20 Back to work...

The morning came and the refreshing sunray's penetrated the lush blue curtains of Shirley's window and shone on her face, caressing her beautiful cheeks. She felt the sunray's on her face and woke up to the music of her wind chimes which hung on the balcony french windows. The climate was completely different from yesterday the rain and gloominess, all disappeared just like her mood. She went to her balcony looking over the park and saw the syccamore tree was gone. And there was a team of people with huge machinery working on it's place. She sighed and then thought, everything from her past that connected her or reminded her of Andrew was gone.

She heard a knock on the door and heard Alex say " Hope you are decent! I am coming in." He chuckled but only to his dismay, he saw Shirley starring at him with pity from the balcony. He giggled and said " I was just kidding!" He handed her the cup of tea he got for her and joined her on the balcony and said " Everything is gone.. that was related to him in your memories.. so it's time for you to move on from him completely." Shirley sipped her tea and replied " He no longer exists in my life. I threw him out years ago. There is no place for him or his memories in my life anymore. I had lots of memories with hat tree which meant more than him." Alex raised an eyebrow and asked " You hate him so much." She nodded and said " I don't even hate him.. how can I ? when such a person doesn't even exist for me and it is a waste of feeling for a non-existent person. Isn't it?"

Alex then not to spoil her mood changed the topic and said " You are coming for the lecture right. It's 2 weeks from today. Dare you cancel on me." Shirley replied with a sorry look " Ah! I forgot about it completely." He went all red like an angry young man and starred at her with anger, she just pinched his cheeks and said " So cute !! I would do anything to see this. Don't worry, unlike you I never break my promises. I have already given my schedule to my new employer." He just responded " You!!!" They laughed over it then as they were sipping tea, she said "I'll leave in the afternoon. Have to run a few tests for Michael." Alex's face became gloomy " Huh! So soon. Stay another day. Please." Shirley responded " My new employer is a very strict

person. He won't allow it."

Alex then took the cup from her hand and told her to get fresh and come for breakfast. Shirley quickly had a bath and got dressed up and came to the dining table for breakfast. Her mom had made her favorite ,Chocolate chip pancakes with chocolate syrup. She could smell it from upstairs. She grabbed her plate and sat besides Alex and saw Patrick sitting on the chair next to her Mom. They exchanged greetings and while eating Shirley looked at her mom and said " Ma , I will be leaving in the afternoon. Please make some lasagna for lunch and pack some up too. Lily and Naomi just love them and asked me to get some."

Mrs. Shaw was a little upset by Shirley leaving " So soon! can't you stay for another day. I hardly get to see you." Shirley while hogging on her pancakes spoke " Haven't I asked you to move in with me since ages, it's you who has refused me. With my schedule, don't blame me for not coming often." Mrs Shaw responded " Ok. Ok now stop with it already. Just another night, leave by tomorrow morning.Haaa" Shirley drank some water and replied in a very husky tone " My new employer is very stingy, he doesn't give consideration for personal leave or leisure time." Mrs Shaw said hastily " Shirlz don't talk ill about your Boss." Shirley looked at Patrick, gestured towards him and said " See him, he is miles away from his 'Boss' but still in a suit and on the edge. Hope you understand the whole picture".

Alex was stern and didn't laugh, instead he gave Patrick a death stare. Patrick gulped the food in his mouth in fear of being consumed by Alex's stare. Shirley didn't notice any of it and kept eating her pancakes. She then felt her phone vibrate, she took it out and saw the message. Everyone saw her nose flaring up and she kept her fork down and typed in anger. Alex peeped and knew not to interfere so he kept eating .It was a message from Daniel "" Good morning Dr Shaw. Hoping to see you soon. Waiting for you to move in and join us Marshall's. """ She responded "" Got it the first time you said it yesterday, no need of reminders."""

She called Lily up " Hey Lily, is the packing done. Have you spoken to the cleaning lady. " Lily understood her boss's tone and responded quickly." Yes ma'am. All done as per your instructions. I LL be moving in tomorrow as you said. Naomi ma'am was here till today morning. She has move her stuff some to store room and some she took it with her. Cleaning lady has been paid off." Shirley was happy to have such a perfect PA. She replied " Ok. I will ask someone to pick up my stuff and send it over. Bye and Thanks" Lily responded "My pleasure Boss." She kept the phone and said to Patrick. " Can you arrange someone to pick up my things." Patrick responded " Right away Dr Shaw."

Patrick made call and came back and told her he has arranged the pick up. Then Alex spoke and said "Let's go to the market with Aunt. We can shop for you too." Shirley felt her mood lighten and quickly agreed to him. They went to the market and before leaving Mrs Shaw told Patrick to loose the coat and he did so. That's the first time Shirley saw Patrick not been all suited up. He looked good with trousers and plaid shirt, this suited him more. They were roaming in the market and Patrick took his phone and started clicking random pics and then concentrated on Dr Shaw and clicked few smiling and giggling pics and forwarded it to his Boss.

Daniel was in a meeting when he received Patrick's Insta message he opened and a hint of smile appeared on his face. All his office employees were shocked and few of thems even jaw dropped in awe. Their cold, stern Boss just smiled seeing in his phone it was the first time ever. And all were in suprise when his Boss said in a happy tone " Meeting adjourned" and walked off starring into his phone.