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“Oh, you know me,” I say, sarcastically wagging a finger at my brother. The image of driving up the picturesque mountainside is quickly fading. “I had better get started then. What a busy week I’m going to have.”
I grab the stack of folders and kick the door open. A horrible feeling of walking into the same old boring daydream grips me so tight I could suffocate.
A team of dedicated workers on the floor are all focused on their tasks, making phone calls, taking offers and searching for new clients. Occasionally, one will glance up at the clock, but this group of carefully selected workers is one of the best teams we’ve ever had – or so I’m told every single family dinner I have to endure.
“Morning, Hannah!”
I glance to the cubicle next to mine as I set the folders down. “Oh, hey, Matilda. How was your weekend?”
She flicks her blond hair over her shoulder and spins in her chair. “Not bad. I was trying to catch the game, but couldn’t find anyone to go with.” She glances down at her nails, and I see the long lashes flick up the way they always do. “Do you know if Xavier likes football? Maybe I could ask him?”
I feel my eyes roll as I settle down behind my computer screen. “I don’t think so, Matilda. He’s always saying how busy he is, so I don’t think watching sweaty men run around in tight trousers would be his thing.”
Matilda breathes a dreamy sigh. “Oh… I just wish for a man like him, you know?”
“A sweaty one with tight trousers?”
Matilda laughs and flaps a lazy hand at me. “No, silly. Your brother. He’s just so dreamy…”
I grab the first folder off the stack that’s barricading me in my small part of the bullpen. I can’t help but give yet another eye roll. If you’re keeping tally, that’s two already. And it’s only Monday morning. “I know. But maybe the tight trousers would be a better option.”
I start tapping on my keyboard, not really typing but trying to evade any further conversation about Matilda’s not-so-secret-crush on my brother.
I don’t understand how he’s still single. Constantly I see women throw themselves at him, but he’s too damn hard working to see their advances.
And then there’s me, signing up for all the dating apps only to get weird guys with bent dicks sending pictures to me all day long. I mean, I haven’t seen a lot of naked men, but a ninety-degree angle right in the middle of their tiny, hardened shaft is enough to suggest it wouldn’t work too well in the love making department.
I’ve only ever lasted long enough on one of those apps to have one date, and even that was a complete failure. I’m sorry, but if you show up wearing a shirt that says ‘I Heart My Mommy’,then I don’t think you’re ready for a serious relationship.
I scan the computer screen and when a pop-up alerts me to the fact that I’m supposed to be leaving in twenty minutes, a weird growl forms in my throat. Just as my lip curls and I grip the mouse hard, Matilda’s head appears above the stack of files.
“Hey, are you going soon?” Matilda says, her red lips matching her summery dress. “That inspection on the mountain cabin is due, isn’t it?”
I nod and glance at Xavier’s office. “I’ve been told I can’t go. Because this storm is coming, it’s ‘too dangerous’.”
My fingers wag between air quotes and Matilda follows the daggers I’m shooting towards our boss’ closed door. Her cheeks relax and her eyes fill with a mixture of affection, lust and deep contemplation.Fuck.I hope to hell she doesn’t tell me what she’s thinking right now - I don’t want to have to think about his balls again.
“Oh, he’s so caring… and gorgeous… and-”
Add another eyeroll to the tally. “Yeah. He’s fantastic. Let’s just leave it at that, yeah?”
The thought of a drive up the mountainside was what got me through the long, boring weekend of sitting on my couch binging Netflix alone. In between ordering Uber Eats deliveries and wasting the hours in a hot bath, I was excited to hit the road. It was a chance to prove to Xavier that Icando more – I’m not as useless as he thinks.
“If it really means that much to you… Just go.” Matilda shrugs her shoulders and catches me staring blankly at the screen.
“I can’t just go,” I say, clicking the meeting alert in the corner of my screen so it disappears.
“Of course you can. It’s not like he’s going to fire you. Plus, it’s just a bit of rain, right?” Matilda’s blue eyes gleam at me and for the first time since I’ve known her, she isn’t talking complete trash.
I lean forward on my chair. “You really think I can?”
She shrugs. “Of course. Maybe change your rental vehicle, though… The reservation team only ever book those tiny compact cars because they’re cheaper.”
A laugh bounces off my chest. “Yeah, I think it’s called cost cutting.”
“Well, just to play it safe, why don’t you talk to Dave in the accounts department on the way out? I’m sure he could get something sorted quick.”
I look towards Xavier’s office. The door is closed, but I can see him holding a phone to his ear, staring out of the window. It’s so unlike me to even be considering this, but I’m tired of my dull, boring life. The endless routine of doing the same thing every single day is mind-numbing and dammit, I’m ready for more.
