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On the Other Side(46)

By:Michelle Janine Robinson


“Congratulations, my beautiful, smart, perfect wife.”

Wendy was sure she was the only person in the office who was aware of Damita’s marital situation and she wanted to help Damita avoid embarrassment, but she had seen Neal in action and was sure nothing she said to him would make any difference. In fact, her concern was that speaking to him might even make things worse. She was surprised to see Mr. Underhill handle the situation.

Mr. Underhill looked over at Neal and smiled. “Hey, Neal, it’s so nice to see you. I’m glad you’re here. I was telling Damita that there was something I wanted to show you. There’s something in my office only you’ll appreciate. You have a minute? Wendy, can you make sure everyone’s glasses get filled with some bubbly?”

“Sure, Mr. Underhill, I’ll take care of it.”

Concerned about what Neal might do, Damita walked in their direction in order to join them. Mr. Underhill waved her away.

“Wait here, Damita. After all, this party is in your honor.” He turned his attention to Neal. “Neal, please come with me. You have to check this out.”

Neal looked at Damita and she was sure he had a threatening glint in his eyes. “I’ll be right back, baby,” Neal said to Damita, as he walked away.

Before Underhill left the conference room, he leaned over and whispered something in Wendy’s ear. Once inside his office, he picked up a remote control and opened the right sliding door of a cleverly concealed cabinet, to reveal an impressive collection of vintage liquors.

“Your wife mentioned to me at your wedding that you were a collector. I thought you might like to see my collection.”

After Neal had taken a look at the liquors, the door closed and a second door on the left opened. In that cabinet there was a collection of firearms.

Neal said nothing. Mr. Underhill removed one of the guns from the glass casing and talked to Neal about the history.

“Do you know anything about guns?” he asked Neal.

“A little,” Neal responded.

“Do you recognize this one?”

Neal shook his head.

“This is The North Limited Edition Colt Third Model American Historical Foundation Dragoon. It cost me close to three thousand dollars. My first wife thought it was a ridiculous hobby, but it’s what I enjoy. I’m a collector. I work hard and I play even harder. But, I wouldn’t be able to do any of this if it weren’t for this company and my employees.”

Neal’s look was one of annoyance. “Yeah and?”

“And, I don’t make it a point to interfere in my employees private lives, unless and until it interferes with my life. This company is my life and your wife is a vital member of this company. When she hurts, it hurts us, in more ways than one. She’s hurting, Neal, and I believe you are the man who is responsible for that. I know you’ve beaten her on more than one occasion. I also know that you’re very clearly under the influence right now. That’s the only reason I’m not inviting you to share in Damita’s success today. I will tell you one thing, though; you will never be extended an invitation to attend anything organized by my company. This will be the last time you simply show up here. I want you to be very clear that these are not idle words I’m speaking. I will have you thrown out of here like the garbage that you are and then I will be sure to have you arrested. Do you understand me?”

Neal stood up and smiled. He walked toward Mr. Underhill and as he was about to speak, two security officers appeared.

“Mr. Underhill, is everything okay?” one of them asked.

Mr. Underhill smiled. “Everything is fine. I believe that Mr. Westman is lost, though. Could you make sure that he gets downstairs and out of the building?”

“We’ll take care of it, Mr. Underhill.”

Neal smiled back. “I look forward to seeing your collection again soon,” Neal said to Underhill as he left.

In the conference room, Damita tried her best to conceal her worry. Finally, Mr. Underhill returned.

“I see you all continued the party without me. Great! Damita, weren’t you about to say something?”

“I wanted to thank Wendy for all of her assistance. I couldn’t have done it without her.”

Wendy smiled broadly at Damita.

While everyone congratulated Damita, Mr. Underhill decided he would slip away. Damita looked over at him. “Thank you,” she mouthed.

As he left the conference room, Tina entered. Over her eye there was a piece of tape, which appeared to be covering stitches.

“Hey, what happened to you?” a woman from the accounting department asked.

“It’s the craziest thing. I bumped into a wall in my bedroom.”