“Is there a problem, Flo?” My boss’s voice is challenging, as if he’s daring me to argue with him on the matter.
I gave up the opportunity to travel around America and Canada for half a year forthis?
My fingers tighten around the donkey’s neck as I approach the door, shoes clicking against the floor. “Yes, there is.” I move past Alexander and Matthew without a second glance, teeth clamped down on my tongue, but after I realise I don’t give a fuck what these men think of me, I don’t stop my word vomit. “You’re an ass, Alexander. You know that?”
I also want to tell Matthew that his fluorescent pink and green tie is heinous, but I can’t really talk when I’mwearing a frilly blouse that makes me look like a walking cloud.
Alexander simply smiles. “I’ve been told. Look, take the donkey, don’t take the donkey, I really don’t care at this point, Flo. If it’s an issue, I’ll just throw it in the trash.”
I narrow my eyes into slits. Is he really that heartless that he’d throw a child’s stuffed toy away?
Staring at the trash can full of banana skins and paperwork, I’m met with the beady eyes of the donkey in my hands, and I curse.
“I’ll take the donkey. But not for you. For the kid,” I say as I walk out of the office for the final time.
Because this is the last thing I’ll ever do for Starbound.
“Does this guy live in the middle of nowhere?” I mutter, my car shuddering beneath me as I drive over another bump, sending the donkey seated in the passenger seat tumbling over. He stares at me with wonky eyes, and I roll my own. “What are you looking at? I’m doing you a favour, you know?”
Oh my God. I’m talking to a stuffed animal. Alexander has really driven me to insanity this time.
The car jerks over the uneven path again, and I attempt to calm my breathing by gripping the wheel. A long gravel road stretches out in front of me, with overgrown trees and shrubbery lining it. It’s not as well-kept as I’d expect a wealthy athlete’s property to be, but then again, Montana is notorious for having beautiful, wild landscapes. I understand why pruning it would be a big effort.
It would make it a hell of a lot easier to see the house, though.
I’m surprised Evan doesn't live in a gated community, but then again, this house is so far out of the way that I’m sure nobody would be able to find it even if they tried. I feel like I’ve been barreling down this stretch forever.
Turning the corner slowly, it finally comes into view. The white panelling is slightly browned, with a wide wooden porch scattered with well-loved furniture and a few children’s toys. It’s relatively small in comparison to the land surrounding it, but I have to admit that it looks cosy.
There’s another smaller house—more like a large cabin—positioned by the trees, about forty meters from it, but it doesn’t look occupied, judging by the smashed window, crusty moss-covered roof and unopened rusty paint pots sitting by the front door.
My engine splutters a few times as I cut it, and I make my way to the main house's front door with the donkey in hand, feeling a lot more comfortable now I’ve swappedmy poofy blouse for a plain white T-shirt . My fist rattles against the wood, and I wait patiently.
A woman who smells like sickly marshmallows and peaches opens it, relief flooding her features before she grabs her leather tote bag off a hook and slings it over her shoulder.
“Hold on one second,” she mutters into the phone that her fingers are curled around. “Thank God you’re here.” She beams at me, chuckling as she wipes at her forehead in liberation. “Evan didn’t give a definitive time you’d be arriving.”
Alexander must have warned them about my arrival.
I smile. I don’t know who this woman is, but I’m relieved she opened the door rather than Evan, because from what Alexander has said, he doesn’t take kindly to strangers. “I hope the kid wasn’t too upset without it.” I hold the toy out for her to take, but she stares at it blankly before shuffling past me with collapsing eyebrows, phone still between her ear and shoulder. She’s barely listening to me.
“Yeah, um, he’s been fine. Tell Evan to call me about nannying again. I really need to rush off. I’ve booked a pilates class, but it's great to meet you.”
I blink, trying to gauge what’s happening as she saunters down the porch steps. “Wait, what are you—?”
I don’t have the chance to finish my sentence. She’s already hopping in her gleaming red car and turning it around, leaving me standing on the porch with limp limbs.
“Where are you going?!”
The woman rolls down the window as she passes me, having not heard my question, red nails tapping against her wheel. “It’s a shame the grey eyes skipped out on you. Considering his strong genes, I would have thought Evan’s sister would look somewhat similar to him, but I guess you can’t have it all. Your legs are already too perfect.” She grins, proud of herself for the compliment she’s just thrown my way. “Anyway, Leo’s all yours. Enjoy.”
“What?” My eyes bulge. “No, I’m not his sister. I’m just—”
She can’t hear me, though, already barrelling down the gravel path towards the main road, the purr of her car engine fading into the background.
“Hey! What are you doing? Come back!” I flail my arms, attempting to wave her back, but it’s clear she’s not looking as she speeds around the corner and disappears off the land. “Oh, you have to be kidding me.” I strangle the donkey, glaring at it with narrowed eyes, finding satisfaction in how my fingers press into its thinning fabric. “This is your fault, you know? All I wanted was a promotion.”
This isn’t me. I’m usually smiley Flo. Happy Flo. The person everyone comes to when they need a pick-me-up, but I can literally feel Starbound changing me. Morphing me into the type of person whose work takes up every inch of space inside their head. Not because they love it, but because it’s utter shit.
