Maggie pushed the last cartload of books into the library. In another hour and a half, she’d be on her way to meet Ben at the airport. Five o’clock couldn’t come soon enough. She was still feeling stressed out by the morning’s meeting. It would be great to relax with Casey and the gang over the long weekend. She thought about her small suitcase stowed in the corner of her office and smiled. She didn’t even have to go home.
“You think you’re pretty smart, don’t you?”
Maggie whirled around to see John leaning against a table just inside the library. Ellen closed the double doors and stood in front of them, arms crossed. John had that intense look on his face she remembered from their last encounter in this room.
She pulled herself as tall as she could, affecting confidence she didn’t feel. “I just tried to be thorough, that’s all,” she answered, pushing past him to pick up more books.
“Little Miss NYU, always trying to be a good girl,” mocked Ellen. Maggie slid her eyes in the woman’s direction and elected not to be baited.
“Here’s the thing, Maggie,” John said in a deceptively calm tone, “you made me look bad today.”
Maggie cocked her head to the side and met his eyes. “You made yourself look bad today. You can’t put that off on me.” She turned to walk away, intending to shelve the books in her hands when he grabbed her arm, causing the books to crash to the floor.
In his office, Michael watched the situation unfold on the screen of his laptop. Just give me a little more.
“I think you should leave now,” Maggie said, snatching her arm away from John. “I don’t have any more to say to you.”
He grinned eerily, stepping closer and causing her to back into the table. “But I have a lot more to say to you.” He had nearly a twelve-inch advantage over Maggie and he loomed over her.
Maggie could feel his hot breath on her face. “You need to back the fuck up!” she said, putting her hands on his chest and shoving him backwards.
John lunged at her, his huge hands gripping her around the neck and he slammed her onto the table, leaving her legs dangling off the edge. Maggie struggled to scream but couldn’t. She’d had the wind knocked out of her when she landed on the table and John was tightening his grip on her throat. Desperately she grasped at his hands.
“I ought to fuck you like the cunt you are,” John growled, forcing her legs apart with his, her skirt riding higher. He tightened his grip with one hand and tore at her blouse with the other.
It was Ellen’s turn to be shocked. “John! You’re pushing this too far!”
“Shut up, Ellen!” he hurled over his shoulder.
Michael raced out of his office. “Call security now!” he shouted at a startled
Karen as he ran toward the library. Reaching the doors, he discovered they were locked. He lowered his shoulder and rammed with all his might. e doors gave way with a splintering of wood, the glass cracking but not shattering.
Maggie tried desperately to pry off John’s remaining hand finger by finger but her vision was going dark.
Michael ran past Ellen, who stood motionless, not knowing what to do. He grabbed John by the shoulder and threw him back. As soon as John released his grip on her neck, Maggie slid off the edge of the table. Her knees buckled and she crumpled to the floor in a coughing, gasping heap.
Karen entered the library with two large security guards. “These two are not to leave this room,” Michael commanded, pointing to John and Ellen. He knelt beside Maggie.
“Hey Mags, are you okay?” He tenderly helped her sit up, lifting her chin to look in her eyes. Maggie could only cough.
He realized her blouse was torn, exposing her navy lace bra, and immediately took o his suit coat and wrapped it around her. “Can you stand?” Maggie nodded. “Karen, take her to my office. No one, I mean no one, is to go in there until I come back,” he said.
“Got it,” Karen said. “Come on, sweetie, let’s get you out of here,” she murmured to Maggie. She wrapped an arm around the shaken young woman and supported her as they le the library.
Michael turned to John and Ellen, speaking in an impossibly calm voice. “Let me tell you how this is going to go. You two will resign, effective immediately. I already have the paperwork drawn up. All you have to do is sign. You will leave the building and never return.”
John smirked at Michael. “What makes you think we’re going to sign anything? You have no idea what happened here. Your girl attacked me. Ellen can tell you.” He looked at Ellen, who seemed less sure of herself.
“I know exactly what happened here. It’s all recorded on security video. Smile for the cameras, John.” He pointed to the corner.
John looked momentarily surprised. Then he turned to Michael. “You recorded us without our knowledge? You know that’s not admissible in court.”
“I have you on video threatening to rape your colleague. Do you think your wife will care if it’s admissible in court?” He addressed the security guards. “Keep them here. I’ll be right back.”
Michael returned to his office to collect the waiting resignations from the Hermes tray on his desk. Glancing around he saw Maggie on the couch, knees drawn up to her chin, his suit coat wrapped around her like a blanket. She was turned toward the window. Karen was kneeling beside the couch speaking to her softly. She met his eyes and shrugged helplessly. “Hang on a second,” he told her with a grim smile.
Back in the library, he placed the resignations on the table. Ellen and John signed without comment. He gave further instructions to security. “They can return to their offices and remove their personal belongings only. They should not touch the computers. Give them five minutes and escort them out of the building.”
“Yes, Mr. Rannigan. Let’s move,” the guard said to John.
The other guard gently took Ellen by the upper arm. “Michael,” she began. He turned on his heel and returned to his office, closing the door behind him.
Karen met him at the door. “I don’t know what to do,” she said worriedly. “Maggie hasn’t said anything since we left the library.”
“I’ll try to talk to her. You go call the police,” Michael answered.
“No. No police.” Maggie’s voice was hoarse but rm. Michael frowned slightly, rubbing his chin with his fingers. “No police,” she repeated, her gaze intense.
Michael nodded slowly. “No police,” he agreed. “But Michael,” Karen protested.
He shook his head. “It’s okay. I’ll talk to her.” He looked at his watch. “It’s close enough to quitting time. Why don’t you tell everyone they can knock off now? You can go on, too. Have a good holiday.”
“I don’t know,” she said doubtfully.
He gave her a reassuring smile. “It’ll be okay. Besides, we should get everybody out of here.” He tilted his head in Maggie’s direction.
Karen nodded, understanding his meaning. “Alright then.” She went to Maggie and hugged her gently. “You have a happy Thanksgiving, hon. Everything’s going to be alright.” As she went out the door, “See you Monday, Michael.”
“Thanks for everything, Karen. Happy Thanksgiving.” He closed the door behind her, but not before he noticed the curious stares of the remaining 50th floor inhabitants. Karen will handle them. Now about Maggie...
Except for having turned her head to speak, Maggie was in the same position in which she’d been when he’d come to get the resignations for John and Ellen. She was huddled at the end of the couch, her knees pulled up under her chin, his coat wrapped around her like a comforter.
Michael sank onto the coffee table directly across from her. “So how ya doin’, Mags?” he asked gently. She slowly turned to face him and he could see the angry purple marks on her neck growing more visible by the moment. “Are you okay?”
A single tear rolled down her right cheek and she swiped at it with her shoulder. “I was scared,” she said simply.
Michael moved beside her on the couch and gently put his le arm around her shoulders, pulling her to him. He murmured soothing words as she wept almost silently for a few minutes.
Then she sat up, clearing her throat. “I’m sorry,” she said, swiping at her face with the backs of her hands.
He looked at her incredulously. “Sorry for what?”
Maggie shrugged. “For being all...I don’t know...freaked out,” she fumbled. “You were just assaulted by a co-worker. You should get checked over by a doctor. We need to file a police report,” he said.
She shook her head vehemently. “No. No doctor. And I don’t want to call the police.”
“Why the hell not?” Michael asked.
“Because...I don’t,” she replied. “I just...I mean they’re going away, right? John and Ellen? They’ll never be back?”
“True, but...”
“I’m supposed to be at the airport in half an hour. I don’t want to miss this trip. And I don’t want to have to explain all...” she waved her hand, “this. My suitcase is in my office. I can just change my clothes and be on my way.”
Michael considered her words, then sighed. “Alright, Mags. We’ll play it your way. But I’m not happy about it.” He gave her a serious look. “I’m worried about you.”