130 Pay Attention (2/2)

'No… it isn't maybe… she IS mocking me,' Vixen corrected himself.

She spoke in such a way that was so right but she then twisted her words to sound wrong. Like she was asking questions, like she was confused, like she was unsure of the situation when she knew exactly what was going on and knew exactly what she was doing to him.

Her innocence was sickening. It wasn't innocency… it was demeaning actions. Words and movements that were meant to ruin him from inside out. There was no physical abuse yet his body was sore and he felt in pain.

She didn't touch him but he was unable to move. She didn't make him suffer from physical punishment yet his heart was racing. She was asking questions but yet he was unable to answer.

It was frustrating how restricted he felt. How hot the seat felt and how he felt like he was being stifled. He told himself he was over it and that it was making no impact on him but he was wrong. Her degrading gaze telling him so.

”If you're done feeling scared and angry, speak. You're wasting my time,” Mrs. Cloud sighed. She glanced down at her watch and then down to Vixen. ”Don't take too much time and make your statement.”

It was like the pressure was released off his shoulder just a little bit and he was finally able to speak. He wanted to stay silent. To not even respond to her words but at the same time he felt a release, he felt pressure, forcing him to speak.

”She is the same person I requested a stay-in for,” Vixen replied.

”Oh really now?” Mrs. Cloud responded as she sipped her tea. He hated her reply. The fact she was acting surprised.

The worst part was that she didn't even try to show it on her face. She wasn't amused in the slightest bit.

”Yes. But it wasn't to switch servers for her. I had planned to carry out with the serving for longer but due to some.. Indiscrepancies arising with her, she denied my existence and serving and I simply complied with her request, therefore, leading to the serving change,” Vixen explained.

Mrs. Cloud nodded. She didn't believe his second line for a second. But there was a reason he would say it like that and it was because he could back it up. Vixen was not one to make arguments without being able to back it up with proof.

”It was a last-minute arrangement which is why you were not informed of it ma'am,” Vixen replied, ”I simply agreed with the patient and not once thought of it as abusing my power. I apologize for my reluctance at the beginning. It was due to nervousness.”

”Hmm,” Mrs. Cloud nodded.

”I understand that I wasn't brought here to make excuses but instead to answer the serious questions brought up by you and explain the thought processes that went thr-”

”Continue,” Mrs. Cloud interrupted. She hated apologies. Especially comments that explained apologies.

Whether or not the word ”sorry” comes after a word doesn't change the fact that it has been done. It's simply to ease the conscience of the one who committed the act and for them to have a way out of their punishment. It was pathetic. Just like the explanation she was listening to at the moment.

”Please carry on with your explanation on what happened with room 207 this morning,” Mrs. Cloud asked. She turned to Vixen and smiled, ”I'm not sure I mentioned this before, but I'm running out of time. Your apologies and statements explaining them will have to wait. Or better yet, disposed of.”

”Yes ma'am,” Vixen replied.

He didn't want to explain what happened in the morning. It would prove incompetence. That he wasn't fit for his role and picked the wrong person to take care of his patient. That he wasn't worth his title or worse, that he was supposed to remain in his room closed off from the world and have no way to repay the sins he made.

Vixen looked up at Mrs. Cloud, their violet eyes piercing into each other. He let out a sigh.

It looked like he had no choice.