America 1982-Chapter 311 - 18: I’m Just Cutting My Losses_7

Diane shot Tommy a look: "Are all rich folks assholes like you?"

The doorbell rang just as Tommy had taken off his pants, preparing to follow Diane into the bathroom. He cursed "F*ck" loudly and asked, "Who the hell is outside the door!"

"Boss, it’s me, Lotte," Page’s voice came from outside. "In two minutes, Miss Ottilia Farrell will call again, she has some questions for you, and she wanted me to make sure to get your mobile phone into your hands."

Tommy went to the door and opened it: "To ask if I’m messing around at a singles party? Ottilia wouldn’t be so thoughtless."

Page handed the mobile phone to Tommy, seeming unphased by Tommy’s lack of pants: "Miss Farrell said she’s doing an interview with some charity members in Australia for some TV stations and might need to call you; it’s eight o’clock in the morning there now."

Tommy took the phone, puzzled by Page’s words: "She needs to ask me questions for the interview? What the hell are the writers I hired for her doing with their salaries? Anyway, never mind, thank you, Mr. Page."

With the phone in hand, Tommy returned to the bathroom, where Diane was lying in a bathtub full of bubbles, only her hands and feet exposed, gently applying shower gel to her shoulders. Seeing Tommy enter with the mobile phone, she looked at him curiously.

"Given the way you’re bathing, this must be the most expensive bath on Earth. Seeing as I’m footing the bill, could you provide some extra service whilst bathing? At least let me feel like I’m not hemorrhaging money for nothing." Tommy stood in front of Diane, straightened up, and said, "Time is precious."

Diane hesitated for a moment before slowly leaning toward Tommy.

Ottilia’s call was punctual. Just as Tommy was closing his eyes to enjoy the moment, the phone rang. He grabbed the mobile phone, silenced Diane with a "shh" gesture, signaling her not to stop her movements, and then answered the call:

"Hi, dear, how’s the scenery in Australia?"

"Tommy, what time is it there in the United States? I hope I’m not disturbing you, but... but..." Ottelia’s voice sounded slightly embarrassed on the other end: "Me and the others are currently guests at Sydney TV Station, doing a live TV interview. We got onto the topic of women’s independence and family support, and I said it was your encouragement that helped me brave the first step."

"It’s mainly your courage and kindness that have led to everything today, sweetheart. My role has been insignificant," Tommy said with a steady voice, holding the phone with one hand and supporting Diane’s head with the other.

"The host asked if you could say something over the phone to encourage the women of Sydney, Australia, to encourage them to step out of their rooms, into society. Diane just had her husband talk, and now it’s your turn."

"Diane?" Tommy was startled, looking down at the woman in the bathtub somewhat guiltily, he asked, "Which Diane?"

"Mrs. Hillary-Diane-Clinton, Tommy, I’ve told you about her," Ottelia reminded him softly.

"Right, sorry, I’ve been so busy lately. No problem, give me a few seconds to think of something to say." Tommy breathed a sigh of relief as he realized that Diane, his girlfriend’s acquaintance, was not the same Diane in front of him.

He slightly lifted his head to look at the decorative painting on the bathroom wall, depicting a woman sipping coffee while waiting for a bus at a bus station. He tried to gather some thoughts from the painting.

After ten seconds, he spoke plainly: "I just want to say, now, it’s your turn, yes, to all the ladies listening at this moment, this message is for you: Now, it’s your turn."

"Year after year, day after day, you stand by the window of your home, watching people outside succeed, achieving great careers."

"And you?"

"You can only stand at your kitchen window, washing dishes, watching your children head out the door into the morning light, board the school bus, and leave home, watching your husband sip the last of his coffee, his suit crisp, as he steps out to start a new day at work."

"You finish tidying the messy breakfast table, start a thorough cleaning of the room, and by the time you straighten your back, having done all this, you find there’s no time to rest. You hastily gulp down a bowl of milk and cereal for lunch to satisfy your stomach, then rush out to attend a parent-teacher meeting."

"After barely surviving the curse of school, you immediately have to dash to the supermarket because your beloved husband mentioned as he left that morning that he got paid, so he wants a bigger spread for dinner. You select the best ingredients in the supermarket, get home, and prepare dinner for the family."

"While preparing dinner, the children come home from school, turning into little monsters wreaking havoc, leaving the house in chaos, just as you’re too busy to cope. You’re irritable, but still tell yourself this is the trouble of happiness."

"Finally, after your husband has enjoyed his lavish dinner and the children are put to sleep, you, exhausted, clean up everything and step into the bathroom to have a bubble bath... No, you won’t have a bubble bath. You just want a quick shower before collapsing into bed. As you dry your hair in front of the mirror, you see your reflection, the tired, wrinkled woman in the mirror, and whisper to her: