Married To My Bully by Sakshi C (comprehension books txt) 📕

"Tell me about your passion," his voice rang through the air after a couple minutes. I looked at him with a surprised expression that soon turned into a happy one. His sudden question birthed hope in me.

He wants to know me. 

My eyes glimmered and a smile erupted on my face as I started narrating to him about how I developed an interest in designing and got my first major break three years ago. I told him how important my passion is to me. I told him everything. From beginning to end. Not actually the end as I had a long way to go.

"How will you feel if someone snatched it away from you?" he asked while keeping his eyes on the road. 

 I eyed him, confused. 

"I am sorry....I don't understand," I voiced out my confusion.

"Nevermind. We are here," Alex pulled up his car in front of my office building. 

"Thanks a lot," I gave him a friendly smile. Not that he was looking my way. His eyes were still fixed ahead. I climbed out and gently pushed the door shut. Alex sped off. 

The day started out better than I had expected. We made progress. He was as willing as I to give our relationship a chance. It's just his method is different from mine. He likes to keep emotions in check and I go all over the places whenever he is around me. Maybe I had started to understand the puzzle named Alexander Knight.

A big fat smile sat on my lips. I entered my office and got greeted by the receptionist who gave me an incredulous look. I know they all were expecting me to not come to the office for at least a few weeks. I just threw her a smile and walked up towards the lift.

I stepped into my room and took a deep breath. I let my lungs fill with the familiar soothing scent of my office. My office was a testament to my hardships, hard work, failures, and achievements. Everything that I cherished. It felt good to be back. I am not a workaholic but I do worship my work.  

I scurried to my chair and plopped down in it. There were still thirty minutes for my manager to arrive at the office. I decided to wait for her as I wanted to talk to her about my leaves. I turned on my laptop and started working on designs for my current project. 

A gentle knock on my door prompted me to turn my eyes towards the source. Linds, my manager was standing by the door. A smile rode my lips as soon as I saw her. She gave me a nervous smile? I stood up from my chair and she asked me to follow her into her office. I could tell there was something eating her away. 

She sat in her chair and gestured me to do the same. I wasn't smiling now. I was confused. 

I noticed her fidgeting with her fingers as she put her hands on the table. Something was wrong. Her tensed expression was making me even more anxious. She took a sigh and opened her mouth to say something. 

"Crystal. I just got off the phone with the CEO of our company. He..(nervously rubs down her face) he has instructed me to....(paused and closed her eyes for a second before opening them) Crystal, I have to let you go" Linda, her boss blurted out. 

"What?" Crystal asked baffled. It was a lot to process.

"I am sorry, darling. I tried to persuade them into changing their mind. But they seemed adamant. I am extremely sorry, dear. You are an asset to the company. I don't know why they want you gone," there were sadness and remorse in Linda's eyes. 

"But ma'am..... it makes no sense. How is that even possible? I have been awarded as a star performer for the last two years. The CEO himself has shown his appreciation for my work so many times. Why would he fire me?" Crystal asked still perplexed.

"I have no clue, dear. He called me half an hour ago and told me to fire you immediately," she explained to bewildered Crystal.

"But ma'am, you know how much I love my work. I have always been loyal to my commitments than why..."

"I know, sweetheart. I have seen you working hard. You don't need to explain yourself. To be honest, I have no idea what prompted them to make this decision. They have never meddled in the hiring and firing process of our branch. This is first," Linda replied rather clueless.   

"Ma'am can you please talk them into not firing me?. This job is very important for me," I felt tears pricking my eyes

"I did. I listed all your achievements to them. But they all fell on deaf ears. They want you gone, Crystal and I don't know why," Linda looked into my eyes. Sympathy shone through them.

I got up from her seat and began to walk towards the door when Linda grabbed my shoulder and hugged me for one last time. She promised to recommend me to other designing companies. I nodded at her and left her cabin with moist eyes. 

I returned to my office that I had decorated on my own. The wall in front of my chair was embellished with all my awards and certificates. My second home. That's what used to call it. Now it wasn't mine anymore. Tears of humiliation rained down my eyes. I didn't deserve to be fired after giving so much to this company. It was a hard pill to swallow. I was hoping for a promotion this month as promised by my manager one month ago. But what fate brought to me was completely unexpected. And extremely humiliating. Resentment for high commands sprouted out in my heart. I resented the way they treated me. Like trash. First, used me and then threw me. 

Just for once, I wanted to know what did I do to deserve being kicked out. What I had thought to be a promising day turned out so horrible.

I packed my belongings and exited my office without interacting with anyone. My eyes were still red with all the crying I did. 

I climbed into my taxi and let the river flow. I cried silently as I didn't want the driver to hear my sobs. But the driver had heard it anyway. 

Twenty minutes later, I found herself standing in front of the door of Alex's mansion.  I pushed in the key, twirled it open, and headed straight to my bedroom. I was missing my family. My mom. She had always comforted me in my tough times. I missed her motherly hugs.