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Chapter Six
Megan
In the afternoon, Ifilled out my application for the competition. It was exhilarating to press Send. I’d find out if they accepted my application within two weeks.
After work, I met Nina at our favorite bar near the Art Institute of Chicago. It was the third year it made the “Top 10 Bars in Chicago” list inTime Outmagazine. I loved that they had reasonable prices despite being famous. It had a sleek look, all black and silver with the occasional light blue tone used in the comfy armchairs.
Nina and I had been best friends since college. She was older than me by six years—she’d decided to change careers in her twenties, and she’d done a one-year conversion course in fashion. We met at a food truck near the main building of the university.
Now, she was working at Gucci. She dressed the part too. Tonight, she was wearing a white pencil skirt, red stilettos, and a dark blue silk blouse with a V-neckline.
She grinned when she saw me approach, pointing at the glass on the table in front of my seat. There was a plate in the middle with fries and fried shrimp.
"I already ordered you wine. Come on, sit down and tell me everything. How's the job? How’s the boss?" she asked, wiggling her eyebrows.
I laughed, taking a few fries and a shrimp and practically inhaling them. After that, I took a sip of wine.
"The job is interesting so far. I like the work environment. Everyone's professional but also friendly. No one's stressed out. They respect the boss but aren’t afraid of him. You know what I mean?"
"Is it possible that you're biased?"
"I took in everyone's reactions to him today in a very objective manner. He has this way of exuding confidence, power, and authority. But he's not a jackass, you know?"
"Right. When can I meet him?"
"Never."
I ate more fries and a shrimp. They went perfectly with the wine she chose.
She tilted her head. "Why not?"
"Why would you meet my boss?"
"Hmm, true. Okay, so you think you're in the right spot? You're happy you took the job?"
I took another sip, holding it in my mouth for a beat because it was a tad too cold.
After swallowing, I said, "I think, professionally, it was the right thing to do."
Nina leaned over the table a bit, looking at me with a playful expression. "But personally, you think the hot boss is still hot?"
I nodded. I couldn't bring myself to say it.
"Well, well, this is going to be very interesting," she said.
"You don't say," I murmured. "He doesn't seem to have a problem staying professional, though."
"You sound annoyed."
"Itisa bit annoying to be the only one who's so rattled when I see him."
"Change of subject. We haven’t had a girl talk after your one-night stand. I need to know exactly how he convinced you. You never want to take a chance on anyone randomly hitting on you. I’ve been trying to set you up with guys ever since Carson fucked off."
I opened my mouth and closed it again, shaking my head. "I can't talk about it."
"Why not?"
"Because I'm determined to forget it ever happened, and talking about it won't help."
