FIC: Taking Back My Love (3/??)
Title: Taking Back My Love (3/??)
Pairing: Daniel Agger/Martin Skrtel, David Villa, Fernando Torres/ Sergio Ramos (later)
Rating: PG13
Disclaimer: nothing is real!
Summary: Martin was in an abusive relationship. This is a AU fic!
Chapter 3
The man with large luminous eyes sighed sadly. He stared out into the city of lights, outside his full-sized apartment window. He then turned to the man seated on his coach. The living room was lit until it looked as if day had arrived.
'How long have you done this to yourself?' He wanted to say aloud but could not find the courage to do so. It was painful to watch his best friend deteriorate slowly. Dying from what he used to be.
"You can't do this to yourself anymore." He whispered. His friend heard him and turned.
"Can't I?" it was sad, always sad now.
His tone. His eyes. Everything about him spoke of loss and sadness. No longer the viral strength he once possessed. It was as if his life had been snuffed and a shell was left behind. Only sometimes did his old self return, but only for a moment.
"No, you're just hurting yourself."
"You don't need to worry, Sergio."
"I need to worry. Look at you." Sergio pointed. "You're becoming less and less what you once were. Your heart's been melted; now it's fading into thin air. Don't let this happen to yourself, he's gone. He left you."
'Only if you knew why.'
"It couldn't have been Martin." Sergio argued. " Martin was this ugly, scrawny little nuisance you should have thrown out before he managed to hurt you."
'You don't know what happened behind closed doors.'
"He was a brat you should never have given a second thought to. And here you are being stupid and goes ahead and falls in love with him." Sergio sits next to him, quite angry with his friend. "You're a martyr, you know that."
"If only you knew."
"Don't give me that pathetic tone. Stop doing this to yourself. God, that man at the bookstore may have some resemblance to that ugly brat but that wasn't him. He was handsome, confident, arrogant, and had a pretty fucking bitch of a boyfriend. Martin was weak and pathetic. He wasn't handsome, not like that guy." Sergio pulled the cork off the wine bottle.
"Why don't you relax? For all you know, Martin might be dead somewhere. He left you, that's all you need to know and stop beating yourself up for it. After all you've done for him, ungrateful brat. This is how he repays you."
"You don't know what happened between us." Daniel said slowly, his dark eyes darkening still. "Has it ever occur to you that I might have been the one at wrong?"
"You?" Sergio snorted incredulously. "Right! You may be cruel sometimes but you're not that cruel. Anyway, he didn't deserve you. It's been three years; don't you think it's about time you moved on?"
"I loved him."
"Yeah, you told me for a billionth time. I don't need to be reminded. You were obsessed with him. You and you're fucking obsessions. Face it, he's gone."
-----------------
"So what are you going to do now?" David lied on his side, his hand propped to keep his head up while he lied next to me. I sighed as I stare up at my ceiling. Fernando sat behind David and used his shoulder to lean his head on.
"Live my life."
"Now, there's a start." David smiles. "Good, good. What else?"
"Break his heart."
They grew quiet; Fernando and David stared at each other in concern. "What?"
"Make him fall in love with me and then break his heart."
"Martin, this is a dangerous game you're playing." Fernando grabbed my hand. I turn to him and smile.
"I know, but I need to do this. I have to."
"But why? Can't you just pay some guy to kill him or something?"
"No, that's not what I want. I want him to suffer as I have. Make him feel the torment he made me feel."
I know that hatred must have glowed deep within my eyes, Fernando and David understood. I have to do this; this was the only way of finally healing the wounds of my heart, all those nights of tears and pain. This was my only way.
"We'll be right here with you." Fernando and David say in unison.
"I know." I smile at them again. "And thank you for understanding."
David pushed my face away and snorted. "Heck, if I were you, I'd probably do something a lot worst." With this, Fernando bit his arm.
"Ah bitch!" David exclaimed in outrage as he pushed Fernando's head off of his shoulder. "What the hell's your problem!?"
"Nothing, just wanted to bite you." Fernando threw him a smirk, full of mirth. I sat up and rolled my eyes, still feeling my chest constrict with pain as i did so. It's always like this now, sometimes, I would still find myself catching my breath.
"Guys, don't go chopping each other's head off now." I warned, these two could get rough. I watch as the two throw pillows and light jabs at each other.
"Oh I'll chop his head off alright!" Fernando got on his knees and smacked David square on the face with a plump feathered pillow. "The small one so he can't have an orgasm." He declared.
"You Jackass!" David retorted, unperturbed. "You of all people should know that my penis is not my only means of pleasure!" I burst in a fit of laughter while Fernando looked confused and then realization dawned on him and he too laughed. David threw his body on him and they both fell to the floor with shrieks of outrage from Fernando and a menacing laugh from David.
I shake my head at their little play fight. "Guys, I have to go pee." David and Fernando's heads appeared from the floor, breathless. David looked somewhat disgusted and Fernando merely stared at me with his chocolate, exotic orbs.
"And what the hell do you want me to do?" David threw at me. "Hold your dick for you?"
He received another pillow and a slap from Fernando.
"I'll hold it! I'll hold it!" he jumped up giddily and rushed toward me.
"No you FOOL!!!" I clamped both hands over my treasure, there was no way in hell he was going to be holding this. Who knows how sick and perverted he can get from holding it.
"I don't want you to hold it, I just want you to help me to the bathroom. God's lady! I can hold my own dick, thank you."
-------------
Two weeks had passed since I've seen him. And here I am again, back to work. Three ungrateful brats slouching in their seats, at least they know why they're in my office. I press my fingers together and observe them. I know I look as if I'm the calmest, most confident, arrogant, and absolutely heartless person they have ever come across. I present them with neither a smile nor a frown. I separate my hands and place them palm down on my desk as I lean forward and begin the arduous job of firing, and then I decide to place my hands together again and look calmly menacing.
"I'm sure you all know why you three are here?" I raise a brow and they all shuffle in their seats, glaring at me. No one replies and so I continue. "You three are here because a month ago, I had warned all three of you about your performance." They kept glaring at me. Is it my fault that they are incompetent in this field, they probably thought that graphics and arts were easy? I clear my throat and lean back.
"I thought maybe that the warning would prompt you to perform to a more acceptable level. But as I've waited a month, I see no improvement and so I regret to have to fire the three of you." At first there was no such reaction, as if I was joking.
Arrogant bastards.
Then, as I've stared at them, the enormity of my words finally reached their tiny brains and electrons began to fire through their receptors. "What!!!" one of them stands menacingly and slams his fist on my desk. I am unperturbed and merely stare at him. Trust me young man, I have met more menacing people than yourself and you do not compare.
"You cannot fire me!" he said, incredulous. "My father would ruin your ass if you do!!!"
Ah... Good old threats.
"Then, please do, if your father is such a great man then he should understand why I am firing you. Your performance is lacking, as I've said. I don't think he can do anything at this moment. Now, if you will excuse me, I have other matters to attend." I excuse them from my presence and they grumble and threaten me of how their mothers and fathers will come and destroy my career. It's no wonder why this company is failing, with such incompetent bastards as employees; I wonder how it was able to survive this long.
Five minutes from their leave, there is a knock at my office door and I raise my voice to let my appointee in. A tall young man, seemingly shy with his portfolio in his hand. He looks nervous.
"Ah, you must be Martin Kelly." I smile to relieve his tension.
"Yes." He replies timidly. I motioned for him to sit and he does. He was shaking his legs, a sign of his nervousness.
"You are here for the interview correct? Yes... Yes... I know, you're professor has referred you to me and I'm glad that he has. I've seen you're work in his gallery and they are quite astonishing.
“No... No... I don't need to see your portfolio, you're hired." He looks lost, like I've said something in a foreign language.
"Is there a problem?" I asked him. He shakes his head and gape at me.
"Mr. Kelly. This is no joke, I've seen your work and I like it, I think you would improve the situation of this company. You will start tomorrow, if it fits your schedule but I expect you to be going to school so come talk to me in the morning and we shall review your schedule."
He sits there, still at a loss. "Why don't you come with me and I'll show you around." He gets up nervously and waits for me to open the door. This is how I am with all those I hire, powerful artistry in all they do. They deserve more than this. It's unfortunate that they were not discovered earlier and had to live in the shadows of those who could not even use a simple brush. I show him where the studio he will be working at and his eyes sparkle, just like I see in Fernando's when I tell him that I'll be taking him shopping. It's sad really, he should have worked here a long time ago and this room should not have been given to an incompetent brat.
-------------------------
David meets me at the door. He must have realized the frown on my face and asks me what was wrong. I tell him that a complaint had been passed to my chairman about me firing so many people, especially the sons and daughters of powerful families. That I was firing them only because they were rich and I had no other reason.
"Fucking bastards!" he grumbles as he sits in front of me.
"Damn! This is what I hate about the first class society, they think they’re all that. They spoil their children until they are idle and worthless. They had no business working in that company, I doubt that the rightful revenue had been received because of their incompetence."
"I know." I tell him. He snaps his attention back to me. "Well so what, it's your uncle's company and he knows you're a good director and he appointed you this job. To improve the situation and you actually are, for the last five months, you've brought in more propositions than before."
"Yes, but still. These people still have influence on the company."
"And what are they going to do, fire you?" he snorts.
"No, overpower me legally by arbitration."
"We're mediators, why can't we mediate the argument?" he thinks for a moment.
"I think maybe I can convince my company into sending me as aid in this complaint."
"No, they've already moved too fast for me to act. I'll have two days to organize my argument."
"What!?" He stands up and looks as if he could kill someone. You would think that psychiatrists would be calm and serene but this one's not. I want to laugh but I can't because he expects me to be angry along with him. See? All their logical analysis is rubbing off on me; I'm starting to sound like a Psychiatrist.
"They can't do that! That's too short a time for you to even organize your party. Who's going to be you're representative?"
"Me." I tell him and he looks at me like I'm crazy.
"Are you nuts? You can't do that!"
"Yes I can, I guess I'll just need my support."
"And who will they be, novice artists!?"
"No, two social ambassadors." It takes a moment for him to figure out what I just said and his lips curl into a sinister smile and he laughs deep in his throat. A sign that means he'll do it. He rubs his hands together and I could almost see what he's thinking. He calls Fernando from the foot of the stairs and we begin to organize our argument.
-----------------------------
Arbitrators.
Daniel used to work as an arbitrator once but he was only twenty then and maybe he's doing something else. And anyway, this is too powerful an argument for him to be arbitrating. If it deals with the chairman and vice presidents, then he can't be the one arbitrating, it would mean that he'd moved up dramatically in arbitration if he is and it does not take three years to become an arbitrator for leaders. It takes years and years of practice. I tell myself this because the thought of arbitration makes my heart pound in my head and I am finding it difficult to breathe once again.
The room had an oblong conference table, made of dark oak. It's intimidating but it's not my first time being in conferences but it is my first time having to present an argument. We sit on one side and the complaining party sits on the other. There is a full-sized mirror on one wall which I know the arbitrators will be watching us from. They can see us but we can't see them.
The complaining party glares at us as we enter. Three men and two women, one man was familiar to me, I've seen him before. The man at the bookstore with shoulder length hair and luminous eyes, he must be the representative since he held the folder. He almost looks shocked to see me although I don't know why. Fernando trail right behind me and his attention is averted to my cousin and I saw the pleasant expression fall as David enters the room. We sit and instantly, the man begins.
"I am Sergio Ramos. I will be representing the complaining party."
"I am Martin Skrtel and I will represent myself to my defense." He snorts; he knows its suicide to represent yourself in a case but hey, who knows.
Especially when you're the defendant.
Their argument was that I was biased toward the upper class and this was my reason and it was a case of social class discrimination. I should have slapped him silly, I know he didn't make the argument but still, he could have tweaked it a bit to at least sound serious.
It sounded more like a whining child's complaint. 'I have a lot of money and that is why you hate me.' In some cases this is true but hey, I have lots of money too.
It was wrong but as soon as he said the argument, Fernando began to giggle and so did David. I can't blame them, it does sound petulant.
They ask me their questions and the rest of the complaining party still glare at us, they must wonder why we don't fear them. These are people who are used to getting what they want and it doesn't even matter if their case is valid enough, as long as they pay off the arbitrators.
I present my case. "I understand that I am being accused of discrimination. But as you see, I follow the rules. One, you must have a degree to acquire this job, two, you must have experience and a portfolio, a collection of two years preferable three, and three, you must work to keep this job and you must have talent. As you know, those I fired were incompetent."
The other party gasps and they begin to curse at me. I smirk, stupid idiots, don't they know that it only makes them look bad to instigate an argument?
"They did not have a degree, they did not possess a portfolio of their work, the projects they supposedly made during their employment under this company is nonexistent, two, they were lazy, had no sense of duty and responsibility and in plain words, they sucked. They obviously had not developed the left side of their brains and neither did they develop their right. I gave them a chance to prove themselves and they failed, miserable, I might add."
David didn't even have to speak. The discussion was cut short since the complaining party started threatening me. It had to be stopped and an early decision had to be made. For one thing, I think I presented my argument quite well. We waited for the decision in separate rooms. David smacked me upside the head.
"What!?" I scream at him.
"You were too nice!" he screams back.
"You're supposed to be civilized in arbitration."
"Those idiots were not and they completely blew their argument, their representative wasn't much help either, he looked sick when he presented their argument, I bet he saw it only when he presented it." He laughed.
"Wasn't he that same bastard we saw at the bookstore?"
"Yes." I reply.
"Well good, he looks like he had a steel rod up his ass. Probably does, he must have been paid a lot to present that pathetic argument." Fernando and I stare at each other and laugh.
"Well." Fernando stretches. "If you lose, then the arbitrators must have been paid too."
"That's what I'm worried about." What if the arbitrators were paid? Arbitrators are supposed to be unbiased and must consider both parties. This is a win-lose situation. If I lose, then it just shows the inequality of this society.
We are called back into the conference room and the arbitrators are supposed to come in. The other party glares and curses and threatens and we merely sit calmly and wait for the decision.
Sergio kept staring at me and he looked as if he did not like what he saw. He also seemed to think that his party were idiots, which I'm happy about. But good God, doesn't he know it's rude to stare? Yeah, okay, I have a scar on my temple but it's not that amusing that you have to stare at me without blinking.
Stare at Fernando or something, he seemed to have attracted your attention before. I look at Fernando and he knows why I'm staring at him, he takes my hand under the table and rubs it gently. Sergio was making me uncomfortable; there was something about him that told me I should avoid eye contact.
The arbitrators began to pile in. First, a stout middle aged woman who glared at me, at least I know she wasn't very supportive of my case. Then, a man of maybe thirty-five years, he nods and grabs an empty seat. I sigh, maybe the decision was a tie between parties, but to my surprise, the door swings open.
Maybe I was telepathic but before I even saw him, I just knew it was him. His dark suit, his dark brown hair, those dark eyes, his thin lips. I squeeze Fernando's hand and he coughs to hide his gasp as Daniel walked in.
David tells me later that I looked calm but at that moment, I was shaking, my heart pounding, and the sound of my breathing seemed to be too loud. I felt the same cold dread spread through me as if he was once again going to throw me against a wall.
The woman clears her throat. "We've come with a decision, a vote of two to one." She glares at me. Woman, I don't like you either so stop glaring. The arbitrator who nodded loosened his tie.
"Yes," he swallows, "we've reviewed the facts and I am fascinated young man." he turns to me with something akin to admiration in his eyes.
"Brilliant argument, you clearly stuck to the facts." Isn't that what's required in arbitration? Or maybe you just deal with a lot of stupid arguments like this one.
I try to avoid Daniel's eyes but I can't. He stares at me and I stare back at him, expectantly. Then, his eyes slowly turn to Fernando.
"We've decided that the complaint had not based their argument on facts but assumptions." He turns back to me, his eyes firm, yet something else was in them,
Sadness?
My hands are shaking and Fernando tightens his hold on my hand while David grabs the other. I raise a brow.
"And what is the decision?" I asked, sounding somewhat annoyed. The other arbitrator gave a hearty laugh. "Not very patient are we, young man."
"I have better things to do than waste my time on senseless complaints." His smile fades and almost looked disappointed that I was rude.
"I'm sorry." I amended. "This isn't my day." He nods his head again and the smile returns to his eyes.
"Mr. Agger?" he turns to Daniel. I shiver at hearing that name. David pretends to rub my back to hide the movement of my body but Sergio seemed to have seen my reaction, his stare deepened and I'm beginning to dislike him more and more.
"We favor the defendant." He states flatly. I scoff and stand up from my chair. David and Fernando does the same and David let's go of my hand but Fernando doesn't. David gathers our folder, we all gave a curt nod.
"Thank you ladies, gents, but we'll be going now." David leads the way and Fernando and I follow.
"Mr. Skrtel."
Fernando and I both turn at the same time, which was stupid. Of course they were referring to me. I turn to the woman. She looked like she wanted to kill me and all of a sudden, a crystal glass came flying toward my direction and instantly David was in front me.
The glass dodged with his arm as he pushed me behind him. Fernando gave a slight shriek of outrage and before I knew it, he was at her.
"You Fucking BITCH!!!" But David had him in his arms while I tried to recover. Everyone seemed stunned except for the other party. Sergio seemed stunned as well and he looked toward Daniel.
"What the hell's your problem!?" Fernando screamed. "You're lucky you're a woman!" He growled as he tried to loosen David's hold. My chest constricts and my breath begins to thin, my chest begins to hurt and my hand clamp above my heart.
"You okay?" David turns to me and gasp.
"Shit Martin!" he let's go of Fernando.
"I told you to take your pills damn it!!!" He was now holding me to my feet while I tried to catch my breath.
"What's wrong with him?" someone asks, it sounded like Sergio.
"It's his lungs." Fernando says frantically. "Where's the damn box!?"
"It's in the car." David yells at him and he's out of the door. David leads me to a seat. This is not the time to have a freaking lapse. Not now. Come on body, you've never failed me before, recover damn it!
I begin to feel dizzy and I let out a moan as I lean my head back.
"Mr. Johnson." This must have been the other arbitrator. "Please restrain Mrs. Curren." Daniel orders. I see Sergio at my side, glaring down at me.
"Call an ambulance." Someone says. No, I don't need a damned ambulance. I'm fine. David doesn't argue. It seemed like an eternity as I gasp for breath and David had to tilt my head back and keep my back somewhat arch with his arm. Fernando reenters the room and it's the same metallic box. No! Not that, it's going to make me feel fuzzy.
"No." I groan and try to keep a calm front but it doesn't work, I guess I was slurring and mumbling things. My eyes roll back and I feel my suit hastily pulled off of me. My sleeves rolled up to my armpits and I feel the prick of the needle. Soon, I feel the jolt of the stretcher and that's all I remember.
Pairing: Daniel Agger/Martin Skrtel, David Villa, Fernando Torres/ Sergio Ramos (later)
Rating: PG13
Disclaimer: nothing is real!
Summary: Martin was in an abusive relationship. This is a AU fic!
Chapter 3
The man with large luminous eyes sighed sadly. He stared out into the city of lights, outside his full-sized apartment window. He then turned to the man seated on his coach. The living room was lit until it looked as if day had arrived.
'How long have you done this to yourself?' He wanted to say aloud but could not find the courage to do so. It was painful to watch his best friend deteriorate slowly. Dying from what he used to be.
"You can't do this to yourself anymore." He whispered. His friend heard him and turned.
"Can't I?" it was sad, always sad now.
His tone. His eyes. Everything about him spoke of loss and sadness. No longer the viral strength he once possessed. It was as if his life had been snuffed and a shell was left behind. Only sometimes did his old self return, but only for a moment.
"No, you're just hurting yourself."
"You don't need to worry, Sergio."
"I need to worry. Look at you." Sergio pointed. "You're becoming less and less what you once were. Your heart's been melted; now it's fading into thin air. Don't let this happen to yourself, he's gone. He left you."
'Only if you knew why.'
"It couldn't have been Martin." Sergio argued. " Martin was this ugly, scrawny little nuisance you should have thrown out before he managed to hurt you."
'You don't know what happened behind closed doors.'
"He was a brat you should never have given a second thought to. And here you are being stupid and goes ahead and falls in love with him." Sergio sits next to him, quite angry with his friend. "You're a martyr, you know that."
"If only you knew."
"Don't give me that pathetic tone. Stop doing this to yourself. God, that man at the bookstore may have some resemblance to that ugly brat but that wasn't him. He was handsome, confident, arrogant, and had a pretty fucking bitch of a boyfriend. Martin was weak and pathetic. He wasn't handsome, not like that guy." Sergio pulled the cork off the wine bottle.
"Why don't you relax? For all you know, Martin might be dead somewhere. He left you, that's all you need to know and stop beating yourself up for it. After all you've done for him, ungrateful brat. This is how he repays you."
"You don't know what happened between us." Daniel said slowly, his dark eyes darkening still. "Has it ever occur to you that I might have been the one at wrong?"
"You?" Sergio snorted incredulously. "Right! You may be cruel sometimes but you're not that cruel. Anyway, he didn't deserve you. It's been three years; don't you think it's about time you moved on?"
"I loved him."
"Yeah, you told me for a billionth time. I don't need to be reminded. You were obsessed with him. You and you're fucking obsessions. Face it, he's gone."
-----------------
"So what are you going to do now?" David lied on his side, his hand propped to keep his head up while he lied next to me. I sighed as I stare up at my ceiling. Fernando sat behind David and used his shoulder to lean his head on.
"Live my life."
"Now, there's a start." David smiles. "Good, good. What else?"
"Break his heart."
They grew quiet; Fernando and David stared at each other in concern. "What?"
"Make him fall in love with me and then break his heart."
"Martin, this is a dangerous game you're playing." Fernando grabbed my hand. I turn to him and smile.
"I know, but I need to do this. I have to."
"But why? Can't you just pay some guy to kill him or something?"
"No, that's not what I want. I want him to suffer as I have. Make him feel the torment he made me feel."
I know that hatred must have glowed deep within my eyes, Fernando and David understood. I have to do this; this was the only way of finally healing the wounds of my heart, all those nights of tears and pain. This was my only way.
"We'll be right here with you." Fernando and David say in unison.
"I know." I smile at them again. "And thank you for understanding."
David pushed my face away and snorted. "Heck, if I were you, I'd probably do something a lot worst." With this, Fernando bit his arm.
"Ah bitch!" David exclaimed in outrage as he pushed Fernando's head off of his shoulder. "What the hell's your problem!?"
"Nothing, just wanted to bite you." Fernando threw him a smirk, full of mirth. I sat up and rolled my eyes, still feeling my chest constrict with pain as i did so. It's always like this now, sometimes, I would still find myself catching my breath.
"Guys, don't go chopping each other's head off now." I warned, these two could get rough. I watch as the two throw pillows and light jabs at each other.
"Oh I'll chop his head off alright!" Fernando got on his knees and smacked David square on the face with a plump feathered pillow. "The small one so he can't have an orgasm." He declared.
"You Jackass!" David retorted, unperturbed. "You of all people should know that my penis is not my only means of pleasure!" I burst in a fit of laughter while Fernando looked confused and then realization dawned on him and he too laughed. David threw his body on him and they both fell to the floor with shrieks of outrage from Fernando and a menacing laugh from David.
I shake my head at their little play fight. "Guys, I have to go pee." David and Fernando's heads appeared from the floor, breathless. David looked somewhat disgusted and Fernando merely stared at me with his chocolate, exotic orbs.
"And what the hell do you want me to do?" David threw at me. "Hold your dick for you?"
He received another pillow and a slap from Fernando.
"I'll hold it! I'll hold it!" he jumped up giddily and rushed toward me.
"No you FOOL!!!" I clamped both hands over my treasure, there was no way in hell he was going to be holding this. Who knows how sick and perverted he can get from holding it.
"I don't want you to hold it, I just want you to help me to the bathroom. God's lady! I can hold my own dick, thank you."
-------------
Two weeks had passed since I've seen him. And here I am again, back to work. Three ungrateful brats slouching in their seats, at least they know why they're in my office. I press my fingers together and observe them. I know I look as if I'm the calmest, most confident, arrogant, and absolutely heartless person they have ever come across. I present them with neither a smile nor a frown. I separate my hands and place them palm down on my desk as I lean forward and begin the arduous job of firing, and then I decide to place my hands together again and look calmly menacing.
"I'm sure you all know why you three are here?" I raise a brow and they all shuffle in their seats, glaring at me. No one replies and so I continue. "You three are here because a month ago, I had warned all three of you about your performance." They kept glaring at me. Is it my fault that they are incompetent in this field, they probably thought that graphics and arts were easy? I clear my throat and lean back.
"I thought maybe that the warning would prompt you to perform to a more acceptable level. But as I've waited a month, I see no improvement and so I regret to have to fire the three of you." At first there was no such reaction, as if I was joking.
Arrogant bastards.
Then, as I've stared at them, the enormity of my words finally reached their tiny brains and electrons began to fire through their receptors. "What!!!" one of them stands menacingly and slams his fist on my desk. I am unperturbed and merely stare at him. Trust me young man, I have met more menacing people than yourself and you do not compare.
"You cannot fire me!" he said, incredulous. "My father would ruin your ass if you do!!!"
Ah... Good old threats.
"Then, please do, if your father is such a great man then he should understand why I am firing you. Your performance is lacking, as I've said. I don't think he can do anything at this moment. Now, if you will excuse me, I have other matters to attend." I excuse them from my presence and they grumble and threaten me of how their mothers and fathers will come and destroy my career. It's no wonder why this company is failing, with such incompetent bastards as employees; I wonder how it was able to survive this long.
Five minutes from their leave, there is a knock at my office door and I raise my voice to let my appointee in. A tall young man, seemingly shy with his portfolio in his hand. He looks nervous.
"Ah, you must be Martin Kelly." I smile to relieve his tension.
"Yes." He replies timidly. I motioned for him to sit and he does. He was shaking his legs, a sign of his nervousness.
"You are here for the interview correct? Yes... Yes... I know, you're professor has referred you to me and I'm glad that he has. I've seen you're work in his gallery and they are quite astonishing.
“No... No... I don't need to see your portfolio, you're hired." He looks lost, like I've said something in a foreign language.
"Is there a problem?" I asked him. He shakes his head and gape at me.
"Mr. Kelly. This is no joke, I've seen your work and I like it, I think you would improve the situation of this company. You will start tomorrow, if it fits your schedule but I expect you to be going to school so come talk to me in the morning and we shall review your schedule."
He sits there, still at a loss. "Why don't you come with me and I'll show you around." He gets up nervously and waits for me to open the door. This is how I am with all those I hire, powerful artistry in all they do. They deserve more than this. It's unfortunate that they were not discovered earlier and had to live in the shadows of those who could not even use a simple brush. I show him where the studio he will be working at and his eyes sparkle, just like I see in Fernando's when I tell him that I'll be taking him shopping. It's sad really, he should have worked here a long time ago and this room should not have been given to an incompetent brat.
-------------------------
David meets me at the door. He must have realized the frown on my face and asks me what was wrong. I tell him that a complaint had been passed to my chairman about me firing so many people, especially the sons and daughters of powerful families. That I was firing them only because they were rich and I had no other reason.
"Fucking bastards!" he grumbles as he sits in front of me.
"Damn! This is what I hate about the first class society, they think they’re all that. They spoil their children until they are idle and worthless. They had no business working in that company, I doubt that the rightful revenue had been received because of their incompetence."
"I know." I tell him. He snaps his attention back to me. "Well so what, it's your uncle's company and he knows you're a good director and he appointed you this job. To improve the situation and you actually are, for the last five months, you've brought in more propositions than before."
"Yes, but still. These people still have influence on the company."
"And what are they going to do, fire you?" he snorts.
"No, overpower me legally by arbitration."
"We're mediators, why can't we mediate the argument?" he thinks for a moment.
"I think maybe I can convince my company into sending me as aid in this complaint."
"No, they've already moved too fast for me to act. I'll have two days to organize my argument."
"What!?" He stands up and looks as if he could kill someone. You would think that psychiatrists would be calm and serene but this one's not. I want to laugh but I can't because he expects me to be angry along with him. See? All their logical analysis is rubbing off on me; I'm starting to sound like a Psychiatrist.
"They can't do that! That's too short a time for you to even organize your party. Who's going to be you're representative?"
"Me." I tell him and he looks at me like I'm crazy.
"Are you nuts? You can't do that!"
"Yes I can, I guess I'll just need my support."
"And who will they be, novice artists!?"
"No, two social ambassadors." It takes a moment for him to figure out what I just said and his lips curl into a sinister smile and he laughs deep in his throat. A sign that means he'll do it. He rubs his hands together and I could almost see what he's thinking. He calls Fernando from the foot of the stairs and we begin to organize our argument.
-----------------------------
Arbitrators.
Daniel used to work as an arbitrator once but he was only twenty then and maybe he's doing something else. And anyway, this is too powerful an argument for him to be arbitrating. If it deals with the chairman and vice presidents, then he can't be the one arbitrating, it would mean that he'd moved up dramatically in arbitration if he is and it does not take three years to become an arbitrator for leaders. It takes years and years of practice. I tell myself this because the thought of arbitration makes my heart pound in my head and I am finding it difficult to breathe once again.
The room had an oblong conference table, made of dark oak. It's intimidating but it's not my first time being in conferences but it is my first time having to present an argument. We sit on one side and the complaining party sits on the other. There is a full-sized mirror on one wall which I know the arbitrators will be watching us from. They can see us but we can't see them.
The complaining party glares at us as we enter. Three men and two women, one man was familiar to me, I've seen him before. The man at the bookstore with shoulder length hair and luminous eyes, he must be the representative since he held the folder. He almost looks shocked to see me although I don't know why. Fernando trail right behind me and his attention is averted to my cousin and I saw the pleasant expression fall as David enters the room. We sit and instantly, the man begins.
"I am Sergio Ramos. I will be representing the complaining party."
"I am Martin Skrtel and I will represent myself to my defense." He snorts; he knows its suicide to represent yourself in a case but hey, who knows.
Especially when you're the defendant.
Their argument was that I was biased toward the upper class and this was my reason and it was a case of social class discrimination. I should have slapped him silly, I know he didn't make the argument but still, he could have tweaked it a bit to at least sound serious.
It sounded more like a whining child's complaint. 'I have a lot of money and that is why you hate me.' In some cases this is true but hey, I have lots of money too.
It was wrong but as soon as he said the argument, Fernando began to giggle and so did David. I can't blame them, it does sound petulant.
They ask me their questions and the rest of the complaining party still glare at us, they must wonder why we don't fear them. These are people who are used to getting what they want and it doesn't even matter if their case is valid enough, as long as they pay off the arbitrators.
I present my case. "I understand that I am being accused of discrimination. But as you see, I follow the rules. One, you must have a degree to acquire this job, two, you must have experience and a portfolio, a collection of two years preferable three, and three, you must work to keep this job and you must have talent. As you know, those I fired were incompetent."
The other party gasps and they begin to curse at me. I smirk, stupid idiots, don't they know that it only makes them look bad to instigate an argument?
"They did not have a degree, they did not possess a portfolio of their work, the projects they supposedly made during their employment under this company is nonexistent, two, they were lazy, had no sense of duty and responsibility and in plain words, they sucked. They obviously had not developed the left side of their brains and neither did they develop their right. I gave them a chance to prove themselves and they failed, miserable, I might add."
David didn't even have to speak. The discussion was cut short since the complaining party started threatening me. It had to be stopped and an early decision had to be made. For one thing, I think I presented my argument quite well. We waited for the decision in separate rooms. David smacked me upside the head.
"What!?" I scream at him.
"You were too nice!" he screams back.
"You're supposed to be civilized in arbitration."
"Those idiots were not and they completely blew their argument, their representative wasn't much help either, he looked sick when he presented their argument, I bet he saw it only when he presented it." He laughed.
"Wasn't he that same bastard we saw at the bookstore?"
"Yes." I reply.
"Well good, he looks like he had a steel rod up his ass. Probably does, he must have been paid a lot to present that pathetic argument." Fernando and I stare at each other and laugh.
"Well." Fernando stretches. "If you lose, then the arbitrators must have been paid too."
"That's what I'm worried about." What if the arbitrators were paid? Arbitrators are supposed to be unbiased and must consider both parties. This is a win-lose situation. If I lose, then it just shows the inequality of this society.
We are called back into the conference room and the arbitrators are supposed to come in. The other party glares and curses and threatens and we merely sit calmly and wait for the decision.
Sergio kept staring at me and he looked as if he did not like what he saw. He also seemed to think that his party were idiots, which I'm happy about. But good God, doesn't he know it's rude to stare? Yeah, okay, I have a scar on my temple but it's not that amusing that you have to stare at me without blinking.
Stare at Fernando or something, he seemed to have attracted your attention before. I look at Fernando and he knows why I'm staring at him, he takes my hand under the table and rubs it gently. Sergio was making me uncomfortable; there was something about him that told me I should avoid eye contact.
The arbitrators began to pile in. First, a stout middle aged woman who glared at me, at least I know she wasn't very supportive of my case. Then, a man of maybe thirty-five years, he nods and grabs an empty seat. I sigh, maybe the decision was a tie between parties, but to my surprise, the door swings open.
Maybe I was telepathic but before I even saw him, I just knew it was him. His dark suit, his dark brown hair, those dark eyes, his thin lips. I squeeze Fernando's hand and he coughs to hide his gasp as Daniel walked in.
David tells me later that I looked calm but at that moment, I was shaking, my heart pounding, and the sound of my breathing seemed to be too loud. I felt the same cold dread spread through me as if he was once again going to throw me against a wall.
The woman clears her throat. "We've come with a decision, a vote of two to one." She glares at me. Woman, I don't like you either so stop glaring. The arbitrator who nodded loosened his tie.
"Yes," he swallows, "we've reviewed the facts and I am fascinated young man." he turns to me with something akin to admiration in his eyes.
"Brilliant argument, you clearly stuck to the facts." Isn't that what's required in arbitration? Or maybe you just deal with a lot of stupid arguments like this one.
I try to avoid Daniel's eyes but I can't. He stares at me and I stare back at him, expectantly. Then, his eyes slowly turn to Fernando.
"We've decided that the complaint had not based their argument on facts but assumptions." He turns back to me, his eyes firm, yet something else was in them,
Sadness?
My hands are shaking and Fernando tightens his hold on my hand while David grabs the other. I raise a brow.
"And what is the decision?" I asked, sounding somewhat annoyed. The other arbitrator gave a hearty laugh. "Not very patient are we, young man."
"I have better things to do than waste my time on senseless complaints." His smile fades and almost looked disappointed that I was rude.
"I'm sorry." I amended. "This isn't my day." He nods his head again and the smile returns to his eyes.
"Mr. Agger?" he turns to Daniel. I shiver at hearing that name. David pretends to rub my back to hide the movement of my body but Sergio seemed to have seen my reaction, his stare deepened and I'm beginning to dislike him more and more.
"We favor the defendant." He states flatly. I scoff and stand up from my chair. David and Fernando does the same and David let's go of my hand but Fernando doesn't. David gathers our folder, we all gave a curt nod.
"Thank you ladies, gents, but we'll be going now." David leads the way and Fernando and I follow.
"Mr. Skrtel."
Fernando and I both turn at the same time, which was stupid. Of course they were referring to me. I turn to the woman. She looked like she wanted to kill me and all of a sudden, a crystal glass came flying toward my direction and instantly David was in front me.
The glass dodged with his arm as he pushed me behind him. Fernando gave a slight shriek of outrage and before I knew it, he was at her.
"You Fucking BITCH!!!" But David had him in his arms while I tried to recover. Everyone seemed stunned except for the other party. Sergio seemed stunned as well and he looked toward Daniel.
"What the hell's your problem!?" Fernando screamed. "You're lucky you're a woman!" He growled as he tried to loosen David's hold. My chest constricts and my breath begins to thin, my chest begins to hurt and my hand clamp above my heart.
"You okay?" David turns to me and gasp.
"Shit Martin!" he let's go of Fernando.
"I told you to take your pills damn it!!!" He was now holding me to my feet while I tried to catch my breath.
"What's wrong with him?" someone asks, it sounded like Sergio.
"It's his lungs." Fernando says frantically. "Where's the damn box!?"
"It's in the car." David yells at him and he's out of the door. David leads me to a seat. This is not the time to have a freaking lapse. Not now. Come on body, you've never failed me before, recover damn it!
I begin to feel dizzy and I let out a moan as I lean my head back.
"Mr. Johnson." This must have been the other arbitrator. "Please restrain Mrs. Curren." Daniel orders. I see Sergio at my side, glaring down at me.
"Call an ambulance." Someone says. No, I don't need a damned ambulance. I'm fine. David doesn't argue. It seemed like an eternity as I gasp for breath and David had to tilt my head back and keep my back somewhat arch with his arm. Fernando reenters the room and it's the same metallic box. No! Not that, it's going to make me feel fuzzy.
"No." I groan and try to keep a calm front but it doesn't work, I guess I was slurring and mumbling things. My eyes roll back and I feel my suit hastily pulled off of me. My sleeves rolled up to my armpits and I feel the prick of the needle. Soon, I feel the jolt of the stretcher and that's all I remember.