Page 30 of Words Unspoken

A complete search of the office had determined that the file was not there. Michael sat her down, gave her a glass of water and gently coaxed her through what she had done that day. Finally, they realized that the document was probably in the shredding room, waiting or already shredded. There was no copy. Ann had felt close to tears over her mistake. She had picked up the pile of files to go there and had probably scooped it up with the ones that were to be destroyed.

Michael simply listened. He told her it was going to be okay. They went to the copy room and found the file in a pile waiting to be destroyed. The meeting had already started. He had taken the time to escort her back to the office and gave her a couple of memos to type. When she asked him if she was fired, he had said of course not. She knew to double check her work now. He had invested far too much time and training into her to have her leave.

Then he went to his meeting. They never discussed what happened ever again.

Reading Michael is version fit with hers. Only it showed his surprise that she thought she should be fired. It told how she reminded him of Max once in a while, young and impetuous. How she was improving as a secretary. Also, how he though her skirt was a little short. The men in the copy room had been looking at her legs. Her appearance reflected on him. While he thought her legs were long and lovely, he simply must put an end to this.

Ann smiled. He liked her legs. She thought back and recalled that was the week he talked to her about the harassment policy and dress code. She had been mortified then. Now she was thankful. He had kindly reminded her of who she was striving to be, a professional secretary, involved keeping up appearances. Thanks to the journal, she now knew he liked her legs.

Well, they were not at work anymore. Maybe she should keep wearing shorts. She wondered if she had packed her short shorts. She had kept up at the gym and was still slim and leggy. If he admired legs, maybe he would get a view.

She put the journal back and selected one, checking the dates. It was perhaps five years old. She settled down and read about his reaction to her dating Roy.

He listed Roy is occupation, yearly earnings, that he used improper tax reporting, height, weight, age… it was all here! Ann sat up straight. It was worse than an employee file. It was also illegal. What had Michael been thinking? He investigated her boyfriend!

He went on to document dates that they went on. It was all there between work related items that he had written down. Then, right in plain sight, Michael had written,

What kind of a name is Roy? It is a stupid name. Leroy. It sounds like something someone would name their bloodhound. She cannot possibly be serious dating him. He cheats on his taxes.

Ann stared at the words. He had never said anything against Roy. He had never commented on anyone she had dated. It was the reason she felt he had absolutely no romantic feelings toward her. She was shocked that he disliked Roy so much. She dated Roy for nearly a year before finally breaking it off because he just was not Michael.

Ann flipped a few more years and found a poem. It was beautiful. It described a woman who sounded like perfection itself. It was romantic.

Michael was in love. She swallowed thickly. Michael was in love with the beautiful, perfect mystery woman with silky hair, perfect curves and a seductive smile. Suddenly she felt like the bottom had dropped out of her world. She had known that Michael was not in love with her but had always assumed the possibility, the hope that he might come to do so existed. She never thought for an instant that he was in love with someone else.

Ann shut the journal. She didn’t want to know anymore.

∞

Something had changed while he was sleeping. Ann was still hovering, keeping him company, being solicitous but she seemed sad and depressed. He was sad and depressed. Still, she had not been earlier. Concerned yes, not looking like someone had taken away her favorite toy.

Now he was worried about her. Michael let her choose the movie. He let her choose the snack. He got up to refill her drink. Finally, he paused the movie and turned to look at her. She was not paying attention to the movie anyways. He instinctively knew it. Now she looked at him and he wondered what he could do to fix whatever was upsetting her. Michael reached out a finger and gently traced her frown lines between her eyebrows.

She sighed.

So he took her in his arms and just held her. If she was not going to talk, then he didn’t know what he could do. She leaned on him. Michael waited patiently and was finally rewarded.

“I just realized today that I have loved someone for a very long time, but he will never love me back,” she sniffled and wiped her eyes. “I am so stupid.”

Michael is brow furrowed as he thought. Ann loved someone? He didn’t like the idea at all.

Then he suddenly knew who it was. Max. They each had received an invite to the wedding today. Max and Ann were nearly the same age. When Max had worked for Ramesly Pharmaceuticals Michael had seen him flirt with Ann. Truth be told, Max had flirted with every female back then. What if Ann had let herself fall in love with him?

The thought made him sick. His Ann, in love with his youngest brother who was shortly getting married.

Michael just held her. He didn’t know what else to do. Ann fell asleep so he gently settled them both on the couch, pulling a throw over her. He kept holding her, wishing impossible things.

Chapter Six

Over the next couple of days Michael tiptoed around Ann, treating her like she was made of glass. She supposed he had every right after her teary outburst. Really, she needed to get her emotions under control. Michael brought her coffee, he took her for walks on the beach, he even let her go on the sail boat to have a look at it. Anything she wanted to do, he was game.

She had the feeling he was afraid of another soaking from her. It needed to stop. Ann noticed that the entryway light had gone out. This morning, she was up, and Michael was nowhere to be seen. She had a feeling he was jogging, which technically was not allowed yet. Ann was going to have to lecture him about that. The good news was that she was alone and could tackle the simple household chore without having him try to do it himself. She started breakfast since FenLei was late. Maybe it was the housekeeper’s day off. Ann didn’t know the woman is schedule. She just seemed to come and go, food appearing as necessary.

Everything was going nicely so she pulled a chair under the light socket. Ann managed to locate another bulb so she got on the chair and stretched to carefully remove the old bulb. It was difficult and she had to stretch as far as she possibly could. If she had just another inch, it would help. It took a couple of minutes, but she managed to remove it. Slipping it into her back pocket she was on the tips of her toes, trying to get the thread on the new bulb to catch when she felt two hands grab her hips.

Ann shrieked.

Her heart going a mile a minute she slipped on the chair and crashed into Michael who had been trying to steady her. He took a step back and she slid down the length of him. The bulb shattered on the floor. Ann found herself plastered to the man, looking up at him in surprise.