“I think that’s your cue to get the fuck out.” I glare at her.
“Aw, Travis is mad,” she says in an exaggerated pouty voice but then instantly changes her tone to a more serious one. “You could at least congratulate me on my promotion before I leave. Meet your new Global Sales Director. Respect the title, Travis, because eventually I’ll be your CEO.”
“Are you fucking kidding me? You were promoted? Your father must have finally lost his goddamn mind.” I’m shocked. There’s no way she’ll be able to handle the responsibility. She has no experience and is as trustworthy as a used car salesman. She could single-handedly ruin any and all chances the firm has of expanding further into the global market. Unfortunately for her, she won’t be able to suck dicks to get out of it. Good. Great. Grand. Fantastic. Alyssa is a goddamn director of the firm.
“You’re such a bitch,” I say between gritted teeth.
Before she can respond, the door swings open, and Blake steps in. The room grows silent. He’s so worked up that he’s heaving with flared nostrils. He freezes, trying to gain his composure, and takes a deep breath before completely dismissing Alyssa. He’s gripping a single sheet of paper so tightly in his hand it’s crumpled.
“For fuck’s sake. I didn’t plan on being tag teamed today,” I say to myself.
Blake takes a few steps forward and then he’s in my face. He smells like stale coffee and old man aftershave. “What the hell is this, King?” he asks, disdain in his tone.
I take the paper from his hand and see it’s the application I submitted for the open position, for his old job. I furrow my brows and look back up at him. “What about it?”
“It’s your responsibility to inform your upper level supervisor before you apply for any position. It’s a company standard that you, for some reason, think you’re too good to follow. That cocky attitude has gone straight to your fucking head, and I’ve had enough of it.”
Alyssa crosses her arms and smiles. She’s fucking loving this.
His words almost catch me off guard, but not quite. I know I should’ve gone to him and discussed it first, but after dismissing me in the meeting, I decided to go above him and submitted it anyway. Fuck him and his bad attitude toward me. The man wouldn’t piss on me if I were on fire. He’d block every attempt I made regardless if I’m more qualified than anyone else in our department. So, submitting that application was a big fuck you delivered straight from me.
He takes a step back, noticing the anger on my face. “I’ve told HR to remove your application. You do not have my recommendation for that position, and as long as I’m around, you’ll never go anywhere in this company.”
I swallow hard, knowing that’s the response I deserve for going over his head. I’m sure it was a shock when he received the call from HR that I had applied. I smile at him, allowing him to taste the hatred I have toward him, tempting him to come closer and say that in front of my face, but he doesn’t. Blake shakes his head at me, then turns around and walks out of my office, slamming the door behind him. I clench my fists, fighting the urge to follow him and tell him how many fucks I don’t give about his recommendation.
Alyssa laughs, then follows in his wake. Before she grabs the knob, she turns and looks at me. “Don’t fuck with me, Travis. I’ll win every single time.”
I clench my jaw so hard, my teeth grind together. The things I want to scream at her consume my mind, and it takes everything inside me not to release them. They’ve probably been double-teaming me this whole damn time.
“Keep up this game and I’ll make you wish you never met me.”
“Is that a threat, King?”
I smile at her. “It’s a fucking promise.”
Once the door closes, I clench my fists and pace the length of my office. I’m so fucking livid. My work life has spiraled straight to the pits of hell, and I have no control of my future. Before I can stop and take a deep breath, I punch my fist straight through the wall. Sheetrock and dust fall to the ground and my knuckles sting as trickles of blood come to the surface.
It’s too much. It’s all too fucking much.
The house is empty and quiet, so I take the moment to open one of my all-time favorite books, Pride and Prejudice. I’ve read it so many times the pages are worn and discolored. I feel like Jane Austen and I are on a first-name basis. Jane is my homegirl. When I think about Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet, all I can do is sigh. I’m devouring the words as though it’s my first time reading it. After an hour, I try to reposition my body so I’m more comfortable, but I feel restless. I have been since Drew came home unannounced. The fairy tale is over, isn’t it?
A text message pulls me from the pages, and I check it immediately.
Drew: I’m taking a rain check on the pajama party. There’s a fight tonight, and I’m going to watch it at Jason’s house.
Viola: Alrighty.
I smile almost immediately.
Drew will be gone for the next few hours, guaranteed, and Travis will be home any minute. My heart begins to flutter, and my mouth goes dry. I shouldn’t feel this way, and I kind of hate myself for it, but I push those thoughts aside. A part of me enjoys the thrill of sneaking around with Travis.
Like clockwork, I hear the rumble of the Challenger heading down the street. The engine cuts off in the driveway. I quickly tuck my hair behind my ears, lick my lips, and pick up my book. The door swings open and quietly clicks closed. I shut the book, and my mouth falls open when I see Travis. He’s distraught, and his hair is a disheveled mess. I swallow hard, waiting for him to speak, but he doesn’t. Instead, he walks to the kitchen, and I hear the freezer door open and shut. Tequila.
“Travis?” I’m genuinely concerned by his demeanor.
“I’ve had a shitastic day.”
He’s on edge and isn’t making eye contact with me. I watch him take another gulp of tequila straight from the bottle.
“Okay? And?”
My phone begins to ding in the living room with text messages and lots of them.
“You should probably get that,” Travis says and takes another swig.
I sigh and go into the living room and grab my phone. Courtney has sent me a total of fifteen text messages in one minute. I unlock my phone and begin reading.
Courtney: OMFG!!!!!!! You’re never going to believe what just happened.
Courtney: Toby just broke up with me. WITH ME!
Courtney: Over text message.
Courtney: What a fucking ASSHOLE!
Courtney: SERIOUSLY, LOLA! I’M PISSED! HE MET SOMEONE ELSE.
Courtney: I saw pictures of them together on Facebook and asked who she was.
Courtney: SO HE BREAKS UP WITH ME! I’M SO FURIOUS!
The text messages go on and on, and she’s still sending them.
Viola: I’m so sorry. Everything is going to be okay. I’ll text you back in just one minute. I’m not ignoring you, I promise.