Chapter 2 Flo
Istraighten my poofy blouse—I hate this stupid dress code—as I stand outside Alexander’s office door, heart thumping inside my chest. Anxiety isn’t an emotion that I feel too often, but I’ve been waiting for this moment for what feels like forever.
My boss has been hinting at the possibility of a promotion for me here at Starbound Talent Agency for months, and after all the hard work I’ve been putting in lately, it seems today is the day he’s decided to recognise it.
He’s asked to see me.
I put up with way more than I should for my pay grade—divas calling me and complaining about the temperature in an interview room or the choice of music being played at an afterparty, as if I’m their fairy godmother and can snap my fingers and fix it for them.
But a pay rise will make it all feel worth it. I’m planning to relocate closer to the city, so I need the money, and paying rent month-to-month, as I’m doing now, isn’t stable.
I no longer enjoy my job. There's no one I like left, since my friend, who worked at Elevate Publications—we're their parent company—moved on. The only reason I’ve stuck around is that the idea of a promotion makes me feel like I’m succeeding in life, like I’ve achieved something, like all this hasn’t been for nothing.
I want to make my parents proud. They don’t expect much—they’re pretty easy going—but I want to show them I can pave the way for myself.
After knocking on Alexander’s office door, he opens it, revealing his usual glum and bored expression. I had high hopes he’d be in a better mood today, but his flat lips bring me back down to earth in a second.
Glad to see everything is right in the universe.
“Flo, come on in.”
I shuffle past him and sit opposite his desk in the red leather armchair. “You asked to see me, Alexander?”
“You live near Missarali, right?” He removes a wad of papers from his desk and shoves them into a drawer, barely looking at me.
“Um, I’m like thirty minutes away from it. Why?” What does my location have to do with my promotion?
“Good.” He pauses for a few seconds before reaching under his desk and pulling out…
what appears to be a stuffed donkey, but it looks in rough shape with weathered fuzz and a mane so shaggy it could be mistaken for a ball of grey yarn.
The toy stares at me with lopsided eyes, its fraying fabric tongue sticking out of one side of its mouth, as my boss balances it in his hands as if he’s never held anything fluffy in his life.
Alexander is a bit of a tough nut, and I never pegged him as the type of man to collect stuffed animals, but if it is his, who am I to judge? Everyone has their secrets.
If I ever need blackmail material, I suppose I’ve hit the jackpot.
“I found this under my desk today. Evan West’s son must have left it after his meeting the other day. Could you do me a favour and drop it off on your way home? Thanks. I’ll text you the address. That’ll be all.”
“What?” My brows pinch together.
“Evan West, you know, one of our clients here? I need you to drop this”—Alexander holds the toy limply with one finger, waggling it, mouth downturned—”snot-covered thing off at his house.”
“I know who Evan West is,” I say with a huff.
The broody single dad and football player who could probably have anybody he wanted, yet he’s never been spotted with a woman, unless it’s professionally, and for some stupid reason, the media are obsessed with the fact.
I’ve never met him. He’s only been with Starbound for six months, but Alexander likes to hold meetings with him in private.
Apparently, he’s challenging to speak to.
And work with.
And to get hold of.
Averting his eyes, my boss continues to fiddle around with his computer until he stands and grabs his backpack, loosening his mauve-coloured tie around his neck.
His eyes slide towards the door as if he’s waiting for me to take the toy and leave, fingers still clutching the animal loosely, like it’s about to burn him.
A scoff lingers on the tip of my tongue. “Missarali isn’t on the way home for me, Alexander. It’s in the opposite direction.”
“It would really help me out, Flo. I’m swamped and I don’t have time to deal with this kind of low-level stuff. I’m above this.” He thrusts the stuffed animal into my hands and gestures towards the door. “I really need to head home. It’s my wife’s birthday.”
My jaw slacks. I’d been a fool to believe Alexander was inviting me here for anything other than a favour.
I truly thought my hard work was finally being recognised.
That I’d be moving up in this stupid company, but instead, I’m here holding a saggy donkey, being asked to run an errand like I’m some underpaid intern.
This shit wasn’t in the job description.
“That’s it?”
Alexander hovers by the door, obviously confused. He draws his eyebrows together and says, “Yes? Why? Were you expecting something else?”
My fingers grip the leather armrest, nails digging into the fabric. “Oh, I don’t know, perhaps the possibility of a promotion you’ve been implying for months?” My lungs expand as I stand. “I work very hard, Alexander.”
He doesn’t try to contest it, knowing it’s the truth. I may make my dislike for most of the celebrities we represent apparent, but he and I both know I’m one of the hardest workers here. I do more than I’m supposed to. Put up with more than I’m supposed to.
“Look, there was a promotion on the cards at one point, Flo, but since Matthew officially joined the team, I’ve decided he’s the best candidate to take the higher position.”
Excuse me?
My blood begins to boil. He can’t be serious.
“If this is some kind of late April Fool’s joke, it’s not very funny,” I tell him, raising a brow.
The promotion he practically promised me is going to his nephew, of all people.
Matthew was officially hired a month ago, yet he’s been helping Alexander out for a while, getting paid under the radar.
I doubt he even knows how to tie the fancy Italian leather shoes his uncle bought him as a joining present, let alone handle this job.
He’s just a kid. An inexperienced basement dweller who’s going to get a hell of a shock once he comes face to face with these cut-throat celebrities who freak out if you so much as look at them in the wrong way.
I’m usually a pretty outgoing person. I enjoy not taking life too seriously, but when I’m here, I’m forced to set that side of myself aside and be simple and professional.
Rule number one at Starbound: Don’t outshine the celebrities.
I’ve been patient. I’ve worked my ass off, and someone with the same last name as Alexander strolls in and suddenly, I’m an afterthought.
There’s one word to describe how I’m feeling: pissed.
And now, there’s yet another person in the room, using up more of the premium air Alexander pays to get pumped into the building—Matthew.
He’s staring at me with an unbothered expression, folders, cheques and documents in hand, and he quickly moves to hide them behind his back, as if allowing me to see his work will tarnish it somehow.
“Stuff to do with the promotion.” He’s smirking at me now, shaking his head to swoosh his shoulder-length hair back as if he’s in some cringy budget shampoo commercial. “You wouldn’t understand. Did I interrupt something here? Flo, you look pretty tense.”
“No,” Alexander voices at the same time I say, “Yes.”
“Is there a problem, Flo?” My boss’s voice is challenging, as if he’s daring me to argue with him on the matter.
I gave up the opportunity to travel around America and Canada for half a year for this?
My fingers tighten around the donkey’s neck as I approach the door, shoes clicking against the floor.
“Yes, there is.” I move past Alexander and Matthew without a second glance, teeth clamped down on my tongue, but after I realise I don’t give a fuck what these men think of me, I don’t stop my word vomit.
“You’re an ass, Alexander. You know that? ”
I also want to tell Matthew that his fluorescent pink and green tie is heinous, but I can’t really talk when I’m wearing a frilly blouse that makes me look like a walking cloud.
Alexander simply smiles. “I’ve been told. Look, take the donkey, don’t take the donkey, I really don’t care at this point, Flo. If it’s an issue, I’ll just throw it in the trash.”
I narrow my eyes into slits. Is he really that heartless that he’d throw a child’s stuffed toy away?
Staring at the trash can full of banana skins and paperwork, I’m met with the beady eyes of the donkey in my hands, and I curse.
“I’ll take the donkey. But not for you. For the kid,” I say as I walk out of the office for the final time.
Because this is the last thing I’ll ever do for Starbound.
“Does this guy live in the middle of nowhere?” I mutter, my car shuddering beneath me as I drive over another bump, sending the donkey seated in the passenger seat tumbling over. He stares at me with wonky eyes, and I roll my own. “What are you looking at? I’m doing you a favour, you know?”
Oh my God. I’m talking to a stuffed animal. Alexander has really driven me to insanity this time.
The car jerks over the uneven path again, and I attempt to calm my breathing by gripping the wheel.
A long gravel road stretches out in front of me, with overgrown trees and shrubbery lining it.
It’s not as well-kept as I’d expect a wealthy athlete’s property to be, but then again, Montana is notorious for having beautiful, wild landscapes.
I understand why pruning it would be a big effort.
It would make it a hell of a lot easier to see the house, though.
I’m surprised Evan doesn't live in a gated community, but then again, this house is so far out of the way that I’m sure nobody would be able to find it even if they tried. I feel like I’ve been barreling down this stretch forever.