"Are you sure that you're okay?" Martha asked in concern as she gestured to my hand, apologizing profusely while leading me up the staircase and towards the same room that she had shown me yesterday. Martha's attention has never left the site of my injury ever since she knew the origin of how I had gotten it.
"I'm fine. Besides, it's just a small scratch." I assured, wiggling my fingers in the air in hopes that she would stop mouthing the word 'sorry.'
"Alright. But if it is painful, please make sure to inform me." She pressed as we finally stood in front of the door. I gave a soft smile and nod before knocking on the door.
"And a word of advice," Martha sounded, "be a little gentle with him today."
"I understand."
As soon as she disappeared, I entered the room engulfing myself in the same atmosphere, an aura of melancholy and grim. Just like yesterday, I approached Mr. Montague who was seated on the floor with a beer bottle in his hand while he had his other, clasping the picture frame.
"I see you're here again." He turned to look at me while taking a swig from the contents within the glass. Soon, I felt his gaze concentrate on the bandaged area.
"Did I do that?" He asked, taking another mouthful of liquid. Contemplating my answer, I decided to go with telling the truth. After all, honesty is indeed the best policy.
"Yes," I responded, "but I'm okay," I quickly added, hoping that he would not blame himself for the accident.
"I'm sorry." He muttered under his breath.
"It's not your fault. I did touch your personal things without permission." A scoff was heard from him as he dropped the emptied bottle on the floor right in front of him.
"What happened to her?" I questioned, cutting the silence that was densely accumulating in the air. The man that I saw in the picture, one that once shone with radiance, was now reduced to a solemn and broken individual. His unshaven look and ruffled hair seemed to intensify the great affliction he was going through.
Whoever she was, he must have loved her tremendously.
"Please leave me alone." He croaked, filled with agony and despair.
Knowing that this conversation was at its end, I complied, strolling towards the door before taking one last look at Mr. Montague where the sound of sniffles and soft wailing could be heard before closing the door.
"Will he be alright?" I inquired as Martha gestured, inviting me to have a seat as I looked over at the biscuits and tea she had prepared; neatly arranged on the coffee table.
"I'm afraid not, dear." She answered, shaking her head with a huge sigh. "Hugo hasn't been himself ever since Blaire."
So that was her name. Blaire.
My interest was piqued as I felt an unusual hunger to know more.
"If it's possible," placing the cup down after taking a sip of refreshment, I glanced over to Martha who had her head hung low in despair. "May I know what happened between the two?"
"It's not a pretty story, dear," she continued, letting out a heavy breath before coming to a pause, hesitant of revealing anything more. But upon acknowledging the curiosity in my eyes, Martha relented.
"The two met when they were just twenty-five. Hugo was a late starter in building his career while Blaire already had a name for herself. Of course, with Blaire being far more experienced in this industry, she showed him the ropes and became his mentor. As they undertook many projects as a pair, feelings soon deepened and love eventually blossomed. But with Hugo still focused on his career, Blaire decided to make the tough decision any woman loathe at the expense of her youth. She decided to postpone their marriage. Blaire began supporting him on the sidelines until his career peaked 4 years later. But during that search for fame and wealth, Hugo became cold and distant. He became someone who was so absorbed in his work rather than the one who had been there by his side. And I remember, that every time I looked into those eyes of hers, she could never hide the sadness that she so desperately tried to conceal with a smile."
Martha shifted uncomfortably beside me as she continued to recount the past events.
"A year later, Hugo proposed." Martha let out a smile, though it was one of grief than happiness. "You should have seen how happy she was as she walked down that aisle; to finally be with someone she could call her own. But things took a different turn after they were married. Just when Blaire thought that she had her happily ever after, the neglect she felt intensified. Hugo started missing his meals with her and sometimes, not even come home at all. She knew that he was out working on different projects, but it felt as though she had been abandoned; like she was the only person trying to make this marriage work."
I continued listening to the story as I felt my heart reach out to Blaire for having to face such an unspeakable misery on her own.
"Just 2 days before Christmas eve, Blaire informed Hugo about their invitation to stay over at her family for Christmas. It was something that she has been looking forward to for months. But everything broke loose when Hugo brushed her off, saying that he isn't going to make it because of the work he's piled up with. Arguments ensued with Hugo eventually leaving the house. I didn't know where he went, except that I had never seen Blaire in so much pain before. She left the house with her suitcases packed as she bid me farewell, saying that she'll be back after Christmas..."
Martha bit her lip as she hung her head low, tears wetting the back of her clenched fists. I braced myself for the impact, knowing that whatever she was about to say was nothing short of horror.
"It wasn't until later when I received a call from the hospital that she was met in an accident. It was a drunk driver in broad daylight. By the time I reached the hospital, I saw Hugo collapse on the floor after a conversation with the doctor. He looked distraught, shaking in disbelief and in horror when he realised that..."
"When he realised that?"
"...that she was with child."
The breath that I had been holding seemed to have been lodged at the back of my throat when she broke the news.
" S-She was just four weeks pregnant before she died of blood loss. And by the time we saw her, she was no longer recognizable. Her bones were broken and her face concaved." By now, Martha was sobbing into her hands, while I, was at a loss for words.
"And do you know what's the worse part?"
I shook my head as I continued to listen.
"We didn't even know if she knew that she was pregnant. And if she did, why didn't she tell us?" She wiped her eyes while her breath hitched as she gasped for air. "After her death, Hugo soon came to hate himself. He blamed himself for the neglect he caused, for not spending time that she longed for as a married couple. Even till now, he still hates himself; and it has been two years since then."
***
By the time I reached the office, I felt the sense of melancholy weigh me down. I felt like I had been thrown into a drama, except that this was all really happening.
"Hey, Ava," I heard a voice call out before turning to see Timothy in the lift lobby. "I was just about to find you."
"What's up?" I asked, as a sense of relaxation washed over me upon seeing a familiar face that I enjoyed conversing with.
"How's your time so far in this company? Is the workload too much for you?"
"It's been great so far. Although there are just a little too many projects to handle, I still enjoy the engagement."
Lies.
Thanks to that fart-face, I'm juggling with things that were way beyond my paycheck.
Patience, Ava, patience. It's all for the raise.
"That's great!"
No, it isn't.
The elevator dinged and open; two of us proceeding in as we ascended the building.
"By the way, how's the meeting with Mr. Montague?"
"Not good," this time answering in straight-up honesty. "The situation is more complex than I thought it was."
"I see," Timothy replied, with a frown evident on his brows. "And what might be the issue causing this complexity?"
"Well, it turns out that his rejection in this collaboration is due to certain mistakes he did in the past. I'm not really at liberty to tell you what happened though, but just know that it's because of some family issues."
"I understand." His brows furrowed further as the crease on his forehead soon became more visible. "When will you be seeing him again?"
"If he'll see me, tomorrow morning at 9 o'clock."
Timothy nodded knowingly.
This situation was completely out of my control. And as soon as I heard the story of Hugo and Blaire, I was beginning to doubt myself in the possibility of pulling off this task.
"There's no need to beat yourself up." Timothy assured, cutting me away from my thoughts.
But tomorrow is the last day.
Placing his hand on my shoulder, Timothy gave me a short tap. "Even if this doesn't work, just know that the company has a backup plan. We always have an emergency plan, Ava, so don't you worry. You have already done your best, alright?"
With the doors opened, I stepped out before glancing back at Timothy. "Alright."
But why do I feel like I haven't done my best?
Overwhelmed with the feeling of self-disappointment, I sauntered over and into the office compound.
"Well, would you look what we have over here? The new girl, strolling into work at eleven." Walking past her, I ignored the sneers and comments that were sent my way, feeling the emotional drain from everything, as if my very life had just been sucked dry.
"It seems as though you're behaving like the boss of this department." She continued, batting her falsies while I plopped down on my chair. "Just know that whatever assignments Nathan has tasked for you, it will never be as important as mine, because I, have been here longer than you." After saying her piece, she went back to her cubicle to thicken that already chunky load of makeup on her face.
"Because I, have been here longer than you." I mimicked, rolling my eyes while attempting to strut the sassiest pose. This earned a snigger from a colleague situated just a distance away from me.
"Don't mind Bella." I heard as I turned my attention to a man, casually dressed in a black tee and blazer.
"That's right!" A lady interjected, skipping from her station to the man's side, leaning her forearms against his shoulder. "She's got her head high up in the clouds, perhaps even beyond earth's atmosphere; thinking that she is going to land herself on a rich and handsome pot of gold."
"Shut up, Quinn." Bella snapped, closing her foundation kit. "Don't stick your nose into unnecessary places."
Geez, any thicker and the construction companies will be calling the foundation brand as an alternative for cement.
"Maybe you ought to stick to powdering that sorry nose of yours." The man pulled against her sleeves, signaling her to bring the insults to a halt. Bella on the other hand, flipped her hair with an agitated huff and returned to her computer, typing furiously away.
"By the way, your name's Ava, right?" Quinn exclaimed. "This is Derrick!" She added, pressing a tight hug into him.
"It's nice to meet you, Ava."
"It's nice to meet you two as well." I greeted. "Are you two..." I paused, awaiting their reply.
"Oh! Yeah." Quinn proclaimed while showing off the wedding band fitted snuggly on her ring finger. "We just got married!"
"Congratulations!"
"Thank you." Both replied with their face lit up in joy and delight while they lean their foreheads against each other. A type of happiness that seems to be able to last for a lifetime.
"Big deal. So what if you have found someone to marry?" Bella interjected. "Who's to say that you won't divorce a couple of months down the road?"
Is she for real?
"Unlike you and your failed act of seduction; thinking that you will be able to craft your own fantastical happily ever after with Mr. Crosby, I am confident that I have found the one, the man that I am going to live with for the rest of my life."
The calmness in her voice was one to be admired. If I were her, I would already be slapping the living daylights out of her.
"Whatever." Bella said coldly.
I guess it was clear who the winner was.
"Just ignore her in the future. Apart from her embarrassing attempts to seduce Mr. Crosby, she's all bark and no bite."
Seduce, huh...
I guess you could say that Belle was beautiful more as compared to me.
I continued staring at Belle and sensed the aura that I had no doubt, would successfully entice men around her.
But little did I expect, for a tinge of jealousy to creep unknowingly into my heart.