‘Mike, where you going?’ Frank asked as Michael walked out of his office
‘None of your concern Frank. I’m going to hell for all you care’ he spoke as he kept walking towards the elevator
‘Listen to me, there’s a huge storm coming. It’s all over the news, you’d better go home son, I’ll drive you there if you want’
‘No, there’s no need for that. And I’m not a child frank, I’m 29. So, stop pestering me’
‘But Mich…’
Before Frank could finish, the elevator doors shut.
Downstairs, in the parking lot, V was waiting in his black sedan, keenly watching the elevator doors. As soon as he saw Michael step out, he got out and rushed to open the car door for Michael.
‘You don’t have to do this Tae, you’re not my driver’
‘No sir, it’s a pleasure’
‘Thanks’ Michael said, ‘but I’m gonna ride shotgun’
35 minutes later, they were standing outside door no. 632, of a tall, typical NY building. It wasn’t difficult to spot flat no 632, because most houses on the floor, except for two, were marks with huge red bands reading for sale.
Michael took a deep breath as he read
the door no 632 and checked his phone again. V looked at him perplexed. If he didn’t know Michael better, he’d have guessed that Michael looked almost nervous.
‘Sir’ V called softly, bringing Michael out of his trance
‘Uh, yes, um…just double checking’ he said, hurriedly putting his phone back in his pocket and knocking on the door
‘Coming…’, a voice sang from inside, and Michael smiled, relaxing his stiff shoulders
The locks jiggled before the door opened, and there she stood, now in a black hoodie and checkered pajamas, the girl who had the audacity to cuss Michael Jackson.
‘Same ruffled hair’, Michael thought eyeing her, ‘doesn’t she own a comb?’
‘What…the…’, she was about to cuss Michael out again, when she spotted V, innocently standing next to him.
‘Hi, how can I help you’, she turned to V and asked, completely ignoring Michael
‘Um…hi, I’m V, nice to meet you, but it’s actually Mr. Jackson who wants to speak to you’ he said, gently tilting his head towards Michael
‘Alex, I might have misjudged the situation a bit…’ Michael started speaking before he was interrupted
‘Misjudged!! Michael, you’ve got to be kidding me. The way you treated me in that interview was nothing short of harassment. And don’t come at me with excuses. That’s no way of treating anyone. You were rude, and obnoxious, and creepy, and you threatened to hit me’
‘I wasn’t in my right mind, Miss Avery, a few things had happened that morning, and all of previous week actually…’ Michael mumbled the last bit to himself
‘That doesn’t justify your behavior Mr. Jackson, in fact, nothing does’
‘I understand Miss Avery, and that’s what I’m here to rectify. Apart from what happened at the interview, because of my employee’s lapse, you also lost out on a job opportunity. Having read your resume Miss Avery, that post would have undoubtedly been yours’
‘But…?’ Alex asked, raising a brow, she knew there was a catch here. She couldn’t just have gotten the dream job; it was too good to be real
