That Coffee Accident

Chapter 4- Doom

         "I-I am so sorry, Mr. Taylor." I stood up and looked at him. 

     I heard the sound of clicking cameras. There were blinding lights at my back. 

    Dwayne Taylor closed his eyes with annoyance. He muttered curses as he repeatedly pushed the closed button. 

     Our photos were taken by the paparazzies. I forgot how popular Dwayne these days. And for sure, he won't forgive me if tomorrow he will see his face on the front page, spilled with coffee and also with horrible headlines. 

     The elevator door closed. His composure shifted from calm to a raging storm. 

         "What the heck is wrong with you?" His voice boomed. 

     If stares could kill, I would be laying six feet under. I swallowed and tried to get wet wipes and wiped her suit. He flinched away, not letting me ruin his branded coat more. 

         "Do not touch me." He roared like a mad tiger that's ready to pounce. 

     With shaking hands, I stopped handing him the wet wipes mid air. He was panting so hard. 

    Trying to eradicate the thoughts that he will have me gunned down by the end of the day, I held my breath. 

         "I-I'm sorry..." I stuttered. 

     He looked at me with dagger eyes. His eyes drifted from my face to the ID that was resting on my neck.

     The elevator rang. The elevator doors opened. 

    Three woman employees were there. Their faces shocked upon seeing him. I bit my lower lip. His gaze went up to it. Realizing that his employees were looking at his coffee stained coat he tilted his head and ruffled his hair in frustration. 

         "f**k off." He muttered and left me there. 

     Everyone jolted with fear and made a way so he can get off to his office. When he was out of everyone's sight, they all looked at me. Horrified looks and whispers followed. 

     I closed my eyes and pushed the close button like there was a monster that's chasing me. 

         "s**t, Eleanor! What have you done?" I whispered and bumped my head through the aluminum elevator walls. 

     I did not mind the curses and hatred Kathy gave me. I was to pre-occupied the whole day. I don't know where on earth did I find the courage to not go home. 

         "Eleanor Walter! Get in here!" Kathy's voice echoed. 

     Frowning, I got up my seat and peeped my head to the glass divider. Kathy was crossing her legs and motioned me to come near her with her finger. 

         "You better explain this to me. Really?" She showed me her phone. 

     My eyes grew wider. 

    It was a picture shot from a far but the clothes were the same with mine. Dwayne's face was shown. I forward to Kathy and snatched her phone to have a better look. Kathy did not react like she always do. Instead, she let me scroll the hateful comments on the online article. 

         "Fired employee begs, but the rude Dwayne Taylor asks her to kiss the elevator floor." I read aloud.

     The headline was very misleading. 

         "What?!" I shouted in disbelief. 

     January 20, 2020. 

     Dwayne Taylor strikes again. 

     The arrogant CEO of Taylor Publishing House was seen on the picture (right) having his fired employee kissed the elevator floor as the latter was asking for a second chance. It was circulated on the internet that the poor woman went berserk the day before the picture was taken because she was fired for saying bad things to her old flame who's rumored to be back on his arms— for the third time. Recently, Ivana Myers and Dwayne Taylor was seen kissing on a high-end bar igniting the rumors again. We still do not know the details of the woman. But still, what do we expect to an eccentric jerk? Let's see on the next article on our walking scandal. 

    It was an obvious hate article on Dwayne. But it was indeed a fake news! How the hell on earth? I wasn't even fired? 

   Well,  not yet... at the very least.

    Kathy snatched her phone back and read comments. 

    She grinned at me like a mad woman. 

         "Ha! That's what you get, Dwayne. Karma really hits you on the back twice." She remarked. 

         "But you were the one who went berserk, yesterday!" I spat. 

        "And I thought you already resigned?" I continued.

    Kathy rolled her eyes on me. 

    She held her chest and huffed. 

         "Already having a backbone, eh?" She roared and continued to scroll the mean comments. 

     Everyone on the internet was on my back. They were commenting bad things and more scandalous thoughts about Dwayne Taylor. 

    I bit my lower lip. 

     I typed on the comment section 'Stop bashing him. We don't know if that's what really happened.' 

    But after minutes of posting, my comment got laughed out and ridiculed. 

    I stopped myself typing that I was the woman on the picture. I walked back and forth. If this news, reached Dwayne Taylor... I was so sure that I would experience the doom. 

    He looked at my ID earlier, I was so sure that he memorized my name at the back of his mind. I thought of going to Cornelia for help. But eventually groaned when I remembered how I refused her offer the other night. 

    There's no way she will help me when I didn't give that to her. Calm enough, I dialed Calvin's number. I was fidgeting the whole time. He wasn't answering me. I saw Paul walking at the corridor.

    He was reading papers from a folder. 

     I immediately got up and went to him. 

         "Paul!" I called. 

     He stopped walking and looked at me. I smiled shyly. 

         "Eleanor," he greeted me back. 

        "What can I help you with?" He formally asked. 

     I looked around. Everyone was busy with their work. I held his arm and pulled him on a secluded part of the hallways, next to the fire exits. Paul was looking so confused but alerted. 

         "Did he read the article?" I asked. 

    I know it was so sudden since we are not that properly acquainted but I was really losing it. 

         "Eleanor, I am sorry. I don't understand. I am quite busy." He said politely. 

    Nervously laughing, I fished my phone on my pocket.

         "Dwayne. Did he read this article already?" I clicked on my phone and showed him the article. 

     His forehead formed a crease. He looked at me and nodded. I felt my soul left my body. 

     Oh, I'm gonna be dead. 

         "Why are you asking me this?" He asked. 

     The strength left my body. I leaned on the wall and brushed my hair. 

         "I'm the woman on the article." I whispered. 

        "Oh my god, I am so dead!" I whined. 

     Paul sighed and watched me lose my sanity. I want to brawl my eyes. 

         "You spilled coffee all over his favorite suit." Paul said. 

     I threw dagger looks at him. He was serious. 

         "Wow, thanks! That doesn't make me feel better." I said. 

     Paul slightly smirked. 

         "I did not say that to make you feel better, though." He said. 

         "He's so mad, Ms. Walter. I was actually on the way to meet the public relations officer so we can make a statement about this..." 

     That didn't bother me. 

    Who was I kidding? 

     Of course, that bothered me more. 

    Hearing that there will be a statement regarding this made me feel like Dwayne's coming for me next.

     I swallowed hard. 

         "O-Okay. But it was an accident. I promise." I said and raised my right hand. 

         "Better ready yourself, Ms. Walter. We might ask you to talk in public to clear his name. We cannot let this issue go on. Dwayne has a lot on his plate right now." He pointed out. 

     He cleared his throat and fixed his tie. 

         "I'm gonna go, Eleanor. See you around. " He bid goodbye.

        "Yeah. If he would not fire me, though." I said. 

    Paul nodded and smiled at that. 

        "Well, let us see about that." He tapped my shoulders and headed to the elevator.