Let's Make Up

Drunk

Once they pulled up to the office, they got out and Molly took a big drink from her coffee.

"You didn't have to get the caramel one for me today."

"I know." John said while holding his hand out for her expectantly.

She looked at the gesture and smiled while happily placing her hand in his.

"Why are you being so cute right now?"

"I don't know. Just after the way you talked to Helen yesterday and the way this morning went, I couldn't care less who knows we're together." He explained affectionately.

Fred let them in and didn't reply as Molly greeted him. She thought maybe he was just distracted and that not everyone could be happy all the time.

"He hates that we're together." John said once they reached their office.

"Who? Fred?" She asked.

He pulled out his chair from his desk, put down his paper bag and started to undo his coat. "Yeah."

John shrugged and continued, "He attends the church that Helen likes to volunteer and show off at. Back when we broke up, I was the talk of the town for leaving a woman and a baby. A lot of people had a big hate-on for that, especially the Bible thumper types."

"Oh I didn't realize he was that type, he seemed to like that I'm from the city." Molly told him.

John rolled his eyes and bit into his egg sandwich, speaking with a mouthful and making her smile.

"That's because you're cute. Different minded women are fine, to a certain degree, based mostly on their looks, but men in this town, who aren't strictly traditional, are very looked down upon."

She took a bite of her own sandwich and imagined Helen acting all holier-than-thou, not at all surprised she would be someone going to church functions and pretending to be a good person.

"I wonder how God feels about that?"

John made a short laugh and nodded.

"Speaking of God, I have to confess something."

Expecting some cheesey line, Molly told him preemptively that she couldn't absolve him of his sins.

"Last night, I had a stupid weak moment and searched you up online the way you said Helen did. I noticed that Julien texted you and I was... extremely jealous." He said, looking indignant.

"Okay, and did you see anything interesting?" She asked, looking unbothered.

"No. I hated that I did it. I don't know what I was even hoping to find, but I'm sorry." John said, rubbing his neck like always. "Also, I don't really know how hair dye works, but I like this color on you a lot more than any other."

Molly smirked. "Didn't like the platinum or hot pink? What a shame, so boring to only like my natural. Okay fine, I guess I can cleanse your spirit. Maybe say a rosary and do a good deed today though."

John ran his hand through his hair and honestly did feel more at ease with himself.

"Thank you, any specific chaplets or mysteries I should focus on while praying?"

"Oh, come on, Johnny!" She playfully slapped his shoulder.

He laughed with her and then finished his breakfast.

"You know I really was all worked up about it."

"Well, next time you're worried you can just check my phone." She told him.

"I can't do that. It's not that I don't appreciate you saying that, but it feels a little invasive. Besides, I don't want to ask for your pin." He said as his hand found the back of his neck again.

"I never bothered with putting a lock on my phone when I got this one. You had all the power at your fingertips but you just chose not to look." She swiped her finger across the screen and pulled up her messages, showing that Julien's last text was only to tell her the time and place for the makeup job.

He shook his head at himself. "I'm really sorry, I feel like a kid."

"I get it. Honestly, if anyone understands that feeling, it's me." She smiled.

John was happy to have her empathy and approval, but their moment was ruined by Emily coming into their office space with her usual loud tone of voice and rushed way of talking, making them both jump from the disruption.

"Hey, Molly, John... Uhh.. there's kind-of an issue out here." She said while shifting her eyes between them.

John looked at her seriously. "What's going on?"

"Well... Kent is drunk or high or something. I don't know how Fred let him in, he already freaked the hell out of me and Donna." She said, talking fast.

"Rosie's ready to kill him. There's that meeting today with the buyer or something. He can't be all messed up like this right now."

Rolling his eyes again, John let out an exasperated breath and got up to follow Emily.

"I'll sit in for the meeting. Molly will have to be there as well, so make sure anything scheduled for her today will be moved to tomorrow. Call Fred up here."

She accepted his words and hurried away. Since there wasn't a receptionist yet, some of the assistants, especially Emily, acted as a place holder.

Before John left the back, Molly asked him what Emily meant about the 'buyer' and he briefly told her that the magazine was potentially going to be bought out and merged with a company in Northmount that was an online only publication. The idea was that there'd be more exposure on either end; the town would get more technologized and the city would have printed copies in stands. It would allow for a broader variety in stories as well as encouraging local businesses to have more advertisements. Printing cost would go down since it would be at a bulk discount and there could be articles that would only be in the online copies. The writers could gain more publicity by sharing and linking their stories on social media sites, which would bring more views to the local attractions instead of just the city. Molly was impressed and thought it was a very good idea.

When John went out to assess what the trouble was, he saw the manager, Kent Marrow, a skeletal and shorter man with a red nose and greased back hair, making a fool of himself. He was stumbling while he walked and was telling Donna how he wanted to motorboat her, while grabbing at her chest. Not used to the attention, especially how crude and invasive it was, she didn't know what to do, so she froze. Rosie went to her side, quickly, to comfort and protect her while yelling at Kent to get away. John stepped between them and pushed him back.

"Kent, I think you'd better go home."

"I don't want to. You get to have all the fun around here, but I never do." He said, slurring his words.

"You don't know what you're talking about. Let's get you a cab. Did you drive here?" He asked, looking over and nodding at Emily, who was already picking up the phone receiver and dialing.

"Fine." Kent said like a stubborn child. "Then maybe you can share that new vampy box with me. She's got such a pretty face on that tiny body of hers. She dresses like a nun but I bet she's just dying to be f****d. How is she Johnny, am I going to like it?"

Molly watched as John's teeth clenched and his posture became intimidating.

"City girls are always more fun than these old sows." He said, starting to edge his way past his coworkers.

John grabbed him and looked twice his size. He pulled Kent back by his shirt collar and held him against the wall.

"Get out." He said sharply and Molly shivered. She liked that he didn't yell, or curse, or even feel the need to go on endlessly while defending her honor. He was simple and straight forward as always.

Kent wheezed and tried to get free of the grip on him when John pressed in tighter. "No more chances. Next time you're in here, you'll be collecting your last cheque." He let him go and the manager looked like he was going to throw up.

"f**k you. You can't do that, I'm the f*****g manager. You stepped down and can't do anything."

John looked dangerously enraged and told Emily to call the CEO. "We'll see how Dennis feels about his employees getting harassed."

Kent tried to swing at John, who was able to grab his flimsy drunken throw and haul him to the door just as Fred arrived.

"Freddy, can you take Kent to the taxi when it arrives please?" Emily asked.

"Can do, Miss. Em." He told her as he strong-manned the drunkard out.

John turned to the crowd of people who were still standing watch.

"Anyone have any issues with what just happened?" His voice was unwavering and still full of anger. Nobody challenged him and Emily reached the phone out to him.

"Dennis?" John asked. "I let Kent go. He was drunk and harassing the women. I'll go to the meeting today unless you can make it." There was a pause and he nodded while listening.

"It wasn't personal, he got physical this time. You can't keep giving him work just because he introduced you to your wife. The women here are in danger around him and he was too plastered to even stand straight."

Another pause and his jaw muscles were tensed.

"Yes, I know we still don't have a receptionist. I'm HR, Dennis. When there are problems, I deal with them. I already said I'd go to the meeting. I'll get an ad going for the managerial position and set it as a priority. Maybe show up and take some responsibility as well."

He handed the phone to Emily who told him that John was going to his office. She talked calmly and said everyone was fine and vouched for his actions. The workplace buzzed and Molly followed him to the back again.

"That was pretty intense." She told him, knowing he was still seething and trying to shake off his tension.

He looked at her, taking only a moment's time before standing over her and kissing her hard.

"He was fine until he brought you up. The thought of him assaulting you made me so f*****g mad that I thought I'd explode. I promise, if anyone ever touches you without your permission, I will kill them."

She looked into his icy stare and tried to be reassuring, but he was still too upset.

"f**k that. If anyone touches you without my permission, they'll be sorry."