Well, that explains a lot.
“If I hadn’t been talked into it by—” She cuts herself off, huffing.“It doesn’t matter now, does it?He was wrong about you, and I’ll happily let him know.”
I’ve reached my limit.Sorry, Dad, you’ll have to forgive me for losing my patience this time.
The chair pushes back with a squeal as I stand.“You know what?I’m glad you’re firing me.”I don’t give her a chance to respond.“Two years of pushing affiliate links so the owner can get kickbacks and promoting his buddies’ restaurants is not what I studied journalism for.”
Monica leans back in her chair.She’s completely unbothered, which only turns the burner up on my anger.
My dreams ofThe Observerbeing a beacon of truth and integrity have been holding on by a thread, and in this moment, they shatter, leaving me pierced by the shards of what’s broken.
“Find some other desperate graduate to be your puppet because I’m done.Have the day you deserve.”
Fate, if you’re there, please, please, make sure her sheets are always a little bit damp—no, worse, that there’s always a hair stuck on her tongue she can never get rid of.
I know I’m burning this bridge down to its studs, but I can’t find it in me to care.Two years of waiting, and working, and hoping, and for what?
She was never going to give me a chance.
I can’t breathe properly until I’ve slammed her door closed behind me.The glass rattles, but doesn’t break, and I shove the disappointment down.
With that, I’m done.Box packed and led to the elevator without a second thought.My only regret is that I won’t see Sterling again.
* * *
As I exit the elevator into the foyer, I’m once again faced with tattoos and chains.Lucky beams at me when I exit, and I’m starting to wonder if anything fazes this guy.
“Fancy bumping into you twice in one day,” I say, then nod at the coffee cup in his hand.“Are you here for payback?Because I think I have room for one more disaster.”
Heck, I have all the time in the world now that I don’t have a job anymore.
He looks at the box in my arms with concern.“What the hell happened up there?”
“How far back should I start?My ex ran off with another woman, I just got fired for being late, and to top it off, I probably nuked my career by yelling at my boss.”
Lucky holds the cup out to me, along with a small paper bag that smells like cinnamon.His eyes are kinder than I deserve, but I soak up the attention anyway.
“I know it’s not much, but I hear coffee and sugar go a long way in the healing process.”
I can’t help it; I laugh.He’s still wearing that beautiful smile from earlier, and I feel the tension inside me pop and release in an instant.I bet he never has to worry about anything.
“Rejection must wash off you like water on a duck’s back,” I say, letting him take the box from my hands and swapping it for the treats he brought me.
I’m shocked when his smile falls.
“Some, not all.”
Shit.I’ve made the world’s first human Labrador sad.Today is truly stacking up to be a crowning achievement in my list of shortcomings.
“Sorry, growing up with an older brother made me a little prickly.”
Lucky holds the door open for me.“Nothing to be sorry about.”
I doubt that, but it’s sweet of him to say.We spill out onto the street, and for a lack of anywhere else to go, I start walking home.Lucky follows.
My parents would have a hundred things to say about me leading a strange man back to my apartment—Alice would have a hundred more to say in favor of it—but the company is nice.
“What brings you here anyway?”I ask, moaning when I taste the coffee and find it rich and sweet.He remembered my order.
