, I'll be there tomorrow "

"You're welcome, do have a good day" he ended the call.

When the call ended, she set the phone down slowly. She felt she was dreaming , she pinched herself twice to be sure.

Finally.

….

Across the city, the atmosphere inside Francis’ office was a totally different drama. A young lady is half dressed laying on the couch. Francis is standing staring outside with a cigar stick on his lips.

His first two buttons were open, he look so dangerous and hot. The lady smiled inwardly.

"Frankie" she said pulled her dress up, walking up to him and hugging him from behind. He removed her hands from him without force.

She knew if it was someone else they won't be able to use those hands again. This made her see herself as special.

"Shouldn't you take your leave already?" Francis said but still staring outside.

"Are you chasing me?"

"Your words not mine"

"Gosh" she face palmed herself " I wonder how I even stand you as my male bestie"

"Face it, it's because of my face card"

"Don't praise yourself too much, I am also beautiful" she said but he didn't say anything else. She left his side and went to the side table and took a wine glass.

"I heard there is a family dinner tonight, are you....." she felt the temperature of the room decrease.

Francis held his fists tight and his eyes look so dark.

"You should know me by now Maddie, I don't talk about family"

"My bad, well I got to go" she drops the glass after a few sips and grabbed her bag.

"My place tonight" she said with a hint of plea as she adjusted her dress properly.

"The last time I checked you had a boyfriend, Maddie."

"You and I know Danny is just for show. He can't even meet up with me in the bed. His sex drive is so low"

He didn't respond but she was sure he will come after all she was the only one who could handle his sex drive.

Francis turned and stared at the door for a while.

Delusional.

......

CONFERENCE ROOM

A young executive stood across the desk, in front of the big screen, nervously shifting his weight.

"Is this what you call a report, this is way below our company's standard"

“Sir… we can fix the mistake. It won’t happen again.”

Francis looked across the faces of older executives.

"Who is he mentor?"

No response.

"I SAID WHO IS HIS MENTOR" He banged the table and a man in his mid fifties stood up.

"He is under me sir" Francis sized him with his eyes and said nothing.

He finished reading the last line before speaking.

“You approved this report.”

“Yes, sir.”

“And you didn’t notice the numbers were wrong?”

The manager swallowed.

“I—I must have overlooked—”

Francis placed the tablet on the desk.

Slowly.

The quiet sound was louder than any shout.

“Overlooked,” he repeated.

“I don’t pay people to overlook things.”

The manager lowered his head.

Francis leaned back slightly against the desk, folding his arms

“Fix it,” he said calmly.

The man nodded quickly.

“And if I see another mistake like this again,” Francis added, his voice still quiet, “you won’t be working here anymore.”

“Yes, sir.”

Francis stood up to leave.

"And I need the revised version on my desk in the next two hours, if not submit you resignation letter to HR and get your salary for this month excluding benefits"

The door shuts.

Everyone let out a deep breath which they didn't know they have been holding.