Sofia became a US citizen the year before, and Vicky was on track to do the same very soon. She and her bestie in Italy, Ren, had been dreaming of opening their own design business for years, so becoming a citizen would be the first step toward that goal. The last time we talked about it, Ren was trying to figure out how to join her in San Diego.
“Hey, girl. What’s shaking?” I asked, unable to hide my smile.
Out of breath, Sofia answered, “Well, not my boobs, I’ll tell youthat. These new bras I bought from that TikTok ad are keeping the girls in place like a champ. Seriously. Every mom of a toddler needs one of these. Especially after breastfeeding this milk monster.”
A laugh burst out of me before I could stop it. “I really never know what’s going to come out of your mouth,” I playfully chided. “Oh, and send me the link.” I already knew I’d fall victim to another ‘TikTok made me do it’ purchase. I mean, with a ringing endorsement like that, how could I resist?
“Done. How’s it going? Gotten any better at work?”
I sighed heavily and sat back in my chair. “If by better you mean me having to take the stairs to avoid being in the same elevator as Niko, then yeah, not so much. On a side note, it’s the most exercise I’ve gotten in months.”
“You know you’re being ridiculous, right? It’s been a decade. Let. It. Go,” she scolded like I was a child. “You’re using too much mental energy on this. Just forgive him and move on.”
Twisting a piece of my hair around my finger, I answered like a whiny child, “He should apologize before I let it go. It’s like he doesn’t understand how humiliating that was for me. You get it. You’re a scientist. They tried to say I was a plagiarist!”
“I know, I know. But Luke said you need to either sit down and talk to him so it isn’t miserable at work or forget it and move on. All this stress is going to take a toll on your body. Do you know stress is one of the main reasons for early aging?”
Frowning, I gently rubbed the laugh lines around my mouth. I was proud of those. It meant I’d had a life of joy even though that joy had been snuffed out two years ago.
I stood up, ready to defend myself. “What do you meanallthis stress?” Luke’s comment about the girls wanting to stage an intervention came back to me. I groaned inwardly, knowing I had just given her a wide, open door.
“You knowexactlywhat I mean. Leyla, you’re letting too many outside factors keep you knotted up inside. First jerkface Ethan and now Niko. You’re letting other people dictate your happiness.”
I rubbed my forehead. “I don’t want to talk about jerkface.Ever.You know that.”
Sofia sighed heavily. She was a close friend, but I’d never told her or anyone all the horrible things Ethan told me when he broke up with me. I thought we were on the same page, with marriage being our next step. I should have known it was one-sided because he never brought it up. Hindsight and all that. Even my two-year man ban didn’t help cool down that kind of humiliation.
“You’reluckyhe didn’t propose. You’d have found out later that he really wasn’t marriage material.”
“And yet, look how that turned out for him,” I said bitterly. The day I randomly (okay, it was during a daily check) looked up his IG page and saw the woman he’d been posting happypictures with a few weeks after breaking up with me, wearing an engagement ring, it nearly broke me.
“I feel sorry for that poor woman. She has no idea who he really is.”
“Maybe he was just like that with me, Sof.” I didn’t realize I was up and pacing until I got to the big floor-to-ceiling windows. “He never looked that happy when we were together.”
Sensing my slide into sadness, she abruptly changed the subject. “Forget that jerk. You’re better off without him. How can we help you feel better at work?”
“Well, as far as Niko, you’re right. It’s not worth dredging that all up. It was almost ten years ago. It’s just hard having him in my safe space here at work, is all.”
“Besides all that, honestly, girl, we’re all concerned about you. We were even before this Niko character was hired. Now even more so.”
“Why does everyone keep saying that?” I asked, on the defensive again. “I’m fine. You and Luke, of all people, understand the weight of responsibility that comes with being the CEO of a growing company. It’s a lot. I don’t always have time to hang out. Just cut me some slack.”
“Hmmm. And isn’t that exactly what Luke used to say to you before he and I got together? Andwho, pray tell, would use extortion to get him to show up for dinner or at the beach?”
I sat down at my desk with a huff, like a petulant child, and tossed my pen on the floor. “You’re ridiculous, you know that, right?”
“Yeah, but you love me. And I love you. We just miss you so much. Dean misses his Auntie Leyla’s hugs. And yes, of course, we understand the pressure you’re under, but according to Luke, Niko is good for the company. It seems he’s taking the reins on the sunscreen line. That’s got to help you tremendously.” I couldhear her walking through her house, quietly answering her sweet son, Dean.
“Pfft. I don’t know why everyone is so enamored with him. He refuses to go to lunch with anyone in the department, no matter how many times they ask him. Just eats alone at his desk. Hardly talks to anyone unless it’s work-related.” Waving my hand in the air, I continued. “And yet, they all love him. All I hear about is howbrillianthe is. How much time he’s saving the department. Ugh.”
“Are you listening to yourself right now, Madam CEO? A new department head is saving the company money and time and creating an atmosphere of goodwill? Oh!The horror!” she mocked.
“You know what? I need to go feed my goldfish,” I quipped, ready to hang up on her.
“Don’t you dare hang up on me,” she yelled, telling Dean she was sorry for scaring him. “Just talk to him. Today. Get it over with. Then you’re coming to dinner at our house on Saturday. Will not accept any excuses this time. None, you hear me?”
“Great, I’ll be the third wheel again,” I mumbled.
