LOVING YOU BENEATH THE SURFACE

CHANGE

Several months had passed ever since the birth of Priscilla and Evan’s daughter and things were going on fine. Evans took some leave in order to help her out since he was the CEO. He finally resumed work after two months of working from home, and he was getting briefed by the manager about how the next batch of their products was going when he stumbled upon some employees badmouthing his wife.

“I have always known that she was a gold digger. How did she manage to steal his heart when she just came in a few months ago? I have never liked her, ever since I set my eyes on her. She wanted to be the madam of the house so badly”. One of them jeered and the other cackled.

“I know right. She came into the company this morning with her baby and was blushing and enjoying how everyone was complimenting her and the baby. She’s a pure attention seeker and I detest people like that so much. Urgh! I felt like tripping her off her balance, but the kid did nothing wrong, so I can’t watch her fall”, the other chipped in.

“I can imagine how relaxed she will be at work now that she’s the CEO’s wife. I cannot stand this family affair”, the first one remarked and scoffed before the door jerked open to show fuming Evans.

They both jolted back as gasps left their throats at his appearance. They were not expecting him to be there or to have listened in on them. They needed no one to tell them that they were doomed by all they had said.

“Make sure they are gone before the next hour. Also, post the reason for their termination on the notice website, as well as our other branches. I will make sure they won’t be able to work in this industry anymore” he commanded, and the manager got to work immediately.

“Priscilla” he started, but shook his head. “My wife didn’t seduce me! She worked and proved herself worthy of the position she is today. You hate her? She’s an attention seeker? What can you do about it? I love her and that’s it. All the projects she handled during her pregnancy and even after childbirth have been hits, but you are both yet to draft an excellent report not to talk about developing recipes that can sell. The bitterness of your hearts will get you nowhere”, he fired, and they bowed their heads in shame.

He was still disciplining them when Priscilla walked in with a file in her hand. She marched over to him and handed him the file.

“The process has been completed today. We just need your signature on it sir”, she politely informed him and passed the file to him.

“Can you see for yourself? She’s worth a million employee” he remarked, signed it, returned the file to her and walked away with his fingers linked in hers.

“We are doomed” one of them remarked with tears laced on her eyelashes.

*****

“It’s been a very long time” the voice welcomed Cynthia as she pushed the door open and entered the office.

A small smile beamed on her face as she walked deeper into the office and took her seat in front of the woman smiling at her brightly.

“It surely has been a very long time” she responded calmly.

“Isn’t it more than a year now?” Maria added and she nodded in confirmation.

“How have you been? Trust you are done with school now” she asked further, and Cynthia sighed a bit.

“Yes, I am done with school and, honestly, I still don’t know what I need the degree for. I guess I just needed to clear my head one way or the other” Cynthia remarked, and Maria chuckled slightly.

“That’s a degree some will sell all they have to acquire” Maria chipped in and she shrugged.

“True though. I should be grateful” she commented as Maria clicked away on her computer.

Maria went silent for some minutes while she sat there waiting for her to speak up. The silence was making her anxious by the second, but she held it in with all she had. She was anticipating Maria’s next comment and was seriously praying that she wouldn’t be booking her for further sessions. She might still have some other things to work on, but she surely doesn’t want to come in for counseling anymore.

She was planning to start a new life entirely and attending such sessions could lead to some obstacles she certainly wouldn’t want in her way.

“I went through our last sessions and with the last three sessions, I saw that we didn’t have much to discuss anymore. Nevertheless, I want you to brief me about how the past year has been”. Maria broke through her thoughts and she coughed before adjusting her seat.

“Nothing extraordinary happened. Just some few dates, departmental trips for research and every other school activity” she explained.

“From your words, that means you were fully involved in all school activities” Maria pressed further.

She nodded. “Sure, that was one of the reasons I took a break from the company. I didn’t want to be a part-time or once in a while student. It was extremely stressful but it was worth it. I saw the world in a new light and that has shaped me into another human” she responded proudly.

Maria watched her with so much pride and amazement. She could remember the first time she counseled her, there was so much pain and anger embedded in her. It took her several efforts to get them out of her and make her comfortable. Now that she was talking at length with her, she could definitely see the changes.

“We don’t need to book another session. I am sad to let you go as a friend, but I am happy to see you go as your counselor”, Maria concluded, and she refrained herself from jumping out of happiness.

“Really?” she tightened her lips to hold her laughter and the next remark from Maria got her laughing.

“You don’t need to hide the laughter that hard. I know you are extremely happy, Miss Cynthia”, Maria said, and they both laughed hard.

Cynthia dropped the present she had brought for her and went out of her office. As the sun shone on her skin brightly on her way to her car, she smiled under her sunglasses and muttered to herself.

“Let the new chapter begin”

A grab at her car’s door snapped her out of her thoughts and she raised her head to see Pete and Paul waiting for her with a smile on their faces.

“Wh..aaa…tt?” she stuttered, surprises written all over her face.

She had sent official texts to them but got no response, so she had assumed that they no longer wanted to work with her. Now that they showed up, her day couldn’t be brighter.

“It’s nice having you back” she exclaimed, and they both smiled.

“That was some long break” Pete remarked, and Paul supported

“We have a lot on our way then” Paul chipped in and Cynthia laughed.

“Of course. I am going back to the company. A lot has happened in the span of years”, she stated, and Paul opened the door for her.

“You can get in, ma’am.”

“Thank you” she winked and got in before they also got in and the car zoomed off.

****

She was welcomed back to the company with flowers and a clapping ovation from the entire staff as she walked into the lobby. She looked around the company that she hadn’t stepped into for years and sighed.

“Most things are still the same. Was I the only one that changed?” she muttered and started walking towards her office.

The managing director she employed was waiting to receive her and had also prepared the briefing session, since there was no time to waste at all.

“Trust you had a great holiday” he stated and she nodded,

“Yes, I did. I also trust you have prepared some excellent reports” she said, and he smiled.

“Let the session begin”, he told her, and she went to have her seat.

The briefing session lasted for close to three hours and she couldn’t help but applaud the director for doing a great job while the company was in his care. She promised to send him off with all the respect he deserved and clocked out for the day after instructing Pete to load the car with all the files she would need to deal with.

“Shall we?” Pete said and she nodded gently.

**

After an hour's drive, the car pulled up in front of a cinerarium where her mother’s ashes were being kept and went into her section. She stared at the huge glass in silence for some minutes before giving a slight bow as a sign of respect.

“I grew up well as your daughter and I am thankful for all you that you have left for me, but from now on, I am going to live as myself. I will unlearn and learn again till I achieve the version of me that I can be proud of. You just have to watch over me from above. Rest well and I will visit you soon” she whispered and left the building, cleaning the lone tear on her right cheek.