The Love Assignment

Chapter 11

I expected Alex to understand the kind of frustration that I was going through, but he didn't. When we fought day before yesterday, Alex said that he wouldn't be involved in the assignment anymore. I didn't take him seriously then. At that point, I thought I could complete it on my own but now I am realizing as to how much I depend on Alex to complete it.  

Alex kept to his word; he didn't come in, from the day he walked out from my cabin. In fact he didn't even join Stacey and me, when we went for lunches. To tell the truth I started to miss Alex. I missed the jokes, I missed the way he could irritated me and yet calm my anger down when I felt insulted, I missed the morning coffee we shared, the way he smirked when he knew his point was right, the way he pushed me to do well and help me think beyond the circle. From the day Alex spent more time with me in the office, I not even once visited the IT Room. Whenever my head started to heat up, Alex took me out to a near by 'Chocolate room' where we savored ourselves to delicious hot chocolate and cakes. Just by the smell of chocolate, I could feel my brain cells starting to wake up from their deep slumber.  

Stacey accompanied us twice after which she stopped stating that she didn't want to put on weight, which made both of us laugh.  

I smiled to myself, remembering the incident about Stacey when my phone rang. I jolted up from the sudden sound and my chair moved back making me lose balance and fall straight down on my butt. I winced in pain, I had bruised my butt and the flesh burnt every time I tried to rub. The phone kept ringing and it made me groan. I pulled myself up, kneeling picked up the phone that was lying towards the edge of my table and sat back. This time too my butt hurt reminding me of my stupidity. Seeing the caller id, the hair at the back of my neck stood straight.

It was Sarah. 

Now I was doomed. Alex must have complained to Sarah about me, and told her about our fight. Then why else would she call me now. From the day Alex and I teamed up, Sarah never called me. She always called Alex and spoke to him about the progress. If two people partner and the management showed preference only to one of them, then the other person would have felt jealous or angry or whatever other feelings that arise. But I never had that feeling, I actually felt relieved. 

Staring at the phone, my anger on Alex rose up. Till now I felt guilty for my behavior and even contemplated on going and saying sorry to Alex. But not after the call from Sarah, I wanted to walk up him and throw the very phone I am holding in his face. I knew I would be fired, all thanks to Alex and his man ego. But first I had to answer the call. Slowing my breath, I picked up the call. 

"Hey Sarah." 

"Hi Vallerie." 

"So, what is it?" I asked, trying to hold my voice from breaking. And I waited for her response. This is it; this is when she shouts to me that I am fired. I held the receiver tight, my knuckles turning white, my breath hiding in my lungs and waited. Waited for the words those decide my future. 

"I wanted to know about the progress of the Assignment Vallerie. You guys sure know that there is only about two months left for the completion. I tried Alex's but he seems to be busy. What ever the reason, give me the status." Sarah said, her voice sounding confident like always. 

"What?" the air that I was holding for so long came out in a gush, relief sink in and the muscles on my hands relaxed. 

"Vallerie?" Sarah said sounding taken aback. 

"Oh... hmmm, I am sorry. I... I couldn't believe Alex neglected your call, may be he is busy." I said palming my forehead for my stupidity. 

"Yea may be. So what's the status?" Sarah asked coming to the point.