Liam was a man after every woman's heart, he knew how to play his cards well when it came to women. He should have gone to him for advice but that wasn't too late, Rosa could help too. She was a woman.
"Yes, Boss."
"How did he make up whenever you quarrelled?" He asked again.
"He has his ways, his irresistible charms," Rosa said and Callan nodded his head.
He was sure he didn't have any charms, his aura was dark and scary. He had hurt Orla too much, he secretly wondered if he possessed any charm that Orla found attractive but it hurt him to know that he didn't.
"What about you? How do you want your man to apologise to you whenever he hurts you so much?" He finally dropped the question he'd been holding in. "What are things you want him to do to soothe you?"
Without being told, Rosa knew he asked because of his wife. She folded her arms against her chest and smiled again. "What I want might be different from what your wife wants, Boss."
"My wife?" He feigned ignorance, but she already caught him. She saw how he looked at Orla at the last office party they attended together.
The things he did for her even without knowing what they meant. Rosa had been a major contributor to their home meals since they got married. She always ordered the food they ate for delivery and there were days Callan would tell her not to do some food because Orla didn't like it. He was so careful about every detail about her, but he didn't know that himself.
"Yes, Boss. The first time I met Orla, I didn't like her because she was shabbily dressed. I am sorry for treating her that way. I hope to apologise when I next meet her."
"That's not an answer to my question, you know?"
"Yes, Boss, that wasn't an answer to what you asked of me. After that day, I learned some things about her, a lot of things. Boss, your house is her only safe place in the world. Her sisters hate her so much, she's unaccepted by her family because of whatever thing that we do not know of. I don't know if she's told you about it, but Boss, she's gone through so much and needs solace in her life. I would be miserable if I was leading her kind of life," she jerked her finger up and shook her head pitifully. "Rejected by my family, have no friends and my husband still doesn't want me? But even if you do want her, you do not make it obvious that you do."
"Rosa!" Callan cautioned her, he was getting impatient. Everything Rosa was talking about wasn't her business.
"The night you asked me to get her clothes, the day you got her different brands of shoes and clothes, the best brand to be precise. The days you've told me to order your meal and explained to me that Orla didn't like certain meals. The day you sent me to your house to deliver a gift to her, the small things that you do for her. Boss, you've never done these things for any woman since when I started working with you."
"What are you insinuating, Rosa?" Callan swivelled on the armchair he was seated on.
"That she's different, Boss."
"Yes, and that's because she's my wife. Not one of those flings I used to have." Callan pointed it out clearly, but Rosa shook her head.
"You chose her to be your wife for a reason. A reason that's best known to you. I am sorry if you think that I am trespassing, but everyone deserves to be happy. Happiness starts with someone. You can be that someone who makes Orla happy, Boss." Rosa's eyes met with her Boss's and they stared closely for a few seconds before she looked away. "If you want to make her happy, don't hold back."
Callan knew Rosa was right. He didn't make it obvious but he tried, he wanted to make her happy but sometimes, the monster in him was stronger than he could control.
"Back to the question you asked me, Boss."
Callan was disorganized. He wanted to see Orla and hold her in his arms. He had hurt her too much and right there, he was ready to make up for his mistakes.
"Is there an answer to that now?" His voice dropped.
"Boss, what I want is different from what Orla wants. So, I really can't answer that…" She stretched the word.
Callan nodded his head, he understood her.
"Hmm, she's been down since her cat died. I thought getting her a new cat would do, but she doesn't want the cat. What should I do? Buy her a car? Properties? A house? Shoes, bags?"
"Boss, I don't think Orla wants those things. You've stayed with her for months and by now, if you are observant, you should know what she wants and what she doesn't want."
Callan thought carefully, only Betty came to his mind. Betty was the only thing Orla loved in the world, what else could she want?
"The board members were not satisfied with the meeting we just had and I promised them that another one would be scheduled," Rosa informed her Boss.
"You can handle that, Rosa." Callan snapped his fingers, still thinking about what Orla wanted.
"Yes, I can if you want me to." Rosa smiled assuredly. "If you will permit me, I would like to attend to other things."
"Thanks for your time, Rosa." His conversation with Rosa was an eye-opener for him.
He watched as Rosa walked out of the office. When she left, going deeper into his thoughts and something suddenly struck his mind. Something he had never done and had to do.
That was what he should have done all these days, he grabbed his blazer and hastened to his feet. He hurried out of the office, hoping that it would work because that was the only thing he had in mind.
He hated to see Orla in that depressed state that she was in, he wanted her back and this time, he was willing to do whatever he could to get her back. He needed his fragile wife back, she had occupied a place in his heart, somewhere safe, and he wanted her to remain there.
-
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A few minutes later, Callan got home and met Orla lying lifeless on the tiles.
He flung his blazers across the living room and ran to the spot she lay on, he took her hands and called her name, but there came no response.
His heart dropped.
No, it can't be.