Wait, I’ve got it! It’s a prank! It’s typical Salman, really, when I think about it. He’s always got off on playing tricks on people. Like the time we’d all been for a sleepover at his house and while we were sleeping he managed to decorate the room with stockings, fairy lights and a cardboard Santa Claus. We’d woken up incredibly confused since we were all certain it was October, not Christmas Day, and we’d all swarmed him with metaphorical pitchforks for getting us all excited for nothing.
And obviously, he’s found out – through our friends, I’m sure – that I’m working here this summer and he’s come to piss me off.
He probably lied about his age on the application form, going the extra mile to rile me up. Well, the joke’s going to be on him when Sadia calls him out on his lies and kicks him out. She’ll see right through him.
Though I am taken aback that he’d go this far. His pranks used to be light-hearted, and this just feels cruel, but I suppose after the break-up nothing about how he behaves should be a surprise any more. If you don’t expect anything, then at least you can’t be disappointed.
As I wait for them to come out, I pull out my compact mirror and look at myself. My hair is cooperating today, looking especially glossy, and my curls are carrying some serious volume. Thankfully, I had my eyebrows threaded last week butthey still look full and slightly feathered. I swiped on a shimmery peptide lip treatment and a coat of brown mascara before I left this morning, and my hazel eyes are popping.
It’s like the universe knew I needed to look good today – not just for the first day of work, but also because it was throwing my ex into the mix.
Not that I want him back. That’s the absolutelastthing I want after he showed his true colours. I just want to look good while he gets taken down a peg.
I tap my pen against the edge of the desk, but it does little to placate the restless energy coursing through me. The longer they stay in there, the more agitated I feel. What if Sadia falls for his charm? I’ve seen it first-hand – it’s a force to behold.
That would mean I’m going to have to work on setting up dates for him. I’ll have to watch him fall in love with a girl I helped to match him with. Which would just be – no, that can’t happen. I’ll have to ask Sadia to put me on a different client. It’s not a good look to be asking for favours on my first day, especially without a proper explanation, because no way will I divulge what went down between us to myboss, of all people.
Laughter breaks me out of my thoughts, and I turn to see Sadia and Salman coming my way, big grins on their faces. Not a good sign. I quickly stand up, nearly hitting my knee on the desk as I do, and paste a smile on my face, trying to pretend that Salman’s presence hasn’t thrown my whole day off-kilter.
‘Oh, Poppy, what happened to your top?’ Sadia asks earnestly as they stop by my desk.
Right,that. I’d forgotten all about the tea stain, and now it’s dried a pale brownish-yellow in the centre of my chest. Damn it, why did I have to wear white today?
‘I .?.?. had an accident,’ I say, ignoring the low snort that escapes Salman. ‘My tea was too hot and when I went to drink it .?.?.’ I gesture to my top sheepishly.
‘Wait just one second,’ Sadia says, holding up a finger, before going into her office.
‘Come on, Pops, just tell her the truth,’ Salman whispers, causing the hairs on my arms to raise.
‘Which is?’
‘That I quite literally took your breath away.’
I feel my cheeks flush with heat, and I pray to the universe that it doesn’t show. I don’t understand how he can be so .?.?. normal right now. Why is he not feeling as awkward as I am?
Well, I guess that’s the benefit of being the dumper rather than the dumpee. But surely he should at least feel a bit guilty after what he did?
‘Shut up,’ I respond through gritted teeth as Sadia comes out holding a bright yellow jumper.
‘Here, it might be a bit big on you but it’ll make you feel better.’ She hands me the jumper, and it’s the softest thing I’ve ever touched. ‘It might be a good idea to bring some spare clothes in case of future .?.?. incidents.’
‘Of course,’ I say with a swallow. Even though the yellow paired with my black skirt makes me look like a bumblebee, it’s better than walking around with a visible stain on my chest for the rest of the day, especially whilehe’sstill here. ‘Thank you, Sadia.’
‘Absolutely no worries. Now, Salman, if you take a seat here.’ Sadia points to a desk across from mine. ‘Let’s get you set up and make sure you can get on to the system all right. Poppy’s login went smoothly but you never know with these things, do you? New employees always have some type of pr—’
‘Wait,’ I say, interrupting even though I know I should never ever interrupt my boss. ‘New employee?’
‘Yes. Salman is the other assistant I told you about.’
I hold on to the chair by my desk to keep my knees from buckling. This issomuch worse than I thought. It was one thingfor him to be a client. Sure, it would be awful having to set him up on dates, but I already had a plan for that. I would just tell Sadia to take me off the case.
But now? We’re going to beco-workers?
There isnoway I can make it through the summer withhimaround. Especially with his desk just across from mine, his face always in my line of sight.
I try to soothe myself out of the rising panic by picking at a piece of loose skin around my thumb, and it works until a small strip of red appears.
‘Shit,’ I say under my breath. A ruined top, an ex-boyfriend and a bloody thumb – what’s next?
