The Many Faces of Edmund Fig (ManxMan)

Chapter 20: Peace offering

To say the next morning was smooth like butter and I felt alive was probably the biggest load of bullshit in history. I donned a pair of shades and a tightly wound scarf to cover my face and a warm grey trench coat. Edmund looked otherwise unaffected. He was silent the entire morning and didn't even spare a glance my way. What occurred last night? Did I do something stupid? I felt my hands tremble at the thought.

We stood in the elevator, the only sound was the ding of a floor change. The elevator came to a halt and my hand flew to my mouth. Fuck. I inwardly groaned my stomach screaming in protest. I took a deep breath and hurried to keep up with Edmund. I looked over at the desk and Belinda sat there expectantly. When did she get back? She stood and walked around the desk.

"Morning Sir. Joseph."

I nodded in her direction and watched as Edmund just continued forward into his office and slammed the door shut. What the hell? I sighed pulling off my scarf and coat and tossing them onto the chair beside the desk and slid my glasses onto the top of my head.

"What happened to you?" Belinda gasped.

I looked up at her my eyes squinting slightly.

"Life."

I walked towards the break room and began brewing some coffee. I waited patiently for the coffee and tried to back track through last night. I remember Edmund forcing his way into the apartment and tossing back a couple of drinks.

Edmund stared down at me a mixture of emotion swirling through his dark gaze.

I rubbed my face, my head beginning to throb. What the hell happened after that? I grabbed two mugs from the cabinet and filled them halfway. I filled mine with creamer and dropped a cube of sugar in the other and returned to the desk. I set mine down and walked over to Edmunds office door and knocked twice. No response. I knock again and received no answer. I sighed walking back into the kitchen and dumping out the coffee and quickly scrubbing it down. So much for being a decent person. The rest of the day I sat beside Belinda watching a multitude of people scurry in and out of Edmund's office. Some leaving in triumph and others deeply disappointed.

I stepped into the shower relishing the immediate contact the water made with my skin. I blindly reached for the soap and poured it onto the loofah in my hand. I ran in over my skin, my hips swaying to a beat in my head. Today has been absolute shit and a good hot shower could do a guy justice. I scrubbed along my neck roughly and turned letting the water pour over my right side. I wrung out my loofah and hung it onto the shampoo bottle and quickly rinsed off. Cool air greeted my nudity without remorse and I practically ripped my towel off the door hanger. Quickly wrapping it around my waist I walked out into the apartment and sighed.

Ding dong

I looked up at the door my brow arching. I walked over and peered through the looking glass and frowned. Angela stood outside the door looking uncomfortable. I begrudgingly opened the door. An unsteady smile crossed her face and she reached out to hug me. I stepped back my gaze hardening. Her smile faltered and she crossed her arms.

"L-listen...I just came to apologize." She frowned scratching the back of her neck. "The office isn't the same without you."

Seriously?

"Bull shit Angela. It's been months since I left. What the hell do you want?"

She sighed looked up at me silently pleading.

"Just hear me out-"

The door behind her opened and Edmund emerged. He had tossed away the stiff suit and looked more like the man I met so many months ago. He looked up at me his gaze dancing down to the towel resting loosely on my hips and back to me. I felt my cheeks heat despite myself. I inwardly took a deep breath and focused back in Angela. Fuck him.