GRACE.
I went to work the next day after dropping Laurel off with NK. Life goes on and I can’t be left behind, after all, this wasn’t the worse experience I have had with Connor.
I tried to cheer up for my baby’s sake, I couldn’t let her see how crushed on the inside I was feeling, but all in all, it was a relief I didn’t tell her Connor was her father as I had intended the day before.
No more thinking, Grace, I scolded myself as I walked into our small crowded office. Everyone was asking how I was faring, how my health was, if I was feeling better now, except of course, Michelle.
However, I ignored her and slid into my cubicle to begin the job assigned to me for the night. But before I was able to turn on my computer, one of our youngest workers, Peter knocked on the glass of my cubicle.
“Director Lance says the both of you would be going for stake out tonight in the next ten minutes and you should get ready.” he said with a stoic face like he was reporting a breaking news.
A stake out? Why me? Urgh! And all I wanted was to bury myself inside my work till it was time to go home. Also, Director Lance never went for stake outs, I could tell he had something up his sleeve, something I definitely wouldn’t want to be a part of.
“Sure, thank, Peter.” I replied to the already retreating figure of the messenger of doom. Michelle snorted from across the table and again, I ignored her.
I packed the things I needed for stake outs, a note pad, candies and chocolate, instant coffee or maybe I’ll get a cup from a café when we get to the venue of the stake out.
We would need a photographer, I thought as the Director Lance jogged down from the stairs and strode straight to where I sat.
“Hello, Grace,” he raised his right hand and flexed his fingers shamelessly, “I hope you’re ready because we have to be at the red carpet venue before 8 O’clock pm tonight and you know how unpredictable these event organizers are, so we have to get there on time. Christopher will meet us there.” he finished, turned and went towards the exit.
I stood up and scrambled after him. Outside, he opened his car and then turned to face me, “We have to use the same car so we can stay together, I hope you don’t feel uncomfortable.” he said and slid in.
Much to my relief, he didn’t try to open the passenger side of the door for me, which would have made me a whole lot more uncomfortable.
We drove to the venue in a comfortable silence while Clocks by Coldplay blared softly form the car’s stereo. I relaxed and enjoyed the lyrics of the song till the car halted.
“I figured we could use some coffee,” Director Lance drew back my senses from the enchanting music. “They have good coffee here” he pointed to a small café with a sign that read May Coffee above the door. “What would you like?” he asked turning off the engine of the car so the music stopped as well.
Did he read my mind at the office? I wondered.
“Oh, sorry,” I mumbled, “You don’t have to, really, I’ll be fine.”
“I’m asking as your boss, Grace,” he said more sternly this time, “What type of coffee would you like?”
“Espresso with cream would be great, thank you,” I responded, weakly.
He got down went in and came out about ten minutes later. “Sorry for the delay, there was a long queue inside,” he handed me my cup and placed his cup inside a hole designed for cup by the side of his seat before putting on his seat belt and drove on.
There was something different about his attitude lately that I couldn’t put a finger on. But overall, he seemed more down to earth and less narcissistic and calmer like he was reflecting or something.
Christopher was already at the venue when we got there. Countless cars were parked, forming a really long line from where the main event was actually happening so we had to get as close as we can and finally packed some meters opposite the front of the event place.
It was an award ceremony and different celebrity from every part of England would be coming. We came on time as it was obvious that the events have not started owning to the absence of lights as red carpet events usually are. Reporters along with their photographers and paparazzi were more than two hundred gathered outside like us waiting for the event to begin so they could get the best shot
I didn’t think I would be coming here tonight, as our head editor Ms. Emma rarely sends me out of the office to cover events such as this.
Thus, this must be entirely the director’s idea, I thought as we both sat in the car quietly waiting for the ceremony to start. Christopher dropped his gadgets in the car and went off to say hello to some of his colleagues leaving Director Lance and I alone in the car alone once again.
If I knew any of the reporters, I would have gone out to say hello too. Staying in a confined space with him came with a whole lot of unease, especially with us sitting in silence for over thirty minutes.
“You called in sick yesterday,” Director Lance broke the silence after clearing his throat, “How do you feel now?” he asked, sounding genuine all of a sudden.
“I’m okay now, thanks for asking.” I said simply hoping the event can just begin already so I could get out of here. I was beginning to feel claustrophobic in his presence.
“I notice you have been looking morose and spacing out for some days now,” he pointed out in a matter of fact manner. “I was wondering if we could go grab a drink. You’ll feel better after that.”
I stifled a chuckle and faced him properly. How could he ever believe I would ‘grab’ a drink with him?