Taming the Master

The calm before a storm.

You know that feeling you get when it seems everything has been way too smooth and so you forget life is capable of hitting you in unexpected ways? Yup. That's the calm before a storm. And little did I know how big of a storm was to come.

I was printing some files for the meeting Charlie was to have in an hour when I had an eerie feeling. I suddenly turned around and saw the chairman a.k.a Mr. Chadwick a.k.a Charlie's father strut angrily in the hallway. He pushed Charlie's doors open with great force causing me to rush into the office after him.

"I've tolerated this nonsense for far too long!" He yelled as he stood in front of Charlie's desk.

"What seems to be the problem father?" Charlie said calmly, taking off his reading glasses and dropping the files he was examining on the desk.

His dad threw a brown envelope toward him. "You're having an affair with your assistant?! I overlooked you outrightly defending her the other day but this has gone too far!" His voice grew louder with every sentence.

"What do you mean affair?" Charlie held the envelope and took out the photos inside. There were pictures of us dating back to a month. Dré's birthday preparation last week, the time we had drinks at Freddie's bar, everything.

I felt exposed although I had nothing to hide. I had no idea I was being watched and photographed at all times.

"She's my personal assistant, of course, we would have to go to a lot of places together. Your claim is inaccurate. Besides, I think it's very rude and a violation of privacy that you hired someone to trail and take pictures of me and Louise.

It was so fast I would've missed it had I blinked. The chairman's hand connected with Charlie's face. He had slapped him. His head had turned to the side from the impact and his lip had a small cut. I let out a small gasp and his dad turned to look at me, fury in his eyes.

His jaw ticked and he said. "Could you leave the two of us alone Louise?" I blinked a couple of times frozen in my space, things were definitely getting very heated. He smiled at me and nodded as if to say he would be alright.

So I nodded in response and left the office, closing the door. I sighed and walked to my office that was opposite his and sat in my chair.

"Charlie said his dad hits him from time to time. I hope he'll be okay." I said to myself.

After some time, Charlie's dad suddenly flung the door open. "You can't do this to me. Not again, Father!" Charlie yelled behind him. He turned around and replied to him.

"Yes, I can. Do as I asked or else." He then walked away and down the hallway, turning left and disappearing from my view.

I waited till he had gone before racing out of my office to meet Charlie. I close the door and walk up to him. "Mr. Charlie. Are you okay?"

I stared at his reddened cheek and lip cut. The expression on his face looked tired and helpless. I didn't like this look. Can we go back to the more relaxed and happy version of him?

I raised my hand to touch his cheek and he held my wrist. "It's okay Louise. I'm okay." He gave a small fake smile. He was definitely not alright but I didn't want to push it since it seemed like he wanted to be alone.

I dropped my hand to my side and breathed out looking down and then looking at him. "Okay. If you need anything, call me immediately." He just gave that same insincere smile and I walked out of the office.

"I wonder what his dad said to him that dampened his spirit. I heard he's his only son too. Isn't family supposed to care for one another instead of threatening them?!" I whisper-shouted and groaned going back to continue my work.