Mary kiddingly asked, “You’re not planning on getting any other education while you are there, are you, Bobby?” Unfortunately for Bobby, he could never tell a lie without Mary knowing. She knew Bobby wasn’t telling the truth. When he said no, Mary caught the fact he looked away from her with his eyes for a split second. She decided not to push the issue that evening.
….
“Mr. Baurs,” came over the intercom. “There’s a lady out here that says she is your wife. She wants to come back to your office.”
“Send her back, Sandra,” I nervously replied. Standing up, wiping my sweaty palms down the front of my pants, I waited on her to come back to his office.
She walked in and smiled, “So this is where you go when you’re not home.” She slowly circled the room, touching and looking at the trinkets that vendors dropped off when making sales call on me. She didn’t say anything as she circled the room.
I asked, “What brings you here, Mary?”
“Just looking,” she replied. She kept her back to me as she sauntered through my office, acting as if she didn’t have a care in the world. Without looking at me, she asked, “When did you hire the receptionist? She is very lovely. What is she, 26, 27? She turned to look Bobby in his eyes.”
I bowed his back and barked back, catching Mary’s surprise, “I do not know or care. I didn’t hire her based on her age. Sandra is on parole, just like me. And needed a job.
Her husband had beat her constantly.
Finally, she had enough. One night, after he passed out from drinking. She sewed him up in his sheets and beat him half to death with a frying pan. She has gotten out on parole and has two kids. She needed a job to support them.
I provide health care and reasonable hours. If her kids are sick, she can answer the phone and work from home. And I needed a receptionist.”
Mary gave no reaction to his reply. She continued to wander around looking through the mail on his desk. “Why haven’t you invited me down to your office, Bobby?”
“Mary, I wasn’t hiding anything. You are working full time and going to law school. You get home and exhausted on weekends. I am trying to make it as easy on you as I can. I hired a housekeeper to keep the house clean and do the laundry.
I make sure that Amanda is where she is supposed to be and is taken care of. And besides, you never asked. I’d give you a tour, but all the trucks are out, and the only thing you’d see is an empty warehouse.
“Listen I’m really busy, and I have three large quotes to get out today. But do you want to go for a quick lunch?”
Mary smiled and replied, “Not necessary. I already have lunch plans. I’m taking your receptionist, what’s her name, Sandra, to lunch.” with a knowing smile.
I was pissed at Mary for going there, “Go ahead, Mary. I haven’t done anything with her that I wouldn’t have done in front of you. Unlike some people in their own office.” Mary stood in shock. And left without saying a word.
An hour and a half later, I heard laughter coming from the front of the offices. I walked out to the reception area after Mary left.
Sandra smiled, “Mr. Baurs, I mean Bobby. Your wife is a wonderful woman. I just love her. You’re a lucky man to be married to a woman like her. She said she would see you after classes tonight.” I knew now I had a spy in my office.