The drama begins… Enjoy!
Again. Disclaimer: NOT MINE.
…
Chapter 2: Breaking Point
"Ryder, forget satisfaction, it's about infatuation! If the consumer falls in love with a product, we're talkin' big bucks no matter the quality! And what does that mean? Cheaper production to satisfy increased demand, leading to a spike in profits! And of course, from there it's all about maintaining interest, but I guess we can finish that 'next class'." Joe surmised, looking over at the clock. He'd meant to start dinner fifteen minutes ago, but Ryder willingly asking questions about business? A rare moment too good to pass up for teacher Longo. "You wanna help with dinner? Chicks dig guys who cook."
Ryder rolled his eyes and smirked at Joe. "Sorry, you know I'd love to, but Vanessa's got the house to herself tonight and I haven't been out of this kitchen for the past 17 hours." Joe chuckled in reply and waved him off before turning to Lennox who looked engrossed in whatever she was typing at the dining room table.
"Little lady? Zander might dig the domestic side of you. You know, along with the 'I'm my own independent, artistic kick-your-ass Amazonian princess' side." Lennox giggled slightly before closing her laptop. "Sorry Joe, but I have a paper due by 3rd block on Monday and if I fail one more assignment in Mr. Karlton's class, I think he might literally explode." Joe sighed, but nodded in agreement, recalling the conference he'd had earlier that day with her guidance counselor. "Alright, but next weekend I'm teachin' you how to make a Longo specialty – Paprika scallops over a zesty lemon kale with risotto and just a hint of nutmeg."
"Careful Joe, your Italian's showing."
Before he could even shake his head in protest, the kitchen door burst open. Both heads whipped towards the noise, just in time to see Mel dash up the stairs. Joe called after her, but when she didn't stop, he looked at the stove clock again. Mel was home three hours early, and she'd been raving about some shoe sale for at least a week. Then the bathroom door slammed. Joe gestured to Lennox to stay put before ascending the stairs.
As soon as he disappeared, Lennox fired off a text to Ryder and Zander. Nothing interesting happens in this house, she thought, finally! Easing her chair away from the table and tiptoeing to the base of the stairs, Lennox elected to wait until one of the boys showed up before creeping closer to the action upstairs.
Once on the landing, Joe's eyes followed the trail of tissues to the light streaming from under the bathroom door. He stepped closer and hesitated for a moment before knocking softly. "Mel?" He called uneasily. He banged a little harder, causing the shadow under the door to jump slightly. "Come on Mel, what's going on? What are you doing home so early? Oh wait, ha, let me guess, they cancelled the sale!" He joked, leaning against the doorframe cockily. He waited. No response.
"Mel…?" Joe's tone was confused, but his brain was in overdrive, assessing the situation. Mel was typically a constant source of entertainment and irritation for the stubborn nanny as well as Lennox and Ryder. She didn't clam up without a reason.
"Mel, come on, please say something." A strong wave of anxiety bubbled in his chest, causing him to jiggle the door handle a few times in weak aggression. "Mel, I swear to god if you –", His voice caught. On the other side of the door, Mel breathed a string of curses, trying to gather her voice and quivering shoulders under control. She'd accidentally let one heaving sob pass her sarcastic, narcissist armor and now it felt impossible to keep the waterworks from coming.
Sliding down the door, she crumpled into a tight ball and released the cornucopia of emotions she'd been holding in during her exit and car ride home from the office. Her wheezing, in turn, seemed to ignite a fierce protectiveness Joe hadn't know he was capable of feeling. He knew he should give her the privacy she needed, but something told him to stay.
He dropped to his knees with one hand resting on the door and one clenched in his lap, taking a deep breath. "Mel, if you're not gonna open the door, please just tell me what's wrong. I know I'm probably not the person you wanna talk to, but I'm here." He listened anxiously as she struggled to get her breathing under control. "Mel…"
She cringed. His voice had cracked in a manner only fear and concern could bring, and she felt terrible for worrying him. Choking down a few deep breaths, she slowly grasped the handle and twisted the door open. However, she immediately turned way, trying to maintain what was left of her pride in his presence. Suddenly, she felt arms encircle her waist and drag her into a seated position. She blushed when she realized she was in Joe's lap. For a moment she was tempted to bolt, but surprised both of them by curling against his chest, savoring the warmth of his neck against her forehead.
The room was quiet for a while, both trying to wrap their heads around the intimate position they'd taken. Absentmindedly, Joe rubbed her back and Mel focused on getting her now racing heart to slow down. "The mayor visited me at work today." Joe looked down at the woman in his arms in confusion. "I thought he only did bimonthly conferences with the City Counsel?" His puzzlement increased when she nodded silently.
"He… He said I'm up for review this month." Despite having only ever experienced this in a corporate setting, Joe understood and that's what got him; he knew Mel's record was spotless and that if this weren't something serious, Mel would've been out spending his paycheck as well as hers on Jimmy Choos right now. "So why now? Who nominated you?"
Joe lurched a little when he felt Mel go slack in his grip, but waited patiently for the explanation he was certain would follow now that she'd calmed down a little. "Anonymous. It's because of the whole goddamn episode with Lennox. Because… because of the picture she tweeted. If the review goes like he basically implied it would, I'll be cited with representative misconduct and basically be fired. It's either that or…" She hiccupped in attempt to circumvent the sobs she felt coming again. "Resignation."
The word hung in the air. "The reputation I've been building since they took a chance on me, a fucking shot in the dark when I was just a kid, is ruined." And with that she was gone. The dam broke, flowing silently down her cheeks, soaking Joe's characteristically too-tight t-shirt. Despite the rash emotions that had pulsed through him at her words, he merely pulled her closer and continued his comforting ministrations.
Unbeknownst to the adults in the bathroom, Lennox and Ryder had masterfully climbed the stairs and nestled in the hallway near the door. While the door had proved to be a decent barrier, their young ears and the quietness of the house and neighborhood lent the perfect setting for eavesdropping. Lennox felt her shoulders tense at the mention of her name, uncertain of where the conversation was going. However, by the time sounds of her aunt sobbing reached her a second time, she wished she'd never left the kitchen. She turned to Ryder who wore a dumbfounded look on his face. Lennox wished he hadn't heard it either. It's all my fault.
Suddenly she felt suffocated, by the hallway and her brother, by the occupants of the bathroom, but most importantly, by the overwhelming shame she now felt taking residence in her chest. Before Ryder could stop her, Lennox suddenly rose and bounded to her room. Ryder stood to meet her when she reappeared, purse in hand, but she pushed past him and headed downstairs. By the time he reached the bottom, he barely registered the kitchen door's click.
…
Chapter two is done! Please read on, reviews are appreciated