Xandros and Ally

Chapter 14 (Ally): Obligations And Expectations

"We have nothing to discuss," I told Cressida as she shut my office door. "And I was just leaving to head home. You can make an appointment with me through the department admin if you need to get on my calendar."

"I could have you fired, you know," she said quietly, but the threat was just as present as if she'd yelled it at me.

"You could, but I think Xandros and Mrs. Nikolaou would have something to say about it. She stopped by earlier today to tell me how much she liked me for her son."

"I don't believe that for a minute, but I'd think that you'd have the decency to break up with Alex just so you don't embarrass him. He needs a wife by his side who can actually say hello in under three minutes."

Most people by this age only thought those kinds of thoughts. They didn't verbalize them unless they were especially cruel so I knew that intended jab might have been aimed at me, but it told me all about the kind of person she was. Fortunately, since her insult was child's play compared to some of the nastiness that'd been thrown my way, I was able to avoid giving her the reaction she'd so clearly been hoping for.

"My stutter doesn't bother Xandros, and his is the only opinion that matters. And, for the record, I did break up with him. He refuses to accept it and keeps pursuing me, so maybe Xandros is the one you should be talking to."

"He's been busy, and I haven't been able to see him yet."

That was easy to translate: he's been avoiding me like the plague. 

"I would just like you to do the right thing and stop coming between the two of us. Our families have certain expectations and standards and you...fall short." 

Her voice was both desperate and pleading with an underlying demand that hinted at her entitlement. And possibly the realization that she'd get nowhere with Xandros so she was pursuing other avenues.

"I'm not coming between the two of you," I explained, "and again, this is a Xandros problem, not mine."

"We were on track until you came into the picture. He would have married me."

"You would have been miserable married to a man who was with you only out of duty and who was in love with another woman. And do you even know him to love him?"

That stung her. "I know him better than you do! We grew up together."

"OK."

"I do!" she insisted.

"Sure."

"Stop saying that! No one knows him better than I do."

"If you say so."

"Enough! Unless you want to lose your job, you need to stop seeing Alex. That's all I came here to say."

"OK."

"So promise me you'll stop seeing him."

"That's two things," I pointed out to her. 

"What?"

"You said you only came here to tell me to stop seeing him or I'd lose my job. Now you want me to promise to stop seeing him. That's two reasons you stopped by."

"I'm done playing games with you. I tried to be reasonable, but you aren't taking me seriously. Don't bother coming into work tomorrow. We'll pack up your belongings and HR will be in touch."

"Let's test that theory." I pulled out my phone. "Call Xandros." 

It rang once and when he answered, I switched him to speakerphone.