Strong Lesson Or Painful Lesson Part II

“No!” rocketed from Dana’s lips as she bolted into the lunchroom. The rest of her coworkers followed. “There was a standoff between the police and the three robbers,” a reporter said.

“Cali is there,” Dana cried, turning around towards the exit to face Maria, her supervisor.

Who shouts, “What!”

Dana cried almost breathlessly. “HR mistake gave us extra time this morning, and Third Valley wanted us to come in at 8:30 because they approved our loans in two days for. . . “

“That’s impossible!” Helen cried out. “I have excellent credit, earns more than both of you, and they took two weeks to approve mine.”

“I earn more than both of all three of you. Plus, my credit score is higher, and they took three weeks to approve mine,” someone else protests.

“Ladies!” a voice like thunder erupts. “Focus on the issues at hand.”

Turning to Dana, Maria demands, “Why didn’t you go with her?”

“You forget that she is Miss Superstitious,” a voice push in.

“She is more curious than a two year old,” someone else adds.

“She questions life more than a sinner questions God,” another remarked.

“She questions success too,” another coworker adds

“You all know Dana, she thinks this is too easy,” another voice said.

“You are straying again!” Maria shouts.

“Damn!” a voice cried out, grabbing everyone’s attention.

All eyes and bodies turn to look at Juliet, the quiet one who said, “What if Dana was right? What if her being superstitious saved her life?”

Fear mixed in with shock popped eyes as bodies turned back to Dana.

“You believed that the bank made a mistake?” Maria asked, easing closer to her.

“I study my life,” Dana pleads as Juliet assists her to the nearest chair. “When anything I want comes easy I pay more and learn painful lessons.”

“And what do you learn when it comes hard?” Juliet asked.

“I learn strong lessons,” Dana replied, wiping away tears. “What if she is dead?” Dana moans.

“No one is answering her phone,” someone said.

“If she is in there and they hear her phone ringing, they might kill her!” a frantic voice called out.

“Why did you let her go?” someone asked.

“Girl, don’t you know Cali is a hothead and doesn’t listen to anyone,” someone answered. Turning to Dana, she continued, “I don’t know how you two remain friends for so many years. Because you are weird and reserved, and she is nuts and does what she wants no matter what!”

Dana moaned, and someone rushed to prevent her from sliding off the chair. Then she reveals, “I told her that I didn’t like the situation.”

“But it was perfect, and the timing was convenient for both of you,” Hilary, one of the managers, said.

“It was just too easy for me,” Dana repeats.

Five minutes later, Dana was at the scene with the support of Joel and several coworkers.

No information was available, and the police and the FBI ordered everyone to go home and clear the area. Cali’s car wasn’t there. As the crowd scattered in different directions, a lady said as she walked away, “several cars parked in front were towed away at the police orders.”

Joel hugged her as she cried and suggested, “I’ll take you home.”

“No!” Dana said between the tears. “Take me back to the office.”

“Are you sure?” he asked.

Dana nods.

Back at work, Dana sat at Cali’s desk, pain torturing her. Her eyes aim at the screen of Cali’s work computer. Watching the standoff!

“Did you check your phone in case she sends you a message?” someone standing over her asked.

Dana paused, searching her jacket pocket.

Anna rushed back into her office and returned with her handbag.

She took it quickly and began to search through it. It wasn’t there.

The look on Dana’s face, someone said, “you left it in her car?”

“Damnit,” Dana recalled. “I told her I didn’t like the route life charted for me. She opened the door and told me. . . .” tears put her on pause. Wiping her eyes, she continued, “she told me to go and charter my own route.”

“Call your phone,” Juliet suggested handing Dana her iPhone.

Dana took it and dialed with a heavy heart. Five rings later, a voice said, “Hello!”

Thank you for reading this piece. I hope you enjoy it and will savor more from some talented writers whose links are below.

https://vocal.media/fiction/before-i-met-her

https://vocal.media/fiction/chapter-8-shift-in-perspective

https://vocal.media/fiction/alien-beach