Chapter 5 WELCOME BABY

Before Maryanne got home.

At the company, Maryanne was simmering as she flipped through the pages of one of the stockpile of documents waiting to be reviewed before the next one.

That was why she was scared, instead of being happy. When she has been promoted by her boss to be his secretary. She had experienced a mild sense of grief with it because, it felt like she had been trapped before she could tell her boss how she felt. He was a workaholic who didn't give a hoot about his employees, well, unless they broke down due to stress.

"God, for how long will i keep doing this?" She cried out in frustration.

That was why she was flared up as she gazed vacantly across the room, the file she was carrying suspended on the air. She knew that she was slowly approaching breaking point.

An approaching footsteps drew her back to reality. She hastened what she was doing, knowing that she would be in for serious trouble if he caught her not doing anything. At some point she was able to drift along and rest, but that was only when he went alone on private meetings.

Other times, she was always with him, scribbling down one thing or the other. At a point, she believed that she had found the peace she was looking for only for some event to trigger another and send her crashing back to her infuriating situation.

Sometimes, she felt like resigning but this was the only thing she held on to, especially since she had to support her boyfriend with some of the money she got from her job. She took a moment to think but soon, she heard her name again.

"Maryanne! Maryanne!!" He called for the thousandth time that morning. She turned to see him standing few inches away from her office.

"Fuck!" She cursed under her breath and stood up immediately, twisting between the row of seats before she could walk out of her office. She walked briskly while putting her buttons back in place, her fists clenched furiously.

It was after she got in that she discovered he had brought more files along and she now had to do an extra work. She knew what her next work would be but she just waited to know if there would be something different this time around.

"Yes sir." She responded.

"Come with me to my office." He said and turned immediately like a robot. No smile, no reaction just a serious look.

Maryanne followed as his office wasn't far from hers.

He got in and Maryanne shut the door behind her. What she hated most about him was that he never appreciated her, but he was good at snapping at her and hankering into her ears that he paid her and he expected nothing short than what he wanted.

At first she used to care so as to impress and try to right her wrongs but, she no longer cared now, she hardly smiled, and when she did, it was because he did. He sent her down to the legal department soon after before settling into his dark mahogany desk.

Later on, "Maryanne!" She heard her name being called even before she got back from the errands. They met in front of the door, "Maryanne, where are my notes for the 10:00?" He asked before getting into her office.

Herbert began to pace like a caged beast once he got in. She flipped through the paperwork on her desk but didn't find the exact papers she was looking for. A feeling of nervousness set in immediately but, she soon remembered where she had kept them.

"Sorry sir. I think they are in there." She said, cowering pointing at his office. She wasn't able to stand his prying gaze as he gazed down at her. He exuded authority and seriousness.

"They are not in there." He responded as she searched again to make sure she was right about it, otherwise, she would be in another trouble, considering how he highly regarded punctuality.

Herbert never kept his clients waiting, so he always made sure that he got things ready before the time.

"I... I can't... find them, sir." she said, surprised as to how the notes had just disappeared into thin air.

"Well, they're here somewhere, Maryanne. I can't make it happen without my notes. Find my notes, I beg of you." He pressured before turning away and ambling back to his office. She followed him to make sure, she was right about the whole thing.

The notes however, were right on top of his desk, which added to her anger. She was so vexed that, she had to go through all that trouble because of his thoughtlessness.

"Here they are sir." She said and Herbert turned. As soon as he saw the document, he only left out a sigh of relief.

"Wow. Thanks. Didn't see it though." Herbert said unapologetic. "You can leave now so I can arrange my things." He added and Maryanne just wanted to explode.

It was not the first time, that this kind of thing had happened. But she was a bit happy that he would be going for the meeting alone. Sometimes, because of that she had to take the time off and rest her mind which was in a turmoil. She was beginning to get lean and she was always looking sick, but she was pretty sure her boss wouldn't allow her a day off so it was better not to ask for it when she already knew what the outcome would be.

"Argh!" Maryanne exclaimed angrily.

It was closing time, not waiting for her boss to give her more work as usual, she arranged her desk in a hurry and sneaked out of her office. It wasn't easy since, Herbert could see her from his office but, he was so focused on the file in his hand. As if he knew what she wanted to do, he would look at her office once in a while. So, she seized the opportunity and ran out with her handbag.

"Marvel, when he ask of me, tell him I left for home already." Maryanne said as she tapped his hand.

The receptionist, Marvel, was laughing so hard when he saw Maryanne hurrying away. It was hilarious.

"Don't hurt yourself, babygirl! He is a human like you." Marved warned with a mockery tone.

"Bye Marv!" She waved him, not even giving a break to stop and continue the conversation. It was closing time and any minute spent will give her more work. She got to her car and zoomed off.

While driving home, her head felt like it was going to burst into pieces and, she prayed Aiden wouldn't be home to disturb her. She just craved a moment of peace and a long sleep to clear her foggy brain. She hadn't slept last night and that factored in her current situation. She was disappointed when she found out he was home.

"Honey." She called out first and soon, Aiden came out.

"Welcome baby." He said while opening the door for her.

But Maryanne felt something was odd the moment she stepped into the house. Though, she couldn't tell what it was. However, she was too tired to think or ask questions, so she just overlooked.