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Damn right.
“Hey, gorgeous.”
Pia’s spot is replaced by Lana, with Cami right behind.
“Hey guys.”
Lana leans over my cube wall, her blood-red nails perfectly manicured. “What was Pain in the Ass doing? Being her usual nosy self?”
I shake my head. “You know it. And her questions are making me very uneasy. It’s almost like she knows… something,” I say, looking around to make sure we aren’t overheard.
The nightmare of everyone knowing what a fraud I am churns in my stomach. I’m close to being exposed. I know it. The funny thing is, I love doling out advice and pretending I have it all figured out. But I’m as lost as anyone, and if anyone figures this out who shouldn’t, I’m in deep shit.
Danny-level deep shit. Bankers’ box and security guards level deep shit.
“Look, Ava. We all have our moments of self-doubt,” Lana says breezily.
Not true. Lana has not had a moment of self-doubt in her entire life.
“But don’t sell yourself short, honey. You’re amazing at what you do, and you’ve helped so many people.”
If only I could help myself.
“Thank you, Lana. Thank you to both of you. I am so lucky to have your support.”
Shit. And now I’m getting choked up.
“It’s true, Av,” Cami adds.
It may be true today, but if I’m found out, that I’ve been making up my ‘sexpertise’ all this time, I’m screwed.
Pursing her lips, Lana taps her nails on the cube wall. “You know, if you want to divert any attention from yourself, you could always shine the spotlight… elsewhere.”
I raise my eyebrows. “What do you mean?”
She looks between Cami and me like she owns the world, which she kind of does. The woman has no end of confidence, as well as no end of I-don’t-give-a-fucks.
“Let’s just say, I have some dirt on Pia. If she gets any closer, I can always put her in her place.”
Cami jumps up and down a little, straining to see over my cube wall. “Lana, spill it. What do you have on her? Oh my god, tell us.”
She’s almost frothing at the mouth.
Lana looks around like she’s sharing the recipe for a nuclear weapon. “Let’s just say her online dating history is… colorful. Now you know I’m the last person in the world to slut-shame anyone, but I have some incriminating screenshots that could put her in her place if they ever see the light of day.”
Cami slaps Lana on the arm. Hard.
“Ow, bitch,” she says, rubbing the spot where Cami hit her.
I have to hand it to Lana. She always knows what to do in a pinch. Freaking genius, she is.
“Well then, let’s keep her in check, shall we?” I say, the knots in my stomach beginning to unfurl.
I raise my cup of coffee to Lana as if in a toast and gulp the last swallow even though it’s now lukewarm. Determination surges through me. I can do this. I can handle this. And I’ll keep my career. No one can take it from me.
I’m not going to let the deadline of my article dampen my spirits, and if Pia gets too close to my secrets, I have a weapon to fend her off with. Yes, I am a hypocrite, but with the support of my girls, who without question have my back, I won’t be for much longer. My secret will be behind me, part of my past, no longer hanging over my head.
* * *
