16. Chapter 16
16
Stockholm Syndrome
“Leo, if you don’t get your ass out of the shower, I’m going to pour a bucket of ice water on you!” I say as I knock on the door, knowing it’s no use.
Every single fucking morning, Leo takes hour long showers after he gets home from his workout. It’s fucking annoying, and it derails my entire morning. I even woke up early to get in before he got back home, but he supposedly cut his workout short.
It has been forty-five minutes, and if he uses all the hot water, I might kill him.
What does he even do in there any way? Jerk off? There’s no way it takes that long, and he probably doesn't even need to. Some girl probably sucked him off last night when he went out with some of the guys after work.
I’ve been trying to avoid Leo at work, since it’s the only time I don't have to actually talk to him. When I’m at home, he’s always around, and I literally have nowhere to run. I can avoid him a bit easier at the office. Since he’s all buddy-buddy with Brody and the other assholes, he hasn't been in his office a lot lately.
Which means I don't have to stare at his stupid fucking face through my window all day, and that is the best present anyone could have given me.
It has only been a week, and I already have a countdown for when he’s hopefully leaving. His place is supposed to be ready in November, which means I only have two months of him living here.
It has been one week, and it already feels like a fucking eternity.
I hear the shower turn off after I bang on the door a few more times. When the door finally opens and Leo walks out wearing just a towel, staring down at me with that stupid smirk on his face, I have to fight the urge to knee him in the balls.
“All yours, darling.”
“Fuck. You. If I’m late, I’m blaming you.” And then I slam the door and turn the shower to the hottest setting, only to discover it’s lukewarm when I step into it.
Today better not get any worse . If it does, I’m going to have to call Paige and Oliver to help me bury Leo’s body when I eventually murder him.
Work has been okay so far.
I’ve been slowly putting together some things for the publishing account, and I have this other account—a coffee brand—that Imogen assigned me. It has been fun configuring an entire new Instagram feed for them. I sent them some test photos, and they loved what I was doing, so they booked Loft Media for the rest of the year.
After all the losses I’ve been taking, it feels nice to have some positive energy back in my life. Lately, all it seems like I’m doing is trying and failing.
Fuck, I forgot to call Lizzie last night.
Dammit, I guess I spoke too soon. My sister texted me the other day saying she wanted to talk to me about something, and I was in the middle of a meeting with an author when she did. I had to decline; I told her I’d call her after, but I was so exhausted, I fell asleep at my desk.
Shit. I should know better. I should be doing better, but life feels way too overwhelming lately, and I can’t get it to stop. I’m normally so good about juggling multiple things at once, so I don't know what’s throwing me off my game.
I take my phone out to text her.
Ella: Hey! Sorry I forgot to call you last night. I’m available after work if you want to chat. Was it something important? Is it about Dad? Is he okay? Are you okay?
She answers me a few minutes later.
Lizzie: Dad and I are both fine, Ella. Stop worrying. It wasn't a big deal.
Ella: If it matters to you, it matters to me.
Lizzie: It’s more of an in-person conversation. Can you come to Dad’s for dinner sometime this week?
I don’t know why her choice of words has my stomach dropping. My mind races through all the possible things it could be, and none of them are good.
Ella: Anything for you. How does tomorrow night sound?
Lizzie: That works. Can you pick me up from school too? Dad’s car is in the shop.
Ella: Again? What for this time, and why didn't you tell me about it?
Lizzie: Something with the engine. But it’s fine; my friend has been driving me to school.
Ella: But I could’ve helped, Liz.
Lizzie: Ells, it’s okay. I’ll see you tomorrow? I have to go to class.
Ella: Okay. See you then. I love you!
Lizzie liked a message.
I try not to think about the conversation too much, especially since she didn't say she loved me back. I hope this is some sort of phase, but maybe it’s what she has to talk to me about that’s making things so weird.
Have I not been there enough? Has there been something going on at home I don’t know about? Does she resent me for leaving? Does she think I don’t check in enough anymore, and now she hates me?
God, I can’t deal with this. I knew I should have been there more for her and my dad, but it slipped my mind the past few weeks. I’m a terrible sister. That’s probably what she wants to talk to me about.
Fuck my life.
My phone rings a few seconds after I put it down, and I immediately pick it up.
“Lizzie?”
“Nope. It’s your other sister.”
Hads . “Hey. Sorry, it’s been a long ass morning.”
“Want to talk about it?”
“Not really. It’s nothing, actually. What’s up?”
I hear her sigh heavily from across the line. “This is your formal invitation to Grant’s birthday party. Check your email. I sent an e-invite.”
“Okay,” I say as I open my email and click on the one from Hads. Grant is officially having his birthday at a trampoline park, and he invited us all to come. “Why did you call me for this?”
“Grant wanted me to. He also wanted me to tell you he made his own invites.”
“Okay…?” I question.
“Look, Ella, you’re the queen of hosting things. I think he really wanted your approval of how he did. This is all him, not me. So if you can call or text him and hype up his party-planning skills, I’m sure he would love it.”
I can only laugh. That might be the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard. Not only do I pride myself on the events and parties I host, but it feels good someone else thinks I do okay at it. Grant never fails to make me feel better, and truth be told, he isn't bad at designing invitations at all. This one looks good. “I’ll call him later and let him know I love it.”
“Thank God,” Hads says. “He was nervous to send these out this morning. It’s all he talked about at breakfast. I love the man, don’t get me wrong, but he is taking this way too seriously.”
“Hads, not all of us hate our birthday like you and Oliver do,” I point out.
“Yeah, yeah. Whatever. I have to go. I’ll see you at book club?”
“I’ll be there. I love you.”
“I love you too, Ells,” she says as she hangs up, and I hear my stomach growl. I didn't have time to grab something for breakfast this morning since Leo took so fucking long in the shower.
I get up from my desk and head to the kitchen, but not before I stop in Rae’s office. I knock twice on her already-open door, and she looks up from her desktop.
“Do you want coffee or a snack? I’m grabbing something from the kitchen.”
“How nice of you.” She smiles at me. “I’ll take a coffee, please.”
“Coming right up.”
“Two—”
I cut her off. “Two sugars and a cream. I know, babe.”
“I knew I loved you.”
I only smile as I head over to the kitchen. I was going to ask Adam if he wanted something when I passed his cubicle, but I forgot he’s out of the office with a client today.
I’m almost to the kitchen when I hear a bunch of voices drifting out of it. I recognize them—Brody, Leo, and all the other assholes in the office. They’re all standing around in the kitchen, talking about something. I’m not sure what, but when I hear my name brought up, I pause.
I stop just out of sight as I listen to what they’re saying. Normally, I’d walk in and say something, but I want to know what they're talking about.
“You’re competing with her on that one project, right?”
“Uh, yeah,” Leo answers.
“You’ve got it in the bag, then,” Brody says to him. “Why do you think I got promoted over her? She’s been turning in mediocre work for months.”
“Yeah, I saw one of the campaigns she did for this one small business. It was average at best,” another asshole says.
Are you fucking kidding me? This cannot be happening. First of all, to be talking shit about me in the office we currently work at is highly unprofessional. Secondly, I only create what the brand wants from me, and they loved the campaign.
“Don’t even get me started on her side hustle,” some guy says.
“What?” Leo asks.
“You haven't seen her online profile? She does a bunch of marketing on the side for authors or whatever. It explains why she wants this project so bad. Though, with the shit she makes online, I doubt she’ll get it,” Brody says, and I think he smacks Leo or something. Maybe he’s giving him a pat on the back; you know, that thing assholes do to one another when they think they’re funny but aren't.
“Listen, mate, we work with her. Show some respect to your coworkers occasionally. Ella works hard—harder than you, even. If there’s one thing I admire about her, it’s her work ethic. I’ve never seen you stay later than three in the afternoon, Brody.”
Leo said that. Leo Zimmerman just stood up for me in front of a bunch of assholes trying to degrade me and my work.
He stood up for me not knowing I’m listening in around the corner.
Did I just walk into the twilight zone? An alternate universe? Why is he sticking up for me in front of our asshole coworkers?
What the hell is going on? I must be asleep. There’s absolutely no way, in no universe, that Leo would stick up for me. He hates me as much as I hate him. So, what’s his angle? What’s his fucking play in doing this?
I try not to think about it as I raise my chin and walk into the kitchen. I keep my expression neutral so they don’t know I heard everything they said as I grab a banana and turn the coffee machine on for Rae.
“Morning, boys,” I say as I turn and lean against the counter. “How’s it going today? Any more mediocre work going on?”
I smile as Leo locks eyes with me, a knowing look on his face.
“Just taking a small break, Ella.”
“How nice,” I say as I take a bite of my snack. “You know, Brody, I almost forgot you worked here and not at the golf course. How over par were you this week or should I not bring that up?”
He only stares at me in disbelief that I would ever say such a thing to him, and to be honest, I probably shouldn't have, since he is technically my boss.
But then again, if he can talk shit about me behind my back, then I should be able to do the same right to his face. At least my way, he’s hearing it from me. I may be a bitch in some people’s eyes, but at least I’m a bitch enough to say it right to your face.
“Ella, you better—”
“What? Watch my tone?”
“Yes.”
I cross my arms in front of me. “Well, maybe you should be careful about how loud you speak. People could hear who you really are if you’re not too careful. And we wouldn't want that happening, would we?”
“Ella—”
“Brody, get the fuck out,” Leo snaps. “You guys too. I need to speak with Ella in private.”
“Dude, what the—”
“Go do some actual work for once, Brody. Just because you got promoted doesn't mean you can slack off. We have a huge deadline coming up, and we’re not even halfway done,” Leo tells him, and for some reason, Brody listens. Typical man. They only listen to other guys on the same level as them. If I had said that to Brody, he would’ve yelled at me and told Imogen. Hell, he might still tell Imogen about what happened, but she’ll only tell him to get back to work.
Brody can get away with a lot of shit here, but Imogen knows what he’s like. She doesn't take any shit from him, and that’s why I love having her as my boss. Even if Brody is above me, I can always count on her.
The guys leave, and Leo and I are now in here by ourselves. He’s still sitting at the table, and I’m still against the counter.
“How much did you hear?” he asks me.
“Enough,” I say as I turn around and grab Rae’s mug.
“Look, I’m—”
“I also heard you stick up for me, so don’t apologize for them, Leo. Even though I don't need you fighting my battles for me, I appreciate you saying what you did.”
“No need to thank me.”
“There is, though. You could have chosen to say something about me and be as mean as they were, but you didn't. And that tells me a lot about who you are, Zimmerman.” Maybe I’ve been wrong about him all this time, but one incident of him doing the bare minimum for me isn't going to suddenly change how I feel. “I’ll see you at home.”
I start to walk out of the kitchen, my banana and Rae’s coffee both in my left hand, and when I walk by where Leo sits, he reaches out and grabs my free hand.
“They’re wrong, Ella. You do great work. Competing with you has been a challenge, but one I’m not backing down from.”
“Careful, Leo. If you keep being this nice to me, I’ll think you have Stockholm syndrome or something.”
“Wouldn't be the worst thing I’ve had.”
“Oh, right.” I nod my head. “I forgot about your recent STI diagnosis. That must be a bitch to deal with.” I separate from his hand and pat him on the shoulder. “I hear antibiotics help chlamydia. Do you want me to look into that for you, or—”
He only starts to laugh. “Just get back to work before I piss you off again, Williams.”
“It’s only a matter of time, Zimmerman,” I say as I leave the kitchen and head to Rae’s office. “It’s only a matter of time.”