Mending A Broken Heart

Chapter 6

Trisha found herself unable to form words. Her mouth had turned into a desert, and she couldn't bring herself to tell Augustine what happened to her. What she didn't understand was why he cared so much. His eyes didn't move from the bruising on her arm, and his hands were clenched into a tight fist. Swiftly moving to her desk, she reached into the bottom drawer, and grabbed a sweater. As she attempted to move the piece of garment up her body, Augustine's hand stopped her motion. Trisha's eyes stayed glued to the marbled linoleum flooring. She couldn't bring herself to look at him.

Feeling anger brewing inside himself, Augustine let out a gust of air. As he calmed his growing rage, he lightly traced his finger along the discolored skin on Trisha's arm. He instantly dropped his hand as he heard a wince spill from her lips. Looking up to her face, he noticed how she wouldn't make eye contact with him. Lifting her chin, Augustine looked into her eyes, and pleaded with her to tell him what was going on. Trisha's lip trembled as she stared into his eyes. Turning away from his prying eyes she whispered, "I don't need you involved in my personal matters."
"Trisha look at you arm. The matter became my problem when you came into the building with that showing."
"I didn't come into the building with it showing. You entered my office unannounced, and just so happen to see the bruise as I was changing."
"Don't waste my time with technicalities Trisha. Who did this to you?"
"Why do you care? I am just an employee, you have other important things to do than worry about me," Trisha said shrugging her sweater up her shoulders.

Running his hands through his hair in frustration, Augustine turned and stormed out of his office. Grabbing for the door, he swung it shut, causing the glass on the door to rattle. He wasn't upset because she wouldn't tell him who harmed her. He was upset because he didn't understand why he cared. He never involved himself in the personal life of his staff, and he didn't understand what made Trisha so different. He couldn't understand why he felt the need to protect her in every facet of life. He never wanted anything to happen to her, and he couldn't explain where those feelings were coming from.

Walking to his house, Augustine had to calm his frustration. He passed his assistance desk, and told her that he didn't want to be bothered. Emily held her hand up to speak, but Augustine continued walking. As he entered his office, a familiar scent invaded his nose. Walking further into his office, he saw Sophia sitting on the edge of his desk typing away on her phone. He rolled his eyes at her presence. He wasn't in the mood to deal with her foolishness. Augustine couldn't understand why Sophia always had to make appearances at his office. She had businesses of her own, but she somehow managed to always be in his.

Making his way to his desk, he plopped down in his plush desk chair. He flicked on his computer monitor, and began going through his many emails. Sophia looked down at Augustine who hadn't even acknowledged her presence. Sitting her phone down on the desk, she cleared her throat. Without looking up from his screen, Augustine asked bluntly, "What do you want?"
"Is that how you address the mother of your child?"
"What would you like me to say? Hello woman who gave the most amazing gift in the world, but also stabbed me in the fucking back?"
"Auggie you have got to let things go if we're going to salvage this relationship."
"Relationship? Woman there is no relationship. We are co-parents. The only relationship we have is with are daughter."
"And if you want to continue to have that, you had better be a bit nicer to me," Sophia said with a smirk. She knew her words had gotten to Augustine, because his head snapped up from the computer screen. He threw daggers at her with his eyes.

Interlocking his fingers in front of him on the desk, Augustine stated through gritted teeth, "Don't you ever threaten to take my daughter away. I do everything to take care of my princess, and there is no way you're going to sit here, and threaten me because I don't want to be nice to you. So if you don't mind get the hell out of my office."
"I'm not going anywhere Augustine. Did you forget that I own shares in this company? I can make an appearance here any time that I want."
"You have a 4% share. It's not something I would go around bragging about."
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Honey have you forgotten the deal in our divorce papers? Gavin Jameson's term is up as COO, so you are looking at your new Chief Operating Officer," Sophia said sitting back into her seat.

Augustine silently cursed to himself as he had forgotten about the stipulation in his divorce papers. Sophia had a two-year contract that could not be broken unless she caused his business to be depleted. He knew that wouldn't happen because despite being an asshole, Sophia was good at her job. He stared at her in frustration, before sitting back in his seat in defeat. Sophia inwardly smiled at her triumph over him. She loved feeling powerful, and somehow she always felt powerful over Augustine. Sophia knew that things would be different at the office now that she was in charge of the day-to-day happenings of the office. She would start by making the life of that slut of an assistant of Augustine's pay for sleeping with her husband.

After rubbing his eyes, Augustine look at her, and said follow me. They stood from his desk area, and made their way out of the office. Stepping out into the main office where there for about three-dozen cubicles, that separated his staff, he led Sophia to an office that was two doors away from him. Sophia looked impressed by the large office that was to be hers. Handing her the key from his pocket, he turned to walk away. Before he could get a few steps away, she called out for him, causing him to turn around. Looking at her with frustration, she asked, "What about my desk and things?"
"I'll have Ms. Lawler bring you the catalogue. You pick your items, and then send them to Ms. Lawler for approval. If you go out of budget parameters, she will inform you, and then once the price is within reason she will place the order. If you hurry the items can be shipped overnight."
"Who is Ms. Lawler," Sophia asked out of curiosity.

As if on cue, Trisha stepped out of her office, and was making her way to the boardroom. Before she could get too far, Augustine called out for her. As she turned in their direction, Trisha was startled to see the woman from the elevator in the empty office beside hers. Approaching the two, Trisha plastered a smile on her face, and asked, "Is there something that I can help you with Mr. Ramirez?"
"Yes Ms. Lawler. Can you get Ms. Gonzaga the catalogue so that she may get the furnishings for her office? You are to oversee her final total, and it is up to you do decide if it fits that parameters, and then overnight ship it."

"Yes sir. If you would get to the boardroom, we have a meeting with Mr. Deveron in twenty minutes. Your folder is in your usual seat, and there are charts on your iPad that you should look over. Ms. Gonzaga you can follow me," Trisha said walking to her office.

Sophia looked at Augustine as he listened intently to the woman. She could sense that there was something hidden behind his eyes. Her smirk faltered as she realized that it was the same intense look that he used to give her. The same look that made her blush for moments on end. She followed behind Ms. Lawler as they went to her office. Sophia was shocked at the impeccable décor of Ms. Lawler's office. It was chic, but also professional. Going to her desk, Trisha plopped down in her comfy chair, and opened up her computer. She grabbed an iPad from her bottom drawer, and opened up the catalogue for Sophia. Handing her the iPad, Trisha simply stated, "Whenever you finish shopping, I will receive an email to confirm the order. If things don't match the price likings for Mr. Ramirez I will email you back, and tell you which item you should change. You can either sit in your office or at the writing area front," Trisha said looking at her watch.

Grabbing a folder Trisha led them out of her office, and into the waiting area. As she turned to walk away, Sophia spoke up for the first time. "Auggie loves my sense of style. I'm sure he'll love anything I pick out. What is your job here Mrs. Lawler?"
"It's Ms. Lawler or Trisha. I'm the Business Administrator or I go by the title of Chief Financial Officer. Basically I protect his money."
"Didn't think you all were good with money."
"Excuse me?"
"You know normally you guys blow money on rims and Louis Vuitton bags. So I don't understand how you are good with money."
"I'm good enough to make sure you get that alimony check every month," Trisha said turning on her heels. Trisha knew that Sophia would be a handful, and she was pissed that Augustine didn't tell her that she would be working with them. She didn't want to get in the middle of their feud.

As she walked into the boardroom, she began sitting things up for the meeting. Looking up from his iPad, Augustine monitored her behavior. He could sense that she was tense and he knew that Sophia must have said something to him. Sitting his tablet down on the mahogany table, he lowly asked, "Is everything okay Trisha?" Through clenched teeth, Trisha straightened her posture, and replied, "Everything's peachy Auggie."