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Yesterday, I’d be thrilled with what I think is about to happen. But today? I just want to go home and cry until my tears finally run out. Until the pounding in my head and the heaviness in my heart is erased by time and distance.
Hopefully. This feels like a soul-deep hurt that might take a long time to get over.
“Now. I know you all know that I’ve been looking for a new Executive Creative Director and I’ve found her. Promise has so many things going for her that there was never really a question that she’d be perfect for this job. I think she could do it in her sleep!” The whole room laughs and my head throbs while I keep the fake smile pasted on my face.
“Hopefully, she doesn’t come in to work in her pjs but if she does, I know she’ll still be a force to be reckoned with.”
“And now I’m happy to introduce our new Executive Creative Director. Promise Cannon!” He claps his hands and the whole room erupts into applause and catcalls.
And over all their heads, I see Drake’s tall, lean body standing in the shadows. His teeth glint in the dark once and then he turns to walk away.
Just like that, all the excitement goes right out of my body. All the air whooshes out of my lungs and I just want someplace to wail out my pain.
Because I’ve never hurt so much all the way to my soul. I watch hungrily as he stalks out of the room and out of my life. This time I think it’s for good.
I wander around the room, locked in my isolation, yet smiling and shaking hands with people congratulating me and wishing me well.
I stagger over to a dark corner and sip at my drink, trying to get my focus back onto the job.
“Can you believe that he actually turned down the job and turned in his notice so that she’d get it? I mean, what kind of guy does something like that for a woman he barely speaks to at work.”
The room spins and I struggle to catch my breath.What the hell do they mean that he turned down the job? This job? My job?
“Yeah. I mean, I think they must have been having an affair or something. There’s no way any guy is giving up a promotion for some chick he works with without getting something in return. She must be a helluva lot better in bed than she looks.”
The other woman giggles. “The Ice Queen? Naw, no way! She’s too cold to have real feelings and emotions for someone. That doesn’t translate into great sex.”
I stagger out of the room and downstairs, fumbling with the door to the hr office.
I need to see him right now.
“What are you doing, Promise?” Alexander pops up in the hallway, his eyes sparkling with humor.
“Ummm. Nothing, Mr. Alexander. I was just hoping to find out…” my voice trails off and I clear my throat.
“You want to know where Drake lives, right? And you were hoping that you could weasel the information out of Mrs. Hooper.”
“Well, I wouldn’t put it that way exactly.” I can’t look at him. I was hoping to do exactly that.
“He lives at 1451 Highside Road. That big apartment complex. He’s in the penthouse.”
“Of course he is.”
“Why don’t you go talk to him and figure out what’s going on with you two?”
I nod my head. “I think I have to.”
But first there’s a little detour that I need to make.
CHAPTER8
Drake
Ipull up yet another job description on yet another website, searching for my next employment opportunity. Nothing has the same salary as the job I’m walking away from. Unless I’m willing to move.
And no matter how much I hurt right now, I just can’t bear to leave and kiss any chance of seeing her or talking to her good-bye.
Maybe with enough time she’ll forgive me. Then again, maybe she won’t.
