That makes me feel slightly better, as I leave the bathroom and go back to my bedroom in search of my phone, I even start to feel hungry. It makes sense. I have just lost my breakfast and I didn’t eat much yesterday, so the nerves were already starting to kick in then.
I call the office and speak to one of the receptionists. She asks if I want to be put through to Brett,
“No,” I say, a little too quickly. “I mean no thank you. He’s a busy man and he won’t need me bothering him. Please just let him know I won’t be in today.”
“Ok, feel better soon,” she replies.
“Thanks.” I end the call and sit down on my bed, wondering what to do with my day. Now I know I don’t have to face Brett today, I feel better, but I can’t risk being caught out and about. I shrug my shoulders. A pyjama and movie day it is then.
My phone rings and I pick it up. My stomach cramps again when I see the number. It’s Mr. Connell’s personal office line. That means it’s Brett. I debate ignoring the call, but I know I can’t do that and expect to keep my job. I press answer and bring the phone up to my ear tentatively like it’s a bomb about to explode at any minute. “H-hello,” I stutter.
“Opal, it’s Brett.” His voice sounds formal, even kind of angry. He’s not calling to see if I’m ok, that’s for sure.
“Hi,” I say.
“I’m not sure what’s going on, but I just got a message from one of the secretaries saying you won’t be in today. I’m sure that’s a misunderstanding right?” he says.
“Actually no, it’s not. I think I’ve got a touch of food poisoning and I won’t be in today.”
“That’s not an option Opal. No offense, but my father had a heart attack and he was still working from his hospital bed. I’m sure you can come in feeling a little bit sickly.”
I want to tell him it’s more than that, but I don’t want him picturing me with my head down the toilet, throwing my guts up. I really don’t want to go in though. If I thought facing him before would have been hard, this incident has only made it ten times worse. I never should have allowed myself to bail in the first place. “I—ummm.”
“Opal, this isn’t open to discussion,” Brett says, cutting me off. “We have a busy day today with a couple of important meetings and I need you in. I’ll expect to see you in this office within the hour.”
He hangs up leaving me staring at the phone open mouthed. I am so angry. How dare he just dismiss my illness like that and demand I come in. And then to not even wait for an answer. I was wrong about Brett. He might be drop dead gorgeous, but he’s not a nice man. It doesn’t matter that my illness isn’t exactly real. He doesn’t know that.
I sit on the spot, fuming for a moment. I could just not go in and when he reports me to HR, I can explain I was ill and then tell them what happened. Mr. Connell would take my side when he hears what happened, I’m almost certain of it.
Thinking of Mr. Connell sends a rush of guilt through me. He trusted me to help Brett run his company in his time of need, and I am letting him down greatly. I got drunk, seduced my boss and then called in sick because I freaked out at the thought of seeing him again, so soon after it. And I know if I did have a touch of food poisoning as I had claimed to have, that if Mr. Connell had called me and told me he needed me in anyway, I would have gone in without any hesitation. Of course, he wouldn’t have been such a dick about it, but still, I would have done it with no complaints.
I need to put my personal feelings about Brett to one side and just treat him like my boss. And that means going in to work, even when I don’t feel one hundred percent. Perhaps it means that even more so than ever now, considering my illness is only a result of my nerves at my own stupid actions catching up with me.
With a sigh, I stand and grab my purse and keys. I dash back into my bedroom and fix my lipstick and then I head out. I head to the office telling myself to let the anger go. I am showing up. I’m showing Brett I am a professional and can still be relied on. I just have to get through today and then everything will be fine.
I reach the office quickly and go straight up to my office. Brett said he expected me in within the hour and I am here within half of that time. Surely, that shows dedication. I still feel kind of angry and although I’m trying to contain it, in one sense, it’s a good thing, because the anger has gotten rid of my nerves and at least, I don’t feel sick anymore.
I boot up my computer and begin responding to emails. I have been working for about ten minutes when my desk phone rings. The light is on to show me the call is coming from Mr. Connell’s office, and the nerves come back with a vengeance. I swallow hard and pick up the phone. “Hello.”
“Ah Opal, you’re here. Good,” Brett says briskly. “Can you come to my office please? Now.”
“Right away.” I hang up the phone and stand up on slightly shaky legs. Please let it just be a query about a client account I think to myself as I make my way to Brett’s office. I tap
