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Hannah’s smile faltered but I could tell that she was still trying for a cheery tone.
“Did you get home okay last night? You know, I was so hungry but I still have all that Chinese food. Want some? I brought it into work,” Hannah said. She held up a lunch bag in the air. “Doesn’t that sound good?”
I stared at her dully, realizing all the ways I’d fucked up. She was a good girl – much too good for me. And now, unless I did something drastic, I was slowly going to break her heart one little piece at a time.
Forcing myself to smile, I stared at Hannah. “You know, don’t talk to me unless it’s about work,” I said casually. “Creovation, Inc. isn’t really a place for idle chatter. I’m surprised my father didn’t tell you that when you interviewed.”
Tears sprang to Hannah’s eyes and she bolted out of the room, running blindly down the hall. A sharp pain stabbed me in the chest as I watched her dart off.
I’m so sorry, I thought as I watched her go. But this is how it has to be. This is for the best.
Hannah
I was crying so hard that I couldn’t breathe. The tears were escaping from my eyes and falling down my cheeks so rapidly that I was as wet as I’d been yesterday in the rainstorm. My nose was filled with liquid snot that felt like concrete in my sinuses, and my hands were stained black with huge droplets of mascara.
I’d never worn waterproof mascara before, but I was starting to realize that it might be the best option from here on out.
I could barely think. My heart was hurting so much – it was like someone had physically stabbed me in the chest. My lungs ached and I sucked in mouthfuls of air, desperately trying to relax and calm down. But all I could think about was how I’d failed. How I’d fucked up – how I’d been stupid enough to sleep with literally the first guy who’d ever treated me kindly.
My mouth hardened into a thin, angry line as I remembered the way Justin had treated me when I’d first met him. He’d been so awful – I should have known that his true colors were all bad ones.
The bathroom door burst open and I heard a clattering group of heels cross the tiled floor. Sucking in air, I pulled my knees to my chest and braced a hand against the stall door. The last thing I needed was someone else from Creovation, Inc. finding out that I was sobbing in the bathroom like a little kid.
“Oh my god, did you see William’s son?” A high female voice gushed. Peeking down beneath the stall door, I saw three pairs of heels standing in front of the row of sinks.
“What a hottie,” another woman said. “God, I’d like to get my hands on that!”
“You’re such a slut, Trisha,” the first voice said. “As if he’d sleep with someone like you. You’ve been with half the company already!”
Trisha made a whiny sound and stamped on the floor with her heel. “But he’s so hot!”
“Yeah, if you feel like catching something,” the first woman said in a snarky voice. “Come on, we’re gonna be late.”
I shrank down as low as I possibly could as the women exited the bathroom. Their words had somehow made me feel even worse. I wasn’t angry, I wasn’t sad – I was just numb. I was a fool who deserved everything that I’d gotten, and this was all my fault.
Part of me wanted to leave work. Dry my eyes, grab my things, and just disappear into the grimy subway tunnels of Manhattan. But the stronger part of me knew that wasn’t a good idea – that was just letting Justin win. If I was going to come out on top, I’d have to show him tha
t I couldn’t be easily messed with.
When I got back to my desk, Justin looked as white as a ghost. I gave him my best attempt at a smirk before lowering myself down into my desk chair. Yeah, you thought I’d be gone, didn’t you, I thought as I glared at him over the edge of my computer monitor. But I’m still here, and I’m not going anywhere.
William came out of his office, looking frazzled.
“Hannah, I need those reports filed by the end of the day,” he said, glancing at his watch. “I have to run if I’m going to make my flight.”
“Oh, I didn’t know you were going out of town,” I said.
“I’ll be back in the morning,” William said. “Just a meeting, that’s all.”
“Wow,” I said, enjoying the way Justin was staring at me with an open mouth and a slack jaw. “I can’t imagine flying somewhere just for a meeting.”
William chuckled. “It’s a fun life,” he said sarcastically. “Have a good night, Hannah.”
I felt smug as I noticed he didn’t even say goodbye to his own son. Okay, I made a mistake, but I’ll be okay, I thought as I watched William’s figure disappear down the hall. Everybody screws up. At least it happened now instead of later.
Turning to Justin, I stood up and wiped my palms on my dress.
“Please file these for me,” I said in a dry, emotionless voice. “I’m leaving.”
