Chapter 73 - Karen, Testing The Waters?

Chapter - 73

Alex finally got to his room with the help of his father. He didn't need his help, but his old man was adamant about tucking him to bed. Silly old man.

After he got into his room, the first thing he did was pull out his phone and decided to call Karen. It was only right of him to give her a heads up that he might not come tomorrow. Karen was quite understanding she wouldn't refuse. Just when he was about to call her, his phone rang.

** Ring! Ring!

Ellaine's name flashed on the screen.

Alex picked it up, "Hello".

"Newbie, are you alright? Heard you got injured today?" Ellaine asked from the other side. Though she was not talking to him for some time, she was the first to call and ask about his well-being. And unlike her usual teasing tone, she genuinely sounded worried.

"I am fine, just some small injuries," Alex told her.

"Amber told us what happened. You can take a week's leave. Karen has already agreed to it. So rest well and come back soon," Ellaine told Alex. Just when Alex was getting moved by her concern, Ellaine poured water on his sentiments, "I can't have my coffee boy out of commission for long, can I?" Ellaine ruined it all.

Alex just sighed at his fate.

"Did I just hear you sigh? Are you dissatisfied?" Ellaine was back to her superior mode.

"No... No... How can that be? It's my privilege and honour to serve you," Alex tried to flatter her.

"At least you understand," Ellaine did not pursue the matter and hung up.

"Hmmm... Ummm... Ellaine?" Alex agreed with Ellaine.

"Hmm... What is it?" Ellaine asked. She hoped that he was not going to bring up the matter from that day.

"About that day... I am..." Alex wanted to apologise for the way he conducted himself the day they went for dinner.

"Okay... Now Rest well. Good night," Ellaine said and hung up the call.

Alex stared at the phone and sighed. Ellaine has still not let go of the matter from that day. After that, Alex received calls from Jennifer and Hazel too. Jennifer, like always, was very much formal with him. All she asked was, 'How are you feeling?' and advised him to take care of himself. Hazel, on the other hand, was almost along the lines of Ellaine. She started off good, but in the end, was more concerned for her errand boy. Amber also called to check whether he had any problem reaching home.

All this while Alex could not call Karen. By the time he was done with the last of calls, he was dead tired. He threw his phone aside and just lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling.

'I will call her tomorrow. Moreover, she knows that I won't be coming tomorrow, so it won't be a big deal anyway,' Alex thought to himself. He was annoyed by how easily he was getting injured nowadays. What will Karen and the others will think about him? And what about Margaret? She will think of him as some wimpy, wuss a puss.

But before long, his phone rang again, interrupting his thoughts. He didn't have the energy to explain again and again to everyone what happened with him today. But soon the phone rang again. Annoyed by the persistence of the person, Alex picked it up without even looking at the caller ID.

"Who is it?" Alex sounded lazy and unbothered as he answered the call.

"It's me, Karen".

"Karen?" Alex looked at the caller ID and realized, "Karen! I mean, Chief. I didn't know it was your call" Alex almost freaked out. The way he replied was rude, and he knew that.

"Looks like I caught you at the wrong time. I have been trying for some time now but couldn't get through," Karen said, "Fought with your girlfriend?" Karen asked.

"Girlfriend? You must be joking. I don't have a girlfriend, and you know that" Alex laughed a bit as he said.

"Oh, is that so? Anyway, I didn't call you for that," Karen's heart felt tingly after hearing Alex. Her mood became better all of a sudden, "I just wanted to know how are you feeling? Were the injuries severe?" Karen finally talked about why she called.

"Nothing serious. I just tore my ligament, so I am having a bit of trouble walking. Apart from that, everything is top-notch," Alex told her. Now he was not annoyed at all. Alex loved watching movies at 1.25x, but right now, he was hoping that the time would pass by at 0.5x.

"Is that all?" Karen asked.

"Totally,"

"How can you get yourself injured again?" Karen asked, "It has been just about a week when you came all bruised up to work. Be honest with me Alex, are you in some kind of street gang. Like those motorbike gangs and stuff?" Karen asked. And it didn't sound like she was joking.

Alex was embarrassed when he heard her, "Last time you could say that I was unlucky, but this time I was doing a good deed," Alex tried to justify.

"I heard it from Amber..." Karen said, and there was a long pause.

"...And I am proud of you," Karen whispered.

Alex was left breathless hearing that husky voice of Karen.

"So I am giving you two days leave of absence. Let me know if you can't make it after two days," Karen said, bringing him back from his fantasy.

"Thanks, Chief. I will surely be there after two days, don't worry," Alex was more enthusiastic than ever.

"Don't rush it. Now rest well, good night," Karen said.

"Good night, chief," Alex said, "And dream about me," Alex whispered.

"Wha..." Karen was left stumped, but Alex had already hung up.

"That glib tongue..." Karen shook her head as she smiled, looking at her phone.

Ending her call, Alex also got busy surfing his phone while he smiled for no reason at all. But his smile seized when he came across some photos. These were the photos clicked by Annie while they were playing together. Reminiscing about her, Alex remembered the conversation between Amber and Claire outside of her chamber.

"She is autistic," Alex heard Claire say.

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