I Too Had An Unrequited Love Story

8- Balancing Act

"Get me the files and schedule an appointment with Mr. Allen for 11 a.m. today," Arek instructed, his gaze fixed intently on Veronica.

"Is there anything else you need?" Veronica asked, feeling increasingly uneasy under his scrutiny.

"No," Arek replied curtly, his eyes still locked on her.

"Alright, then I'll be leaving," Veronica said, turning toward the door.

Just as her hand reached the handle, Arek asked, "Care to explain what happened yesterday?"

Veronica turned back, puzzled. "What do you mean by 'what happened with me yesterday?'"

"I expect you to inform me if you're taking a leave. My work is severely disrupted when my secretary is absent without notice," Arek's tone was slightly raised. "You should let me know beforehand, rather than just not showing up. It's unprofessional."

"Understood, sir. I apologize for the inconvenience. It won't happen again," Veronica replied.

"Don't you think you owe me an explanation for your absence?" Arek pressed.

Veronica, still confused, responded, "I wasn't feeling well."

Arek continued to scrutinize her, as if trying to solve a complex puzzle. Feeling uncomfortable, Veronica started to move towards the door and left his office.

In the pantry, Veronica made herself a cup of coffee. She sat down, placing the cup on the table, and stirred it absentmindedly, lost in thought.

Flashback

"What's going on?" Mr. Ray asked, his concern evident.

"Why this sudden change?" he continued.

"I don't believe she is safe where she is," Veronica explained.

"What do you mean, 'not safe'? She's alright, isn't she?" Mrs. Ray asked anxiously.

"They found us," Veronica replied grimly.

"What?" Mr. and Mrs. Ray said in unison.

"That's not possible, honey. She's far away and safe, you know that," Mr. Ray said, looking at his daughter.

"Dad, I just feel she should be here with us. She's part of the family. Whatever the reason, she needs to stay with her mother," Veronica insisted.

Before Mr. Ray could respond further, Mrs. Ray interjected, "I agree. She should be with her mother. A mother always wants what's best for her child. Let's bring her back."

Mr. Ray glanced at Mrs. Ray, recognizing the unspoken agreement in her eyes.

"Honey, are you planning to go to the office today? You're not well," Mr. Ray said gently.

"Yes, Dad, I'm not going today," Veronica assured him with a smile.

"You should rest. I'll prepare your favorite tomato soup with an egg drop," Mrs. Ray said warmly.

"That sounds good," Veronica replied.

Mr. Ray gently caressed his daughter's head. "You certainly have a unique taste."

"Dad, don't start," Veronica replied with a bemused smile.

Mr. Ray laughed, and Veronica stood up, heading back to her room.

'There's something amiss. I need to figure this out soon,' she thought.

End of Flashback

Arek emerged from his office and found Veronica in the pantry, staring vacantly out of the window while stirring her coffee. He approached her and stood directly in front of her, but she remained lost in thought.

"Ms. Ray?" Arek called.

When she didn't respond, Arek raised his voice slightly, "Ms. Ray?"

Startled, Veronica quickly stood up, but her ankle twisted. As she reached for the edge of the table to steady herself, Arek's strong hand grasped her arm, preventing her from falling.

Looking up into his eyes, Veronica noticed a flicker of anger before Arek let go and she regained her balance.

"Ms. Ray, is it too much to ask for you to avoid mistakes? First, you spilled coffee on me. Then you disappeared from the office, and now you didn't inform me of your leave. And now, you're daydreaming. Are you sure you're alright? If you need psychiatric help, I can arrange an appointment with the best psychiatrist in New York," Arek said with a hint of sarcasm.

Veronica was taken aback, struggling to respond. His accusations were painfully accurate.

"Mr. Alden, your meeting with Mr. Allen is approaching. Your car is ready," Veronica said, avoiding his gaze.

"Well, I came to inform my temporary secretary about it, but it seems I've taken on the role of informing her about my schedule instead," Arek said with a touch of amusement.

"Shall we go, Mr. Alden?" Veronica asked, steering the conversation away and guiding him out of the office.

Arek observed her behavior with interest. Normally, she would respond sarcastically when frustrated, but today she seemed unusually subdued. He wondered what had transpired.

They exited the office building together, and Arek's car was waiting at the main gate. Both of them got inside, and Veronica directed the driver to the meeting location.

As she turned toward Arek, she found him already staring intently at her. She faced the window and sighed inwardly, 'This is going to be a long day.'