Heaven Knows

Four

I've been cringing with anger so much that Gail has to take a moment to ask me what's going on.

I close the door of my office and angrily say, "He didn't sign the papers! The idiot ran away from it!"

Gail's eyes grow wide. "Wow—"

"I know. I just...I can't believe that even in this he has to make my life impossible! And you know what he said afterward? He asked me if I wanted to get coffee with him!"

Gail does a small chuckle that makes my anger rise. "Well, isn't that good?"

"No. It's not! What the hell does he think? That I'm going to forget everything he did to me? Well no. I'm not falling for him again!"

Gail's eyes soften and she gently puts her hands on my arms. "Honey. You need to calm down."

Angry tears now spill down my cheeks as I say, "I...just want to get rid of him, Gail. Can't I have that? I want to be away from—"

"Your pain. It still hurts. I know. But maybe getting a divorce isn't the right solution for this."

"Gail. You only saw me that one night. But my life was like that every day. I was left wondering if he was alright after days he'd be gone. I worried if he was with...Whenever he'd come home, I could smell their perfume. So many fragrances from every fan that managed to get him aside. Do you think you wouldn't want to escape? Wouldn't you want to erase every aspect of the man that caused so much pain? The last thing I need is his last name and I..."

I let out a tired sigh as I wipe my tears away. I find a leather chair and slowly sit in it as exhaustion hits me harder than his slaps did. My eyes close and it's like I can see him. Those bull eyes. They're nothing like the ones I saw a few days ago. And that scares me even more...

Gail gently puts an arm around my shoulders and her hand sweetly rubs my arm. "I'm so sorry you had to go through all of that, my dear. The human always does things they regret later on. That's why we must go on. Be strong again and turn the page."

I look up at her with a small smile and nod. She gives me her big smile as she puts a quick kiss on my head. "Alright. Enough crying and raging. You have a few newbies that are waiting for you outside."

"Aren't you getting any?"

"Yes. One," Gail says as she grabs the box of tissues for me. "But I'll let you choose the one you want first."

"Okay," I quietly say. I take one deep breath and straighten my back. "Let's do this."

"That's my girl!" I check myself in the mirror real quick before walking out with Gail.

Out in the waiting room are about five newbies ready to be chosen. Gail smiles widely and announces the process they have to go through before doing an event themselves. My eyes land on a girl. She must be about three years younger than I am and her green-blue eyes shine happily at every word Gail is saying.

She's the one.

Gail looks back at the rest of us and says, "Alright. Choose your victim."

Some of my coworkers go ahead and take some newbies until it's a guy and the girl I want. I nod at the girl and she quickly comes up to me with a hand out for me to shake.

"It is such a pleasure working here! Thank you so much for this opportunity!"

I do a soft laugh as I return her handshake. "I can't wait to see where your imagination runs off to when it comes to events. Let's go." I give Gail a quick smile and lead the girl to my office. Her eyes sparkle as she observes my office and happily sits on a chair in front of my desk.

I give her a warm smile. Just a moment ago, I was crying in the seat she is in, but I must turn the page. So I say, "What's your name?"

"Anna Wing."

"Pleasure, Anna. I'm Tessa. But you can call me Tess if you'd like." Anna does a sweet smile and nods. I then observe her outfit. She reminds me of myself when I was a newbie here.

My silence seems to make her uncomfortable now and I realize that I haven't prepared for this...talk. I was so busy being angry that I'm left in the blue.

So I look at my agenda and say, "Anna. I want to do something different. How about we get a coffee this week and get to know each other? I don't want this to be a teacher-student relationship. I want to be your friend."

Her eyes soften at my words and the small tension in her shoulders slowly fade away. "Okay. What day would you like to meet up?"

"Can you do it this Sunday?"

Her eyes suddenly turn wide and as she shyly says, "I...actually have to take care of my niece. My sister is going out with her husband."

"I see. How about Monday?"

"Monday sounds good," she says with a small smile.

"Alright then," I say as I write it down in my agenda. "You'll go to the place we decide to go instead of here."

"Okay. Where are we going?"

"There is a great place at the mall just on the outer side. The food court to the left."

"Okay."

"Have you been to Panera before?"

"I have! I love their sandwiches. My husband and I tend to get breakfast there sometimes."

Oh. She's married.

My eyes land on her hand and there she has a beautiful ring on her finger. I give her a tight smile and say, "That sounds nice. Then we'll meet there."

"Alright! Thank you so much, Ms. Tessa—"

I do a small laugh and shake my head. "Just Tess."

Anna nods and says, "I can't wait to start working with you, Tess. I'm sure we'll make the best events anyone has seen in this city!"

I like her enthusiasm. I nod and take out a hand for her to shake. She gives it a firm shake as I say, "To making parties worth escaping to."