I'm Admired But He Is Feared

Chapter Nineteen

Today yet again was my day off, so I decided to finish of all of my paintings for the office. Letting out a deep breath I step back and examine all of them. I managed to finish it off earlier than I had expected and dried them up as well.

Looking down at my watch I see that isn't even six pm yet. I should probably go down in the office and take all of these. If I do it on my working hours then Mr Peace won't be very happy. I take all of the canvases and put them in a big folder so they don't end up being ruined.

Taking hold of my car keys I lock the apartment and get into my car driving to the office.

***********

I have no idea whether Mr Peace works everyday or not but if he does work today then I'm hoping not to bump into him. I look around the floor to see it's pretty much dead, Samantha has her head down as she's talking to someone on the phone quietly.

I go to my office door and press the handle down to realise it's locked. What am I supposed to do now? Putting the big folder down by the door I look around the floor hoping to spot someone but no one is even here.

I have to go ask Samantha then. Jogging back towards her desk I stay behind it and wait for her to look up but she doesn't.

"Samantha" I call out to her.

She lets out a small scream and drops the phone into her lap. Oh no, I scared her.

"You scared me" She tells me with a big breath.

"I am so sorry, it's just I need the keys for my office" I tell her.

She raises her eyebrows at me and puts the phone back on the desk.

"Why would you need your keys and what are you doing here today? It's supposed to be your day off" She says.

"I know, it's just...I need to drop some things in my office, that's why" I tell her with a smile.

I don't want everyone to know about me painting and stuff. Mr Peace's reaction to it was more than enough for.

"You'll have to go to the security office, it's the door behind my desk" She says pointing behind her.

I follow her finger to see there was indeed a door behind her desk. How did I not notice it before? I think to myself, I really am an idiot sometimes.

"Thanks" I walk past her to get to the door so I can get the key for my room.

Knocking the door to the security office they tell me to come in which I do. There's a guy about my age sitting behind a computer screen.

"I need the key to my office room" I tell him.

He looks up from his screen at me while adjusting his glasses.

"You are?" He asks confused.

See Mr Peace, this is why I thought it would be necessary to introduce myself to everyone. This guy doesn't even know who I am.

"I'm Mr Peace's personal assistant, Sofie Koenraad" I tell him.

A smile erupts on his face as he nods his head at my acknowledgment.

"Now I know who you are" He informs me.

"Of course you do" I mutter underneath my breath in annoyance.

I wonder what people say about me around the office. I think I should ask Michael one day, I mean we're friends and stuff so I know that he won't keep anything from me.

"Here it is" He comes over and dangles the key in front of my face.

"Thanks" I say taking the key out of his hand.

I leave his room shutting the door behind me. I'm about to call Samantha out but she's on the phone yet again, she's probably calling her boyfriend or something. Walking around my desk I make my way over to my office when I see Mr Peace locking the door to his office.

The last thing I wanted was to see him; I wonder what's going to happen when he sees me better yet the reaction to when he sees what I have on. When I paint I just wear on my old overalls with paint marks all over there- he's going to kill me.

I've got an idea which I hope works. Looking down at the ground I begin walking with my hands fisted to my sides in order to ease the nerves in my body. Just a few more steps and I'll be past him.

"Koenraad" I'm doomed, I'm dead.

Looking up from underneath my eyelashes he's looking at me with a frown on his face.

"Y-yes Mr Peace?" I ask him nicely.

"What the hell are you wearing?" He asks with hatred.

"I...well, you see what I h-"

"Get to the point dumbass"

"I did some paintings for my office; do you want to see them?" The only reason I asked whether he wanted to see them was because I know he's going to say no anyway.

He somewhat surprises me by snatching the key out of my hand and walking to my office door opening it. This isn't what I was expecting; I quickly follow behind him as he already walks into the office leaving me to follow him.

Picking up the folder from the floor, I open the door and walk in to see he's sitting in my chair looking bored as ever.

"Get on with it Koenraad" He says slowly.

Taking the paintings out with shaky hands I begin showing him them and telling him what they are as well. For the whole time he just watches the paintings not saying a word. I know that he doesn't care about this stuff but I guess he was so bored he decided to see what I did anyway.

I take out the last painting I look at it carefully before showing him. I face it on its side and take the other paintings putting them in its frame. I had already nailed the walls on where I wanted the paintings so it would be easier on me.

It approximately takes me about ten minutes to do all of them, I find myself looking at Mr Peace from the corner of my eye to see him looking at the paintings that I had already displayed on the wall. Does he like them, does he hate them?

Why isn't he saying anything?! I walk back to my desk and take the painting which I had left on its side.

"I made this one for you" I confess to him.

Sliding it towards him he leans forward on the chair and examines the painting. When I did this, I was thinking about him the entire time. It was a sketch of a tree without any leaves alone in the dark with rain in the back.

"Why are you giving me this out of the rest?" He asks me.

Suddenly, my heartbeat quickens at his question. I don't know why I'm getting so scared, I knew he was going to ask me a question like that anyway- maybe I'm just nervous. I know that I can't even lie to him, he'll catch me out and things will probably get worse from there, I should tell him the truth.

"Because this tree, it...it reminded me of you. I think that you're alone Mr Peace; I feel that you keep yourself isolated for a reason. You like to give people the impression that you're powerful but really, you just want someone to hear you out" The next thing I know he's standing up from the chair and has thrown the piece of paper across the room.

My eyes widen in shock as I step back in fear.

"You fucking don't know me!" He screams in my face with an accusing finger pointed at me.

"I-I'm sorry Mr Peace" I tell him truthfully.

If I knew this was going to be his reaction then I would have never showed him. I was hoping he would at least open to me a little but I guess I was just wrong.

"You don't know me so you shouldn't portray shit about me considering your life is so perfect" I'm about to apologise to him again when he storms past me swiftly slamming the door behind him.

How did I manage to get him to look at my paintings and then shout at me, what did he mean by me having a perfect life...is he not happy? What's his story...what's your story Mr Peace?