Walking into the office and out of the elevator, I wave to Levi who sits in his office. As usual, he waves back and smiles.
"How was the holidays?" I ask.
"It was awesome! I thought it could never get any better. You?"
"Mine was fantastic. I can concur with your sentiment."
After some more talk, I walk over to my own office, and enter in. After Azrael shows up I'll try to head into his office and ask for whatever work he needs to have done. It' been a week since the time when Azrael notified me of the upset schedule we'll be experiencing in the coming week or so, as some of the people who were meant to come last week didn't give us a clear answer when they would arrive, which pushed back all the meetings we already had down.
Basically, because they weren't able to give any answer, we had to hold all our other plans. Azrael was mad in a subdued way that he kept tapping on the desk of his when he thought about the two of them. But luckily, I was able to calm him down as well as distract him while we ate together at lunch. I can't ask for more than eating lunch together, as that alone is an opportunity to be near Azrael, and creates moments that I wouldn't have normally.
Putting another stack of papers on top of my desk and pulling out of my bag, I notice Azrael pass by my office. He's talking on his cellphone and I hear him talk as he passes, which is new to say mildly. He's never made noise from his mouth when he's arrived, and I can tell something is up.
Leaving my office, I knock on his door and he immediately says enter. Going in, I see Azrael talking on his cellphone and also dialing on the desk phone of his, and he nods at me with a smile as he talks on the cellphone and then hangs up before picking up the one on his desk and talk on that.
"Outrageous, if it's even possible to tone down the atrocity of their actions," says Azrael into the phone, and I walk over to the desk and take my usual place sitting on the edge of it while facing Azrael.
"Of course, at your discretion," says Azrael, and after listening for a few seconds he says, "I will. Thank you."
Hanging up and setting the phone back down, Azrael sighs and puts his hand on his waist, saying, "Being dumb should be a crime."
I crack a smile, and say, "Did something happen?"
"Oh, yes," says Azrael as he looks over at me a gives a bitter smile, "those people who didn't want to give us a reply on when they could come in? They showed up this morning without any prior indication. And they want an audience immediately."
"They did?" I ask incredulously, "Are they still here?"
"I had security push them outside as they were causing a racket, screaming of lawsuits and twitter mobs, but I didn't let them in. I'll give them a chance to talk, though I'm not interested in them as I could be," replies Azrael, "by the way, good morning. How was your evening?"
"It was fine," I say, "I think the weather yesterday night wasn't as cold."
"I thought so too," says Azrael as he smiles, "I think it was just above freezing. It's been a while since it wasn't."
"But, getting back to the two coming now," I say as I nod to the office doors, "do you really have to grant them time to talk to you?'
"It'd be civil to do so, though they act like animals so the meaning is lost."
"Why exactly are they here again?" I ask.
"They want donations from me in their most recent political stunt. I've said that I won't get involved in it, but their ears seem to stop working when I say that."
I hear shouting from the outside of Azrael's office doors, and we both turn to look who's coming. In seconds, loud footsteps come over and without a knock two people enter. One woman and one man. They both look around thirty and the woman has light brown hair while the man has black cropped hair. They both wear the usual politician clothes of a plain dress or a suit, and walk in with force that in their minds is rightful.
"There you are," says the lady haughtily, point in a way at Azrael that sets me on edge, "you made us wait long enough. You better hear what we say."
"Have a seat, please," says Azrael calmly but with a lack of heat to the two, as he gestures to the leather seats in front of his desk.
I stand to walk around the desk and stand next to Azrael, while he stands in front of his office chair and behind his desk.
"Did you hear her?" says the man, "You better listen to us or-"
"I said," says Azrael, still calmly, but more chilled in voice, "have a seat, please."
Both of them are slightly unnerved by the temperature in the room that gets lowered by Azrael's voice, and try to smoothly sit down on the chairs though they obviously are jarred. I almost grin at their appearances, but keep a blank face. After they've sat down, Azrael sits slowly in his own, while I remain standing. I am an assistant after all.
The man is opening his mouth to speak when he seems to notice my lowly presence, and barks at Azrael, "Who's this? Can you get him out of here?"
"This is my assistant," replies Azrael smoothly, "and you may address him directly."
"Hey you," I say the lady, "can you hop out of here? We don't need you to talk to your boss."
"I will remain as I'm sure my employer would prefer my presence," I reply and also take a page out of Azrael's civil way of being passive-aggressive.
I swear I see his mouth twitch up in a grin.
"Well, we don't want you here," says the lady as she nods to the door, "so get friendly with the door and-"
"He's staying," says Azrael, "if he leaves, you do as well. Your choice."
"Fine, whatever," says the lady as she waves her hand rudely, "we still are here for one thing, and we expect it from you."
"You are foolish to do so," says Azrael, "I believe I made it evidently clear that I want nothing to do with you, but it seems you can't understand that."
"You calling her stupid?" asks the man.
"Your words, not mine."
"This is outrageous. You're being purposefully rude to her because she's a woman!"
"No. I'm patiently explaining my actions to her."
"If you don't want a mob coming after you, you better give us what we want," says the man pointedly and gesturing for something to be handed over.
"Even if I wanted to, the donations you specified was not something that could be prepared. This company does not have thirty million dollars at it's leisurely expense."
"Other companies have prepared larger amounts."
"Other firms are not this firm," says Azrael.
"You know what, just tell us," says the lady as she gets agitated for some reason, "are you for or with our cause? You better be, otherwise you're an evil person."
"I am apolitical."
"That's not an answer," says the lady, "yes or no. Tell us."
"You will receive no reply."
"Than you're against us," says the man condescendingly, "there's no doubt of it."
"You will derive whatever answer you want. But I will not be involved in you activities."
"Then we'll have society hate you," says the lady, with an evil, triumphant grin, "we're going to make you a hated person."
"Your approval ratings are so in the dirt that I highly doubt you will be able to sway public opinion. Especially when half the country is not even your political party," says Azrael calmly.
The lady tries to say something and open her mouth, but then stops as she doesn't have any retort.
"You think you can get away with this?" asks the man, trying to come to the lady's rescue, "treating us as if we're crazy?"
"Again, your words. Not mine," says Azrael, "perhaps you know of your own insanity."
Now the man is caught with no retort, and both sit in front of us for about two minutes fuming and trying to think of something to say.
"If you have nothing else to say," says Azrael as he gestures to the door behind the two of them, "you may leave. I have tendered my answer to you and I've made it obvious what my stance is."
"You're going to just kick us out of here?" asks the woman as if she's right to sit in that chair in front of Azrael's presence.
"I am politely asking you to leave," says Azrael, "if you do not remove yourself, security will, who you're very friendly with."
"How you had security treat us is outrageous," says the man, stoking up a storm again, "we could press charges."
"You were on private property without any right to be there. I asked you to leave, but you did not understand that. I can only explain that, but I can't understand it for you."
"You are despicable!" says the lady as she stands up and snarls, and the man and her head to the direction of the door, "to think we need your help!"
"I am glad I have not offered any assistance to you," replies Azrael, and both of them scowl before throwing open the door and storming out.
Azrael watches as they leave, before letting out air from his chest and leaning back in his chair. The door of his office which was thrown open closes itself with the residual momentum, and I also sigh. I'm more relieved that nothing dangerous happened.
"Well, that was terribly exciting," says Azrael as he looks over at me, "are you alright?"
"I am," I reply, "are you?"
"Yes, thankfully," answers Azrael, "but, I guess that it's been a rough day since this day started."
"Well, I guess it can't be helped," says Azrael, "but I suppose one thing that we can look forward to today is lunch. I always enjoy it with you."
"I do too," I say, and my heart flutters for the millionth time.
It's like Azrael has a little button that he can press just to make my heart flip-flop whenever he wants. Though it's not sadistic, and it seems that he's not aware of his affect with me.
He has me wrapped around his finger, and I'm spinning around it like a top.
"I think today's lunch is cheeseburgers, actually," says Azrael as he looks at a paper he pulls from a stack on his desk.
"With bacon?" I ask curiously.
"I think so," replies Azrael, "do you like bacon on your burgers?"
"I do," I say with a happy nod, "in my mind it's the best part."
"I can agree with that."
"What else is in the lunch today?"
"Fries, beans, and coleslaw," replies Azrael, "sounds appetizing."
"I suppose it's a good thing that we got that meeting out of the way," I note as I walk around Azrael's desk before taking a seat as usual on it.
"It is," says Azrael with a smile, "I suppose the only other meeting that might demand some attention would be James, who's finally replied."
"Really? When is it?"
"Three days from now," says Azrael as he glances over at his computer, "next Monday. Today's Friday so we'll have the weekend in between before it's supposed to happen. The key word being 'happen'."
"Do you think he'll show up?" I ask while smiling knowingly.
"Maybe," says Azrael with a shrug, "I have the check I owe him for installing those security measure here, and I told him about that, so maybe that'll incentivize him to appear."
"Hopefully."
"Hopefully."
"Well, besides that excitement," says Azrael as he turns in his chair and gets a stack of papers, "this is the work for you today. I'm guessing those are the ones I asked for yesterday?" he asks as he points to the stack I brought in.
"Yes, that would be so," I reply.
"I'll look over it, though I think there won't be any issue with any of your work," says Azrael with a smile.
I grin, but say, "I can humbly say that I think it's acceptable."
Azrael nods, and I smile while walking out of the office. Later there'll be lunch with him. Can't wait for that.