Miranda Page 8

  He put his warm hand over mine, which was resting peacefully on my knee, and he gave me a consoling caress.

  “A weed never dies, and if it does, it’s reborn where you would least expect.”

  His joke made me lift my eyes. A damned tear betrayed me. Norman got a little closer with his wheelchair and, with a very delicate gesture, dried what was left of the traitorous tear.

  Eliezer couldn’t have been more timely. He wore dark jeans and a gray casual buttoned down short sleeve shirt. He looked younger. More normal. Not like an ogre.

  “Am I interrupting?” he asked, as always: in his sarcastic tone.

  My heart began beating with so much force that if I opened my mouth it would leap out and run around the room. What’s wrong Miranda? The spectacle hasn’t yet begun.

  I greeted him the same way one greets a stranger in the elevator because you don’t know if the company is a sexual predator, an assassin or the nicest guy.

  “Good evening.”

  Norman on the other hand, swung the seat around, gave him a contemplative look and a smile... one of my smiles.

  “Hello, Eliezer. It’s a pleasure to see you tonight.

  Until that moment, I had not realized that that was the first time in so many years that father and son saw each other face to face and spoke. The reunion should have been more intimate.

  What the hell am I doing here?

  “Norman, I’m leaving.” Norman took my hand when he noticed I was getting up off the love seat.

  “No, Miranda. Please, stay.”

  At first, I did not understand his insistence but then I thought that maybe he needed my support. Maybe he was more comfortable with me. Perhaps he was afraid that his demented son would harm him, or maybe my presence would serve as a shock absorber for the words that would be said on both sides. I looked at Eliezer seeking approval from him but he didn’t even bother responding.

  “Thank you for coming, Eliezer. Come. Sit. Get comfortable.”

  Norman directed him where to sit. His son vacillated for a few seconds whether to stay or leave. I saw the hesitation in his eyes. I’m sure he did not dream to be in the same room with me, much less breathe the air that I breathed, me the intruder who usurped his place. He could have gone. Nothing stopped him. However, he stayed.

  There were two seats available, the other side of the love seat and a separate chair away from me. I need not say which one he chose.

  The heaviness of the air made breathing difficult. I could hear the tick… tick… tick of a time bomb.

  “You look very good,” Norman said casually to Eliezer.

  “I can’t say the same about you.”

  The contempt was heightened in his gaze. Norman half smiled.

  “True. You should have seen me two months ago,” he laughed at himself. “You certainly would have thought that.”

  I had to contain my laughter. I could not hold back a small squeak and they both turned towards me simultaneously.

  Embarrassment came over me.

  “I’m sorry.”

  Norman tried to use that moment to continue breaking the ice.

  “Isn’t it true, Miranda? Tell Eliezer how I looked a few months ago.”

  “Terrible,” I continued the game. “To tell the truth, horrible.”

  “Let’s save the small talk. It’s obvious that you intended for both of us to be here at the same time. What do you want?”

  My eyes opened like an owl’s. Norman quit the smiles and showed complete control of the situation.

  “Well, son, the conversation was becoming entertaining, but since you appear to be in a hurry, let’s get to the point.

  Not realizing it, the confession infuriated me.

  “I know that you have had differences in past days,” he began to say.

  Eliezer looked at me angrily as if I had squealed.

  Norman understood that look and explained. He set aside the kidding.

  “Don’t complain to Miranda. She hasn’t told me anything.” He placed a hand on mine. I subtlely moved my hand away. Eliezer kept looking at me angrily. Norman sighed. “You are the two highest ranking people in the company. You cannot go on fighting like children. With those attitudes you put Medika at risk and create a hostile work environment. In addition, employees will lose respect for you.”

  About his words, I thought: For employees to lose respect for Eliezer, he first has to earn their respect. At the rate he’s going, I doubt he’ll accomplish that.

  I came back to reality. Another rush of blood flushed my face. What I would have given to make myself very small or invisible! How embarrassing! He’s never scolded me like this before.

  The lines on Eliezer’s forehead became more stressed as he bit his lower lip. I already knew that grimace well. It was only a matter of time and boom!

  “Are you done?” he asked and got up to leave.

  “Not yet.” His voice became deeper. He was not addressing the two of us but rather Eliezer. “I can understand whatever anger you may feel towards me. It’s something that we can and should discuss in another conversation. What I don’t understand nor will I allow is you lack of respect towards Miranda or any other person at the office. I suggest that you leave your bad mood at home and don’t take it to Medika.”

  He turned the chair and changed his focus.

  “Miranda, Eliezer is now the highest authority in Medika, your boss. Although you know the company better than anyone else, you must respect my son and follow his instructions to the letter. Otherwise you would be acting in an insubordinate manner and you would give him the reason that he so needs to kick you out of the company that you have helped me build with so much effort.”

  Neither one of us made a move in self-defense. With our silence we admitted our faults. The performance had ended for Norman. “Well, mission accomplished. If you wish to keep me company, both of you are more than welcome.”

  As I got up off the couch, Eliezer had left the room without saying a word.

  I took that opportunity to make a confession.

  “What reason is there for me to stay at Medika, Norman? You have been updated on the arguments between your son and I. In case you hadn’t noticed, he is not going to change simply because you order him to after disappearing for two decades. And I will not allow him to treat me like trash.”

  Norman returned to his previous speech.

  “Both of you will have to change your behavior.”

  “We are going to end up killing each other! That’s what will happen!”

  He lowered his head.

  “You can do better than that, Miranda. That is why I need you.”

  I took his chin and forced him to look at me.

  “Wouldn’t it have been easier for you to let me be in charge?”

  He let out a sigh like the one that had come from me that he had criticized earlier.

  “That part was not negotiable,” he grimaced, an assertion that, in fact, he had no other choice. His voice cracked. “It’s what I had to sacrifice for Eliezer to come back.”

  “And why do you want me to stay? You know I don’t have a problem leaving to go work somewhere else, with no regrets. I understand your situation.”

  “Even if you think you understand my situation, it’s not like you think. It’s more complicated than an attempt at peace between father and son. I need you, Miranda. You are who he should have been.” I was insulted and I couldn’t hide it: I bit my cheek and my eyes got watery. “Don’t misunderstand me, Miranda. I was referring to who you are as a person. You have a noble heart, you’re compassionate, and you understand Medika’s purpose. On the other hand, Eliezer...” He closed his eyes, in an attempt to get away from reality. “He is selfish, arrogant, overbearing, and pretentious.”

  I was surprised to hear that he described his son with same adjectives that I would have used.

  “I don’t know what to do Norman. I really don’t know. This is too much...”

  Norman approached me and
caressed my bangs. He pinched my cheek. “Just say that I can count on you.”

  I had no choice other than to tell him the whole truth.

  “Did you know that your son thinks I’m... your lover?”

  Norman dropped his head back and he let out a laugh. I laughed too. “Well, that is the decent word for what he thinks of me.”

  “Don’t give it any weight. He is very hurt. And if I’m not mistaken, he must also be jealous of you. I don’t blame him. Even I would be jealous.” It seemed to me as if Margaret was speaking.

  “You excuse him too?”

  “Not exactly but he is my biological son, Miranda and I have him back after so many years.”

  I felt how hard it was for Norman to put me in this situation. Even if it upset me, I could understand... I think.

  He repeated: “Just say that I can count on you, please.”

  “And how can I refuse?”

  I let the tears run down my cheeks.

  “But hurry and get through your vacation quickly, please. You need to manage your affairs. I won’t last you your whole life.” I smiled at him mischievously. Remember Margaret’s words: The day will come when prince charming steals your heart and takes you away.

  “Yes, yes, yes. And you’ll forget about this old man.” He smiled and whispered: “But just between us, it’s getting late for you.”

  “Please,” my face flushed a bit.

  “Enjoy life! Get out! Fall in love! Live once and for all, please!”

  “The injuries have definitely affected your head.” That was my good bye.

  I took my purse and walked out.

  “Thank you, darling!”

  His words reached me in the hallway outside the room.

  What more can I do to ‘live,’ as you say? My life, after all is a fairy tale. I’ve never wanted for anything, thanks to you.

  Eliezer

  “Leave her alone! Stop! Let her go! Please... Daddy...”

  “Don’t hold back,” the male voice ordered.

  It excited me to see his eyes darken with the pounding of my hips. That was my god, and I felt like a goddess on his throne. Ahh! What a delight it was to feel those hands–those hands that roamed from my shoulders to the forbidden part of my back and abused my breasts with passion and fury.

  In the middle of the ecstasy, a sudden thought: it’s impossible for someone’s hands to roam two parts of my body at once!

  The intruding hands took hold of my hair, forcing me to pay homage to the erect god before me, miraculously letting his body slam against mine, invading me. Oh! The smell of that skin condensed in the air! Ahh! Ohh!

  A second masculine voice interrupted, “Is that how you lust for us, you slut?”

  What the hell?

  ***

  That morning Eliezer held an unusual meeting. Medika directors were present. I was the last one to enter the conference room–not because I was late, but because I was the last one to be notified.

  How could I look him in the eyes after that dumb dream I had last night?

  He had not yet made his spectacular entrance into the room. As I approached the table, several co-workers would ask me if I knew what the meeting was all about. I gave everyone the same muted response: “No idea,”as I shrugged my shoulders.

  Eliezer arrived like a tornado: walking quickly with his jacket flowing behind him, making noise with the heels of his shoes, with an air of danger, death and destruction. He sat at the head of the conference table, which had another eleven spaces. He did not say good morning.

  “I have called you here to make you aware of several announcements related to changes in the organization.”

  I raised my head. I looked at him with that look that I sometimes throw at Norman when I was afraid of something.

  Changes! What changes?

  “I have decided that the number of employees has to be reduced to increase operational efficiency. You have fifteen days to present proposals for your respective departments and convince me that they make more sense than mine.”

  All heads turned towards me, looking surprised, as if I had something to do with it. They were stunned by the words they were hearing. I did not know what to tell them with my glances, since Medika had no vulnerabilities. The company’s financial standing was optimal. On what basis does this damned bastard dare propose these changes if he’s only been at the helm for a week and doesn’t even know how to do his job properly?”

  “Let’s see Eliezer… First of all, when will we see your proposals?”

  The others turned their heads again and looked at their heartless and irrational boss. Eliezer stopped looking at the wall and turned to face me. With a look he told me that he knew very well what the purpose of my question was.

  “If you’ll allow me, International, I will present them next.”

  Those present looked at me again with the same astonished looks.

  “Miranda, or if you’re more comfortable, Wise.”

  “Yes, excuse me for making you feel uncomfortable. Anyway, don’t you manage that division?”

  The five seconds of silence that filled the room seemed like an eternity. That was his declaration of war. While the conflict was private, I could handle it, but now he made it public.

  “Then, I’ll continue…”

  He began a parade of proposals, whose goal, of course, was staff reduction.

  I could not say they were crazy proposals, because they weren’t. It just wasn’t the time to implement them. When necessary they could be carried out long term at companies with financial difficulties, but that was not the case with Medika. We had more than two hundred and fifty million dollars in cash flow, and in the last ten years, the business was growing in double digits. Changes were not needed at this time.

  I watched as each director’s made a face when they understood the impact the proposals would have in their respective areas. After Eliezer presented each proposal, the ones most affected searched my face, demanding help, hoping that, for the love of God, I would say something, but I wasn’t the person to whom they should be looking for refuge from the storm. When I heard what Eliezer would do with my division, I did not find anyone to look to for help.

  “Eliezer...” I interrupted.

  “Yes, Wise,” he responded, and apparently he could predict me, because he responded before I finished uttering his name.

  “It seems to me that the proposals would be relevant if we were in a difficult financial situation. That’s not the case. We have two-hundred fifty million in cash flow.”

  “Two-hundred forty-nine to be exact.” Surprising. So soon and the figures were already clear in his mind.

  “Then, what’s the purpose of these changes?”

  “As I mentioned a few minutes ago, efficiencies. Weren’t you paying attention?”

  If he thought he would do it, he was wrong. I wouldn’t let him ridicule me in front of my co-workers.

  “I think that before speaking of changes and efficiencies, you must first understand their potential impact in depth, and even more importantly, understand what we do.”

  “That won’t be necessary. I know enough to make these decisions. Besides, what are all of you here for? It’s the responsibility of each and every one of the directors present here to adapt their departments to the new reality.”

  True. Our responsibility was to adapt our department and make sure that we continue fulfilling our commitments and providing results. Even so, Eliezer was out of touch with reality, with the company’s mission, with its true reason for being.

  “Let’s say that my first action with this adaptation plan would be to extend an invitation to my boss to get to know the reality of my department. We leave in two days.” I said that with a smile on my lips.

  Everyone present focused completely on Eliezer’s face. As much as he wanted to, as did I, he could not say no to my invitation. Suddenly, the idea of being in his company turned my stomach. How could I ever engage in such madness? I almost buried my
head in the papers on the enormous table.

  He stared at me as if his look could destroy me. His jaw shifted. He was about to lose control. It was a matter of seconds before he would explode, but as quickly as it came… it went. He overcame his sudden bad temper. He stopped tightening his jaw and the muscles in his face relaxed.

  “Invitation accepted. This meeting has concluded.”

  The others left the conference room as quickly as age allowed them to, but I was last. I went by him not realizing that I had made a grave error: I let my guard down.

  Eliezer grabbed me by the left arm and prevented me from walking any further. He tightened his grip hard until I let him know with a look that it was painful.

  “What is your intention, you slut?” he demanded, in a low voice that masked his rage.

  I paid him little attention. I looked at his hand, which was hurting my arm more and more. When I looked up, he slowly freed me from the pain.

  “My intention is to make the right decisions in line with the current reality.” I raised may hand. I was about to slap him. Instead I gave him courteous warning. “Don’t ever hurt me again, Eliezer, or you’ll have big problems. And don’t ever touch me again, let alone that way.”

  My words made him reason. He looked at the redness and finger marks on my arm. His expression changed. He understood that he was still screwing up, and that a complaint for battery and workplace harassment would soon be knocking at his door.

  The rage that my defiance provoked in him had blinded him. I knew his weakness. I smiled internally. Is it so easy to make you lose control and explode, dear Eliezer?

  “I’ll talk to Margaret and ask her to check your agenda and coordinate the details. I assume that you won’t travel on a commercial airline, or am I wrong?” Sarcasm slipped out with the question.

  “There’s no need to play the common person. Much less in the countries I expect we’ll visit.” His mouth contorted in contempt as he finished talking.

  I was lost in his eyes for a few seconds.

  “Too bad that eye color and last name are the only things you share with Norman!”

  He was not expecting that comment, but he gave a short dark laugh that ended in a bite to the corner of his lower lip. He glanced at my arm, surely to check that the evidence of his rage had vanished.