Slow is Fast

The following chapter is written in 3rd person POV…

“I was hoping it wasn’t you.” Marybeth comments, as the elevator doors open.

“Who else were you hoping for?” Becca asks playfully, as she exits her penthouse apartment’s private elevator.

“One of your assistants. A vacuum salesman. A Jehovah’s Witness.” Marybeth jokingly answers. “Anyone but you.” She then adds, without a hint of it being a joke.

“That’s vexing, Marybeth. I thought you liked me.” Becca replies, playing along with Marybeth.

“And it’s because I like you that I had hoped you wouldn’t end up here tonight.” Marybeth replies.

Becca smirks, playfully looks around the welcoming area of her suite, before sarcastically asking Marybeth “Am I on the wrong floor? This is my home, is it not?”. Marybeth can only smirk, before Becca starts walking towards her living room, thinking their conversation over.

“Why aren’t you at Jay’s?” Marybeth more directly asks, following Becca.

“I have work to do.” Becca answers Marybeth.

“Work can wait.” Marybeth wisely informs her.

“Not this.” Becca replies. Marybeth’s eyes furrow in disappointment, before grabbing Becca by her elbow to tell her to stop walking away.

“Yes, Becca! Even ‘this’. Especially ‘this’.” Marybeth tells her, before she gently takes Becca’s hands to reassure her. “It can wait.” Marybeth tells her again.

“I just want this to be over.” Becca admits.

“And it will be.” Marybeth reassures her again. “But rushing towards a solution won’t solve your problems any faster. Give yourself time to think. The kind of time you should’ve given yourself earlier at the restaurant.” Marybeth advises her. Marybeth didn’t need to go into details in order for Becca to understand. Becca immediately understood that Marybeth was referring to her panicked choice to try and break up with Jay as an example of what rushing towards a solution could result in.

“Slow is smooth…” Marybeth tells Becca, trying to remind her of a saying she taught her long ago.

“Smooth is fast.” Becca finishes for Marybeth, confirming she remembers.

Becca’s shoulders immediately slump, as if finally allowing herself to stop carrying the weight of the world. Becca then immediately falls forward towards Marybeth’s embrace, burying her face onto her maternal figure’s shoulder and wetting it with her tears. Marybeth starts rubbing Becca’s back, whispering ‘it’s okay’ and ‘let it out’ as she does.

…

Becca lets go of her strong facade for some time, reverting back into the child that used to cry onto Marybeth’s shoulder whenever she had a fight with her parents. Once Becca finally recovers, Becca stands up straight once more. She tugs on the bottom hems of her coat to straighten it, as if resetting her facade. Marybeth takes care of the rest, by wiping her tears and dusting off her shoulders. Becca gives Marybeth a teary-eyed smile, before thanking her for the assist.

“I had hoped I'd wiped the last of your tears after you got a boyfriend. This is supposed to be his job now.” Marybeth jokingly complains.

“He did an amazing job of that earlier, actually.” Becca genuinely defends Jay to Marybeth.

“And that’s why I was hoping you’d stay with him tonight. I can only do so much.” Marybeth replies.

“You do an amazing job of picking me up too, Marybeth.” Becca assures her.

“I know.” Marybeth agrees. “But you need more than a ‘pick me up’, Becca. What you need now is your guts rearranged.” Marybeth tells Becca, who immediately separates from her in shock.

“Excuse me!?” Becca asks in confusion.

“Did I not use that right?” Marybeth asks, her innocence genuine.

“What on Earth were you intending to say?” Becca asks.

“How did she explain this to me? It’s when their-um, pototoy, is too big and it moves your guts around—” Marybeth tries to explain, and Becca cuts her off before she can complete her explanation.

“Where did you hear such a vulgar euphemism!?” Becca asks Marybeth.

“That’s what Vivian said you girls planned to do after the party.” Marybeth answers, and it all makes sense to Becca.

“I am banning you from further conversations with Vivian.” Becca tells Marybeth.

“And I am banning you from working tonight. Do we have a deal?” Marybeth counters, and Becca can’t help appreciate Marybeth’s attempt at changing her mind.

“I’m sorry, Marybeth, but no. We do not.” Becca answers, unable to hide her bittersweet smile. It’s this that tells Marybeth that she can’t change Becca’s mind, because it seems even Becca regrets having to do what she has to do tonight.

“Have you at least had the chance to think about what you’re going to do?” Marybeth checks with Becca.

“I have.” Becca assures Marybeth.

“And you’re sure you’re not rushing? It has to be tonight?” Marybeth follows up.

“Yes.” Becca answers.

“Fine.” Marybeth concedes, after letting out a deep sigh in disappointment. “How can I help?” Marybeth asks.

“Get Gigi.”

A few days ago, a day after Jay and Becca’s first date…

“Can you get Gigi for me, please.” Becca instructs Marybeth from behind her large wooden work desk inside her study.

“What do you need her for? I can do it.” Marybeth replies.

“Thank you, Marybeth, but this is something I need Gigi’s help with.” Becca refuses Marybeth’s offer. Marybeth gestures that she’s not exactly busy, but Becca gives her a look that that’s not the issue. “Just get her. Please, Marybeth.” Becca says, putting in the effort to still keep her tone nice.

Marybeth looks at Becca suspiciously, but finally concedes to get her fellow maid for Becca. A few minutes later, Marybeth returns to Becca’s study with Gigi.

“You called for me, Ms. Hoffman?” Gigi addresses Becca.

“Yes, Gigi. I did.” Becca answers, before eyeing Marybeth for still lingering around. “That would be all, Marybeth. Thank you.” Becca tells her. Marybeth gives Becca another suspicious look, not at all pleased with the amount of secrecy Becca’s affecting around this request for her fellow maid.

“Don’t worry, Marybeth. We’ll tell you what this is about later.” Becca assures Marybeth, who gives her a look that’s clearly asking ‘Why can’t you just tell me now?’, but Marybeth doesn’t push it and closes the door behind her.

“Why is lola so concerned, Ms. Hoffman? Did I do something wrong?” Gigi asks, clearly anxious.

“That’s for you to admit, Gigi. Did you?” Becca asks Gigi.

“Did I… what do you mean, Ms. Hoffman?” Gigi asks in confusion.

“Did you do something wrong?” Becca asks her.

“I-I don’t know what you mean.” Gigi answers, already sweating just from Becca’s intimidating aura.

“I spent most of yesterday cleaning house, Gigi. Making sure I purged my circle, both privately and professionally, of anyone whose loyalty isn’t solely to me. That’s why Frank is… no longer with us.” Becca explains, choosing her phrasing carefully to be as intimidating as possible.

“Ms. Becca, I—” Gigi tries to speak, but the words are caught up in her throat from nerves.

“Yes?” Becca asks, the smirk on her lips just scaring Gigi further.

“I’m sorry, Ms. Becca! I-I… I didn’t know what else to do! Your father threatened to have me deported! He even said he’ll go after my ates and kuyas back home if I don't do what he asks! I just agreed because I didn’t know what else to do!” Gigi immediately caves, unable to handle the immense pressure from getting caught by her immediate employer. More importantly, someone her own grandmother loved dearly.

Becca stands up from her seat and starts walking towards Gigi. The young maid can only stare at her in fear of repercussions, but her eyes shift from fear to shock after Becca takes her hands gently and holds them.

“I don’t doubt my father’s threats had you shaken, Gigi. I’m sure it’s the reason why he targeted you and not your lola.” Becca says to Gigi gently. “My father knows your lola is too loyal to me to even bother trying. But you…” Becca says, before Gigi cuts her off.

“I’m so sorry, Ms. Becca! I am loyal to you too! I just… I didn’t know… I was afraid… Please!” Gigi starts begging in panic.

“Calm down, Gigi.” Becca tells her. “I’m not my father. I’m not here to threaten you or punish you.” Becca assures her.

“In fact, I’m actually the one who needs your help.” Becca tells Gigi, confusing the young maid once more.

“I-You’re… you’re not angry with me?” Gigi asks Becca.

“I can’t be angry with a fellow victim. Father blackmailed you, and I cannot blame you for spying on me for him.” Becca answers. “But now I have to ask you if you can do the same for me.” Becca then adds, shocking Gigi.

“Out of only the goodness that I know you have within you, will you help me with my father?” Becca asks Gigi.

“O-Of course, Ms. Becca. I’ll help in any way I can. But please, I don’t want to cause any more trouble with your family! I don’t want—” Gigi answers, and Becca interrupts her before she can start begging to be set free from the Hoffman family mess entirely.

“I’m sorry, Gigi. But you’re the only one I can ask to do this for me.” Becca tells her.

“W-what do you need me to do?” Gigi asks.

“Keep spying on me.” Becca answers, confusing Gigi even more.

“I don’t understand, Ms. Becca. What good would that do?” Gigi asks her.

“I assume you’re not reporting directly to my father, yes?” Becca asks, and Gigi nods.

“I was told to text a number for my updates.” Gigi tells Becca.

“A number?” Becca asks in surprise, while Gigi nods to confirm. “One… number? The same number?” Becca asks to clarify, and Gigi again nods to confirm.

‘Dad’s working with an amateur.’ Becca makes a mental note.

“What happens if you don’t have anything to report?” Becca then asks.

“A woman called me to get more details that one time.” Gigi answers.

“Using the same number I presume?” Becca asks, and Gigi again nods to confirm. Becca takes this info and ponders on it for a bit.

…

“When the time comes, Gigi, I’ll probably need your help again.” Becca tells her. “But for now, we need you to make sure that they don’t suspect me of knowing about you. Report correctly and report diligently. Act as if nothing has changed.” Becca instructs her, and Gigi nods again. Confused as to what Becca might be planning, but not courageous enough to ask.

“One more thing, Gigi. I need to know I can trust you.” Becca adds.

“You can trust me, Ms. Hoffman.”

Back at the present…

*DING-DONG*

…

*DING-DONG*

…

*DING-DONG*-*DING-DONG*-*DING-DONG*-*DING-DONG*

“It’s three in the fucking morning!” A woman shouts from inside the house that’s being bothered by the incessant doorbell ringing.

“Who the fuck are you?” The woman asks right after opening her front door in frustration.

“I’m-uh… I’m Gigi. Ms. Rebecca Hoffman’s maid?” Gigi answers the woman.

“Oh, fuck me.” Lainey Craig, Jay’s sister, says in reaction—immediately realizing what’s going on.

“Ms. Hoffman would like to speak with you.”