CHAPTER 71

I've never wanted to hit an older woman but this is trying my patience. I take my coat, shirt and jacket and drop them on the floor and exhale audibly when she starts talking again.

"Are you feeling a little calmer," Maude asks, trying to lead me to a side room.

"Nope, you're a good secretary so tell your boss this: The 'young man' you assigned to the wrecked room in archives finished his task alone and worked for nine hours plus with no help and no breaks of any kind. The conditions were hot with no form of air conditioning that you lovely higher ups seem to have been enjoying. Furthermore I was forgotten about when it came to things like a meal or when to take a break or even where the fucking water is. Now I am leaving like this because I'm done being a tool," I tell her before heading to the elevator and hitting the button for the first floor.

I get to the lobby and pass the reception area before hitting the outside and realizing that it's summer and I'm in more heat. I walk for a good couple of blocks and finally feel my body start to give out when I step into a fast food place and weakly order some food and a glass for water. I'm tired but it's cool in here and nobody is staring at me as I look and see that not only am I being called by Mr. Delauter but it's not the first call. Funny that, now I'm being notified of something. I pull up the call and wait for the voice on the other end.

"Guy are you there, I just got out of my last meeting and Maude told me….," is about where I cut the phone off.

I waited a few moments to see how long the asshole kept talking till he figured out I hung up. Sure enough another call from him that I put on ignore and almost immediately there is a voice mail and sure enough another call. I figure I need to get home somehow so I can work out new arrangements for my friends and I as I pull up Imelda's number and let it ring before hearing her answer.

"Hey Baby, you coming home from work with Mr. D," She asks pleasantly.

"No I am not, I'm currently half dressed and sitting in a burger joint that is on," I look around for a second," I don't know where I am and I need to get out of here so I can get us out of here."

"Baby you sound really bad, I'm coming fast but I need a street," Imelda tells me with a level of concern in her voice.

I ask at the register and as soon as she has the name of the street she's off the phone as I refill my water and use the bathroom. I am sitting for about an hour and have ordered some more food when Imelda shows up on her bike. As soon as she sees me I can tell she's in control mode.

"Honey I know I'm the worst person to say this but you're really mad but think about what you want to do and tell me first before we walk in there and you start throwing punches on your family," Imelda says as we get to her bike.

"I don't know what I'm going to do but I know what I'm not going to do," I tell her, getting a level of understanding that she and I have.

My girls know my anger but none of them feel it like Imelda does and when she sees that I'm hot and justified I know that I'll have my girls as back up as she'll get them on board with whatever I do. We're on the bike and down the road for about an hour when we finally pull up to the house and into the garage, I see the Mercedes is here and Mr. Delauter has already arrived home. I enter the house and can hear people talking as I cross the foyer. Sure enough Mr. Delauter and Loretta come out of his office and my girls come out of the TV room very concerned.

"Guys are you okay," Loretta asks, concerned about my physical and mental state.

"Mom I'm fine, and I want to thank you for what is now the last trip I will ever take down here and while we planned to stay for the whole summer I'm unfortunately going to have to cut the whole thing short and request that we leave immediately so we can get back home," I tell Loretta calmly as horror comes across her face before turning to my girls," Get everything together, we're getting out of here. Everyone on board and out the door in thirty minutes, I'll have drivers here in an hour."

The level of devastation that Loretta feels is counteracted by the determination of my girls as they head up to our room and as I presume start to pack our stuff and relay the exit strategy. Loretta is starting to tear up but that's not my problem as Mark Jr., Abigail and Bethany come out of their rooms concerned.

"Guy what happened," Mark asks as he reaches me.

"Mark do your family a favor, at no point in time are you to allow me to get within five feet of your father," I tell him as I start to head up the stairs.

"Okay but why," Mark asks, confused.

I just stop and stare at him before looking at Mr. Delauter who is currently looking calm as his family is wondering what happened. It's Loretta who breaks the silence and starts crying as I reach the stairs and almost walk into Lilly as I pass her and Jun's room.

"Guy I am so sorry….," she says before getting cut off.

"No sex with Jun for one month unless he wants it," I tell her as Jun comes into view and stares at me by the order," Jun do we understand each other, not a single bit of sex unless you want some and only on your terms or you answer to me."

Lilly's face is horrified and Jun slowly nods in acceptance as they head back into their room to pack. My girls aren't packing when I arrive; I get that look and explain what happened as I am moving on adrenaline alone. I see them start to pick up their stuff and everyone has a determined look on their faces when I get called to the banister by Loretta.

"Guy please come talk to me," Loretta sobs as I see Abigail and Bethany consoling her.

"People hold your posts I'll be back with final orders," I say rushing down the stairs and helping Loretta into a side chair.

I kneel there in my sweaty tank top and dirty slacks as she cries and apologizes for things that I never blamed her for even when I was upset with her. I finally get her calmed down and I tell her why I'm upset. I explain how jerked around I felt when her husband cut off the card. I go into my day and watch as her sadness turns to a level of rage I'm very familiar with as I go through my whole day in great detail everything I did up to and including nearly kicking the door in on his office as I watch her calmly stand up and turn her attention upstairs.

"Unpack your clothes and get ready for dinner," Loretta says to my friends and girls as they stare at me uncertain of what to do.

I nod towards them to do it and they start to unpack by the sound of it when Loretta turns her attention to the children and her husband.

"Kids I need you to do a major pizza run, I'm really not in the mood to cook tonight so grab the extra funds card from my purse and take Bethany's truck, Mark Junior you let her drive," She tells them as they slowly comply before turning her attention to her husband," Mark, honey, we three need to talk in your office."