16 I Accept Your Apology

Trina heard his phone go off once again. She walked away and waited in the kitchen, giving Randall privacy for his phone call. She leaned against the wall and she couldn't help but overhear his side of the conversation.

"I had a little accident."

"No, everything is under control."

"I didn't hurt my face."

"I will let you know after I open the box," he said finally. His voice was calm and still, Trina could hear a hint of tension underneath. She tentatively walked in after she knew he was done and he gave her a small smile while reaching his hand out for the broom.

She hesitated. "I really should do this."

"Miss Hudson, please hand me the broom. I really don't want you to cut yourself. And, it was my fault. I am the one that startled you." He explained, using his most soothing voice.

Trina relinquished the broom and he began sweeping up the mess scatted across the hallway. She watched him now, for the first time, and noticed how elegantly he maneuvered across the floor.

Each move was quick and precise. His fingers wrapped around the handle of the broom and with practiced elegance, he moved. He didn't look like someone who was accustomed to manual labor, but he seemed comfortable at that moment.

She watched as he searched the floor for any remaining pieces of stray glass. He spotted one hidden in the corner, invisible to her eyes, and quickly swept it into the pile. He turned. "May I have the dustpan, please?"

Their eyes locked and she noticed his eyes yet again. Piercingly black.

"Umm… huh?" she asked, immediately embarrassed by her inability to speak coherently. She was transfixed by his eyes.

Amusement twitched at the edges of his mouth. "The dustpan, may I have it?"

She felt the heat rise to her cheeks. "Yes. Sorry. I am just a little flustered," she explained and he gave her a quick nod of understanding.

He swept up the pile of debris and gave her a full smile that time. "Miss Hudson, I need to apologize to you for the other night. My behavior was unacceptable." He lifted his hands in the air, both occupied. "I would reintroduce myself to you with a proper shake of the hand but as you can see…" he trailed off.

His voice was still soft yet there was something missing. He was utterly formal and stiff. His apology rang with sincerity, yet it sounded forced to Trina's ears. Like he had practiced it in front of the mirror too many times.

But it was more than she could expect from someone of his stature. "Here, let me take those off you." She reached out for them. "I'm Trina. It is nice to meet you, Mr. Hudson. And I accept your apology."

'Begrudgingly,' she added slyly in her head.

He handed them over to her and she put them away. She returned to find him standing in the same place, unmoved and with a look of concentration on his face.

"Is there something else I can help you with?" Trina asked, causing him to look at her with confusion. "When you came down… Did you need something from me?"

Recognition colored his expression. "Yes, a package of mine was delivered and I came down to take it upstairs."

Trina nodded and followed him to the stairs. He stepped up and she watched as he picked up the large box with ease. She raised her brow, wondering if massive and unhealthy amounts of protein could make a person inhumanly strong or if she was a wimp and the box had been light all along.

As she watched him ascend the stairs, she heard her name being called from behind. She turned to find Max in the hallway. Randall was already at the top of the stairs so she quickly ran over to Max to see what he needed. "Can I help you?" she asked quietly.

Max frowned, his eyes trailing to where Randall had disappeared but he recovered. "I wanted to ask you if I could have your number? Maybe I could call you sometime?"

Trina blinked in confusion. "You can contact me on Mr. Wright's work line," she responded in the most professional manner.

"Oh!" Max sighed, dejected. "I was hoping to call you on a personal basis," he said casually. This confused Trina even more. "You work for the Animal Trust, right? I have a fluffy cat…"

Trina blinked before realization dawned on her. She went back to her desk and retrieved a card from her purse. "This is my number if you need to consult a vet. The clinic I work at has several excellent doctors," she told him.

Max grew silent but he was happy to get her number.

From the top of the stairs, Trina heard a loud noise. She waved at Max and quickly ran up to figure out what had happened. Wouldn't want her boss to be injured!

She stumbled on the top step, almost falling on her face in her hurry. He was on the landing, a look of irritation on his face.

Flushed and out of breath, she looked around to see what had made the sound. The box was dropped on the floor and from the sound, it had been really heavy. She looked at his feet, instinctively, hoping it hadn't fallen on him. "Mr. Wright, are you okay?" she asked.

He nodded curtly and turned away. He picked up the box once again and strode down the hallway to his wardrobe.

'Don't tell me… the box is full of clothes,' she groaned. This meant, she would have to do inventory once again.

She wasn't sure what had caused Mr. Wright to be irritated again, so she shrugged and went downstairs.

For the next hour, she heard him stomp around on the floor above, sounding like a child throwing a tantrum. Trina worked quietly and daydreamed about walking up to her boss and poking his chest with her finger. He was impossibly tall, so it would definitely be difficult. She would force him to look at her and make him admit that he was being a jerk for no apparent reason and that his previous apology meant nothing more than a turd. She wanted to tell him that he was a spoiled brat who needed to treat others with respect.

Of course, this was what she wanted to do. But her boss never came down the stairs.

Upstairs, Randall opened the box and took pictures of each piece he had received, and categorized them in his wardrobe.

The workmen finished soon enough and left. Trina finished her other duties and grabbed the forgotten box of food she had brought for herself. She packed it in her bag and left her daily report on the desk. She walked towards the front door and paused for a moment at the bottom of the steps, positive she could hear music from above.

Annoyed by the fact that he could relax in his bat cave, while he put a bad taste in her mouth, she made her way to the door, closing it with force and locking it behind her.

She walked into the warm night, thinking about how the quiet job had turned into a roller coaster due to the behavior of her boss. She was worried she wouldn't be able to make it if things continued that way. But she couldn't quit… because her mom would tell her she had known all along. So, she decided to let the hatred motivate her into working better.