15 Drama at Innovation

"Paris, who I appoint and what I do is none of your business. I hope you will stay out of my company."

"But baby…"

"I remember asking you to not call me that. If you don't want me to call the security, you can leave."

Gerald sat down at his desk and concentrated on his laptop. Let me use your washroom, at least.

"No."

"Why not, ba- I mean, Gerald?"

"Because it is blocked." Gerald eyed Meera, who was standing at the doorway silently.

She came up to her and said, "Ma'am please follow me. There is another washroom in the conference room. It is almost the same as Sir's and you will feel comfortable there. Please follow me."

"Shut up. Who wants to follow you? You can't do your own work well and you dare to talk."

Gerald slammed his fist on the table and said, "Do not talk to my assistant like that ever again. This is your last warning, Paris. Otherwise, I will make sure that you are not allowed to set foot inside this building ever again. Is that clear?"

Paris flipped her hair and left the room. Meera left right behind her. Locking the door of his cabin, he opened the door of the bathroom and saw Emily sitting there with a red face.

Gerald did not know whether to laugh or cry.

He reached out to help her get up. He knew that he had a lot to explain. He was sure Emily had heard everything that transpired a while ago and he owed her an explanation.

"Em…" he said.

Emily looked up to meet his eyes.

"I'm sorry. I know you heard what happened earlier. Please let me explain, Emily. I-"

"Mr. Whitmore… Gerald, I have no intention of knowing why that person called me a 'bitch' but I hope she will not come in front of me in the future. Because I don't know what I may do if I see her. And, this is your problem. You should solve it, lest someone thinks it is their right to scold anyone in this company."

Gerald looked at her. She was as beautiful as ever. He knew he messed up before, but why did she not want to open the doors to her heart anymore? Gerald wondered what happened that night that she left as soon as she came back home. What happened that she decided not to give him a single chance? It must have been his fault, but he should at least get to know the reason, right? He needed the closure, but Emily refused that with all her might.

Gerald took a deep breath. He would know the answer soon, but he had to break the huge walls she erected around her to keep everyone out. He had to slowly win her trust back. And, the first step was to work with her, understand her, and spend time with her.

Meera came back. Her face was as black as coal.

"What happened, Meera?"

Meera eyed Emily and hesitated.

Gerald understood her hesitation and said, "No need to hesitate. You can speak your mind."

"Sir, Miss Paris caused a huge ruckus downstairs and I…"

"What?!" Gerald shouted, "how dare she do that even after my reminder?"

"Umm… Boss… She also spread some nasty rumors about how you're cheating on her with Miss Taylor."

"What the heck?!"

"Sir, people noticed Miss Taylor entering your room and never exiting it. It may cause some people to gossip. I warned them, but you know them. They won't speak here, but we cannot seal their mouths entirely."

"I understand. You may leave, Meera."

"Sir, do you need me to arrange another cabin for Ms. Taylor?"

"No need. She'll work here with me."

"But Sir…"

"Meera, I know what I am doing. All you need to do is make sure they don't badmouth her or behave in any unprofessional way. I will handle the rest."

"Yes Boss. Got it."

Meera left the cabin and went to the secretarial department. She saw they gathered around Madison's desk and were whispering to each other with their heads lowered.

"What are you talking about? Tell me, too. I am so interested in it. Also, Madison, the files I gave you; have you finished typing them all?" Meera stood in front of their cubicle and said.

"It's nothing. They're just helping me sort out the files. That's all." Madison pushed them away from her desk and tried to sort through the files.

Meera rolled her eyes but said nothing. She went to the cafeteria to get some coffee for herself. She had seen enough drama today. She wasn't in the mood for more.

In Gerald's cabin, Emily stared at Gerald without a word.

"Emily, I had no idea she would do that."

"I understand. Gerald, I have a favor to ask of you…"

Gerald drummed his fingers on the table and said, "What is it, Emily?"

"I need the money in advance."

Gerald swiveled his chair around and played with the paperweight—turning it in his hand and seeing through it from various angles.

He placed the weight back on the table and got up. He walked to the floor-to-ceiling window and looked out. The whole city of Murica was visible from there.

He asked slowly, "Why?"

"Some personal reasons," Emily said, looking at her nails, which seemed more interesting to her than anything else in the room. She did not want to look at him. She knew if she did that, she would blurt the truth out and she did not want him to know about her and pity her. She closed her eyes. She was becoming more and more confusing. It was as if she couldn't recognize herself.

"But I cannot do anything without knowing the proper reasoning behind it. Unless you tell me what's going on, I'm afraid I cannot approve it."

"I see. It's okay. I understand."

"Emily, tell me what happened, please."

"Nothing for you to worry about Gerald."

Emily's phone dinged with the arrival of a message. She unlocked it. In it was written: [Sorry Emily. I figured out I overstepped my boundaries, but I promise to not do so any more. If you have time, please call your mother. She has not eaten anything since this morning.]

Emily heaved a sigh. She did not know how to speak to her mother. She knew she was sad, but even after all these years, why could she not understand that she had to take care of herself in order to be able to take care of others?

Everyone was the same. No one understood her.

Gerald stared at Emily, who was sighing heavily and wondered whether he was being harsh when he said all those things to her.

All he wanted was to see Emily open up to him, to tell him what problem she was facing so that they could solve it together. But no… She was the same old stubborn woman. She would never share her problems with others, no matter what.

It was probably a lot that she asked for her salary in advance. She was definitely in trouble. But she was a wealthy woman. Even though her father was in the hospital, what happened to her money that she saved all these years? Gerald frowned thinking about it.

Did he miss anything when he stalked her before?