6. Chapter 6
6
An Oscar Worthy Performance
Monday Night
“Lizzie, I already told you, I’m fine.”
“No offense, Ells, but I can tell you’re stressed out just from hearing your voice over the phone. What’s going on?” My little sister sounds genuinely concerned and, not wanting to worry her with my problems, I change the subject.
“I should be asking you that. What happened to that cute guy you mentioned? Did he ask you out or what?” I smile at the thought of my little sister dating, but part of me is also terrified for some reason. Getting your heart shattered into a thousand pieces sucks, and knowing something like that could happen to her makes me want to lock her in her room at my dad’s house for the rest of her fucking life.
“Nothing has happened. I’m a thousand percent sure he doesn't even know I exist.” I can hear her smile from over the phone, but I don't press.
“Well, if he ever comes to his senses, make sure to tell me so I can have a talk with him.”
“Ella! That’s disgusting.”
“Lizzie, I wasn't talking about that , but now I’m thinking I should…” I trail off, mentally noting to do that if she ever introduces anyone to me.
“You’re worse than dad. Why are you guys so embarrassing?”
“It comes with the territory. We care about you, that’s all. And I’ve been in enough relationships to know all about them, so listen to me over Dad.”
“Yeah, yeah. Whatever. What are you up to?”
“Well, troublemaker, I’m currently working on a campaign for an author that goes live on their social media tomorrow.” I smile, loving what I do as a freelancer. I’m glad that, even though my office job might be making me feel like shit lately, I still have something that brings me joy.
“Can you tell me who it is? I know I prefer movies to books, but I always love hearing your voice when you talk about this. You’re always so ecstatic, and I like hearing you like that.” My heart drops a little bit, because no matter how hard I try to keep my shit together, it kills me to know people, especially my sister, worry about me.
“Lizzie, I’m okay. I promise. But yes, I do love doing this. It’s fun combining my love for books and my degree. I’m working on a series of snippets for this one mafia author Paige and I both love. She’s the sweetest human ever, and I’d do this for free if she’d let me.”
“I think she knows how valuable you are, sis. She knows your worth.”
A smile overtakes my face at my sister knowing me a bit too well. “Thanks, Lizzie. Now, it’s late. You need to go to sleep. Get some rest.”
“Ella, it’s summer! You worry too much.”
“Forgive me for being a bit overprotective. I was a teenager once,” I say, knowing I didn't have the same experiences a normal teenager would. Part of me is melancholic for missing out, but I’m glad Lizzie is able to enjoy these years. After all, everything I did, I did to make sure she and my dad were okay—even if that meant sacrificing my entire childhood. I tell myself it’s fine, but my throat feels a bit heavy as I try to swallow. “Just be careful, especially if you go out at night with friends. The buddy system is important!”
“I know, sis. Have a good day tomorrow, and tell Alissa and the girls I say hi.”
“I will. I love you.” I smile, loving how close my sister is with my friends despite having only met them a few times.
“I love you, Ella.”
I end the call and stare at my laptop for a few seconds to decompress before I get to work. I have a bunch of content to make for an author I had a call with a few days ago. She hired me to make some videos and stagnant posts for her next release—a queer romance novel, to which I screamed at her how excited I was to read it.
I’ve been trying to get myself out there more with authors online, and my goal is to one day do this full-time, but for now, I have my day job and this side hustle.
I’m fucking exhausted, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s that it takes a lot for me to quit something. I want this future for myself. I want it badly. And if it means working myself to death, then so be it.
Tuesday Morning
“I forgot the hot new hire started yesterday.” Rae storms into my office before I’ve even sat down. “I’m so excited for some new eye candy. I didn’t get to see him Sunday and scope him out.”
Don’t make a face. Do not make an annoyed face at the fact that she called your worst nightmare hot. “Where did you hear that?”
“Adam told me, and I hear you’re the lucky bitch Imogen selected to train him.”
I roll my eyes. It’s an automated response every time I think, hear, or breathe near Leo Zimmerman. “I don’t know if lucky is the correct word,” I tell her as I slump in my chair. Today is the beginning of the worst time of my life. I’m sure I can’t get lower than this—having to work with him again. It was bad enough during our internship, but I’ve already promised myself I’m going to try to be professional with him.
But I know when I see him, all my professionalism is going to fly out the window.
Rae raises both of her eyebrows as she leans forward in her chair. “Is this an open or closed door conversation?”
“Closed.”
“On it,” she says as she kicks my door closed with her foot. “I assume this isn’t a good story based on the look on your face.”
I smooth down my cream-colored pantsuit before I try to be as nice as possible. “We went to college together, and he is my worst nightmare.”
Well, I tried.
“There is absolutely more to this story, and I’m so excited.” Rae takes a sip of her coffee before coaxing me into telling her the rest.
I tell her all about our shared internship our senior year of college, and by the time I’m done, she has a mischievous look on her face.
“So, you two have fucked, then?”
“What? No! Why the hell would you say that?” I say defensively.
“I don't know. It just seems like you two would have really hot hate sex if he dislikes you as much as you do him.”
“I’m never having sex with that man ever again.” The words come out before I can stop them . Shit.
“Ever again? Oh, babe, I need this story more than air. Was it good? How big is his—”
She stops talking, on account of Adam joining us in my office. “Holy shit. The new guy is here, and he has an accent.”
“Ella fucked him!” Rae all but shouts.
“ What ?” Adam looks at me, and I swear there’s pride in his eyes. Seriously?
“Not recently! Fuck! I knew I shouldn't have said anything. Stop bringing it up, please. I don't need to be reminded of the worst mistake I’ve ever made.”
“But—”
“Rae, no. This is teetering on another HR conversation, and that would only give Leo something to hold over my head. I have to start training him today, and I’m already on the brink of quitting because of it.”
“Quitting? But you love it here!” Adam says—a bit too enthusiastically, I might add.
“Yeah, I do. But if he is here, it’s only a matter of time before I hate it. That’s what he does; he’s like an infectious disease that poisons everything he touches with his accent, his greasy hair—”
“Don’t forget my beautiful eyes, Ella. I’d hate for you to leave out one of my better qualities in whatever list of yours this is.”
The fucker just let himself in. Or Adam didn't close my door. No, Leo is the type to let himself into rooms because he can. Because he has a penis attached to his body, doors will always be open and unlocked for him.
Meanwhile, some of us have to knock, apologize profusely, and make our tone of voice eight octaves higher so we don’t come across as wasting someone's time.
I paste on my fakest smile possible as Rae and Adam turn their heads between the two of us like they’re watching a tennis match. “Leo. How nice to see you this morning. Have you been finding your way around the office?”
A smirk takes over his face as he leans against my doorway. “Please stop with the fake niceties, Ella. I heard your conversation from my office. I came over here to wave my white flag, on account of this being a professional environment. I want this transition to be as easy as possible for everyone involved. I’ll play nice if you do.”
Oh, how nice of him to wave his flag first. How nice of him, truly. This is an Oscar-worthy performance from Leo Zimmerman. I think I should call the Academy. Maybe they’ll create an entire new category for him—Biggest Asshole in a Drama.
“I always play nice, Leo. I was explaining to my friends our history. Forgive me for forgetting to close my door. You weren't supposed to hear it.”
He and I are staring at one another, an annoying smirk still on his face, my fake smile trying its best not to slip into a scowl.
“Ah. Well, when you’re ready to begin with training, I’ll be in my office,” he points straight across from where we are, “over there.”
He looks at Adam and Rae before he offers them both his hand. “Leo Zimmerman. Please don’t take Ella’s account of me as complete truth. I promise I’m not the twat she says I am.”
Adam takes his hand and shakes it. “Nice to meet you, dude. If you have any questions, you can find me in my cubicle.”
Traitor .
He flashes his blinding smile at Rae, and I swear, her cheeks change color. There it is: the Leo fucking Zimmerman effect. Thank God it has never worked on me.
Except that one time you were drunk and—
Nope. My mind is not going there. Not today. Not ever again.
“It’s nice to meet you, Leo. And don’t worry, I won’t let Ella’s stories cloud my judgment of you. That’s not who I am.”
I shoot her a glare, knowing that’s exactly how we operate here. If I hate someone, so does she. If Rae declares someone is an asshole, then they go on my mental list of people to avoid. But Leo doesn't need to know that.
“Wonderful,” he says as his eyes meet mine again. “I’ll be in my office.”
And then he walks out of mine and closes the door behind him.
“Wow. Talk about tension,” Adam says. “I wish I had the confidence he has. God, I think he’s my hero. Did you see how he walked in here?”
“They totally want to fuck each other again,” Rae quips, and I have to hesitate before I throw my stapler at her.
“I’ve never been less horny in my life,” I say as I look at my watch. “And we have a meeting to get to, so let’s go.”
“I have to grab my laptop, so I’ll meet you guys in the conference room,” Adam says before he leaves.
Rae stands and follows, heading back to her office, and I remember I have to grab the devil's spawn for this meeting. He is my shadow, after all.
I knock twice on his door and hear him mumble through it. I let myself in, and I hate that I can see directly into my office from inside of his. He’s able to see me when I’m sitting at my desk because of how our offices are set up.
“Ella, I’m aware we have a meeting. You didn't need to come get me. I’m a big boy; I can handle myself.”
Before I roll my eyes again, I stop myself. “You’re my shadow, Leo. I’m supposed to teach you how the office runs, so that’s what I’m doing.”
“And I appreciate that, but I’m capable of walking a few steps to get to a meeting.”
“You know what, Leo—”
Before I can finish my sentence, he shuts his door and corners me in front of it.
“What, Ella? What insult is going to come out of your mouth this time? Something about my outfit? Or are you going to go right for how annoying you find me?”
Well, it is pretty annoying you’re in my personal space right now. “Careful, Zimmerman. You’re so close to me, I could spit on you and ruin your perfectly styled hair.”
He tilts his head at me, a smirk crossing his face. “Ah, so the hair this time. Got it.”
“It’s not my fault it looks like you smeared gallons of gel on your head. Maybe you should try using spit next time. I think it would look better, less crunchy.”
“Help me out then,” he says, a challenge in his gaze. He’s not serious?
I hold his stare for a few seconds, his chocolate brown eyes staring through my soul as I reach out and grab his tie hanging between us.
And I yank it.
“Let’s go, Zimmerman. We can’t be late.”
And I swear, I hear him laugh under his breath as he grabs his laptop and follows me to the conference room.