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Authors: Tess Allen
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order to appear more approachable to its customers; to be more ‘customer friendly’ is how it had been explained to me during an earlier visit. Well, you can wash that down the drain, I thought.
I noticed Annette, Delmar Bates’ secretary, who had called and talked to Carolyn, wasn’t at her desk, but I spied her a little further back, laughing and talking to an older woman who I knew was a bank officer. I wasn’t going to wait for anyone to give me permission to approach the two of them. I was just going to do what I had to do.
The older woman, I suddenly remembered her name was Evelyn, saw me coming. She cleared her throat loudly causing Annette to look around. Annette stepped back defensively as I came nearer and I thought, how ridiculous. What did she think I was going to do?
“Annette,” I said, trying to pretend I wasn’t the least bit upset. “I’m so glad you’re here. I called earlier and was told you were unavailable. I came on down in person because there is some type of misunderstanding that I need to get straightened out.”
Annette swallowed and looked towards Evelyn for support. “I can’t help you, Rowena. Sorry,” she turned towards me and threw out the palms of her hands. “This is way, way over my head.”
Evelyn nodded. “Mine too.”
I noticed a number of the people working at nearby desks had paused and their attention was now trained on us. I shook my head to clear it. This couldn’t be happening to me again, I thought. Wasn’t it just yesterday that I was in a public place with people staring at me like I was green or something? I fought desperately to keep my composure, but it was becoming a losing battle.
“Well I can appreciate that, Annette, and you too Evelyn, but I assure you I’d be able to appreciate it a hell of a lot better if I knew what in the hell was going on here!”
I hadn’t raised my voice. I’d spoken through clenched teeth, but I had not raised my voice.
Evelyn attempted to take charge. She stood up and came around to where I was. I saw her tilt her head slightly and something made me glance around. The tilt was a summons for the security guard to come to where we were. It was clear she intended for him to escort me from the bank.
Annette looked at me miserably. “Why don’t you just leave, Rowena. Don’t embarrass your self by having to be escorted out,” she whispered. “I am really very, very sorry about this. Believe me.”
Suddenly I knew I didn’t want them treating me like I was a common criminal, and I knew that anything was subject to happen if he actually put his hands on me. This has got to be a nightmare , I thought. I have obviously entered the Twilight Zone and I need to go!
With all eyes on me I turned around and slowly exited the bank.
Chapter Thirteen
I opened my door and was about to step into my car when I heard it.
“Psst! Psst! Ms.Wilkes!”
I couldn’t see her, but I knew who it was calling me. I finally spotted her sitting in a car parked three over from where mine was parked. A dark complexed, good looking Latino man was behind the wheel and Elsa was in the passenger’s seat beside him. She beckoned to me.
There was a slight smile on her face as I approached. “Ms. Wilkes, this is my boyfriend, Pedro.”
Pedro nodded but didn’t say anything. What an odd time to be introducing me to your boyfriend, I thought. My world is falling apart and you’ve played at least a small part in it. She quickly started to explain.
“I was just telling Pedro about what they was doing to you and he said it wasn’t fair. That I should let you know what was going on.” She looked down at her long, beautifully manicured red nails before looking back up at me. “I just told him I could lose my job, but he said right is right, he’s got a job if they do fire me.”
I glanced gratefully at the young man, but he kept his attention focused on Elsa. You’ve got you something here, young lady , I thought, but I didn’t
I noticed Annette, Delmar Bates’ secretary, who had called and talked to Carolyn, wasn’t at her desk, but I spied her a little further back, laughing and talking to an older woman who I knew was a bank officer. I wasn’t going to wait for anyone to give me permission to approach the two of them. I was just going to do what I had to do.
The older woman, I suddenly remembered her name was Evelyn, saw me coming. She cleared her throat loudly causing Annette to look around. Annette stepped back defensively as I came nearer and I thought, how ridiculous. What did she think I was going to do?
“Annette,” I said, trying to pretend I wasn’t the least bit upset. “I’m so glad you’re here. I called earlier and was told you were unavailable. I came on down in person because there is some type of misunderstanding that I need to get straightened out.”
Annette swallowed and looked towards Evelyn for support. “I can’t help you, Rowena. Sorry,” she turned towards me and threw out the palms of her hands. “This is way, way over my head.”
Evelyn nodded. “Mine too.”
I noticed a number of the people working at nearby desks had paused and their attention was now trained on us. I shook my head to clear it. This couldn’t be happening to me again, I thought. Wasn’t it just yesterday that I was in a public place with people staring at me like I was green or something? I fought desperately to keep my composure, but it was becoming a losing battle.
“Well I can appreciate that, Annette, and you too Evelyn, but I assure you I’d be able to appreciate it a hell of a lot better if I knew what in the hell was going on here!”
I hadn’t raised my voice. I’d spoken through clenched teeth, but I had not raised my voice.
Evelyn attempted to take charge. She stood up and came around to where I was. I saw her tilt her head slightly and something made me glance around. The tilt was a summons for the security guard to come to where we were. It was clear she intended for him to escort me from the bank.
Annette looked at me miserably. “Why don’t you just leave, Rowena. Don’t embarrass your self by having to be escorted out,” she whispered. “I am really very, very sorry about this. Believe me.”
Suddenly I knew I didn’t want them treating me like I was a common criminal, and I knew that anything was subject to happen if he actually put his hands on me. This has got to be a nightmare , I thought. I have obviously entered the Twilight Zone and I need to go!
With all eyes on me I turned around and slowly exited the bank.
Chapter Thirteen
I opened my door and was about to step into my car when I heard it.
“Psst! Psst! Ms.Wilkes!”
I couldn’t see her, but I knew who it was calling me. I finally spotted her sitting in a car parked three over from where mine was parked. A dark complexed, good looking Latino man was behind the wheel and Elsa was in the passenger’s seat beside him. She beckoned to me.
There was a slight smile on her face as I approached. “Ms. Wilkes, this is my boyfriend, Pedro.”
Pedro nodded but didn’t say anything. What an odd time to be introducing me to your boyfriend, I thought. My world is falling apart and you’ve played at least a small part in it. She quickly started to explain.
“I was just telling Pedro about what they was doing to you and he said it wasn’t fair. That I should let you know what was going on.” She looked down at her long, beautifully manicured red nails before looking back up at me. “I just told him I could lose my job, but he said right is right, he’s got a job if they do fire me.”
I glanced gratefully at the young man, but he kept his attention focused on Elsa. You’ve got you something here, young lady , I thought, but I didn’t
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