Chapter 65: Chapter 63

Song: ‘Try’ by Colbie Callait

Put your make-up on

Get your nails done

Curl your hair

Run the extra mile

Keep it slim

So they like you, do they like you?

Get your sexy on

Don't be shy, girl

Take it off

This is what you want, to belong

So they like you, do you like you?

You don't have to try so hard

You don't have to give it all away

You just have to get up, get up, get up, get up

You don't have to change a single thing

………………………………………………………

HANNAH’S POV

The room echoed with applause.

I know there were instances where I messed up a little but other than that I feel good.

And especially seeing the response of people, I’m over the moon.

Yoho! I cheered inwardly and smiled visibly at everyone.

“Well done, Ms. Evans,” Dad said, his dad, “I believe we’re on to a promising start,” he gave me a thumbs up.

“You did it, I’m proud of you,” Margaret said with pride.

I saw Dany smiling cheerfully, I mouthed him a thank you. He whispered my pleasure and clapped happily.

I owe him big time, if it weren’t for his timely help all this would’ve turned out very different.

“This is bullshit,” a loud thud of a hand slamming on the table along with a fuming yet muted voice resonated within the room stopping all the applause within seconds.

Of course, my happiness was short-lived.

Of course, it had to come from one place and one place only.

“What are you all thinking?” he stood up from his chair and walked up to where I was standing, “Has this become the standards of this firm? Mediocracy? I don’t know that you all are bloody applauding,” he snarled making everyone look at him with bewilderment. I inhaled sharply at how mad he looked, I heard a few unexpected gasps as well.

“And you, you think this a joke,” he bellowed looking straight into my eyes, his eyes darker than that humanly possible and his jaw clenched, the rage I saw in him forced me to look away. It scared me.

I was taken aback unable to process it, I looked around hesitantly to see everyone looking exasperatedly at my humiliation, only one person smiling amongst all.

Eva.

“Look the fuck at me when I talk to you!” he sneered with gritted teeth and I couldn’t deny it but do what he said, “Tell me, what do you think is happening here? First you fucked off doing God knows what,” his eyes shone with malice and resentment, “and then you’re bringing this shit here and wasting everyone’s time,” my body became rigid and at the same time I felt myself shivering. I’ve never been so stunned and humiliated ever, my heart is pounding so fast from the terror of his words.

Unable to say a word I just stood there horrified while he continued insulting me in front of everyone in his unleashed rage not planning on stopping anytime soon.

The whole room was too stunned to speak, not even the sound of anyone’s breathing could be heard, and everyone was surprised at his outburst like it was the most unusual thing they’d ever witnessed. Perhaps for them, it is unusual.

“And you Margaret, what were you doing when this shitshow of a presentation was being made?” shifting his murderous gaze from me he turned his attention towards her.

“I…” her eyes went wide, “I thought it was good, these are the first drafts only and I still think we can work on it, if you want maybe we can change a few things here and...” he cut her off.

“If you think this is good then probably you need to raise your standards because we’re not some mediocre company to run with such dull ideas. If you’re not feeling a full hundred percent just take some time off but don’t come here with half-held efforts and such pathetic designs,” he snapped at her rendering her speechless.

“I don’t need incompetent people on my team who are here to just fuck around and…” he spat out in hatred but was cut off.

“Elijah, stop it, now!” his dad shouted stopping him all at once with his powerful voice filled with finality.

No one dared to speak after that, not even him.

The silence lay so heavy and uncomfortable that everyone avoided eye contact confused as to how to react in this unexpected situation.

Richard Norman held his son’s eyes challenging his audacity to lash out again.

Elijah met his angry stare with the same ferocity but didn’t say anything.

I on the other hand wanted nothing more but to vanish from here without anyone noticing, I refused to meet all the shocked and empathic eyes looking at my numbed state. I tried my hardest not to tremble with fear and refused to let go of the tears that were threatening to spill.

Don’t cry.

Don’t cry.

Do not fucking cry, Hannah!

I chanted this like a mantra in my head reprimanding myself to not lose control.

With all the effort I could muster, I held my shaky breath and tried everything in me to not break down.

“Thank you for your feedback, Mr. Norman,” the words became so heavy that they got stuck in my throat demanding physical and mental effort to let them out, nonetheless, I smiled weakly not able to fake it but still tried my hardest, “I appreciate it. I’m sorry everyone for wasting your time. Now, please if you’ll excuse me.”

My eyes met his for a split second and I thought I saw fragments of regret flash in his eyes. But I couldn’t verify it because it was becoming unbearable to hold on to my tears for longer as they fogged my vision and mind, I ran out as soon as possible.

I kept pressing the elevator button not stopping even for a second, when it finally arrived I got inside and pressed the button for the studio floor.

The doors to the elevator opened at the 38th floor, and I got out hyperventilating all the while, I made a run for the bathroom avoiding all the flabbergasted stares thrown in my direction.

I closed the door and locked it.

The tears were flowing down my face nonstop while I struggled to breathe. My bare arm now felt colder than the Antarctica itself, I slid down against the door as my legs gave up drained of every last specs of strength left in me. I wrapped my arms around myself giving myself a false sense of warmth and protection all the while gasping for air.

The second my body made contact with the cold tiles for the floor a barrage of emotions and control broke within me.

I screamed.

I screamed with frustration.

I screamed with all my might and cried out loud.

I cried like a baby.

I cried as I did at Mom’s funeral.

I lay down and cried like I did back when I was seven years old.

I cried with emptiness and at a loss.

The loss of my self-esteem.

The loss of my confidence.

I just cried and cried and cried with a blank state of mind.

I heard banging on the door and twisting of handles.

I recognized Daniel and Margaret’s voices calling out my name but I didn’t answer.

I can hear the concern in their voices but I don’t care.

I just wept at my misery and my life.

The banging on the door subsided after a while.

I took my time not caring if someone might actually need to use the washroom.

Once I was all cried out I got up from the floor and looked at myself in the mirror.

What looked back at me was a lost girl, her clothes all wrinkled, her hair disheveled up, and her makeup messed up and smeared all over her face. She looked ugly, not only because of her physical state but because of how broken and pathetic she appeared to be.

The bags under her eyes and the puffiness of her face tell a story of her eternal defeat.

I didn’t pity her.

I despised her.

I loathed at her weakness.

I detest her vulnerability.

I spit on the broken image of a girl that resembled the Hannah I once knew.

I cleaned my face rigorously trying to salvage as much damage as I could.

Once the makeup was off I looked at my unstained naturally pink face from all the crying with a blank stare.

Nothing going on in my mind, not even a single thing.

I couldn’t have restored to my normal state even if I wanted to, I guess this is why girls carry makeup in their bags, for a crying emergency.

After taking a few deep breaths still not prepared to face other people, I unlocked the door. I can’t hide in here forever.

As soon as I opened the door, I was met with the worried faces of Margaret, and Daniel who straightened up from leaning against the wall.

I felt guilty to see Margaret standing here for so long given her pregnant state. I’ve been in here for quite a while.

“Are you alright, Hannah?” she asked calmly but with worry.

“How do I look?” I gave her a smirk as I twirled for her.

“Not good,” she huffed with sadness.

“It is what it is,” I shrugged.

Daniel looked just the same as her. I turned my attention towards him.

“Made your last day quite memorable, didn’t I?” I fluttered my eyes at him but he didn’t find it humorous. Me neither.

“Hannah, I… I don’t know…” seeing him stuttering and struggling for words, I cut him off.

“I won the bet, you know,” I said with fake excitement blinking the tears at the back of my eyes, he nodded weakly.

“You did. What do you want?” he asked with pity written all over his actions.

“Just 100 dollars,” he nodded again and gave me a hundred-dollar bill.

“Thank you, I guess I’ve earned it,” I tucked it in my pants pockets, then turned to Margaret, “Can I take the rest of the day off, please, I guess I’ve earned that too,” I laughed humorlessly but she didn’t reciprocate it back.

“Of course, but are you sure you can be alone?” she asked feeling uneasy.

“This can’t kill me," her eyes widened at my bluntness, "Don’t worry I’ll be alright,” I smiled genuinely.

After taking my belongings that they held on for me all this while, I said goodbye and left.

As I waited for the elevator I saw one of the two people I didn’t want to encounter today anymore approaching with a smirk on her face.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk, all that hard work went down in vain,” she snickered not hiding the glee from her face, this was the most genuinely happy I’d seen her all this while, “Dressing up didn’t pay off, after all, I guess looking pretty doesn’t work for everyone,” she succeeded in fixing the hair on my shoulder this time unlike before.

That’s the most honest I’ve seen her being and trust me I don’t mind, the cat is finally out of the bag.

I didn’t answer her because I didn’t have anything to say to her.

I believe she didn’t expect a response either since she didn’t wait for it and left.

I got into the elevator, too, not knowing where I wanted to go.

…………………………………………………………………..

Author’s note:

I know it might have annoyed you all that the build-up for the presentation got quite a bit prolonged but I hope now you understand why. It was important to show the journey to justify the climax.

And what a climax it was!

I felt the raw emotion of Hannah’s brokenness while writing it.

Our girl deserves so much better.

She did win a bet though, but did she?

Stay tuned to find out!

Don’t lose hope guys, the next chapter will have something that you’ve all wanted for a while now.

Shh, hold your horses till then.

Much love ❤️