24 A Strange ride to Work

My alarm clock appears to be sounding louder than usual, when I reluctantly open my eyes I realize it’s because it’s been buzzing for half an hour! I’m super late for work! I jump out of bed and run to my closet, I pick a simple black dress and tie my hair back into a messy ponytail. No time for showers, I just splash my face with cold water to help me wake up, I have to be in the office in fifteen minutes. I can’t believe I overslept, but I’ve been feeling so worried for the last couple of weeks that I haven’t been sleeping much; after my talk to Roxana last night I was able to relax and I guess I fell into a very deep sleep that compensated all the sleepless nights I had.

 I run down the stairs shouting Ivan’s name. We are going to have to run a few traffic lights to get to work on time. Ivan is not in the hallway, where he usually waits for me every morning. I shout his name louder. Maybe he’s grabbing coffee in the kitchen. I run there to look for him, but the kitchen it’s empty. I go back to the hallway, still shouting Ivan’s name. 

“Calm down. I asked Ivan to go to the airport to pick up your uncle Gustavo.” I hear my dad as he slowly walks down the stairs. I totally forgot that our relatives are coming in today for the Ricci’s annual gathering. “I’ll take you to work.”

“It’s ok, I can ask for an Uber,” I say concerned, my dad is the slowest driver on earth, if I accept his offer I’ll never get to work on time. I’m already late as it is. 

“Nonsense! I’ll take you.”

He grabs his car keys and gestures me to go outside. 

I pout when he’s not looking. I can’t remember the last time my dad drove me anywhere, but I do remember his slow driving is legendary, that’s why we’ve always had a driver. I think it’s sweet he wants to take me to work, but right now I need to hurry. 

“I really don’t want to inconvenience you. Uncle Gus will be here soon and I’m sure the others will follow... you should be here to greet all of our guests.” I say as I walk behind him to his car.

“A daughter can never be an inconvenience! Your mother can receive our guests while I’m gone, it’s her family too. Besides, it won’t take that long, I’ll drop you at work and come back right away.” My dad says as he opens the car door.

We are already getting in the car. I can’t do much now except to go with the flow. 

“Fasten your seatbelt,” my dad indicates me.

I roll my eyes back, as if I needed a seatbelt at the speed we are going.

Before we reach the corner of our street, I reproach myself for not being able to come up with a better excuse to avoid this situation with my dad. I should’ve said no, we are driving so slow even bikes are passing us! I know he means well, so I take a deep breath and close my eyes so I don’t get exasperated and snap at him.

“At what time does Stefan arrive?” My dad asks.

Great! This slow ride is going to be filled with small talk, just what I need at 8:55 am in the morning with no coffee in my system. 

“Around noon. I think,” I’m not being vague on purpose, I have so much on my mind I literally can’t remember what time Stefan said. 

“Does he treat you right?” He asks me in a hesitant voice. 

“Yes,” I reply curtly. What kind of question is that? I thought he was delighted with Stefan, why does he suddenly feel the need to question his behavior? 

“I mean...” I can’t remember the last time I saw my dad acting so insecure. Why is he nervous? “He hasn’t hurt you or threaten you in any way, right?”

“No, of course not!” I reply. 

I’m perplex, does he actually believe there’s a chance Stefan is an abusive boyfriend? And why is he not losing his mind over it? This man forced a gun barrel inside a harmless guy’s mouth just for kissing me and now he’s fearfully asking me if my current boyfriend has harmed me? It makes no sense! The dad I’m used to would punch Stefan in the face before making any inquiries, just in case. 

“If he ever does... do you promise to tell me? You can ask for my help, no matter what, you can always come to me... you know that, right?” He says in a tense voice with his eyes fixed on the road. 

It’s a good thing he’s looking ahead, that way he can’t see my baffled expression. I consider his question, if something like that ever happens to me, with Stefan or anyone else, would I go to my dad for help? Probably not, throughout my life my parents more than a lifeboat has been an iceberg I keep crashing into. They’d probably make the problem worse if I told them.

“Of course, dad,” I lie, because I know that’s what he wants to hear from me and also because there is no chance Stefan would ever harm me, if anything, he’s way too protective and concerned for my safety. The thought of him changing into an abusive boyfriend is ridiculous.   

“Good,” He whispers and then instantly looks more relaxed. “I’m glad he is nice to you.”

I get to work 20 minutes late. David greets me with a groan and a bunch of contracts from vendors I have to send to legal for approval. The paperwork is a mess, so I have to sort it out before delivering it. While I’m on it, I start feeling nauseous, maybe my sugar dropped because I skipped breakfast. After handing the contracts to the assistant from legal, I sneak to the cafeteria on the 12th floor to buy an orange juice and a muffin. I eat my muffin on the elevator ride and drink the juice before I get to my desk. I’m no longer hungry, but I still feel sick. I try to work thru the nausea, but at noon I feel so sick I barely make it to the restroom.

“Olivia, are you ok?” Tania from accounting knocks on my stall door. 

It’s obvious I am not and I’m sure she can hear me throwing up my breakfast muffin. I feel kind of embarrassed, but I can’t help it. 

“No,” I reply as soon as I’m able to speak. 

“What happened? Do you need anything?” She asks concerned.

“I think I ate some bad food. I went to this new Greek restaurant last night... I guess some of the ingredients were not that fresh. I’ll be fine, I just need a few minutes for my stomach to settle,” I explain as I stumble out of the bathroom stall. 

I walk to the sink and splash my face with cold water. My forehead is sweaty from the nausea and the effort of throwing up. I take a couple of deep breaths to get thru my discomfort. 

“You look really pale, if you are feeling sick, maybe you should go home. I’m sure your boss will understand,” she says while she hands me a paper towel. 

“I don’t know... he’s not in the best mood today and I was so late this morning... I don’t want to anger him any further... but I do feel really really sick,” I’m actually starting to feel better, but getting off work early sounds like a good idea, I could go home and help my mom with the constant flow of relatives that are scheduled to arrive today.  

I look at myself in the mirror, Tania is right, I do look pale. That’s probably because I’m not wearing any makeup; but it’s not only the lack of makeup, my messy hair makes me look sicker... great! I thank Tania and then I go back to my desk, after a few minutes I walk into David’s office with a sad expression on my face to let him know how sick I feel. He falls for it and suggests I go home for the day. I have to make a real effort not to smile as I walk to the exit.  

I take an Uber home, Ivan is probably picking up more relatives from the airport and I can’t handle another ride with my dad and his strange questions.