3.
The next morning, I came into the office.
I'd barely reached the break room when Caleb walked over, all smiles.
"Joseph, things got a little heated yesterday. Let me pour you a cup of tea instead of a drink, as a peace offering."
"After all, from here on out we'll both be working hard for Polly's company."
Smiling, he lifted the cup toward me.
Just then someone passed by.
"Caleb knows his manners. Fresh at the company and already toasting his boss first."
"Joseph, one of your people is honoring you. It'd be rude not to drink."
I frowned and reached to take it.
But before my hand touched the cup, Caleb let go.
Scalding tea poured down the front of my shirt.
The burn spread across my skin.
I looked at Caleb, cold.
"You did that on purpose?"
Right then, Polly walked over.
Caleb put on a wounded face.
"Joseph, if you've got a problem with me, just tell me and I'll fix it."
"But you shouldn't go hurting yourself just to make trouble for me."
"I know you don't want me getting close to Polly. Fine, from now on I'll stay far away from her."
Hearing that, Polly flew into a rage.
"Joseph Dickerson, isn't giving me that face at home enough for you?!"
"You come to the office and start harassing Caleb too. Do you even want this job anymore?!"
I looked at her.
"He let go on purpose. He burned me."
But she wasn't hearing any of it.
"Quit playing the victim. Caleb would never do something like that!"
"Get back to your desk. If I catch you going after him again, don't blame me for not being nice about it!"
I had just turned away when I heard Caleb speak again, this time in French.
"Polly, Joseph really seems to have it out for me. Maybe I should just go back to France?"
At that, Polly answered him in French.
"Fine. If you don't want to stay here, I'll go back with you. I'll buy tomorrow's tickets in a bit."
"But what about Joseph? You two are married, after all…"
"I stopped loving him a long time ago. If it weren't for his language skills, I'd have divorced him ages ago."
The disappointment went all the way through me.
In that moment, the last shred of feeling I had for Polly was gone too.
I sent Cole a message.
"Tell Polly there's a shareholders' meeting tomorrow."
"Have legal prepare the evidence and bring it in tomorrow. I want her to see exactly how foolish she's been."
