INSIDE THEIR MINDS

I Wasn't Surprised

PHIL

I wasn't surprised by the amount of people that had gathered outside the of the station.

There were now even more reporters, protesters, just masses and masses of people. I saw quite a few officers as well and as soon as they saw me come out of the building their demeanor instantly changed.

They went from being on guard to seemingly angry. It was as if they were mad with me, as if I had done something personally to hurt them.

Two of the older officers saw that the crowd had noticed my presence and immediatly tried to escort me away, but not before I was bumbarded by questions and screaming.

Are you sexist Phil?

Are you not in control of your own company?

Do you not care about women's rights?

Do you really think men are superior to women?

The woman that had asked me that had a permanent scowl engraved on her face and a large black microphone in her hands. She didn't seem to be from a large media conglomerate but maybe that's just what I need.

I gave the officer a quick nod and he instantly understood what I wanted to do.

He turned around and tried his best to hold back the crowd.

"I am very sorry for what occured at my company and I would like to inform you that it will never happen again. The ex- employee of mine has been fired and after discussing it with my lawyer I have decided to press charges against him."

"What I don't understand is why it occured in the first place, why didn't you stop his rant as soon as it started." She asked now placing my mic in front of my lips.

I didn't notice until now that the crowd had gone silent and two more mics were being held behind me. I decided to continue talking to the older women instead of trying to talk to all new outlets at once.

"I was out of the office that day, like I had told them earlier.." I said gestering back to the station behind us, " My fiancé just had a beautiful baby girl and..."

"Wait, you're engaged? I thought you were married to a Erica Winston of the Former Winston Financials.

"We divorced, it was a mutual understanding." I say trying to sound happy.

"And you now have a baby... with another woman.. who is.. you're fiance?"

"She's a very private person and would like to keep it that way." I say Kate's beautiful face instantly appearing in my mind.

"And your baby?" She edges on, something I knew was a complete "reporter" move.

"She's happy and healthy." I say with a smile. "But if you don't mind I do have to be getting home to them."

"I completely understand." She says with a friendly smile. "If you would ever like to schedule a time to be on our show I would be honored."

She hands me a business card from her pocket.

The crowd stayed surprisingly quiet behind me.

I desperately hope they believe my sincere apology.
The officers escorted me through the crowd to my car that had finally arrived.

I quickly got inside almost instantly closing my eyes trying to force myself to relax.

"Could you take me home Jer, I'm exhausted?"

"Jer won't be taking you anwhere." The man said from the front seat.

I look up through the glass partion to see a strange man driving my vehicle a large gun in his right hand. Jer sat shaking in the passenger seat duct tape strapped tightly over his lips his hands bound in front of him.

I instantly started to shake trying to not be nervous. Deep breaths. Deep breaths.

The strange man, wearing a bright red ballcap proceeded to point the gun right in Jer's face causing Jer to instantly jump back almost hitting his head on the passenger side window.

"Any sudden moves and your driver gets it." He said the gun staying on Jer his eyes now on the road.