I Can Be Your Nightmare, Mr. Ex

Chapter 15

That day Sonny's office was like a minefield. Since morning, a tense atmosphere enveloped every corner of the room.

If the staff made a small mistake, wrongly arranged a document, served coffee that was too sweet, or even just knocked on the door too hard, they would immediately be sprayed with Sonny's burning anger.

No one was safe. Even his secretary who had worked for years was sprayed, even though she was only going to inform him about the change in Sonny's daily schedule that day.

"Gosh," said Elise, Sonny's secretary, still pale-faced after being scolded by Sonny, considered incompetent in managing his work schedule so that it kept changing. "What was my dream last night, to get such harsh curses this early in the morning."

"I think he slept in the wrong position last night," muttered Robert, a finance staff who had just been reprimanded because his report was not finished. It was only over the phone, but still, Sonny's words hurt him.

"Don't get close to him today, avoid him when you can," said Danish with a grimace. "Postpone all forms of reports until the boss's mood improves. It's better to be safe first, than to have our ears damaged by his hurtful words."

In the middle of a hot afternoon, when it was time for lunch, Elsa appeared with a heavy-looking lunch box. A smile appeared on her face for a moment before she felt a cold and restless aura in the office.

She glanced at several staff who were sitting hunched over at their desks, barely moving as if trying not to be seen.

This was strange and unusual. Usually, the office atmosphere would feel lively. People walked back and forth and talked to each other, to fellow coworkers, or on the phone.

It wasn't as quiet as it was now. In fact, Elsa could guess that the phones on every desk were deliberately turned off so as not to sound noisy.

"Elise," Elsa called, to Elise, who happened to be passing by her.

Elise turned her head in surprise, but then she looked relieved, when she saw who was calling her. She quickly approached Elsa.

"Ma'am ..." Elise whispered with a worried expression. “Sorry, the boss seems to be in a bad mood since morning. Everyone got sprayed. I suggest you don’t stay in too long. I’m afraid he’ll get mad at you too.”

Euis frowned. “What happened? Is there a problem? Since leaving this morning, he seemed to have a lot on his mind and even ate a little breakfast.”

Elise shrugged. “I don’t know, ma’am, but as far as I know, there’s nothing that makes the boss so emotional.”

Elsa was surprised, but she knocked on Sonny’s office door anyway. “Honey, it’s me. I brought you lunch,” she said softly as she entered. “You only had a little breakfast this morning.”

Sonny only glanced briefly without greeting. He looked back at his computer screen with his jaw clenched. Elsa’s arrival only made him even more annoyed.

Elsa approached and put the food on the table. “Honey, what’s wrong with you today? Everyone looks scared. I’m feeling awkward. They said you’ve been mad at them since morning. What’s wrong?”

Instead of answering, Sonny slammed his pen on the table. “If it’s just to deliver food, just deliver it! Don’t ask questions! Can’t you see I’m busy? Hurry up and pick up our child from school, don’t be late! Don’t let the child wait too long.”

Elsa was shocked. It was rare for Sonny to yell at her so loudly and even without reason.

“It’s still an hour before school ends, that’s why I stopped by here first,” Elsa said.

“Next time, come two hours before the child gets out of school. I’m traumatized by being late to pick up. My daughter died tragically when we were late to pick her up!” Sonny snapped, glaring.

His words were sharp and cold. Elsa was silent for a moment, then looked at her husband with a hurt look.

“These past few days you’ve also been really indifferent to me and our child. I understand you’re stressed, but this is too much. Now, you’re even bringing up your deceased daughter and want to blame me? What exactly happened?” Her voice trembled. “If you don’t want to be honest, I’d better go take our child. I won’t bother you anymore.”

Elsa’s words made Sonny lower his head for a moment. His shoulders slumped, his breathing heavy. “I’m sorry. I… just got a bill from the investors. They asked for a share of the profits from the capital they invested. But when I calculated it, the company has actually suffered a lot of losses lately. I… I don’t have enough funds to pay them now.”

Elsa took a deep breath, her eyes staring at her husband in disappointment. “You were too reckless some time ago. The market conditions were bad, but you still added capital to the business. Without careful calculation. Now we have to bear the risk. You even used a large amount of our savings. You have to replace it immediately. Don't let your actions cause me and our child to suffer.”

Sonny snorted harshly. “You are good at talking! As a wife, you should help think of solutions, not just keep demanding! You ask for everything, but you never help! You are spoiled and incompetent, do you realize that?”

“I have helped as much as I can!” Elsa replied, offended. “I take care of the children, the house, and often don't buy personal necessities because we need money. But you accuse me of being spoiled?”

Sonny stood up from his chair, his eyes glaring. “If only I hadn’t divorced Wilona… If only I hadn’t been tempted by you, I probably wouldn’t have experienced this kind of headache. I should have stayed with Wilona. She’s a smart, strong, independent woman. Not like you who’s spoiled and never helps anything!”

SLAP!!!

Elsa’s slap landed on Sonny’s cheek, making the room silent. Elsa’s tears flowed profusely.

“How cruel… You compare me to her, after all that I sacrificed for you? I left my family, because they thought I was despicable, so I became your mistress when you were still married to Wilona! Your mother hated me, your siblings insulted me. But I stayed here, accompanying you through your ups and downs. Now you’re saying you regret choosing me, even after we have a child? Are you crazy?”

Sonny was silent. The slap was more painful than the physical one. Elsa’s crying voice still echoed in the room and buzzed in his ears.

“I’m leaving! If you continue like this, I don’t want our child to grow up seeing a father who has no principles and constantly regrets his past.”

Without waiting for an answer, Elsa opened the door and went out. She slammed the door so hard that the glass windows shook.

Several staff members sitting outside pretended not to see, but whispers were heard as soon as Elsa walked away with puffy eyes.

Sonny sat down weakly. His head was buried in his hands. Among the chaos of his thoughts, one name suddenly filled his mind. Wilona.

Wilona’s image appeared clearly. Her patient smile, the way she prepared breakfast while joking with their child, her enthusiasm for working even though she was pregnant at that time, her cheerfulness, and also how she took care of her mother when she was sick, without Sonny asking.

A woman who was very sincere and good at pleasing the people around her. Then, her stupidity made all those beautiful things disappear in the midst of a storm.

Sonny gritted his teeth and opened his desk drawer.

Inside was an old photo. A portrait of Wilona with their daughter, Maya, when she was little. Wilona looked cheerful hugging Maya in the playground. Sonny remembered, he was the one who took the photo for them.

The photo had started to fade, but Wilona's smile remained alive. Sonny's eyes suddenly felt hot and began to fill with tears.

"I ruined everything..." he muttered softly. "I lost everything."

Tears dripped onto the table. Regret entangled his chest like a rope.

With trembling hands, Sonny took his cellphone and searched for Wilona's name. He stared at the screen for a few seconds, before finally pressing the "Call" button.

There was no dial tone. Only the screen said: This number has been blocked.

The phone fell from Sonny's hand.

He leaned his head on the table, sobbing silently, in a quiet room... surrounded by memories that he could not return.

Why now, did the regret appear so pressing?

Could this be because of Wilona's rejection yesterday and seeing her with another man?