Page 83 of Man Vs. Woman
A gaggle of men and women scream at Seymour and Hiram, cornering them. The people of Clarendon Tower have been screwed over a few times before, so they have no tolerance when it comes to being made fools of. And this is a prime example of being fed up with a corrupt leadership.
I catch a glimpse of Serena smiling though the commotion. She’s looking over at Daphne, shaking her head in disbelief. Her hands cover her mouth, in horror? In excitement? It looks like both. She feels my eyes on her and when her head tilts towards me, all the warmth in her body dissolves, covering itself with a cold, stern shield. The sight of it makes me heart sink and I have to look away before I get emotional, but not before she gives me a simple yet forced smile in response.
“Security! Security!” The Vice President of the Board yells over the crowd. Hah, it’s about fucking time. I’m surprised these people haven’t torn these men limb from limb. As much as I want their revenge to be sweet, I’m also not a sadist.
Three large men, the size of fucking linebackers, pave a pathway in the middle of the crowd, pushing the frail Clarendon Tower residents to either side of the room.
“No, I will not be manhandled,” Seymour screeches.
“Too bad,” one of the men replies.
“Seymour, this is all your fault!” Hiram yells as he turns to me. “And you! You claim to love Clarendon Tower? I’ll be back to destroy this place!”
I reach for the folder behind me and wave it in the air. “No, fuck you, Hiram!” I shout back at him. God, this feels amazing.
“Screw you, Seymour!” The crowd begins to yell, making it a mantra that everyone joins in on. It’s music to my ears.
“I can explain!” Seymour says with tears in his eyes.
“Screw you, Seymour!”
“Screw you, Seymour!”
Once they’re escorted out, an applause erupts in the room. I feel partially responsible for this, and I take a moment to revel in the aftermath of my success. If only Serena was next to me, in my arms and cheering us on together. Despite feeling satisfied at the outcome, there’s still an emptiness in my chest and it looms over the moment.
“Please, please. Take a seat!” The Vice President, Mr. Cox, dictates. “Sit down!”
Everyone quiets down, looking from one neighbor to the other. No one knows what to expect now. What was supposed to be a meeting to fill the retail space, turned into a court case where two of their leaders were found guilty. For good reason, we’re all apprehensive as fuck.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, please, take a seat and be quiet.”
Astonishingly, the crowd listens and we follow the directions of the soon-to-be Board President. I wonder what this man will have in store for us? But one thing at a time. This has already been an exciting day at Clarendon Tower, we can only take so much.
I sit down in the front row, taking the place of Hiram. Now, I feel like fucking Superman. But my bubble of confidence and pride quickly deflates when I find Serena again, sitting politely with her hands folded in her lap and her ankles crossed.
She’s so breathtaking.
She does a double-take and then settles on my face. She nods her head, again politely, and mouths, ‘good job.’
I respond with a silent ‘thank you,’ and she smiles back. But her eyes and body contradict everything her mouth is motioning. She’s looks defeated and sunken. I want to slide over and hold her in my arms, resuscitate the life and love back into her. But she’s keeping me at an arms-length.
“I love you,” I whisper. I know it’s not appropriate right now, but when have I ever played by the rules?
“No,” she shakes her head and closes her eyes, knotting her fingers together. My words caused her physical pain, the same words that used to incite unadulterated joy and happiness.
I hate this.
I have to do something.
This can’t be the end of us. We’ve worked too hard for this moment and I’m not going to bask in the glory alone, without her. This moment means nothing without her glow shining on me and without her love coursing through my veins.
