Classic Novel
Chapter 39
39 39- Thank You, Ms. Aaron
He saw her with a smile and then with great courage held her face in his palms, “I know, I don’t deserve your trust,” He said looking into her eyes, “but please don’t do this to yourself. Last night, I ended up in that restaurant by chance… I made you go through enough heartache. I don’t plan to do it again, Marissa. Please don’t exhaust yourself. You need to be fit… physically and mentally.”
Marissa who was losing herself in those green orbs tried to speak but couldn’t utter a single word.
The blind Rafael was easy to live with as she could stare at his handsome face all the time without getting caught red–handed.
When she didn’t react, Rafael did something unexpected. He brought his face closer to hers and took a long whiff.
Marissa frowned because he used to do it when they
were together. When he used to tell her that she smelled of strawberries.
“Will you come to the office tomorrow?” he asked her
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39 39- Thank You, Ms. Aaron
in a whisper, and she nodded like an obedient child, her eyes fluttered closed.
His proximity was giving butterflies in her stomach.
“Good girl,” he was standing so close that she could feel his hot breath on her face. She almost thought he would kiss her but then he stepped back.
“I’ll wait for you tomorrow then,” Marissa blinked and
opened her eyes only to find him leaving the room.
She stayed there looking into space completely zoned out until Sophie shook her shoulder.
“Mar! You, ok?” Marissa almost jumped in shock.
“I… I think so… why?” she fixed back her hair as if she
was caught cheating.
“Let’s go to the kitchen. Kids want to have cheese
sandwiches,”
Marissa turned to Sophie, “Cheese sandwich? Oh, ok. Yes. I’ll give them cheese sandwiches.”
Sophie thought Marissa might have lost her mind. She saw a dazed Marissa going inside the kitchen.
“What’s the matter with her?” she looked sideways
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39 39- Thank You, Ms. Aaront
where Flint had come to stand beside her.
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“I know that look, Sophie. I know what is going on in her head. I heard them laugh,” he said with a huge grin on his face.
And Sophia thought maybe she had gone crazy because everyone around her was acting oddly.
Dean usually used to reach the office before time to have a look at everything before his bosses arrived.
That was the reason Joseph depended on him heavily.
He was trustworthy and his brain worked like a computer who knew every detail going around in the office.
He waved at the office peon who used to switch on the lights and air–conditioning along with guiding the sweeper to clean up the VIIP spaces.
“Why are you cleaning Mr. Joseph’s office first? It’s the president’s office that you should do,” the young man tried to say something, but Dean didn’t listen to him.
“No explanations, please. And if you’ll excuse me, I need to check the vases in the president’s office.”
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30 39- Thank You, Ms. Aaron
He quickly scurried to the President’s room, ignoring the excuses the boy was offering.
They don’t want to do anything properly. What will happen to his office if I’m not here? Muttering to himself, he opened Mr. Sinclair’s office door and stopped dead in his tracks.
Settled on his seat, Mr. Sinclair was typing something on his laptop. There was a constant smile on his face.
“M…mister… Sinclair…” he couldn’t utter any more
words.
Rafael looked up and a soft smile graced his lips, “Good morning, Dean. How are you doing?” he then resumed his work and tried to act nonchalant, “Any idea when Marissa… I mean miss Aaron will arrive?”
His eyes were on the screen, but his ears were strained to hear the reply that was about to leave Dean’s
mouth..
“There is still time, Mr. Sinclair. Employees usually arrive around nine.”
Rafael nodded and got back to his work. With a frown, Dean kept looking over his shoulder while leaving the
office
39 39- Thank You, Ms. Aaron
It seemed like Mr. Sinclair never left his office and
spent the night here. This morning, the president was acting weird. Please check at N/ôvel(D)rama.Org.
When he closed the door behind him, the sweeper was standing there with that ‘I tried to stop you‘ look.
“He came early that’s why I tried stopping you,” He explained.
“Next time, start with his office the moment you step in. His office should be the priority,” Dean snapped at
the poor man.
“How could I?” the man muttered, “he reached here
before me.”
Dean spun around when heard that. Mr. Sinclair got here before anyone else! Strange!
He got busy with his tasks, but his mind kept wandering to Rafael Sinclair. For some reason, he looked cheerful today.
By now, all the lights were switched on and the employees had started entering the building, slowly taking their seats.
The office had started buzzing with life and that
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C 39 39- Thank You, Ms. Aaron
liveliness was increasing with each passing minute.
Dean was getting up from his seat when the intercom on his desk started ringing. He picked up the receiver and greeted Joseph with a smile who was coming
inside the office.
“Yes?”
Rafael was on the line.
“Yes, Dean. I just wanted to know if Ms. Sinclair sent you any message?” Dean looked at the receiver for a minute and then glued it back to his ear.
“Mr. Sinclair. Why would Ms. Sinclair call me? We have never met, and she hasn’t got my number.”
“Uh huh… ok. Yes… I. Remember now… what about Ms. Aaron? Is she in office yet?” Dean wanted to roll his
eyes now.
His boss seemed to go nuts, maybe due to staying awake for most of the night. Dean felt sorry for him.
“I’ll send her in as soon as she gets here.”
“Yes, please do that.”
The phone was disconnected yet Dean was still staring
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39 39–Thank You, Ms. Aaron
at the receiver. Something had transformed overnight.
Mr. Sinclair looked different. His body language was changed.
After half an hour he found Marissa pushing the door and coming inside. Before he could say anything, Marissa spoke first, “Hi, Dean. Can I talk to your boss?
Is he free?”
Yes. He always seems free for you.
He couldn’t say it because he loved his job.
Marissa didn’t wait for his answer and went inside Rafael’s office.
***
When she went in after a brief knock, his face lit up.
“Hello,” she nodded at him.
He was quick to get on his feet, “Morning. Please take a
seat.”
She shook her head and gave him a quivering smile. He felt like she could cry any minute, “I… I wanted to tell you something…” she said waiting for his response. “Yes, please,” he rounded his desk and reached her
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39 39–Thank You, Ms. Aaron
after taking long strides.
She was fumbling with her fingers, “I have decided… something… and I would expect you to cooperate…
Rafael’s heart started sinking. Was she here to quit? To
resign?
“Yeah,” there was gentleness in his eyes.
“I… have decided …” she inhaled a long breath but still a few tear drops glided down her cheeks, “I have decided to let you meet the kids.”
Rafael felt like his breath hitched inside his chest,
“Really?”
She nodded while crying.
Rafael didn’t know what to do so he pulled her to him and hid his face in the crook of her neck, “Th… thank you. Thank you, Ms. Aaron.”
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