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“Fine.” He sighed. “I'll sort it out.”
“Do it. I’ll run over my expectations here,” I replied quickly. The calmness started to appear as I removed my shoes and placed them by the door. “Tye, next time, don't think with your dick. Yeah?”
“Yeah, yeah. Couldn't help it if she was good,” he taunted. “Never know, you may loosen up and find a girl over there.”
“Tye…” I warned.
“Sorry, man. I didn't think,” he quickly apologized. “I will sort all… I really am…”
“Leave it… Yeah?” I cut in, not wanting to start this merry go round. It was hard enough being here without mentioning her. “Speak later.”
I ended the call abruptly, knowing I would speak to Tye when my mind wasn't so conflicted later, and dropped the phone on the sideboard next to me. I walked into the bathroom, turned the tap on and splashed water onto my face, rubbing my hands up and down my face. I glanced up in the mirror and just stared absentmindedly as a question flew into the forefront of my mind.
What did you do with your life, Everleigh?
I couldn't stop the pain hurtling through my body as my fist smashed and splintered the mirror into shards, echoing the pain in my heart.
Now I’d have to arrange to have that fixed, too. I looked down at the blood running down my knuckles but didn't feel a thing, just numbness when really, I deserved every bit of pain thrown at me.
4
Everleigh
My nerves have been shot since I’d applied for the position at The Wilden. I’d even thought of retracting my application, but Chrissie had said I was acting out of fear, and I would regret it. She was right, of course I would, but it didn't settle those doubts that lay in the pit of my stomach. What if my dreams were squashed in a mere moment's dash? I'd seen many come and go over the last eighteen months. People who said they'd progress through the ranks, only to stumble at the last hurdle and leave with their tails hanging between their legs. I was strong, don't get me wrong, but being cautious helped keep my wits about me.
Luckily, applications closed at the end of the day for internal vacancies; external applications closed a few days prior. I questioned their methods with HR but was told that our work ethic had already been proved and external candidates needed the relevant reference checks to account for the difference in dates. Nothing to do with my conscious screaming that they'd dismiss us due to already having positions within the firm. I knew that it was unlawful and unethical, but I had to know. Call me ever skeptical in a situation, at least my mind could be eased now.
I checked my watch and knew that enough time had lapsed. It had been hours since the applications had closed. I wasn't holding my hopes high though. If I raised them up to just be thrown to the ground, I'd struggle to crawl back to my former self. I'd learnt the hard way to not show weakness; people craved finding a flaw and when they did, would squash it beneath their feet given half a chance. I would rather wear my fake plastered mask than be subjected to that scrutiny.
* * *
I heard my cell start to ring. I patted the pockets in my blazer and scoured around my apartment. I finally caught sight of the light flashing on and off on the breakfast bar where I’d placed it, next to the half-drunk cup of hot chocolate. It was eight at night, who would be calling at this time?
I grabbed my cell and unlocked the front screen to check who had called. Tye's name flashed up again, taunting me. Not in the mood for games, I answered the call and listened patiently, wondering what was going on. He knew the time difference for fuck’s sake, so why this time of day and not earlier? Unless this was a social call instead.
“Hey. Free to talk?” Tye asked cautiously as I walked across to the lamp and flicked it on before I closed the shutters on the windows too.
“I am,” I replied. “Just at home.”
“That's good. I'm glad. I wanted to tell you some news,” he uttered. “You got the job.”
“Me?” I spat out in shock, clasping my phone tightly to my ear as I nearly dropped the damn thing to the floor. “Seriously?”
“Yes, I know I'm breaking rules telling you. Fuck the rules. To be honest, I bloody made them. HR will be sending all the official correspondence tomorrow, but I had to hear your voice.” He sighed down the line.
“Tye, thank you!” I replied excitedly as I jumped backwards onto my bed. I looked up towards the ceiling and covered the microphone on the receiver as I squealed with delight and kicked my feet in the air. I quickly gathered my wits and pulled the cell back to my ear, hearing the obvious chuckle. “You okay?”
“Just a lot going on… I know where I would rather be, though.”
“And where's that, Mr. Renton?” I purred back as I ran my hand inside my shirt along the central seam. I reached towards one of my ample sized breasts, cupping and massaging it, before tweaking my nipple with my thumb and forefinger and letting out a small moan.
“Fuck, Everleigh… What are you doing? Put me on video call,” he demanded with a serious edge to his tone. “Now.”
I turned the video setting on and roamed the camera up my body, giving a glimpse of my hand placement before letting it land on my face. I gave him a cheeky wink and smirk as he sat back in his office chair. His blond short, ruffled hair, and bright green eyes glimmered back at me. I caught a glimpse of his skin tight navy suit and open collared shirt, taking in the few curls of hair escaping the top. He was fucking sexy, and he knew it, I couldn't deny that, but Tye wasn't the settling down type. He loved women and didn't shy away from the fact; a cocky flirt with the best of them.
I tried to look around the office he was sitting in. It seemed to be a mirrored replica of the office here in downtown. I ran my tongue across my lips slowly before standing my cell against my book pile on the bedside table. I angled it carefully between my face and my body.
“You look good. Pity I'm not there,” he said. “I just don't know when I'm going to be back…”
