Chapter Forty-Six
It’s been a few days since I broke things off with Adam, and despite all the drama I’ve been through already in my life, the past few days have been the most painful.
So, what have I been doing with myself? I have been working from home which is great because it means I haven’t had to leave the house. I realise that’s not very healthy but neither is running into people that I don’t want to see.
Speaking of which, Adam has been calling me and texting me non-stop. At first I would read his pleading messages and get upset but then I realised it was easier (well, maybe not easier, but better) to just delete them – it’s a time saver at the least.
I thought his constant calls and texts, pleading with me to speak to him, were as bad as things could get. Oh, how wrong I was, because it turns out there is something that feels much worse: the fact that he has now given up trying to contact me. I don’t know whether he’s got bored or he’s finally trying to work things out with Si, but he’s just stopped trying. Good, right? This is what I wanted to happen. At least now I won’t be tempted to answer his calls or reply to his texts.
Today I am at Blossom HQ for my last meeting before the festival. I had been panicking about running into Adam, and almost considered calling in sick, until Kerry casually mentioned Adam wouldn’t be attending. Apparently Kerry had passes for The Burnout’s gig in Leeds last night, so she thought it would be a good idea to send Adam to schmooze them. I’m told they really liked Adam and invited him out to party with them afterwards, which is why he isn’t here today. I can’t help but wonder if Adam would have invited me to go with him if we’d still been on speaking terms, he knows that The Burnouts are my favourite band. Throughout all this festival stuff I’d been hoping I’d finally get to meet them on the big day, but I doubt that’s going to happen now – I’m not even sure I’m going to go.
‘Good morning, team,’ Kerry practically sings. ‘What a glorious day.’
I can’t help but smile at her contagious attitude.
‘Why am I so happy? Well, I’ll tell you. I am happy because you beautiful people have done a fantastic job. We haven’t exceeded our budget, all plans are in place and the weather is going to be wonderful. We couldn’t ask for more.’
Everyone claps and cheers. We’ve all worked so hard, it’s nice to see Kerry is so appreciative. I only wish Adam were here to see, he’s worked as hard as any of us.
‘To celebrate, I have ordered you all pizza – which we will be eating in the staffroom,’ she adds. ‘I hope you’ll all stay to celebrate.’
As we all shuffle out – because who doesn’t love free pizza? – Kerry calls me back.
‘I just want a quick word with you, it’s nothing bad,’ she assures me. ‘You’re not in trouble.’
I sit back down at the table and wait as Kerry taps away at her phone.
‘You still want a job here after all this?’ she asks with a smile.
‘I’m not sure,’ I admit.
‘Oh?’
I don’t think she was expecting me to say that.
It’s not that I don’t want to. Working here has been so much fun, it’s just I’m not sure I could handle being around Adam every day.
‘I’ve been having a few personal problems,’ I tell her, hoping we can leave it at that.
‘Well here’s the offer,’ she says, sliding a piece of paper towards me. ‘That’s your monthly salary, perks of the job and so on. I can throw in a company car if it will help to sway you – I want you, Leah. I’m not going to play hard to get, you are fantastic at what you do and we need someone like you on board.’
‘Can I think about it?’ I ask.
And, no, I can’t believe I’m fucking asking either. This should be a dream come true for me.
‘I’m surprised you are asking that, but yes. I’ll give you until after the festival.’
‘Thanks.’
‘No, thank you. You’ve done well, Leah.’
As I head to the staffroom to eat pizza with the others all I can think about is how much I would love to work here. I think Kerry is great, I love the vibe in the office, and it’s working in my industry – which I didn't think I could get close to here.
I don’t have the space in my brain to think it over right now. I’m just going to focus on the pizza and hope that everything falls into place.
But somehow I don’t think that’s going to happen.