Miranda (10 page)

“I’ve been witness to how Norman collected them. He treasures them. He has spent hours in front of these paintings, admiring them, and I’m not going to let you, on a whim, remove them from here. What about these paintings bother you so much?”

He pushed me out of his way with his arm. He began to throw the paintings down to the floor. He took one in his hands and smashed the canvas.

I couldn’t stand the pain. In the nick of time I got to the second painting before he could destroy it. I confronted him and grabbed the painting by the other end. We looked like two kids at war over a toy. When he felt my resistance, he froze. I felt like he suddenly regained his reason.

His breathing settled down, the blood accumulated in his face dissipated, perhaps going back to his brain.

My soul was in pieces. I didn’t care about showing him weakness. A tear rolled down my cheek.

“Surely, there are people watching and listening. I’m asking you, please, let’s calm down.”

He yielded. His hands let go of the painting. I let myself fall to the floor, straining to hold up the painting with my hands. Eliezer kept his eyes on me, waiting and wishing for me to burst into tears.

Another tear got away from me. I spoke in a voice that was barely audible.

“If the problem is that you don’t want the paintings at Medika, I’ll make sure that they won’t be here anymore.”

I put down the rescued painting and took the torn one in my hands, fumbling with the canvas, as though I would be able to put it back together. I don’t know how much longer Eliezer stayed in my office. When I noticed that he moved away, I felt the tension of victory in the air that he left in his wake.

When the door closed, I exploded. I burst into tears. I was short of breath and had a powerful pain in my chest. In seconds, the door opened again.

“Miranda…” It was Margaret’s voice. “Are you ok?”

“What do you think?”

Margaret helped pick me up off the floor. That was no place for me, it never was, and never would be, despite the arrival of that cursed man.

“What was all of that?”

“I don’t know, but one of us has to go or we’ll end up killing each other.

“Girl, don’t say things like that!”

“That man is a disgusting human being–an animal! He’s the living antithesis of his father. He detests me!”

“No, no. You have to give him time…”

The forgiveness that Margaret externalized regarding him surprised me. I grimaced. Tears came forth.

He said that I was Norman’s slut.

“God! What are you saying? It can’t be!”

She had to sit down to assimilate my words.

“So, Margaret, what do I do? Should I give him more time to find another opportunity to insult me again… or worse? I just met this person yesterday, and today he calls me a whore. To top it off, he tells me that if it were up to him, he would have fired me before setting foot here.”

Margaret didn’t lose her expression of incredulity and shock. She knew Eliezer, and by the sadness that could be seen in her eyes, I could be sure that I was describing a stranger to her. The seconds of silence allowed her to formulate a way to temporarily relieve the pain.

“Why don’t you go on a trip for a few days? That way, with some distance, things will calm down, and you’ll give him space for him to reconsider, be himself, and to settle down.”

“Now I am the one who must disappear?” I snapped.

“Miranda…”

Her tone was maternal and friendly. I tried to smile.

“I’ll think over what I’ll do before running like prey.”

***

During the evening, Eliezer and I crossed paths on various occasions. It was a struggle to make eye contact with him out of pure courtesy; he acted as though nothing had happened. He walked around sure of himself. He reminded me of a Komodo Dragon: so toxic… hoping to sink its fangs into its victims so that it can then watch and wait for death to come.

***

Margaret would think that it was because I followed her advice, but no. That same evening I had to confirm a flight to Panama for the next morning. I had to sign a contract with the government in person.

In Panama, Norman called me. He asked me to visit him as soon as I returned. Upon disconnecting, I had stupid thoughts:
What news would he give me now? Who else would he be tempted to install at the firm? His wife, my new personal assistant?

I laughed.

“That slut has balls. We’ll see who has the bigger ones.”

Visiting Norman at the rehabilitation center didn’t fill me with as much sadness as when visiting him at the hospital. The center had a positively charged atmosphere. Those who went there had survived some accident that had taken them to death’s door. Many needed therapy to regain function in some part of the body. In contrast to the hospital, it was a private institution. The surroundings were well cared for, the spaces appeared very organized, and the aesthetics, in general, were adequate. The design of the rooms provided maximum privacy for patients and their guests. It was so comfortable that each room even had a small living room.

The door to Norman’s room was ajar when I arrived. I found him seated in a wheelchair that matched the set of furniture that decorated the small living room. His face showed improvement. He still couldn’t walk, which is why he would stay seated most of the day. The intensive daily therapy promised that, little by little, he would recover his mobility.

Norman rewarded me with a smile when seeing me. That smile to which I was accustomed, even with its seductive contours, was the closest I had to the smile of a father. Even though I respected him just like any daughter would respect and love her father, I admit that, on occasions, it was difficult for me to erase how attractive he really was from my mind. In fact, even though there were no blood ties between us, I had spent the last few years fighting with that box where I kept those luxurious and nearly incestuous thoughts.

Reaching out toward me, he ordered me to come closer. We lost ourselves in an embrace. I sighed profoundly and involuntarily.

“What’s that about?” His look puzzled me.

“What?”

I accommodated myself in the love seat adjacent to his wheelchair.

“Your sigh… it almost alleviated the weight that I carried.” Norman knew me very well.

“Do you think that everyone else has been out shopping while you enjoy a well deserved but forced vacation?” In my thoughts, I added:
Maybe it would be better for us to change the topic of conversation or I’ll tell you that your son is the most malicious psychopath in history and that he’s unhinging my life.

“Someone must sacrifice themselves and work.”

A smile that was more plastic than Tupperware masked his curiosity. He didn’t buy the story, but for all purposes, he dropped his guard.

“I see that your recovery continues progressing. I’m very happy about that… seriously, very happy.”

He again gave me that smile.

“I know, Miranda.”

“I confess that the night of the accident my hopes were almost nil.” I looked down. “You looked so bad! So wrecked! I thought I would lose you.”

A sharp, painful, and suffocating feeling overcame me for an instant. If we made eye contact, I would surely start crying. My family consisted of only one person: Norman.

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.”