Part 5

My morning routine is the same on a daily, but today, there is no walking to work, no buying coffee because my boss is picking me up as we are going to the High Court. The Bradley Case, oh this one is taking longer than expected. Mr. and Mrs. Bradley got divorced 2 Years ago. When they got divorced Mrs. Bradley was pregnant but they didn’t know. A few months down the line the twins were born, now former Mrs. Bradley is refusing Mr. Bradley custody of their Twin Boys. He wanted Joint custody but now he wants full custody.

I heard former Mrs. Bradley is refusing joint or full custody because she doesn’t trust the women Mr. Bradley hangs around and also she doesn’t think her children will be safe with him because of the kind of business he is into. She however said that he can come and visit them at her house and when they turn 18 they can have joint custody but now she has to protect them. When my boss arrives he finds me seated by the gate, I’m always early when we go to court because if he doesn’t find me outside, he leaves me behind and scolds me on the way back.

I was only late once, he saw me, trust me he did because when he was stopping by the gate, I was almost there. I was walking and when I saw the car I started running but he left me, he didn’t even stop for 30 seconds no he just saw that I’m not where he wanted me to be and left. I had to Uber myself there and he kept on calling me asking me where I was but he saw me and left me. So I make sure I am at least 15 minutes early I don’t want to take chances. I love my peace and if I get to work on time, buy him coffee and do my job, he doesn’t scold me, so whatever he wants me to do, I always make sure I do it with a little bit of time to spear.

This custody battle is tiring and what I don’t like is what Mr. Bradley is planning, I heard he is in some kind of mafia group here in Cape Town. So if and when he loses this case Former Mrs. Bradley’s life will be in danger because he told my boss he wants to groom them and I quote “I have to train my boys, they are easy to groom when they are young” so I get why she is refusing him custody, she knows.

We spent almost the whole day here we had so many recessions because they kept exchanging words in a not so polite manner. We leave the High Court at around half past 2 and I know the day is far from being over. I have to get to the office compile everything and have it by his desk before closing time today. On the way, my stomach starts rumbling and he looks at me “Eat you won’t find time when we get to the office” he says.

I take out my lunch box and take bites while looking at him. If I’m being honest I have never seen my boss eat, he is always drinking coffee, on days we go out with clients he tells the waiters “coffee and keep it coming” did I tell you he likes it black? Like black black with no sugar. Imagine, I’m sure it tastes horrible. He then tells me “order something, I need you at 100”. I am a bit grumpy when I’m hungry if not by choice, sometimes I cry, so he wants me fed all the time because in his words “I don’t know how to handle women crying so always make sure you have enough food, ok?”. So I always eat but today I couldn’t because we were so busy even during the many recessions we had. 

“Is something the matter? Melissa?” He says. Oh I have been staring, “Boss?” I say “You were looking at me funny, what is the matter?” he says. “I’m sorry, I was just looking outside then I started compiling everything in my head” I say lying. I was looking at him thinking to myself if he is human or not because who lives on coffee. “OK next time look through your window” he says “Noted boss” I say. Awkward!! I continue eating looking outside ‘My window’ and by the time we get to the office, I am done and ready to work. By quarter to 4 I stand up and knock on his door. “Enter” he says. That’s how he answers every time.

I give him the files and I tell him I am about to leave. He gives me money for the coffee I buy each morning and I leave. You know what’s funny he has a coffee maker in his office and he drinks coffee that he makes himself through out the day but the morning coffee always has to be from the Coffee shop, I think it’s a routine because even when we go to Court, he buys it himself. I leave him here everyday, I sometimes wonder what time he goes home, at least I know he goes somewhere and doesn’t sleep here because I get here before him, if I found him here already in the morning I would really think he leaves here.

I get to my desk and start packing up my stuff, take my earphones out and start playing my music very low so that if my boss calls me I will be able to hear him. I head out but I am stopped by a lady who works here as a cleaner “excuse me my child” she says. This is weird, I have never had a conversation with anyone here except my boss if we can call him ordering me around having a conversation. Don’t get me wrong I do greet everyone. I just don’t stop and ask how their family, friends or pets are doing. So this right here is shocking to me. “Good day Ma, how are you?” I say stopping and taking my earphones out trying not to be rude.

She is my elder after all. “I am good, I couldn’t sleep last night because I was worried about you after what happened and when I didn’t see you this morning I got really really worried because I thought you didn’t come to work because of him. Are you OK?” she asks. “Thank you Ma. I am ok as you can see, nothing shakes me. I never let anyone’s insecurities affect me” I say “I am here if you need to talk” she says and my mind starts racing ‘please don’t ask for my numbers’ ” Thank you, I will keep that in mind. See you tomorrow Ma” I say. “Anytime, bye” she says and I leave giving glory to God because she didn’t ask for my numbers, oh that would have been torture.