ALMA
Like rocks were stacked inside my stomach, I shuffled my way into the office building. My phone was blasting with calls from numerous Business partners, Rodney included. He must have seen the news, too. I pushed open the sliding doors and made my way in with my heart dropped to my knees.
The piercing gazes, and murmurs, were a deadly giveaway that a lot of them have seen the articles. That happened seven years ago, and I was set up, but who would I explain that to? From the way they looked at me, their priorities were clear, and their opinions were biasedly scripted on their faces.
Ah. What did I expect? They were just humans, after all, gnawing on anything they could find, filled with bitterness and the undying urge to tear someone apart. The good part was, I didn't plan to be that person for them. I'd been there once, and look how that turned out.
I marched in, funneling my anxiety down and stepping it to death with every stride. My footfalls echoed through the buzzing lobby. Great, that was the only thing I was open to hearing. The other sounds might as well go to hell.
"Miss Jenkins!" Vanessa, my P.A., called out to me as she staggered in my direction. Her face was clenched with worry, and her eyebrows were almost in the same position as her hairline, flicked almost to the base of it. There was concern in her voice, in her body language. "There's...trouble! I don't know if- if you've seen the news, but-"
I placed my hands on her shoulders. "Take a deep breath, Vanessa, and tell me what's happening. If it is about the article, then--"
"You've seen it!?" she asked as though I shouldn't have. "Yes, ma'am. It is about the article and the reaction it is stirring!" her eyes flickered to mine, then flicked back to the iPad she held. A glance at it, and I could tell it was the articles.
I spotted a comment about my being a bitch, and I cocked my head to the side. I did not disagree with the comment- if I had to be a bitch to survive this cruel world, then so be it. They haven't seen anything yet. I could be way more despicable if need be. "Well, that's not very nice, but it isn't new either," I responded without mincing a word. "Aside from the comments flying around, what's the impact on the company's status?"
We began walking, and Vanessa seemed to be struggling to catch up with me. "It is huge, Miss Jenkins. We've paused purchase for now, but our website is blowing up with complaints, and uh...need for an explanation. They're saying you're...." her voice trailed as she looked up ahead, getting into the elevator.
"A cheat? Husband snatcher? Gold digger?" I scoffed, reading off her shocked expression as her lips partly slighted. "I've been called worse, Vanessa. The problem is: We need to find a way to get around this. Some public statement will do."
"And..." Vanessa dipped her finger in the air to object. "The shareholders called for a meeting. They all agreed to arrive in..." she quickly glanced at her wristwatch. "Twenty-eight minutes."
My throat was stuffed, and I choked down on a huge, bitter bile. This just had to happen, didn't it? Linda was probably throwing her feet in delight at all these responses. Once again, she'd managed to draw me into the mess of the past. And the shareholders' meeting? It terrified me.
This was the last thing I'd ever hoped to happen. There would be doubts about my competence and credibility. My stomach growled, but it wasn't hunger that it battled. It was deep-seated, jaw-racking fear. Help.
I nodded crisply. "I see..." At least I had twenty-eight minutes to write a speech that would change their mind and introduce the latest partnership with Vel LTD- which I'd be making a subsidiary of this conglomerate. It would do beautifully if I'd been given the chance.
I slipped into my office, and Vanessa slipped into hers. On the trestle table by the side of my office was another bouquet of flowers that I recognized so well. Oh, Linda! What level of pettiness was this? Up until I set my eyes on those flowers, I've had my emotions regulated. Now, looking at it made me so enraged that my insides felt like an avalanche at the edge of an eruption, waiting to explode into every corner.
My fists were clenched, and my hands fell limply to my side. I kissed my gritted teeth, feeling my face go hot with rage. Linda. Linda. Linda!! Fuck! I kicked the bouquet off the table and watched it scatter across the floor, just as I wanted her to.
The absence of the vase gave room for the letters previously underneath it to dance into sight. It was a small note that, after getting closer, had six words carelessly scribbled on it.
I hope you like my gift. I turned it to the back, but there was nothing more to see. Ripping the paper of shreds, I slouched onto my seat and buried my forehead in my open palm, devising every horrible means to make her pay for her awful actions. I didn't come to Los Angeles to be stepped over nor did I come with the intention of causing trouble like this, but if Linda wanted to play dirty, she'd know I wasn't a wimp, nor would I be the first to cry.
Rodney's call came through, and I slid my finger down the screen, disconnecting it. These were the ugly parts of my experience that I didn't want him to know. I had no idea it was going to be this difficult to face or talk to him. Rather than talk it out, I grabbed a pen and started to draft my speech for the meeting.
It was the least that I could do.
Soon after, the door opened, and Vanessa's head peeked in. "It's time, Ma'am. The conference hall is prepared."
I inhaled through my mouth, as my nose suddenly felt clogged. Even the cold air had started to prick my skin. "Ah, yes. Let us proceed." And so the meeting began.
Contrary to the composure that once had on the first day of our meeting, my eyes raked over a team of worried men with crooked ties and folded foreheads. In situations like this, not one soothsayer is needed to know that things are terrible. The bottom after rock bottom. Luckily, Carl wasn't present to make this much more of hell for me.
Their angry clamoring hushed the moment my presence was recognized, just long enough for me to climb onto the podium and try to take a stand.
Try. "It's been brought to my attention that a certain rumor is being spread, and I'd like to address it in order to calm your anxieties and make you understand that not one of those talks is true. There were pictures from seven years ago, incriminating pictures that are greatly misunderstood and-"
Someone cut me short from the gathering. "Who cares about the truth when the lie is affecting us already? This is a matter of public opinion, and I can assure you that the truth rarely ever changes anything. Rather than this, what are the steps taken to rectify this mistake? The company had only just been handed over to you, and I'm very sure you don't want to give us reasons to regret putting our trust in you!"
"Well said!"
"It's only been a few days!"
"So incompetent."
Those words flew right over my head. It'd be an absolute joy if they flew away, but no, they doubled back to sink into my chest like swords. I gulped hard and continued to speak while I tapped my legs nervously.
"While I'm aware that this is only a matter of public opinion, it doesn't deter my belief that the truth is the best and only way to get out of this. To get out of anything. If the situations were a tad bit different, say a person is rumored to have committed a murder when they didn't. What takes them out of that hole, public opinion?" I scoffed, my eyes dimming. "Tell me a better joke, Mr. And I have done nothing to jeopardize your trust in me, and I never will. Six years or more, I've led one of the most successful businesses in the world by myself!"
I paused, noting that I had all of their attention. "Of course, they were rumors and petty drawbacks, but I climbed over them, just as I would now." I leaned over the microphone a bit more. "If this small setback was enough reason for you to question where you stand, then I guess everyone here should look deep and answer those questions. If we fret over things like this, how will we handle worse in the future?"
Silence. Utter silence. I immediately added a last phrase. "My grandfather, Charles Jenkins, didn't do business with wimps. Let's have our man pants on, shall we?"
Everything I said felt like carrying a heavy weight off my chest. While they were still silent and in shock, an applause suddenly ripped through from one person, then two. Soon, everyone was clapping for me.
The meeting ended shortly after, with their cooperation, of course! I assured them I'd make a public statement and get the rumor to die into nothing.
*
"I had fun today, Mama!" Velma told me as we both walked out of her class. Her small fingers were linked to mine, and she skipped through the corridor. "I saw a lot of artwork!"
"Really?" I beamed. At least someone was having a good time, not me. "I can't wait to hear all you've learned, and I'm glad you had a great time!"
Velma paused in her tracks and placed her hand over her mouth. It formed a closing o, and her big eyes fluttered. "I also made a new friend today! He's very amazing, and he is very smart!" she ranted. "He also had my green eyes, and Mama, you said that's rare. So my new friend is rare, too?"
For Velma to describe a person in more than three sentences, they must have bonded quite beautifully. It made me so glad. "Yes, your new friend must be as rare as you are! You must really like this friend of yours, Velma. Is he also in your class?"
"He-"
"Miss Jenkins?" I wheeled around and saw Velma's teacher approach me with her ever-so-beautiful smile. She must have practiced it before the mirror every morning. "I was hoping to talk to you before you leave."
"Oh..." I drawled, watching Velma run off to the field. This better not be about those articles. I'd hate for this to affect Velma's education in any way. "Please, proceed. Or would you like to sit?"
"No, no," she dismissed with a wave. "First, I...should begin with an apology. During the tour today, Velma...got away from the rest of the kids..."
I gasped. "Oh, that's terrible. I'm so sorry," I immediately rushed. I didn't even need further explanation to know that she'd gotten away on purpose. Her curiosity must have gotten the best of her.
"I should be the one apologizing for being so irresponsible, and I just wanted to let you know that it was a grave mistake and would never happen. I'm sincerely sorry about that."
"It's no problem. I'm just glad nothing happened. Velma would have done the same thing if I were with her. Just please, pay more attention to her, especially when thought-provoking topics are involved. She's a very inquisitive-"
"And intelligent child!" she finished for me. "Velma is just amazing. Because of her, we got more attention and were treated specially. One of the workers from the museum found her and instantly liked her. Because of this, we got more chances to explore, and the school was refunded. Her smartness awed the man."
"Oh, really?" my heart swelled with pride. He must have been the new friend she mentioned. "Velma did mention she made a new friend."
"That's definitely the word. Their connection was so pure, that one would mistake her for being his daughter. Either way, the school owes you, Miss Jenkins. Thank you so much!"
"Not a problem," I nodded, "Thank you, too." Velma and I got into the car, and I was dying to know more about this friend of hers. Before I could say a word, my phone vibrated again, and a text popped from Rodney.
I should at least tell him I was fine. I unlocked my phone, and the article, which had a photo of Carl that I was reading, flashed in my face. It was basically a picture of him smiling back at me. Was this mockery? Why did I even forget to close the tab? Thank goodness it was only Velma here. I tried to move away from it quickly.
"Oh! That was him!" Velma declared, peering over my phone.
I scowled. "Him...who?"
"My new friend, Mama. The rare one."