More

Part 22: Ignored

Walking into the Dam this morning, hand in hand with Helen and Mina pushing the stroller- we catch everyone's attention.

When all this first happened- I was nervous people would think ill of Helen and I.

Like they would judge us for moving on from Georgia.

Like they would think she is only with me because I'm the boss and I favor her.

Even now as they gawk, I feel that slightest insecurity that they have something negative to say.

"What's wrong?" Looking up at me with those dark brown orbs, Helen searches me as we walk in stride together.

"Nothing, just wondering how many hours left until we get to go home." I say and her brows furrow slightly.

"You feel alright?"

"I feel great. I just want to be home...with you." She looks down and away as a smile rises to her face and her cheeks pinken.

"Oh...well...we have a while before that can happen." She shyly says as we continue.

"Max!" The most unpleasant sound in the world comes from administration and as we stop and look- Karen Brantley comes stalking over to us looking rather pissed off.

"Karen!" I give her back the same energy and Helen snickers as Karen looks startled and looks around her at the people gawking at her.

"Max, where have you been the last three days?! Have you gone mental?"

"I was resting. I almost died if you've forgotten."

"You certainly look alive to me." She sasses and he holds me closer. Karen looks me and the girls over and then back at Max. "It looks like you've been playing house instead of doing your work."

"We actually bought a house." Helen adds sniggering. Karen's eyes widen and she looks at the girls briefly before looking back at us. "It's quite beautiful."

"You two are aware of that inter office relationships especially one between a manager and an employee is prohibited." She states and I look at Helen and she gazes up at me- slightly concerned.

"See that's the beauty of it, Karen- we don't care." I say and Helen's mouth drops open slightly. Karen's eyebrows knit together.

"I seen this morning in your letter to the board that you will be cutting back your hours every week. Why is that?"

"Karen- I would love to discuss all of these things- just not here in the atrium where everyone can hear my business. Furthermore, my fiancé and I are going to be late getting up to her office- so if you don't mind, we'll just excuse ourselves and you and I can catch up later." I snip slightly which takes all the women by surprise and I start off with Helen and the girls in toe- leaving Karen in shock.

As we head to the elevator, Helen just keeps quietly looking up at me. No doubt questioning my sanity. Waiting for the elevator, she looks up at me again curiously and I just smile down at her.

"You're looking for trouble today- aren't you?"

"Aren't I always?" I ask.

"I mean- yes, but Max you need to be careful around her. This isn't just one of your little off the wall plans that will eventually better the hospital. This is us. Our jobs. Our lives. She has a way of getting what she wants and I would think by now you would be aware of it." We enter the metal box and press five to rise to her floor.

"Baby, she isn't going to do anything, because at the end of the day- she's still making money and to her that's all that matters."

"And if she gets one of us fired?"