Chapter 4 - Anger Snaps
Walking into the office, she couldn't believe the site. There, sitting on top of the desk was Maureen, in a mini skirt and a shirt that left little to the imagination. She couldn't believe it. It was her Maureen, on the desk, of her boss.
Her boss was buttoning his shirt still, and it was apparent by the way the papers were strewn about, and their faces what had just happened. Maureen had screwed her boss. Her girlfriend, had sex with her boss, the head of the firm.
She blinked, they hadn't noticed her yet; Theres still time to back out, still time to pretend nothing happened... No. I'm through with that. No more. She coughed softly, and both faces turned towards her. Maureen's was one of horror, her bosses one of embarrassment. Oh yeah, he doesn't know Maureen is my girlfriend, he only thinks she's my room mate. Well no more of either. Joanne stood there, both of them looking at her, until something inside of her snapped.
"What the bloody fuck?" Joanne didn't even care that her boss was right there, she was beyond caring. She locked eyes with Maureen "Isn't it enough that you fuck every guy you meet in a bar, but you have to fuck my BOSS too!" Maureen just stared at her, tears wallowing in her eyes.
"Come on," she grabbed Maureen's hair and dragged her out of the office down to the street. Maureen was struggling, trying desperately to get away. "Stop struggling and I'll let you go. But you better not go anywhere." Maureen nodded as much as she was able, and Joanne let go. Flagging a cab she pushed Maureen ahead of her and sat down. She directed the driver where to go and sat back, closing her eyes. When the cab stopped she got out and paid the driver. She gripped Maureen's arm viciously and dragged her into the apartment.
Joanne was livid, that much was apparent to everyone. But Maureen didn't realize that something inside of Joanne had truly snapped. She hadn't realized the true gravity of the situation. Joanne paused in the middle of the living room, not even caring what Maureen felt, but she spun around to face the actress and slammed her into the wall, catching her off guard. She brutally pressed her lips against Maureen's.
Joanne stepped back, shaking her head. She pushed Maureen away, and watched as Maureen scampered to the doorway of the bed room. Joanne stormed into the bathroom, and closed the door. Inside the bathroom Joanne turned on the water and splashed some on her face, trying to calm down. But she was livid, there was no mistaking that. Her anger was pure and raw, it was burning away any love she had left for Maureen. She kept coming back to the mental image of Maureen screwing her boss. She just couldn't take it anymore.
She stormed back into the room, yelling at Maureen "What the fuck have you done?" She hear Maureen's pitiful plea for a chance to explain and cut her off. "NO! There is no explanation for this Maureen! No excuse! This is the last straw!" And on the last note she grabbed the first thing she reached, a picture frame, and hurled it at Maureen. It felt good to throw something. It felt even better to see Maureen scramble out of the way. She grabbed the next thing she could, a vase, and chucked that at the wall. Watching how it shattered into a millions of pieces. She had never liked it anyway, her mother had given it to her.
She couldn't stop. She couldn't stop the anger, the screaming. She went on. "The head of the firm? Come on Maureen! I know your a whore, but you placed my career in jeopardy!" Finally, the solution came to her head. With out a moments hesitation she walked into their room and pulled out her suitcase. She quickly stuffed it full with clothes and belongings. Maureen stood in the doorway, crying, but Joanne was beyond caring anymore. She was full of venom, she wanted to hurt Maureen.
"You can keep the god damn apartment, I don't care. I can get another fuckin' one. But I'm taking my name off the lease." She saw Maureen crying harder. She didn't care. Maureen seemed about to say something so Joanne rushed on. "IT. IS. OVER. Maureen. I've been too forgiving for to long. I've been tolerant. No more! You fucked up! Hell, you fucked the head of my firm!" Joanne knew she was holding on to her anger irrationally, but she knew that if she let it go she would give into Maureen's tears, her pout.
She closed her suitcase, and picked it up and walked purposely towards the door. "I'll send movers for the rest of my stuff." She heard Maureen ask her to stay, but she just kept walking and slammed the door. It felt good for her to slam the door. It was as if she slammed the door closed on the relationship, on the emotion, on the torture of being with Maureen. She walked down to the street, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, and thought of where to go. She hailed a cab again and told the driver to take her to the loft.
She'd stay at the boy's apartment for a little while, while she figured out if she still had a job or not. Worse comes to worse she thought I'll go home and work with Dad; that would make him happy. On the way to the loft she could have sworn she saw Mimi in a cab, with it piled high of boxes, but she dismissed it as crazy that Mimi would move out.
When she got to the loft she knocked before opening the door. No one was home, so she just set her suitcase down and laid down on the couch. Anger is so exhausting. But so liberating too. She closed her eyes and slept.