5

Arabella

It's today. I'm looking forward to the moment when I'm going to have to face my boss. I want to explain that it was all a misunderstanding, and that there is nothing between me and Miguel and that I would never do anything to disrespect my work environment.

Right now I'm sitting in some chair in my living room waiting to be called by Anthoni to such a conversation. It's 7:45 in the morning and no Miguel shows up. Is he going to leave me alone on this one? He also has to explain himself, he can't be a coward to the point of letting me down.

But what's bothering me the most is the fact that I haven't been called yet. Did he forget what happened? Or worse, are you going to fire me? As I pattered my fingernails nervously on the table, someone knocked on the door and opened it warning that Anthoni was waiting for me in his office. I was so nervous, I got up in a jump and headed towards the boss's office.

With two knocks on the door, I heard a "between" and as soon as I put my feet in the room I saw him sitting behind his desk and in a chair right in front of him, Miguel. What was he doing here? I wonder what you told Anthoni you couldn't wait for me. He should have waited for us to explain together what happened. Now I don't know what to say, I can't imagine what this creature might have told him. As I was still standing at the door, Anthoni ordered me to close it as I passed and sit in place next to Miguel.

My boss was tired and a little downcast. He didn't say anything for a few seconds, but after a moment, he inspired the air through his nose hard and then exhaled through his mouth. That's when he started talking.

First of all, good morning. Now let's take care of some important issues. I was talking to Miguel this morning about the inappropriate behavior they had yesterday. He explained the situation that caused the incident and the reasons that led them to such an act.

I pised nervously without a reaction.

-I mean i disapprove of such an attitude, regardless of why it led them to that point. I am very upset and embarrassed, so my visitors witnessed yesterday in that room and even it was not an intimate moment between the two, it was what seemed to those who saw it. Anthoni said while staring at us with serious countenance.

That wasn't a good sign.

And I can't forget why they got to that level. Two of my best employees physically attacking each other for not agreeing to make a decision on the end of a project! Do you know what that means to me? -Anthoni asked, but I understood it was a rhetorical question.

That means you weren't professional, let alone mature enough to solve the situation. It was great this dispute because so, I'm discovering the types of employees I have within this company. You know what you need? They need a lesson to learn how to behave like respectable adults and professionals. Anthoni said.

Now it was official: I was shaking at the bases.

I understood that he wouldn't fire us, but he would do something to punish our attitude. Besides, I was feeling awful inside. I wasn't going to show them that, but I was feeling very ashamed, guilty, and even humiliated. I know we disagreed with our decisions, but I was the one who attacked him, there was no need for it, and yet I acted irrationally and went ahead.

Now we're here, the two of you taking the blame for my idiocy and Miguel won't even open his mouth to defend himself and say that I was the one who caused all that. And that just made me feel like the worst person in the world. I had even lost the courage to look at either of them, so I stared at my sweaty hands in my lap.

- I'm going to give you a new assignment, actually a new job. But don't even think you're going to give up what you're doing. I will evaluate the project myself and know that I will be much stricter than with the others. You will receive this extra work, while the other ones will continue with the same ones you already had. And this project that they will carry out, will also be evaluated as part of the proposed activities of the dispute. I believe in your potential, but you still need to improve, so I found a way for this to happen, I hope it works, so don't let me down. - said in a sigh.

-The project will be for the company Etienne Cosmetics, for valentine's month. The woman i was with yesterday is the CEO of the company. She's a long-time acquaintance of mine and has been interested in running her campaign with West Communications. However, she will only do business with us under two conditions. She really liked the lovebirds as she called it herself, and whether you're the ones doing the project, she also wants you to be the faces of the campaign in this new collection. Anthoni said and waited for our reaction.

-I don't think I can help with the matter of being the face, but as for the creation part of the project, that certainly guarantees a great performance.

I don't think you understand, Arabella. This is not an option, everything must be fulfilled. Both the creation and the photos part and what else has to be done. It's either that or the two are out of the competition, they both must participate in everything. And then, what's it going to be?

There was no denying and leaving the competition, it was a golden opportunity.

That's fine with me. - answered Miguel.

- For me too, I answered badly.

What could I do? Say no? That was out of the question. I wanted to win that contest and i couldn't hurt Miguel any more either. As much as the guy was a suitcase, I couldn't be unfair and hurt him one more time. So All I had to do was accept.

That's great. Now let's get down to business. I'll explain to you better how everything will work. Anthoni said.

***

We spent some more time that seemed to have no end in Anthoni's office, where he instructed us about everything about the campaign and what exactly we should do. By the time I left his office, he was exhausted both physically and mentally.

As it was 2:30 pm I decided to do my lunch time near the company, so as not to waste too much time. When I came back, I came into my office to start planning my schedule, not that I had a hot life out of service, quite the contrary.

The problem is that I would have to virtually double my workload to account for everything within the time frame. The worst is that consequently would have to spend more time with Miguel, because in order to be able to manage everything we would have to meet outside the company to finish the project within the deadline. Time was running out against us.

Miguel and I started staying late at the company and meeting at a café nearby because we had a lot of work to do. And since we made some changes to the campaign we worked on, we spent more time than anticipated.

Finally we came to an agreement, we opted for a middle ground only with some improvements to the end of the project. We avoided getting a disagreement as much as possible, but sometimes it was impossible. We are working this final stretch so that we can be free and devote ourselves entirely to the next project.

The week was over and I was relieved. We managed to finish the campaign and send it to Anthoni to evaluate. On Monday we would receive the new work of Etienne Cosmetics, it would be a rush but I was prepared.

Monday arrived and I was already in my office at seven in the morning, waiting for Miguel so we could start soon. As it had already passed twenty minutes and none of it appeared I decided to go to Anthoni's office to get the campaign file and give a read to make some notes while the late gentleman did not arrive.

When I got to your door, I knocked twice and came in. Anthoni was sitting in his chair as usual, but did not seem to be very well. He signaled me to sit down, and I did.

He had in his face an expression of concern. Something bothered him or worried him a lot. Before I even opened my mouth to tell me what I was doing there, which I believe he already knew, Anthoni started talking.

We have a problem. - you said it like it would explain everything.

I waited for him to move on. He took a deep breath, ran his hand through his hair and sighed. I waited while he took some time for himself, so he could explain to me exactly what kind of trouble we had.

I got miguel's call this morning, which as you can see isn't here. He's in urgent family trouble and will need to go to his town to sort them out.

Until now I didn't understand how it affected me, not least because Miguel's personal problems were his problem, not mine.

I've known that family for a long time, we're longtime friends, and I know they wouldn't request their presence if it wasn't something really serious. I know what this is about, but I can't tell you because it would be an indiscretion on my part to share other employee's personal affairs. Anthoni explained himself.

All right, but what about me with this? I asked myself mentally.

The problem is, Miguel's going to have to leave town for a while. Only you have a campaign to create. You won't be on your own until the deadline, and even if you did, I wouldn't allow it. This project has to be done by both of you, not least because the media of it should contain the image of both. That's what's written in the contract we signed with the company and the breach of it will result in a heavy fine and the company's dirty name. You said you were looking at me seriously.

What can be done then? Postponing will not be possible. I said a little desperate.

-Only have two options, you can go with him and so work from there or give up the proposal. It's your choice. I don't want to pressure you into anything, you know that, but that wasn't planned, and you know that if the same was the case with any other employee, I'd do the same. Anthoni said.

And I did. But that doesn't mean I want to go to whatever part of the state or the country along with Miguel. I understand what he's going through, whatever it is, but I don't know if it's a good idea for me to go with him.

Does Miguel at least know that Anthoni is proposing that I go with him? And if you do, will you mind if I'm instilling your personal life? There are so many things to analyze...

I need some time. That's it, I'll ask for a day to think and tomorrow I'll give you the answer. However, when I intended to say this to my boss, he once again interrupts me by continuing what I said earlier.

Which would do the longest for this agony. I was going to say yes at the end anyway. So I said yes. Anthoni was pleased with my answer and sent me home to pack my bags.

He explained that Miguel would come to pick me up at three o'clock the next day, because we needed to arrive at least an hour before at the airport. As he probably wouldn't know my address I wrote on a paper for him to pass on to Miguel.

From what I understand, my boss had found a way to solve the whole situation without even consulting me. I know he asked me now, but it was more like he already knew I'd take it, since i had it all figured out. I took my purse from the living room and left the company.

Getting home I went to my wardrobe and started to separate everything I needed. Then it was the shoemaker's turn, i separated some shoes and went to the bathroom. I took my toiletries, also picked up some accessories that were on my bedside table in the room and organized everything in the suitcase. It wasn't much, just what it took to spend a few days and nothing more than that.