Chapter 90: And Another Slap!

Chapter - 90

Alex, in a hurry, made his way for the PR department. He was anxious, perplexed and angry by everything that happened downstairs. Alex felt something burning inside of him. So, he had two options in front of him. Either vent it all out or just wait for it to cool down. And he chose the latter. Right now, he just wanted to get to his desk and bury himself away from everyone's prying questions.

But there was another problem up ahead. Alex was expecting the ladies to bombard him with questions from the day they visited him. He knew them, and there was no way they would just let it go. There wasn't an occasion when two or more women group together, and they won't gossip, especially the likes of Ellaine and Hazel.

Alex was sure the first thing Hazel and Ellaine would have done after they arrived at work after that day would be to gather all the ladies and narrate to them the events with a tinge of spice added to the details from their part.

Standing at the door to the PR department, Alex was preparing himself. He was not sure if he would be able to hold back if they were to annoy him further. Hoping for the best to happen, Alex took a deep breath and walked inside.

But contrary to his expectations, none of them even notice his arrival. They were all either glued to their systems or to their phones. It was an unusually busy scene in front of him. But for him, this was a very good thing. With his eyes on the ground and his hand in his cheek, Alex slowly tip-toed his way to his desk.

"Have you dropped something? Money some change?" Alex heard a familiar voice.

Alex looked up, and Karen was standing in his way with her arm crossed, looking at him.

"Karen?"

"What are you back so early? You could have taken the whole week off," Karen said. But Alex felt she didn't mean it. Maybe a little bit of sarcasm was there.

Still, Alex didn't want to rub her off the wrong way and get entangled even further, "I am fine. Now, if you will excuse me," Alex said and tried to walk past her.

But Karen blocked his path, "Why is your hand on your cheek? What are you hiding?" Karen asked, "Lipstick mark?" Karen asked with doubt.

"No... What? No, there is no lipstick mark," Alex was appalled by how her mind could only think in one way, 'What do they even think about me?'

"Then? What is that you are hiding?" Karen asked.

"It's nothing. Please, leave me alone," Alex said as he again tried to get past her, "I am not having the greatest of the day.

"I need to know," Karen was still blocking his path. While the ladies were looking at the quarrelling duo with interest.

“I am sorry, but not today,” Alex said, “Just leave me alone.”

“I don’t want to,” Don’t know why, but Karen was hell bent on prying.

"I don't think my private matters are any of your business," Alex finally snapped. He was as rude as he can be, "I never asked about your jobless, hobo, good for nothing husband of yours. I am sure everyone here is more than curious about him, and talking about him will be much more fu..."

"CHHATTAK!"

The ladies gasped as they watched the scene unfold in front of them. With teary eyes, Karen was looking at Alex with disgust. On the other hand, that slap woke up Alex. The slap was on his other cheek, and with that slap, both his cheeks have been warmed early in the morning. The force of that slap sent his head turning towards the ladies. On their faces, he could see the anger, the hurt and the disbelief. Even Jennifer didn't look at him with pity and worry. There was complete silence that was broken by the ringing of the landline on Hazel's desk. Hazel picked up the receiver of her ringing phone and put it on the side.

Alex closed his eyes and slowly turned his face towards Karen. He dare not look into her eyes at this moment. He was at fault, but not entirely. If he were to look at her into her eyes now, he knew, he won't be able to explain himself.

"I know I overstepped my boundaries, but I am not entirely at fault here," Alex started saying. This came as a shock to everyone else. From what they thought, Alex was the type of person who would be grovelling on his knees, saying his apologies by now.

"I..." Alex removed his hand from his other cheek.

"Breaking news... Breaking news... Breaking news..." Before Alex could say any further, Amber came sprinting to the office and stopped behind Alex as she took his support to catch her breath.

"Huhh... Hufff... Hufff... I have... some... breaking news..." Amber managed to let these words out between her panting.

But none was interested in her breaking news. They were more interested in the drama unfolding in front of them.

"What is it? Hurry up and out with it," Hazel rushed Amber to speak.

"Just... Let me catch my... my breath," Amber said as she smiled, looking at Hazel. She felt that they were all eager to listen to his news.

After taking a couple of deep breathes, Amber stood straight on her own, "Huff... You might not believe this, but a fight broke out at the reception just now. I heard that a couple of guys fought over a girl, and in the end, the girl slapped one of the guys in front of everyone," Amber narrated as her gaze moved from one person to another, finally stopping at Alex, "Huh... Why is your cheek so read?" Amber asked Alex.

'Didn't Chief hit him on the other cheek?'

'Was it he who fought over a girl?'

Questions emerged in the hearts of the ladies as they looked towards Alex for some kind of answer.

"How do you know all of this?" Ellaine asked, "Did you see it yourself?"

"Nah... Sadly I was a tad bit late. It was already over by the time I arrived. I heard all about it in the elevator on my way here," Amber said.

"Now, will you please excuse me?" Alex ignored all the eyes on him and asked Karen. And this time, Karen didn't hinder him either.

After he had just taken a couple of steps, Karen called out from behind, "Alex..."

"Yes," Alex stopped but didn't turn around.

Karen opened her mouth but could not ask anything, "Nothing" was all she could say.

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Alex also said nothing and silently sat on his desk.

Karen wanted to ask if he was one of the guys from the rumour, but she could get the words out of her mouth. And there was another thing disturbing her. She has been bothered by Margaret since she saw the two of them in such an intimate position. Maybe that was what made her curious about why he was hiding his face. Unable to ask anything, Karen also headed back to her office. While the ladies stole glances from one another and got back to answering calls and smashing the keyboards.

"Weird," Amber, on the other hand, was confused by the odd behaviour of everyone.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

All-day long, Alex did nothing but sit on his desk, isolated, talking to no one. When Amber tried to talk to him, he just shushed her up. Even the ladies didn't try and approach him. Even though they were swarmed with work and didn't even get to eat their lunch, none of them thought of asking Alex for help. Alex was also not courteous today to go on his own and offer his help to them. He was lost in his own thoughts, twirling his pen, thinking something seriously.

His thoughts were broken when Karen called him to her office.

"How... How are you feeling?" Karen asked as soon as her eyes met with Alex's. Hesitation and a bit of guilt were there in her voice.

"Is there something I can help you with?" On the other hand, Alex replied with a straight face.

"Umm... Yeah, actually, I remember reading in your resume that you have some legal knowledge as well?"

"Alex, I read that you have some background in legal". Karen asked as she went through some documents.

Alex nodded, "Well, details are not that important, and I am no expert, but I did read it along with some other stuff."

"Then, can you go down to the legal department? They asked me to help them out, but I have a lot on my plate right now". Karen told him.

Alex nodded and turned around to leave.

"Aren't you going to ask why I am sending you there?" Karen asked from behind.

"I am sure they will tell me what I need to know," Alex said as he tilted his head and looked back at her.

"Well... they will, but..." Karen stammered, thinking of a way to justify her stopping him, "but... you need to be aware of the details before you go there. Otherwise, it will reflect badly upon me.

Alex nodded and turned around.

"Have a seat," Karen gestured for Alex to sit down.

"I am fine. Please go ahead."

"... There are some issues which have recently surfaced in the company. You must have noticed how busy we are," Karen told him.

"I did," Alex nodded.

Karen kept the documents aside and explained, "Even we are not sure, but suddenly we are being flocked with lawsuits and complaints from early morning."

Yet again, Alex only responded with a nod.

"You just need to help out a bit in whatever they ask of you," Karen said, "You need to go there and meet the head of the legal department, Daniel. I will give him a call and let him know."

"I will be going now" Alex turned around to leave.

"Alex!" Karen once again called him out from behind.

"Hmmm".

"Take care of yourself," Karen said.

Alex nodded, "I will".

Alex walked backed to his desk, packed his stuff and left. But everyone was so busy with their computers and calls that except for Amber, no one noticed him leave.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Alex stood outside the legal department, trying to get rid of his poker face. He didn't want to look unfriendly the moment he walked in. Adjusting his mood, just as Alex opened the door, he found himself in a battlefield rather than an office. Everyone was running around with sheets in their hand, phones on their ear while they screamed at one another.

Alex just stood at the entrance, all numb, looking at all these people running around in confusion. They would occasionally bump into him and give him annoyed looks. Even the girls failed to appreciate the presence of a good looking guy around them.

He didn't think there was any chance of anyone pointing towards his destination. He looked around for a couple of minutes to find the office of Daniel, the head of Legals.

** Knock! Knock!

Alex gently knocked and stood outside the office, waiting for the call to come in.

"Come in".

* * * * *

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