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“Same to you, Elyse.”
I watch her walk out of here like the entitled bitch she is and it takes everything I have not to put my fist or my laptop through the wall. I’m not usually the type to get super physical when I get angry. I’m more of a crier, to be honest, but that woman…that woman excels at pushing all my worst buttons.
I’m so angry the rest of the day I can hardly see straight. I made it through my last meeting, but barely. I’m glad Skye was leading, and I was merely a contributor. Eli was watching me from across the table. I knew he could tell I was upset.
I leave that meeting and head straight back to my office. I need a minute to just not talk to anyone and breathe. Most of the people in my corner have left for the day. Skye comes back to the front left, and I’m all the way in the back. I set my stack of files with my laptop down on my desk. I do a very nonwork thing and take my heels off.
Sometimes, when my feet are free, I feel free. I think that’s part of why I love contemporary dance so much. It starts at the bare feet then frees everything else. The sun is reflecting off the top of the tall building a couple of blocks from ours. It creates a halo-like effect in my window. I hold on to the small lip the chair rail provides and begin flexing and pointing my toes, hopping my weight from right to left as if I was on a ballet bar.
“I could tell something was wrong.” Eli’s voice comes softly from behind me.
“I’d like to say I don’t want to talk about it, but it might get back to you anyway.”
“Just tell me what it is.”
“After my meeting about ALITE, Elyse and I, well… we had words.”
“Okay. What kind of words? Words like a screaming match, or things that shouldn’t have been said but were?”
“That.” I turn around to lean against the window. “She came into the meeting nearly late. She sat at the opposite end of the table. So if she wanted it to be, the entire room would have to volley their heads back and forth from one end of the table to the other if she had a question. It felt so condescending, like I was the little girl in front of the class talking about her book report.”
“I’m sure it wasn’t that bad.”
“No. You’re right. That wasn’t. I had the room. I knew she’d pull shit like that. I was prepared. What I wasn’t prepared for was after, when she and I were alone after everyone filed out. She placated me first with her job well done speech, then she asked a question that rubbed me the wrong way.”
Eli turns his body to lean against the window with me. “What was the question?”
“She asked me don’t I get tired? I was like what do you mean? She said with how overextended I am, or seem, that she wondered how you and I could possibly be proper newlyweds.”
Eli’s face shifts from red to pale then back to red again. “You’re sure you heard her correctly? You couldn’t have misinterpreted it in any way?”
“Do you think I’d be this pissed off if I wasn’t sure? Eli, she might as well have come out and asked if we were having enough sex. I’ve never been so angry. I was raging inside. I told her it was none of her business and then…”
“Then? Then what, Viper?”
I take a deep breath, close my eyes, and let it fly. “I basically asked her if she was interested in you romantically.”
“What?” he screeches. “Dylan, that’s a serious accusation, one I’m not sure I want the answer to.”
“I wasn’t sure I did either. She said that I was off base, then I replied that I needed to leave and I was done speaking with her. So she turned her tone volume up and told me that was the first thing we agreed upon all day. She is such a bitch. Why is she kept around? I mean seriously, Eli. She stirs the pot at every given opportunity. Don’t your father and grandfather see it?”
“I’m sure they do. In fact, I know they do, but until or unless she does something that’s worthy of removing her, and we have concrete proof, she has to remain where she is.”
“I hate her, Eli. You know how I feel about that word. I’ve only used it one other time with one other person, but I hate her.”
“She is difficult. I will give you that. What can I do to help you right now? I don’t like to see you this wound up and hurting.”
“I know we talked about doing a mini staycation and locking ourselves in the apartment, but can we work instead? I want the updates and the event notes perfect for the follow-up meeting next Friday.”
“Perfection isn’t necessary, Dylan. You know that. All my father, everyone else, and I expect is your best. That’s near perfection anyway.”
“Please, Eli? You said what can you do, and this is it. I’m still so new. I would never have this chance to show what I can do at my age and experience if I wasn’t here.”
“By here, you mean married to the boss.”
“Eww. Don’t say it like that. I can do this, especially this project. I feel like I was born to lead this project. Elyse just needs to understand that and back off. She doesn’t run the show. I do. That’s what’s pissing her off. She doesn’t like me. That’s fine. The feeling is definitely mutual. I’ll figure out why someday, just not now. The stakes with this for me, you, and this project are too high. I refuse to let you down.”
“There’s my girl. I just needed to see that you were in it for the right reasons. We can stay and play at night and work during the day. It will feel like the rest of the week for us. Just know, I lack for nothing with you. Okay?”
