Estelle

5 | A Letter

The office is calm and quiet. Not many meetings or interactions occurring other than the occasional sharing of papers.

I have been occasionally looking at my garden outline while working. It is the only thing keeping her from thinking about what happened last night.

I hope today is eventful and I don't have to think about it.

My fingers lightly touch my neck. When I notice it, I begin to rub the side of my neck and sigh.

Mr. Irey has been in his office for most of the time. We only spoke when I entered the office to get his order for lunch.

I sit back in my chair, my eyes wandering over to my garden.

It is full of hellebores and I cannot seem to be happy with any other perennial. My favorite is the gray variant of the plant. The deep color is eye-catching against the dark leaves and stem.

The glass doors open and a pair of heels click into the office. I look up and smile at the woman approaching me, ready to greet her.

"Hello, how can I help you?"

The woman smiles at me with genuine kindness. "I'm looking to meet with Mr. Irey."

I look at his schedule. "Well he isn't available until 2 today but I can let him know."

The woman shakes her head, her gold dangle earrings shaking with her brown locks.

"I had a feeling he would be busy, he always is." The woman reaches into her purse and pulls out a slip of paper. "Please give this to him."

The woman hands me the note but does not let go. "Don't read the letter, please." She smiles with her ruby red lips making her white teeth look whiter.

I nod and the woman lets go.

"I'm Isabella Garcia by the way." Isabella winks at me and flips her hair over her shoulder as she walks across the office.

Isabella sits down on the waiting sofa and crosses her long, tanned legs.

"Could you bring it to him right now, please?" Isabella asks.

I nod again. "Sure, of course."

I stand and fix my blue pencil skirt as I walk to his office doors. I knock and hear a faint call before entering.

Mr. Irey is silent and hunched over his desk as always.

"I have a letter for you", I speak softly.

Mr. Irey's eyes snap up to me the moment he hears my voice.

I approach the desk across the large office and hand him the paper. His eyes don't leave mine until he opens the letter.

I turn to leave as he begins to read.

"Wait." I pause and turn expectantly to Mr. Irey. "Is the woman still here?"

"Yes, she is in the waiting room."

"Send her in, please."

I leave the office and tell the woman she can go in. Isabella smiles and thanks me as she goes into Mr. Irey's office.

Sitting down at my desk and left alone to my thoughts, all I can think about is the visit from Mr. Vallorani the other night.

When will he come to get me? I don't think he will really wait a week. Would he hurt anyone I know like Blue or Mr. Irey? Can I run away somewhere again?

The thought of fleeing feels wrong. Like I will be leaving behind something important but I can't figure out what it is.

Maybe it's my job. I like where I work and who I work with.

A chill runs down my spine as I think about what could happen ... if Accelius took me back to America.

It would be hell ... I can hardly think about it.

I cannot go back. However, my life is less important to me than the lives of the people I care about.

A slam comes from Mr. Irey's office making me jump and I can hear muffled arguing.

I sit straight as I pick up the angry voice coming from Isabella.

Why is she angry? No, wait. It's none of my business.

The door to his office opens and Isabella walks out quickly. Her cardigan is hanging off her shoulder seductively and she yanks it back on roughly.

The woman huffs past Jane's desk, only giving me a glance.

"Ma'am?" I regret my words the moment they come out.

The woman stops short and glares down at me. "What?" She asks rudely.

"Um ..."

The woman rolls her eyes and walks out of the office quickly.

Soon after, Mr. Irey steps out of his office. His harsh features are pushed into a frown but become gentle when he notices me watching him.

"Ms. Estelle."

"Yes?"

"Did she say something to you?"

I slowly shake my head.

"Don't get the wrong idea, please?"

"What idea?" I say, making it clear that I know what he means.

Mr. Irey steps closer to my desk. His eyes travel down to the papers on my desk before traveling back up to my eyes.

"I rejected her."

I nod slowly again. "I understand."

He looks to the desk again and seems to be deep in thought.

"Something is bothering you." He speaks deeply. His Italian accent sounds sharp on his tongue.

"What makes you say that?" I ask after a moment of silence.

"You have been fidgeting more than usual."

"Do I usually fidget?"

"You can tell me," he persists.

I repress a sigh. After a moment I say, "Why the sudden interest in conversation? You usually are not like this."

I smile at my boss to get him to relax and see that he should not worry. The woman is not who is bothering me but I can't tell him the truth of why I'm fidgeting.

His eyes meet mine with a faint smile that makes my throat dry up.

He shrugs and holds eye contact. His smile is still there and something in his eyes tells me that he is enjoying the eye contact.

"Vorrei che ..." I cannot hear the rest of what he says as he whispers it. His Italian sounds rich which makes my face turn red.

Mr. Irey walks away abruptly back into his office.

I look at my hands and try my best to understand what he had whispered.

"Vorrei che tu lo sapessi." [I wish you knew.]

That's what he said. I didn't register it fast enough to react.

What could that mean?

That night, I slide furniture against my broken door after submitting another work order to my lazy landlord.

Outside the men remain, sitting on the curb and occasionally glancing up to my window.

Pulling the curtains shut tightly, I cannot help but feel trapped in my own home.

They are watching me and they won't leave me alone anytime soon.