11

Lauren Hart
I knew it! I knew that it would be a mess. Working from home is a mess! It had not been an hour he left for work I was already getting calls from Scott, Mr. Adam’s P. A regarding the documents he couldn’t find on my desk. Obviously, everything would be in disorder as only I knew where I had kept all the important papers and files. Even Mr. Knight’s tenth new P. A was of no help. Only if my boss had given me time to arrange things.
Anyhow, I managed to guide Scott to reach the documents before the meeting could start. Sighing in relief, I shut the laptop and rubbed my aching forehead.
“Work stress?” I jerked in surprise when I heard grandma’s voice. I still wasn’t used to be around her or Ryan.
“Yes. It’s really hard to work from home.” I said as I adjusted myself on the couch. “Where’s Ryan?”
“Oh, he’s in the room; busy coloring his cartoon book.” She said as she sat on the couch beside me. “Tell me, Lauren, how is it to work for Sean? And be honest.”
“I can be brutally honest, grandma.” I chuckled, teasing.
She laughed. “Oh, believe me, I want you to be. I really want to know the negatives of my grandson. An employee working closer to the boss is the right choice to know about the boss’s actual attitude.”
I don’t know why but I was excited. I was filled with annoyance and I wanted to let it all out. And telling grandma how evil her grandson was, seemed so satisfying to me.
“Truthfully, this the best job I could ever get but…” I then smirked evilly. “…working with Mr. Peterson is not the best experience I received.”
“And why is that?” She raised her curious eyebrows, totally getting interested in the conversation.
“He’s you know, grumpy.” A scowl involuntarily formed on my face. “He’s…he’s like… always grumbling and is a workaholic robot. He doesn’t have emotions when it comes to working. I mean he thinks that he has employed robots, he wants them to work 24/7; sometimes don’t even give lunch breaks. And when he’s angry; I dare you to go closer to him, still everyone sends me to the devil alone as no one has the guts to face him. And when he goes on his silent mode, no one can bring him back to talk. He wants everyone to dance to his tunes like he’s making me do. He’s obnoxious, arrogant, and…he’s extremely annoying, I tell you.” I breathed.
“Still you never thought of leaving the job!” It was a statement rather than a question. There was a satisfying smile playing on her lips.
“I…I told you it’s the best job I could ever get and besides, except him, everyone is friendly.” I mentally scolded myself for being overly excited. For god sake, Lauren, it’s his grandma you complained to.
She stared at me, intently, making me a mess of nervousness. The smile still hadn’t left her lips.
“So…” She raised a finger. “He’s annoying…” Another finger. “Obnoxious…” Another. “Grumpy…” And another. “Complaining and what not?”
I knew I was going to be in trouble still I chose to nod my head in agreement, confidently might I add.
“Still you chose to stay at his place that too without complaining.”
I felt like her words were dipped in red color because as soon as they hit me I turned red. I was blushing deeply. I averted her eyes, “I…I was in desperate need of a place and when he proposed to stay at his place I couldn’t deny.”
“I totally understand you, dear.” She nodded her head I don’t know in understanding or mocking.
“Grandma…uh, please don’t tell this to him; he’d fire me from the job.” I pleaded.
“I won’t.” She zipped her lips. “I won’t risk.” Her facial expressions became soft. “It’s the first time I’m watching my grandson sharing his personal space with anyone. And I’m glad he’s doing so. Considering that he’d been pushed away by his loved ones, he’d always considered himself lonely; he’s making a progress.”
Lonely? Pushed away? I didn’t understand what she was referring to but something was unsettling about the talk. I couldn’t understand.
She suddenly held my hands in hers and gazed directly into my eyes. “Lauren, dear, I know you don’t think highly of him. You don’t even have a single word in regards to his appreciation and I’m not complaining at all, but promise me you’ll try to understand him. You will not give up on him.”
“G…give up? Understand? For what? I…I don’t understand?” I frowned and I don’t know why my heart was picking up the pace.
“Ah… I have a gut feeling you’ll understand soon.” She patted my cheek.
“Grandma-”
“Oh, forget about this conversation, let’s talk about the spooky vibes that prevail in this house.”
And just like that, I choked on air.
God, I felt like I had signed my death warrant before coming to this house.
Luckily, Ryan came running out of the room to show me his artwork; the Mickey Mouse he’d colored. I mentally thanked him for saving me from an embarrassing moment. After that, the conversation was long forgotten as Ryan had engaged us in the coloring too. I was working on my laptop at the same time and was giving attention to Ryan as well. Minutes converted into hours and it was noon; Ryan had gone to take the afternoon nap and grandma was reading a book in her room. I was at peace until a phone call interrupted the moment.
It was a call from Ariana. Crap! Fright traveled down my spine. “What to do? What to do?” I mumbled while pacing back and forth. I couldn’t even reject the call; I had to pick it up and so I did.
“Hey, Ariana.” I tried to keep my voice normal but inside I was panicking. I was pleading to my tongue not to cause a slip.
“Hey, Lauren. It’s been a long we have met so why not have lunch together? I’m just leaving my office and will meet you at yours.”
“No!” I exclaimed in panic.
“What, why?”
“I…I…umm…yeah, I’m on leave today. I’m not feeling well.”
“What?! Why didn’t you tell me? I’m coming over to your place right now and will bring Eloise too.”
“No! Don’t. I have flu and it’s contagious. You both have kids and I don’t want you to get infected and infect them too.” I crossed my fingers. Why did I say I was ill? Considering how caring Ariana is she would not give up easily.
“But you might need our help.” She coaxed.
“I wouldn’t deny you help but I’m helpless right now. Please understand?” The urgency in my voice was incredibly high.
“Okay, but do tell me if you need anything, get that?” She said softly.
“Yeah, sure.” I squeaked.
“Take care, Lauren. See you soon.” And she hung the call. I immediately ran to the kitchen and drank two glasses of water.
Now, I was sure my death warrant was posted.
My overcrowded mind needed rest so after lunch with grandma and Ryan I went to my room to rest and when the evening rolled I came back downstairs only to find Ryan playing oh his play station.
“Hey, buddy, you must play outside rather than on this video game,” I commented, gaining his attention.
“I want to but who do I play with? Grandma is in the room, busy reading her book.” He mumbled sadly.
“I’ll play with you. Tell me what do you wanna play?” I grinned when his face lit up like bright moonlight.
“Would you like to play soccer?” He asked as he threw his PlayStation as if it was nothing.
“Bring the ball, buddy.”
We began to play in the lawn; marked two goals on either side of the lawn. As he was a little kid, I kept my game low; pretended that I couldn’t save my goal just to see him win but this smart boy thought that I didn’t know how to play and was hell-bent to teach me to play soccer.
“Lauren, you’re doing it wrong. You have to kick it this way to send the ball behind the mark.” He showed me by kicking the ball with his tiny feet.
“Aye, aye, Captain.” I saluted. “Now watch me.” I made an eye to eye motion with my fingers. I kept the ball on the ground and placed my forefoot under the ball. I bit my inner cheek and gave a side look to Ryan who’s eyes were on my foot. I then brought my foot back and then gave a hard kick to the ball which in return flew in the air and before I could celebrate my victory a car entered the threshold and the ball slammed on the bonnet making the car come to an abrupt halt.
Shit! I closed my eyes and prayed for my life. Please god, don’t let it be his car! Please! Please!
But has God ever listened to my request on time? No!
“Oh, no! It’s uncle Sean.”
The death warrant was now delivered to my current address.
“What problem do you have with my cars?” I heard him yelling. I opened my eyes and saw him marching towards me in rage.
“Uncle Sean, please don’t scold Lauren. She was playing with me.” Ryan said making me look at him in surprise. Aww, my little Savior.
“Ryan, I’ll not scold her. You go inside I’ve something to talk to her about.” Mr. Peterson interrupted and I looked at him in panic.
Not scold me? He lied to the kid! I knew he was going to blast on me.
Ryan ran back inside, leaving me alone with the satan. I took a step back as he took on towards me.
“Make it clear to me, Miss Hart…what problem do you have with me and my cars?” He said through gritted teeth.
“I don’t have any. It…it wasn’t intentional and-”
“Just like scrapping my car wasn’t intentional?” He snapped, taking more slow steps towards me.
“But…but…there is no scratch this time and…I’m sorry, again.” And I ran back inside and ascended the stairs without looking back.
“Lauren, what happened? Why are you running?” I heard grandma shout.
“Nothing grandma, I heard my phone ringing in my room,” I yelled back and hid inside my room. Stupid me!
I only came out of my room when it was time for dinner. I glued myself to grandma all the time as I knew he wouldn’t say anything to me in front of her and he didn’t. But my moment of satisfaction was short-lived when he stopped me from going out of the kitchen.
“Wait, Miss Hart” His voice was firm and authoritative.
Grandma stopped too and I was glad she did. “What’s the matter, Sean?”
“Nothing grandma just wanted to discuss some work with her.” He replied, looking more like glaring at me.
“Oh, okay, but don’t take much time here as this kitchen is haunted.”
“Grandma this place is not haunted and stop watching horror series, for god sake.” He groaned. Grandma just laughed and left me alone with the devil and before he could scold me again I started rambling.
“Why did you stop me, Mr. Peterson? I…I said sorry and I’m saying it again. I’m sorry and I swear I won’t do it again. I’ll stay away from your cars.”
“Forget it.” He said loudly. “I’ve accepted that I myself welcomed the trouble with open arms when I asked you to stay with me.”
I frowned. “Asked me to help you is the correct statement, Mr. Peterson.” Oh, yeah I knew how to push the buttons.
“Whatever. Listen, I want you to change my schedule for the rest of the week. In order to spend more time with Ryan, I’ll be working from home as well. So, cancel all my meetings.”
“Alright,” I mumbled and was about to leave when I remembered something. “Oh, I forgot to tell you that I received a call from Ariana saying she wanted to meet me.”
I had told him this as he wanted me to keep him posted and to be honest, I was proud that I didn’t let my tongue slip and didn’t let Ariana know anything. I wanted to tell him this.
“What did you say?” He asked, showing no interest in the conversation. I felt bad and answered him rudely only to receive his sharp objection.
“What?! Why would you say that? Didn’t you have any other excuse?” He snapped.
“What did I do wrong?” I asked.
“You told Ariana that you’re ill and knowing Ariana she wouldn’t rest until she meets you. She’ll definitely try to meet you, no matter what.” He ran his hands through his hair.
“But I told her to stay away.”
“Do you think she would?” His hard eyes met mine and I gulped. He was right! She wouldn’t rest until she sees me with her own eyes.
“Don’t worry, I’ll handle it,” I said confidently.
“Do whatever you want just let me stay in peace for a while and let me have a good sleep tonight. I couldn’t sleep last night because of you.” He seemed tired and frustrated; I felt bad. He had gone out for work and must be stressing about work. I should have kept the information to me but hey, he blamed me for not having a good sleep-
“You couldn’t sleep last night because of me? Why, what did I do?” I asked.
“Nothing! Absolutely, nothing!” He breathed and walked past me.
He’s weird too!