After my big blow-up with Bulls, I avoided the office for a few days by working from home. I soon realized Lex would eventually track me down so I needed somewhere else to stay, somewhere he couldn’t find me. I reached into my purse and retrieved the number. She answered immediately and thankfully she was willing to help me out for a few nights. I met her in the hotel lobby. She rushed to my side and hugged me. It was just what I needed, a friend who wasn’t involved in this mess. Taking me up to her suite I couldn’t help but notice how nice it was; surely she must’ve been giving her boss serious head for this.
“Wow, this is amazing! I can’t thank you enough. The shit’s hit the fan and I really needed a place to stay and a friend who wasn’t involved in the nightmare that was my sorry excuse for a life. I’m sorry, I didn’t know who else to ask.”
“Hey, don’t worry. There’s shit on my fan too. Arsehole was banging that beastly bird in that pic. I said goodbye to that tosser.”
“Oh my God, Kate. I’m so sorry.”
“Better now than later, right? Don’t worry, I met this gorgeous Navy guy last weekend and can I just discuss how yummy that rebound was? I’m so done and dusted with that Aussie jerk and found better and bigger fish in the sea…one with better gills if you know what I mean.” She winked.
Of course I knew what she meant. His cock was bigger and better, always a plus.
“Arghh excuse me for just one second, the boss calls.” She answered the call with an annoyed look on her face. “Good afternoon, sir.” She remained on the line while I walked towards the window admiring the view of the park. It was early morning in the city that never sleeps which was busy as usual, even with a storm that was due to come in over the next forty-eight hours. I watched as people scurried along, zig-zagging in and out of the crowds, obviously late for work. The tourists were walking around in awe, snapping photos of everything in sight. I watched the few homeless people who roamed the streets, lost in their own little world. How in that moment I envied their strength, to carry on every day despite their shitty circumstances.
“Yes, she got the contracts. No, I don’t know her assistant refused to give me that information. Okay…okay, thank you, Sir.” She hung up the phone.
“Sir?” I asked teasing. “Sounds kinda kinky.”
“Oh trust me, it’s not. Charlie, you look like a truck ran over you so tell me what’s been happening. I assume your love life has gone tits up?”
“I don’t really want to talk about it. Everyone is pushing me and I just need to not think about it for a while if that’s okay.”
“Fair enough. How about we grab a drink tonight? Let’s have fun and forget about our man troubles.”
“Deal.”
Her phone started buzzing again and this time she rolled her eyes. “I’m sorry, I have to take this again.”
“Hello, sir. Yes... Yes. No, there is no way out. Why? Because the board requested you be there. Uh huh... Uh huh, look, I’ll be there in ten minutes and we can speak then. Yes...okay.” She hung up the phone.
“Bugger me, it’s been a sodding week from fucking hell. I’m ready to explode after the shit that’s gone down with work. Anyways, just gotta meet my boss. He’s gone crazy I swear but I feel sorry for him. It’s not all his fault.”
“Sounds like fun. Remember, think of me if he gets over this chick and needs some great rebound sex,” I called out.
She laughed as she exited the room.
Later that night Kate and I went out for drinks, and I mean plural (I lost count after eight). We had a blast and even got chatting with a few guys. I wasn’t into this whole thing of course, but she took to a hot bartender. The next morning we suffered from massive hangovers and I was awoken by Kate’s cell repeatedly going off. Fuck, the damn thing wouldn’t shut up. I pulled myself off the sofa to reject the call but thankfully it stopped. It was around eight when we both sat down to eat some breakfast.
“My head hurts. Who the hell calls you so early in the morning?”
“Argh was it ringing?” she stood up and grabbed her cell. “Shit. It was my boss. Fuck.”
“Oh my God, Kate, come work for me. I swear he keeps busting your chops.”
“Yeah I know but I kinda understand why he is so short fused. I mean the girl that he is irrevocably in love with isn’t talking to him and to be honest, it’s not even his fault, you know.”
It sounded all too familiar. “Well, if it isn’t his fault then he needs to make her realize that, whatever it might take.”