And If there was a tomorrow

Chapter 6

Peter walked around his office, impatiently. He had a plan, which demanded luck. He had been waiting for ten minutes and nothing. He was about to leave the office and go find the people he had called in, when he heard two knocks on the door. He answered:

─ Come in.

─ Hi Peter. Did you call me?

─ Yes, I did. By the way, it took you a long time.

─ I'm sorry, I was resolving a few tasks. After Linda left, our staff became one member short. Did you fire her?

Peter smiled on the inside but didn't let it show.

─ Did she say anything?

─ No. Only that she needed sometime to figure things out.

─ That's it then.

─ What?

─ I gave her the time she needed.

─ Eternal?

─ If she didn't say, I won't be the one to gossip.

─ You know that when you deny something, you are confirming it, right?

─ That's your opinion. I didn't say anything.

─ As you wish. But now, why did you want to see me?

─ Did you file a request for a leave of absence?

─ Yes, I did.

─ A leave of one year without pay. But you didn't quit.

─ Yes.

─ Mary, you know I can only grant you this kind of leave in case of health issues, volunteer work or studies, right?

─ Yes, I know.

─ So?

─ So what?

─ Which one is it?

─ I hope it's the study kind. I submitted an internship request and I hope it works out.

─ But you asked for the leave without being sure about the internship. Why did you do that?

─ Because I'm almost certain that it will happen, and it starts next month. I wouldn't have to request if I waited to make sure. The bureaucracy takes a long time.

─ True. May I know where you are going?

─ Paris.

─ Paris is great. Have you ever been there?

─ Not yet.

─ You'll love it. But I can only grant you the leave once you receive the confirmation about the internship. I'll wait to sign it, okay? Come find me as soon as you have the answer, okay?

─ Sure! Thanks.

─ You're welcome.

Then she left. He turned around to make sure the door was closed and smiled. The bait had been thrown, now he needed to catch the fish. He expected that it wouldn't take long. Someone left the bathroom in that exact moment.

─ Do you want me to follow her?

─ Yes but be discreet. I just need a confirmation.

─ Yes sir. Don't worry. ─ and then he left.

As soon as Mary Ann left the room, she went to a more reserved spot and made a phone call. She didn't notice the shadow that stood behind the door to listen to the conversation.

─ Hello? ─ A male voice answered.

─ Hello dear!

─ Hi Mary! What's going on?