"Fuck"
She let her head fall back onto her arm, which was leaning quite painfully on a thick binder that contained her lack of work effort for the past 3 weeks. She knew her staff would start to flock into their building of work and this thought made her head ache even more than the Gin inflicted pain that was throbbing very close to her temple. Why did she always do this to herself? Anytime life got a little bit hard or she wasn't happy, she tried to find the answers to all her problems in the bottom of a bottle that had to have a percentage.
A slight tap on the window of her office was the noise that echoed into her brain and kicked off her headache all over again.
"Erm...come in"
The door creaked open and there stood her most faithful employee, Hayley. The one woman she knew she could always rely on to give her morale a boost or just be that kind, loving ear that would listen to her.
"Mrs Connor, we just wondered whether to start working on that new order for Mr Bradshaw?"
Carla brought her, slightly shaking, hands up to her eyes and attempted to rub the ache that was now filling her head. She focussed on the woman in front of her and cleared her throat.
"Mr Bradshaw? oh yeah, erm yes Hayley that would be fab. You're probably wondering why I'm here, in this state. Long night y'no?"
Hayley looked at her shoes and smiled weakly at her boss, who still had the pain and heartache of the past 3 weeks in her face.
"You don't have to explain yourself to me Mrs Connor, we completly understand"
Carla stifled a yawn and looked at Hayley. That one phrase 'we completly understand' was so meaningful yet felt so empty to her. True Stella could understand, as she had been through the exact horror that had been brought to Carla, but she found it hard to believe anyone at all could understand what she was going through. She smiled at Hayley and stood up from her position behind her desk. The 8 hours of sleeping in the same crouched over position clearly taking a toll on her body as she winced.
"Thanks Hayley, could you be a star and fetch me a coffee? and hold back the milk"
Hayley walked towards Carla and touched her arm gently.
"Of course Mrs Connor"
Carla brought her hand up to touche Hayleys as a sign of a Thank You and before she could speak Hayley was out of the door and rallying the workers to start with the order.
She pulled out her compact mirror from her oversized Louis Vuitton bag and started to make some sense of her face with her endless make up supply. As she rummaged through the Mary Poppins'esque make up bag she remembered a funny remark from Liam about her bag being able to sink the Titanic. She laughed a little at the memory and leant back in her chair. Liam. she hadn't thought about that man for what it seemed like a lifetime. What would he have done throught all of this crazyness? She could imagine his reaction if he had found out what that evil man did to her. Knowing him he would have gone right over to his house and beat him to a pulp. Nobody hurt his Carla. A single tear fell down her cheek as she remembered the one man she loved with her entire being. God how she missed that man.
Still lost in thought she didn't hear the door creaking back open and a quiet Hayley shuffled over to her and handed her the biggest mug of coffee, strong no milk, she had seen in well over 24 hours.
"Hayley you're a total sweetheart thank you"
"Oh it's no problem Mrs Connor"
"Hayley what have I told you...it's Carla"
"Oh I know Mrs C...I mean Carla. But I just assumed at work you're still my Boss and.."
"And nothing darling. You're too good to me in and out of this place for all this formality rubbish"
"If you say so Carla"
Hayley stayed at the door for a while, wondering whether she should ask if she was ok. She cared a lot about the woman sat in front of her, she had been literally to hell and back in the past 5 years and this latest hurt just topped it all off. How she remained so composed she wondered.
Carla sensed her lingering and knew exactly what she was going to ask.
"I'm fine Hayley, honestly"
Hayley laughed a little and smiled embarrased.
"I didn't know whether to ask or not, y'no with what you've been through...but if you need anything Carla please ask"
Carla rose from her seat and approached Hayley. She put her arms around her and hugged her tightly. Feeling her emotions wash over her she pulled away and forced a smile.
"oh you know me! tough as old boots this one"
Hayley nodded, smiled and went back to the floor to try and settle an argument she could hear breaking out between Sally and Eileen.
Carla closed the door and leant her back to it. She was thankful of building commotion on the other side as it drowned out the sounds of her sobs that were free falling from her body. How dare he do this to her!
