“Of course,” I bit out.
There were so many things I would change about this place. They way the employees were treated would be first on my list. But there would never be a chance for me to wave my magic wand and make this company more efficient. Besides, Reg-The-Ogre owned it and he could pretty much fuck off.
“And I’ll have a coffee,” he added and turned away, going back into his office. One of the worst parts was no one said anything. So much change was needed but no one dared speak up about what was wrong. We all needed to eat, I guess.
How bad would it be if I put just a tiny bit of poison in his drink?
I walked straight to the kitchen, counting slowly and telling myself to let it go.
“Hey, Nell,” Tommy, the only guy I didn’t want to stab in the eye, said, finishing up making his tea.
“Hey, how’s it going?”
He turned his nose up and chucked the spoon in the sink. “Better when I eventually get out of this place.”
“Hallelujah!”
“You’re not enjoying it either? I see the way Reg speaks to you, he’s done it to all of the PA’s he’s had. No one lasts long.”
“Yeah, I won’t either. I’ll either move on soon or kill him.”
Tommy laughed. “Well you won’t be alone there, on both accounts. I’ve been looking for something new for the last two months.”
“Yeah? Much come up?”
“Not really.”
Smiling, I replied, “Well that’s encouraging.”
“Sorry, I’m sure you’ll have better luck than me.”
He wasn’t sure of that at all, he didn’t know what I was qualified to do or the experience – or lack of experience – I had.
“I doubt it. But hey, if we’ve still not found a job in the next six months let’s set up a rival company ourselves.”
Laughing again, he said, “You’re on. And maybe we could get together sometime to discuss the business.”
That sounded a lot like him asking me out on a date.
No.
A date wasn’t going to happen, ever, and I wasn’t attracted to Tommy, so sex was off the cards. There was nothing wrong with him; he was relatively good looking, tall, stocky, with closely shaven brown hair, and he was nice but I had to really want him.
“What’re you suggesting?” I asked, needing him to be crystal clear here.
He twitched his head. “I don’t know, whatever you’d like. Coffee? Dinner?”
“So a date?”
“Well...yeah. It would seem we’re on different pages...”
Ha, we were in a totally different book.
“No, it’s just… I don’t date. That whole dating/couple thing is so not for me. Always ends bad and all that.”
“Right,” he said, averting his eyes.
Well ain’t that just bloody perfect. The one person I could have a normal conversation with without knowing he’d be talking behind my back I just fucked up. We were left with awkwardness.
“Sorry,” I muttered, reaching for a mug to have something to do.
“No, you don’t have to be sorry. We can be friends, right?”
“I’d like that. Everyone else here is…”
Smiling, he nodded once. “I know what you mean. I’ll see you later, Nell,” he said and walked off.
Groaning, I looked up to the ceiling. Could this day get any shitter?
Damon
I slammed my front door in a foul mood and lobbed my phone and keys on the side. Nell had been off with me for the last few weeks and dodging my calls since yesterday. It pissed me off a lot more than it probably should. She didn’t have to check in but after Scotland I thought we were moving forwards.
My phone rang just as I reached the kitchen and I almost ignored it but I turned back and went to see. Nell’s name flashed up. I picked it up and swiped my thumb across the screen. “Yeah?” I said.
“Are you in?” She asked.
I gripped the phone harder. “Yeah, why?” My tone was harsher than I’d intended but I didn’t appreciate being ignored.
“Um...” She sighed. “Alright. I’m sorry, okay. I’ve had a lot on but I should’ve at least sent you a text.”
She should’ve done much more than that. “What’s wrong?” I asked.
“Nothing really. Work stuff. I just needed to be a hermit for a night. But I am sorry that I didn’t say anything.”
There was more to it than that. If she needed a night she would’ve just said, like she had a few times before. Something was wrong because she’d hidden the need to be alone.
“Right,” I replied, gritting my teeth at her lie.
I would prefer if she didn’t offer any explanation than lie to me. We didn’t need to confide in each other but I hated that she didn’t feel like she could tell me whatever was going on.
“Are you angry with me?”
Closing my eyes, I ran my hand over the top of my head. “No, I’m not angry. You don’t owe me anything, Nell, we’re just screwing around so if you want a night off without an explanation that’s your right.”