Chapter 6
CHAPTER 6
WILL
I hang up the phone and make my way back from the hallway just in time to hear Sophie spit out: “I will never work with this man. So unless you have other options, I’m afraid this won’t be a good fit.”
Before I can arrive at our table and stop her, she’s already headed out the door, her chunky heeled boots clicking against the tiled floor in confident strides. I watch her, enraptured by her presence, until she turns back one last time.
Our eyes meet. I hold my breath.
Then she’s gone without a second thought, and I can exhale.
I sigh and sit back down in my chair, wishing I had a coffee of my own. There’s not enough caffeine in the world to take the impact away from everything that just transpired.
“So … you want to tell me what that was all about?” Rob asks right as he takes a sip of his coffee. “I thought this deal was in the bag.”
“It’s a long story.” And frankly, not one I want to get into. Rob is a great guy, and we’ve done a few projects together and gotten to know one another a bit. But I don’t share my personal life with him. Or anyone else at the firm, for that matter. Hell, all of them call me Bill; one of my efforts at presenting this polished version of myself.
Basically, all they need to know is that I’m here to get our clients the wins they hire us for. And I’m damned good at it, too.
“Okay …” From Rob’s tone, I can feel that he wants to push the question, but he doesn’t. After working with me for five years, he knows damn well he’s not going to get much more out of me.
Explaining the complicated history of why Sophie now despises me would require me to divulge information about my old life. The one I keep securely hidden under the rug. Unlike Rob and many of my colleagues, I didn’t go to college. I didn’t go to business school. I don’t come from money.
Everything I bring to this job was earned through grit, bootstrapping the knowledge elsewhere of college, and pure determination.
“It’s such a shame.” Rob sighs. “I truly believe you could have helped her. From what I understood, she could really use this win.”
He doesn’t know the half of it.
But the issue here is that Rob is absolutely right. I know as much as he does that I have what it takes to help Sophie. And God, if that woman doesn’t deserve a win right now, then nobody does.
I narrow my eyes as I dive deep into thought. Sophie is a proud, stubborn woman. And she, like me, values hard work and client happiness. She’s amazing at what she does. I can’t count the number of Party C?té events I’ve attended, each one more spectacular and distinctive than the other. That unique spark of hers, and the pride she has for her business, is part of what always drew me to her. Matthew was one lucky bastard.
Before he went ahead and ruined everything.
I slap a hand on the table, making Rob jump. “You know what?” I say, turning to face him directly.
“Uh … what?” Rob looks like he’s seen a ghost. I can’t see my own face, but I’m guessing my passion must be showing.
“I’m going to change her mind. Just you wait.”
Rob raises an eyebrow. “With all due respect, Bill, that young woman seemed pretty intent on her choice. And she doesn’t seem like someone who can be easily swayed.”
“You’re definitely right about that.” But I know more than Rob how much Sophie has on her plate. Those two little girls and her baby boy who’s barely out of the newborn stage …
That woman is a powerhouse. And I want nothing more than to help her succeed. To see her happy. I’ve seen firsthand how much work she put into her business, her family, and ultimately, her relationship with Matthew over the last decade.
All I need to do is find a way to convince her that working with me is in her best interest.
What could possibly go wrong?
“So what’s your plan?” Rob asks.
I take a deep breath and look back to the window, bringing up an image of Sophie’s tall, graceful form striding out of the café. It takes all my focus not to get hard. This isn’t about that. “I’m not sure yet. This is probably going to be my toughest assignment to date.” I chuckle, and Rob laughs along, although a bit less surely than me.
Game on, Sophie C?té.
Rob and I head back to the office together, although I mostly keep to myself on the walk and metro ride. About halfway through our metro ride, my phone buzzes several times in a row.
I’ve got two texts—one from Karan, and the other from Océane.
I swallow, then open the text from Karan first.
Karan
Hey man, if you’ve got an opening this week I could really use some help
Will
Yeah what’s up
Karan
I’m applying to a new job, so I’d love your business smarts on my resume
Weird. I thought Karan loved working at Ubisoft. I remind myself to discuss this with him tomorrow at dinner, but for now, I tell him yes and move on to Océane’s message.
Océane
I just got the money :) thank you thank you thank you
Océane
But also I just wanna remind you
Océane
It really isn’t necessary. Like yeah I’m poor AF lol but whatever, gotta deal with it
A painful tug grips my heart. Maybe, if someone had stepped in to protect Océane from my parents, she’d be capable of working and supporting herself. As it stands, her fibromyalgia certainly doesn’t help, but the severe CPTSD she developed thanks to all that abuse has gotten her fired from every job she tried to keep.
Apparently, most people won’t believe you when you tell them your entire body hurts. Not even your doctor. Not even your parents. So when Océane fell short of the academic performance Rachel and I had achieved a decade before her, they were anything but forgiving.
Rachel understood. Rachel believed her. I believed her but didn’t know what to do. I was a coward.
And in some ways, I still am.
Will
It’s the least I can do. Don’t mention it.
Océane
If you say so
Océane
Thank you again big bro
Océane
Btw Rachel is coming over this weekend, wanna come with?
Will
I’m sorry I gotta work overtime this weekend.
The lie burns like acid in my chest as I send it out. I lean back against the cold seat of the metro and close my eyes.
If I can help Sophie succeed, despite her wanting nothing to do with me, then maybe I’m capable of more. That’s what I’ll focus on. Yes.
Everything else can come after.