Chapter 4
Angela looked left and right before stepping out of her office. She had stayed until 7pm to finish her marketing analysis. At the moment, there seem to be no one else in the office building. She hurriedly locked the door as she prayed not to run into Ed Hartwell again. It's been so annoying that he would always show up everywhere Angela goes. He shows up in church, shows up in the late afternoons when Angela jogs, shows up occasionally in her office just when she was about to have lunch or about to go home. He even showed up at Jonathan's school's Parents' meeting when he doesn't even have a child studying in that school.
Angela dreaded running into him alone. Ed seemed rather odd and creepy. He kept asking her out and she kept declining but he kept insisting. He was as annoying as his twin brother was who kept making unwelcome passes at Angela and thus annoying Tony that when he had a heart-attack Tony thought he killed him with his anger. At least Ed's twin brother who died didn't possess cold penetrating eyes that send hairs on your arms crawling. She felt irritated that Mona left her alone in the office and if Ed decided to drop by, she would have to deal with him alone.
Angela took the elevator going to the 3rd basement parking. Angela clutched her portfolio tighter with her left arm as she hurriedly walk towards her car while fumbling for the car keys in her purse. The parking lot was darkly lit and humid. And although there were several parked cars, and Angela knew it was still early enough for the other corporate tenants to be around the vicinity, she felt utterly spooked. Why did I have to park on the wing farthest to the elevator? There was a parking spot right outside by the front entrance reserved for Angela and all the other presidents of the corporate tenants of the building. It was convenient but it wasn't covered and Angela wanted a covered parking. Next time, if I'm going home late, I'll just park outside, she told herself.
Angela stopped herself from letting out a loud curse. She kept turning the ignition several times but her car just wouldn't start. She slammed her fist angrily on the steering wheel and sighed. But before she could decide what to do, the face she'd been dreading to see loomed over her open window, his cold, menacing eyes frightening her. "Need a lift?" asked Ed. She yelped in surprise, trying to hide the fear she felt. "Oh, it's you. You startled me", said Angela. She tried the ignition again but the batteries were still dead.
She certainly didn't want to ride with him. She looked at her watch. It wasn't too late to catch the train. "Thank you, Ed but I can still catch the train", she said nicely. She got out of the car and locked the door and when she turned around to face him, Ed came closer, putting his hand on the car, imprisoning Angela between the car and himself. "I don't see why you need to ride the train when we are both headed in the same direction. I have my car. I can drop you off", said Ed with glint of dark mischief in his eyes.
"I really don't want to bother you", she said, summing up the courage to push his hand away and walking away from him. Angela looked around but there wasn't a single soul in sight. Suddenly she felt Ed's hand on her elbow. "Come on, I'd really like to take you home." His grip was firm and Angela looked into his dark menacing eyes. Was he going to force her into his car?
"Angela! Angela!" A familiar Brooklyn-accent hollered. A wave of relief fell over Angela. She glanced back just as Tony came into view. She'd never been so happy to see Tony since he started going out with Kathleen. "Oh there you are Angela. I was in the area and decided to drop by. Our class visited a museum not far from here," said Tony. Ed loosened his grip on Angela. Tony's dark eyebrows furrowed as he noticed Ed's hand on Angela's elbow and Angela's frightened eyes.
"I guess you don't have to take me home, Tony's here", said Angela. "Another time then," said Ed irritably as he walked away giving Tony a menacing look. Not if I can help it, thought Tony. Angela heaved a sigh of relief and gave Tony a big smile. Tony thanked god for Angela's smile. He hadn't seen her smile at him in a long time...since he started going out with Kathleen.
"Don't worry about your car. We'll send a mechanic tomorrow. It's alright to leave it here, isn't it?" asked Tony. Angela settled comfortably into Tony's jeep, her head nestled at the headrest. "Yes, tenants are allowed overnight parking and the building has security anyway. I'm so glad you came. I don't know why my car wouldn't start. It never happened before." Tony looked at his boss' bewildered countenance. "It's that Ed Hartwell again. What does he want?" asked Tony. "He wants to take me home but I think I angered him when I refused", explained Angela.
"Well...I'm glad I dropped by. Somehow my instincts were telling me to see you...I don't know...That Ed Hartwell isn't only infuriating, he's downright disturbing", said Tony as he flashed Angela an equally big smile. It's been a while since they were alone together, a while since they've done things together. "How do you feel about dining at that Mexican joint where there's a big effigy of Speedy Gonzales?" asked Tony. "That would be nice," replied Angela. Tony's cell phone rang. "Hello... oh hi Kathleen...nope I'm not yet home...listen, I can't make it tonight...ok, ok, you're lonely...but I can't...I'm picking up my boss, her car broke down...the last full show? I don't think I can arrive home in time for that...it's uhm traffic! Yeah it's traffic."
Angela looked out the window and noticed that traffic wasn't heavy. In fact Tony can still make it to the last full show in the movie house if they don't stop for dinner. "...see you tomorrow afternoon in class...okay... bye, bye," said Tony as he hung up. He looked back at Angela as though the conversation with Kathleen never happened.
He parked the Cherokee at the Mexican fastfood. "Remember the first time we ate here 2 years ago? You loved the garlic ceasar dressing of the burrito so much..." smiled Tony in reminiscence. "You managed to copy the taste of the sauce. Until now when we have Mexican food occasionally, you still manage to whip up that same sauce. I wonder how you managed it", said Angela. Tony grinned mischievously, "I gave the chef a 20 dollar bribe to give me the recipe. He was more than willing to help after I said my pregnant wife is craving for the sauce, I want to indulge her due to her delicate condition." "You're so sly", laughed Angela.