Chapter 30
I always think it’s one of those silly, jokey things people say, when they declare that they’re living their best life, but today I get it, I totally get it, because that’s what I’m doing. It’s a real thing.
I’ve spent today dashing around the shops of New York, killing time while I waited for Jordan to wrap things up at work.
I bought a dress I definitely couldn’t really afford, tried on shoes I’ll never be able to afford, and walked the streets like I was Carrie Bradshaw – just without the weekly sex column or her inexplicably generous credit limit.
Now I’m in the back of a black limo, acting like I belong, being whisked off to the airport where I will be – just let me clear my throat, before I say this – catching a private jet back home.
And with Jordan, no less, and I honestly can’t believe he’s real.
That he wants to fly with me to Leeds. To go to Hannah’s wedding with me.
Surely that would freak most men out, so early on? But not Jordan.
Oh, and not only is this great news for me, because I actually really like him, but it’s good news for the wedding too.
Because Jordan is the kind of man you want on your arm.
He’s got that easy charm that everyone laps up, he can talk about anything and sound like the smartest man in the conversation – I can see him now, working the room, chatting to my relatives, making my mum swoon, and laughing – even if it’s just politely – at my dad’s dad jokes.
Who knows? He might even find them funny. Stranger things have happened lately.
I don’t think my family are going to believe he’s real – I don’t even think they believe I’m going to show up. They know I’ve been working in New York, but I’ve barely spoken to them.
Actually, now feels like the perfect time to call them and drop the bombshell. To let them know that not only am I coming, but I’m bringing a plus one.
I call my mum.
‘Hello, love,’ she says. ‘Everything okay?’
‘Hi, Mum! Yes. How are you? Is Dad there?’ I check.
‘He’s right here,’ she says.
I can hear him in the background, yelling.
‘Tell her if her flight’s mysteriously delayed again, we’re sending in a search party,’ he calls out.
‘Hilarious,’ I reply. ‘No. No delay. I’m actually on my way to the airport now.’
‘Thank God,’ Mum says. ‘You’ve had us wondering.’
‘Well, not only am I coming,’ I start, barely able to contain my excitement, ‘but I’m bringing a plus one.’
There’s a pause.
‘Oh,’ she says cautiously. ‘Who?’
‘You know the dating app I’ve been working for?’ I reply.
‘Oh, God,’ Mum blurts.
‘Please tell us you’re not resorting to some freak you found on the internet,’ Dad calls out.
‘Wow,’ I say dryly. ‘Charming. No. I’m bringing Jordan – my boss.’
There’s another second or two of silence.
‘Your boss?’ Mum confirms.
‘The one who owns the company?’ Dad chimes in, suddenly sounding a lot more interested.
‘Yeah,’ I reply.
‘Well, look who’s landed on her feet,’ Mum teases.
‘Is he good enough for you?’ Dad checks.
‘He’s amazing,’ I say. ‘Honestly. I think you’ll both love him.’
‘Do you love him?’ Mum teases. ‘And can I tell your Auntie Eleanor? She keeps asking, to confirm numbers. She’s finalising the seating plan and she’s convinced you’re coming solo.’
‘Tell her. Tell everyone,’ I say, grinning. ‘We’re flying to Leeds. He’s got business there first, but we’ll be in by the day before the wedding.’
‘Oh, love, that’s great,’ Mum says. ‘So happy for you. Can’t wait to see you. And Jordan, of course. Fly safe.’
‘I will,’ I reply. ‘Love you.’
‘Love you too,’ they shout back at the same time.
I hang up. We’re finally at the airport and, even while the driver unloads my bags, I can’t stop grinning like a psycho.
I’m heading into the airport when my phone starts ringing – it’s Paige.
Shit. She’s probably calling to check up on me, to see if I’ve done what she asked and switched the contracts out.
Obviously I didn’t, and I have no intention of doing so.
I know, I’ll lose my job, one way or another, but I care far more about protecting what I have with Jordan. That means more to me than any job.
Of course, I won’t tell her about the two of us. It’s not my place. Plus, she would probably explode.
I answer brightly.
‘Hello, Paige,’ I say.
‘You didn’t do it,’ she replies. She doesn’t even say hello, so I already know it’s going to be bad.
‘I’m sorry, it’s just?—’
‘I asked you to do something, Liberty. And okay, sure, you could have not done it. Not ideal. But it would have been better than what you’ve done,’ she rants.
My heart sinks.
‘What do you mean?’ I reply.
‘You left both contracts in Jordan’s room,’ she says – she sounds so angry she might explode regardless. ‘The one he was supposed to sign, and the one we were trying to swap out. He’s seen them both. He called me – he’s furious. He knows exactly what we were trying to pull.’
Oh, fuck. It must have fallen out of my bag, or maybe I didn’t stuff it back in properly, but it doesn’t matter, does it? The point is he’s seen it. Shit. I wasn’t going to do it – I couldn’t do it. God knows what he thinks of me now.
‘I didn’t… I…’
My mouth is almost too dry to form words.
‘Liberty,’ she snaps. ‘You didn’t think. You fumbled it. You messed everything up.’
‘Did you try to explain?’ I ask desperately. ‘Does he not understand that we were only fixing a mistake?’
Paige laughs. It’s not a nice laugh. It’s spiky and cold and cuts right through me.
‘My God, you’re na?ve,’ she says. ‘This was a business play, and you’ve just tanked your career. Well done.’ She sighs. ‘You’re fired, by the way.’
‘I’m…’
‘The rest of the team are staying in the US,’ she talks over me. ‘I heard you were flying back with Jordan. You’re not. I’ve booked you a hotel room at the airport for tonight. You’re flying in the morning. Alone. And I don’t ever want to hear from you again – don’t expect a reference.’
She hangs up.
For a moment I stand on the spot, staring straight ahead at nothing in particular.
My phone buzzes again.
It’s MrLoveByte – or Pete, as I know him now.
MrLoveByte
Is it true you tried to scam Jordan out of the company?
I think I’m going to be sick.
NewGirl
No! What are you talking about?
MrLoveByte
He’s here now, trying to sort out the mess. We’ve seen the contract you were trying to switch in. It would’ve ousted Jordan completely. Gave Paige the US too.
I reply quickly, my hands shaking as I type.
NewGirl
She told me it was fixing a typo. I didn’t know she was planning that.
I stare at the screen, willing a reply. Nothing.
Then I type:
NewGirl
Did Jordan sign it before he realised?
I hit send but nothing happens. Then I get an error. Is it my signal? Something wrong with the app? Then I realise, I’m logged out. I’ve been booted out. Wow, Paige acts fast. Unless it was Jordan who kicked me out. He must be so mad at me. I’ll bet he never wants to speak to me again.
And I don’t have anyone’s number, so I can’t message Jordan, or even Pete.
Oh, I’m such an idiot.
I make it to the hotel Paige booked – a modern, minimalist, super cool room with views over the runway that, ordinarily, would make my day, but I can’t think straight.
I’ve lost my job, I’ve humiliated myself, by being completely oblivious – because now it’s so easy to see that Paige was using me, trying to get me to scam Jordan out of the company, and I just blindly went along with it, because I thought we were part of the same sisterhood, done wrong by no-good men.
I wonder if she even believed the things she was telling me about Jordan, or if she was lying, to turn me against him, to get me to do her bidding.
Jordan must think I betrayed him. Played him. Lied to him. God, I hope he doesn’t think that everything I said, when I opened up, was a lie. I really hope he doesn’t think I only slept with him to make the contract switch.
I just have to face it. He knows. And worst of all, he’s right to think I was involved, because I was.
Even if I didn’t mean to be, even if I didn’t know the facts, even if I changed my mind.
I’ve been so stupid. I don’t know how much Jordan hates me – I’d imagine quite a lot – but I hate myself even more.
And with thoughts like these, who needs enemies?