Chapter 6 The lost thumb

Sandra got home early only to find Amelia sitting across the window with a sunken face

"What happened to you? Did you see the devil today?" Sandra tried to lighten the mood

"I saw Michael today". Amelia's face lacked fervour.

"Michael ...your ex. The one who vanished from your life like a puff of smoke." Sandra raised her lips showing contempt.

"Why are you giving me that look"

"You are sulking over Michael. Where did you meet him by the way?" Sandra's eyebrows were raised. She was curious to know where they met.

"I never said I met him. I saw him today" Amelia corrected her. Sandra narrowed her eyes confused by the rectification.

"I went to the supermarket today afternoon to buy some stationery, the one near my office building. H was just standing a few metres away from me. He looked at me and ..." Amelia was tapping her index finger on her forehead.

"And he looked petrified. A saw sweat trickling down his forehead. His gaze shifted down, he was looking at his hands and I saw it, his thumb was broken..... no it was missing like as in missing ...amputated missing" Amelia fell short of words while describing him.

"And then I tried approaching him .....but he simply ran away ...even before I blinked....like he had seen a ghost... He was just there and the next second he was gone." Amelia narrated the events using her hands to describe the how close Michael was standing in front of her as if these events were currently occurring right in front of her eyes.

"He had left you long back. Your relationship is over with him. Why do you look so depressed that he vanished without saying a hi or planting a flying kiss" Sandra raises her hands in the air after mocking Amelia's concern with her words.

"Something didn't seem right. Firstly he looked terrified on seeing me, then his broken thumb. The way he looked at his thumb seemed its amputation is my fault. And then running away as to save his remaining fingers."

Sandra's laughter filled the whole room. " Don't laugh, I am serious. Even if he was my ex, he could have spared a moment and talked with me while I was approaching him. We could have given a final closure to our past. A deserve to know why he left me"

"Why ponder over a coward when you have better options in front of you, phew!" Sandra didn't have a high opinion on Amelia's ex.

"why are you calling him a coward.?" Amelia was staring outside the window but narrowed her eyes on hearing Sandra calling him a coward.

"I mean.....leaving you without explaining.....the way you say not even giving a final closure to your relationship is nothing but an act of cowardice according to me. What else would you call him." Sandra tried explaining her views on him.

Amelia disagreed with Sandra. Michael was present when she was in the lowest phase emotionally. That was the time when her so called friends had revealed their true colours, disclosing their intentions to be friendly only with her fame and money, abandoning her to die in the cold. She was practically homeless when he sheltered her. He paid for her and her brother's expenses till she got the job of a waitress. His house was her haven till she found a temporary residence for herself. He insisted that she should stay with him while leaving his roof. Despite his act of kindness, he never expected anything in return. He may not be handsome but Amelia was drawn to him by his benevolent attitude. A person of such altruistic character would not leave unvoiced.

"I still believe there is a strong reason for him to leave like that. Without hearing him out, we shouldn't call him a coward."

"As you say Mother Teresa". Sandra said in a scornful tone.

There was silence in the room for some time with Amelia reappraising the earlier events when Sandra questioned her incertitude "Do you really think that he looked at his broken thumb as if you were the reason it was cut." Amelia nodded.

"I remember vividly."

"It could be unrelated." Sandra arched an eyebrow.

"I did cognize that behaviour very accurately. I felt I had broken it." Amelia furrowed her eyebrows.

" leave him . Anyways I know you won't badmouth anyone. Is there anyone you despise ever?"

Amelia thought of it while shaking her head as in a no. Then she remembered Tony. How his body language, mannerism and choice of words affected her negatively but dismissed the idea.

Amelia was lost in her thoughts when Sandra interrupted, " you arrived early today. You haven't even carried any office files here." Sandra's eyes roamed around the house to see the files. Amelia working at home with the office files was a common sight for Sandra. "How did Lucas spare you and award a work free home time today?".

"I was given asked to leave early today." Sandra raised her eyebrows. " How did sun rise in the west sweetheart?"

"But I will have to work extra hours in the office for which I will be compensated well. $50 an hour. And I won't be reporting to Lucas from tomorrow but the CEO."

Sandra's mouth had formed an 'O'. " That's great. You are practically free Lucas free. Good riddance." Amelia nodded but didn't smile.

"By the way, who is the CEO, Mr Garcia right?"

Amelia took a pause before answering " Its Tony Lopez, the man I met yesterday." She knew what would come next.

Sandra mouth was open with her eyes practically bulging out, " you mean Mr Tony Lopez, the rich ass would be your new boss and you be reporting to him directly." She then let out a chuckle.

"work and pleasure will go hand in hand" Sandra winked

Amelia didn't like Sandra trying to link her with Tony. She was always discomforted by his words and presence and would never think of anything beyond her profession with him. She didn't understand why Sandra was eager to set her up with Tony.

"you mentioned he is handsome and now he is your boss. Its time for you to think beyond your 'connections'?". Sandra made the kissing gesture while stressing on the word 'connections'.

"I see him nothing more than my boss. Its difficult to explain it to you but I don't think there can be anything but professional connection with him. I don't even get positive vibes from him. To be frank he scares me. I still feel Lucas as my boss would have been a better alternative." Anger precipitated from her words

" Don't exaggerate. Cool down" Sandra didn't get the anger in her note when she compare the two bosses as it was subtle.

*******

Tony's POV

He was sitting on his sofa with his legs outstretched listening to their words like a king. Their apartment was bugged and he could hear each and every work very accurately. A smirk formed on his face when he heard Amelia saying that she will only connect with him professionally.

'your body, your soul will all be connected with me in ways you can never imagine. I will seduce you the same way you seduced me and tricked me in the past. You will be a moaning mess under me. You won't think of anyone, no act of kindness by anyone will be remembered because you don't deserve it.

I threatened Michael, and one phone call made him disappear completely. All things around you will disappear in the say way until you have no one but only me . no shoulder to cry no roof to shelter no kind words to comfort. Only me to torment. Because you are mine and only mine to ruin."