The revenge will be evil
This is the second chapter of the novel named "The manager who hated women". To read the first chapter, please click here.
The long-awaited day had finally arrived. Ever since Maria Ines had learned that her old boss would soon be retiring, she had begun to plot her revenge. She didn't consider herself a spiteful person: she went to church every week, did charity work and behaved humbly. But the rudeness she had endured and the unexpected reaction of her former team when the story had become known to everyone had aroused a deep hatred in her. And a silent one: Maria Ines suffered in secret.
In fact, she knew that part of what had happened was due to her eternal muteness, her inability to command respect. Maria Ines was easy prey. She had been brought up to be a good girl, discreet and submissive, the kind of woman who considers other people's wishes more important than her own. That way of being was engraved in her genetic code.
Listening to her plans for revenge, her friend Silvia, who was a great connoisseur of the human soul, had remarked wryly:
- How do you intend to be taken seriously in your revenge if you've never been respected before? The moment you open your mouth, they'll say you've gone mad because of the lack of men and things like that. To be taken seriously, you need to change.
And so it was. In the weeks leading up to the retirement party, Silvia took Maria Inês to get a more modern haircut and to cover up her gnawed knuckles with beautiful fake nails. The discreet clothes in shades of beige and gray that filled her closet were all donated.
- These are good clothes for going to church, not for taking revenge. You need expensive clothes with a classic, slightly sensual cut, like a “successful executive”, but with a hint of “warrior woman”.
After a full day of wandering around the boutiques of Rua Oscar Freire, São Paulo's most chic address, Sílvia took Maria Inês for a few drinks and to relax in the bar of the Terraço Itália restaurant. At the entrance to the bar, while they were waiting for their turn to be taken by the receptionist to the counter, two men in suits and ties joined the queue in front of them as if they were entitled to special treatment.
- Go and give them a telling off. But don't talk in a squeaky voice, okay? Think of it as training for D-Day,” said Silvia, as she pushed her friend towards the pair.
- Imagine if they decided to fight me in public! I'd die of embarrassment...
Ten minutes later, the two friends were laughing as they recalled every detail of the scene. After Maria Ines had pointed out to them that they had to be polite and respect the order of arrival, they had apologized a thousand times, pretending that it had all been a misunderstanding, and sent complimentary drinks to their table, accompanied by a nice note. When happy hour was almost over, Silvia realized that her friend was smiling for the first time in a long time, squinting at her beautiful fake nails.
Over the next few days, Maria Inês decided to prepare her D-Day speech. She wrote down all the rude things her former boss had done to her and other colleagues at work. It was with astonishment that she had discovered during the chats in the coffee room that she wasn't the only victim of that scoundrel. The number of stories similar to hers was impressive. However, it was rare for women to complain to HR, because those who protested against this kind of behavior from men were considered “difficult” and were passed over for promotions.
Now that she knew what to say, she had to train her tone and be able to say everything in a single stream. She had to be concise and clear, or the chance would be lost forever. With the help of Silvia and a gay friend, who contributed with criticisms and suggestions, she honed and repeated her monologue to exhaustion.
D-day had finally arrived! She had woken up early to get dressed and put on her make-up, and reread the text once more before leaving the house. With the street door open, Maria Inês took one last look in the mirror and was fascinated by the change that had taken place in her. Flawless make-up and clothes and a haughty bearing gave her a look of self-confidence that she had never displayed before. As she stared into her reflection, she wondered if she was still the same easy prey as in the past.
- Would my life have been easier if I had always been like this?
However, things weren't going quite as she had planned. The day had dawned rainy and the traffic was jammed, so the Uber she had booked the day before to take her to the party had still not arrived. Maria Inês became impatient with the delay, fearing that her plans would fall through the cracks.
Desperate because of the unforeseen circumstances, she decided to look for a free taxi on the street. When a taxi finally pulled up at her sign, she saw another passenger run up to the car and open the door.
- What do you think you're doing? The taxi stopped for me. Have the decency to wait your turn,” she said angrily to the man in front of her, ready to fight tooth and nail to make her plans come true.
Astonished, he raised his face and looked at the woman who had fallen from outer space, screaming.
- Vicente? - she asked when she recognized the one who had been the great passion of her youth.
- Maria Ines? Is that you? My, how beautiful you look. So different from what you were in college... The passage of time has done you good. - He commented, as he gazed in wonder at the charming woman in front of him.
Surprised by his kind words and his fascinated gaze, she forgot about her plans for revenge, the delay that was tormenting her and the taxi driver standing there, who was patiently waiting for the two of them to decide which of them would go on.
- Are you in a hurry? Do you have time to have a coffee with me and catch up? I'd love to hear about everything you've been doing over the last few years...
- Of course! - she replied - How about having coffee at my place? I live nearby.
And the two of them set off with their hearts pounding, walking side by side along the stretch of street illuminated by the first rays of sunshine that had finally broken through the clouds that morning.
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