"Thank you, Ms. Drake. Good luck with your new job."
He doesn't even face me as he says the words, just turns his head slightly with his back to me, like we just finished a discussion about the airspeed velocity of a swallow. And with that, he slips past the door frame and out of my life, again. I sit in one of the chairs shocked by how nonchalantly he can walk away. I think he just answered the question I had in my head a moment ago.
Hearing some voices in the hall I stand and try to fix my hair as I see Mr. Mitchell walk into the room.
"There you are. I have been waiting for a while. I guess Mr. Payne needed ..." His eyes stare at something on the table and I turn to see what it is. A condom wrapper. Fuck!
Chapter 28 - THE Birthday ...
I have been jobless for a week and a half. Oh, you didn't think Mr. Mitchell would keep an assistant who has sex with her former boss on the office conference table did you? Let's be realistic here, Mr. Mitchell in all his can't-handle-women-with-long-hair and can't-look-people-in-the-eye crazy thought I am the mess. Which, if I am going to be honest, I am a big sloppy mess. I don't think hogs on a farm will come near me with my life being what it is. Oh, that and the fact I haven't showered in five days and am subsisting on Slim Jims, oranges (got to have vitamin c – scurvy you know), and chocolate chips ... cake is too expensive for a jobless woman.
Aria is holding her nose as she comes toward the couch or as I like to call it now "Survival Island." If there is a massive flood that overtakes Chicago and the water makes it up the three flights of stairs to our floor, I will have everything I need in life on this couch: my comforter, napkins, remote (hoping the television floats), assorted snacks (see above paragraph), large bottle of water and my red hoodie in case I get cold.
"Morgana, I will pay you a million dollars if you leave that couch and take a shower, please!"
"You don't have a million dollars, Aria." I tell her in between chews of jerky.
"Back when we were in college we went to parties in frat houses that smelled better than you. Besides we are going out tonight."
I reluctantly set down the yellow and red wrapped meat-like product and glare at her.
"I'm not going anywhere. I'm trying to catch up on Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead. I don't have time to go out."
She rolls her eyes and groans while taking a seat on the couch as far away from my odor zone as possible.
"I can't believe it has come to this, Morgana. But need I remind you it's your birthday. Happy thirtieth, dear."
She starts to lean in for a hug but thinks the better of it and sits back. I reach for my cell phone on the coffee table and bring up the calendar. Oh God it's March third and I totally forgot.
"You're right. How could I forget? I usually am reminding people weeks in advance."
"I know. That's why I think it's imperative you come out with us tonight. You need to break out of this funk you are in, both psychologically and physically."
"We?"
Aria nods, "Yes, me and Evaleen. Oh and Tiffany is going to be there too. It's Thursday SWIM meet but I thought we could also have your birthday celebration too."
Tiffany? Since when is she friends with Tiffany?
"Wait ... wait ... wait. What? ... um ... Mr. Payne's girlfriend? Tiffany? What?"
Aria sighs again and turns a little to face me resting her head on her hand leaning back on the couch.
"Look, I ran into Tiffany while Evaleen and I had a SWIM meet a few weeks ago. She is actually kind of cool. She isn't the terrible person you think she is, Morgana. Tiffany has a twelve year old boy who is in the hospital. The SWIM meet is the only chance she has to get out and relax. She is a single mom, so it's not like she has a ton of support."
Now I feel terrible. All the names I called her. God I am going to hell. Oh let's face it, I was going to hell long before I met Tiffany.
"Oh that's terrible. Now I feel bad. I should at least buy her a drink ... oh wait I have no money because I got fired AGAIN for the same thing in less than a month."
"Look, I know it's shitty. But just take a break tonight and tomorrow you can resume feeling sorry for yourself. Okay?"
"Fine!" I groan while removing the comforter and standing. My legs are wobbly as I have been on my ass most of the day.
"Oh dear God, that smell. It's like a cat gave birth to a litter box. Go. Now. Before I get the vapors or whatever it is that people die of from toxic fumes."
Aria is covering her face with her hand as her other hand waves me away.