Chapter 7
Gabriella
I slumped further into my couch, watching the sun set behind the buildings surrounding Central Park.
I had become one with the plush, velvet cushions since I left work early and came home after this morning’s disaster.
I hadn’t even told my father I was leaving.
I just needed to get the hell out of there, so I could digest everything that happened and avoid a run-in with Chandler.
It was stupid, really. I shouldn’t have let my emotions get the best of me like that.
I was never one to dip out of work and leave my responsibilities behind, but being Chandler’s handler was never a responsibility I had signed up for.
Especially not when I thought I was about to become his boss.
I sighed frustratedly and pulled a throw pillow over my face, letting out a loud, muffled scream.
This was what my Friday evening was going to be.
Me on the couch, screaming into pillows and cursing the day Chandler White was born.
I couldn’t believe my father had put some smug, entitled asshole in the role that was destined to be mine.
How could he think that anyone could fill his shoes better than me?
It just didn’t make sense. He had tried calling me around lunch time, but I had ignored his call.
I didn’t want to talk. I knew my feelings would get the better of me and would solidify his decision in choosing Chandler over me.
He was probably out celebrating his big win and the thought made me nauseous. It also made me rethink my plans for the evening. I was definitely going to have a pity party, but it sounded a lot more fun if it included my friends. I reached for my phone and sent Juliet a text.
Me: Girls night?
Juliet: Tonight?
Me: Please.
Juliet: I’m wrapping up at work. I’ll be over after!
I smiled at my phone. It was nice having my best friend back in my life. I needed more reinforcement though. I scrolled through my contacts until I landed on Sadie, my other best friend.
Me: Any chance you can get a sitter tonight? I could use a girls night.
Sadie: Sure! Jeremiah is actually back from his business trip, so he can stay with Ayah. Is everything okay?
Me: I’ll explain later. Juliet’s coming too!
Sadie: Yay! Okay. I’ll get ready. I can be there in an hour.
Me: Thanks, Sadie. <3
I felt a little better knowing I had people in my life who would drop everything to be with me, and I would do the same for them.
A little over an hour later, Juliet walked through the door with a bottle of champagne, clearly thinking I wanted to celebrate the promotion she assumed I had gotten.
Sadie showed up a few minutes after with a bouquet of flowers.
I almost didn’t have the heart to tell them I didn’t get the one thing they had both been hyping me up for.
“So?” Juliet raised a brow, an anticipating smile on her lips.
“How did it go?” asked Sadie, as she put the flowers in a vase with water on my kitchen counter.
“I didn’t get it…” I sighed, looking at the ground.
“What?” they both exclaimed in unison.
“My father had other plans, I guess.”
“He didn’t retire?” asked Juliet in amazement.
“Oh, no. He did. He made his announcement and everything. Delivered a nice little speech. “
“I’m confused…” said Sadie, furrowing her brow.
“He gave the job to someone else,” I said softly.
“What?”
“Who?”
“Some asshole named Chandler White.”
“Who the hell is that?” asked Juliet, her voice raising.
“The same guy who left me on the sidewalk covered in coffee.”
“No!” She looked horrified.
“Who? What?” Sadie looked between the two of us confused.
I filled her in on the morning’s coffee shop debacle, and how the same asshole was now my boss. She listened on wide-eyed in disbelief.
“What are the odds?” said Juliet, shaking her head.
“One in a freaking billion,” I muttered.
The three of us stayed quiet for a moment, as if everyone was digesting the horror show of my day. I let out a sigh and stood up suddenly from the counter stool surrounding the kitchen island where we had gathered.
“Can we go out?” I asked.
“Definitely,” they said in unison.
I laughed softly. It was funny how different, yet similar the two of them were. They had only just met recently, but got along really well. I was glad my past and my present could mesh together so well. It was a testament to my friends.
We walked to a bar a few blocks away that was just the right amount of crowded for a Friday night.
It was lively enough, but I wasn’t having to push past a sea of people to get a drink.
We all ordered Long Island Iced Teas, the bar’s specialty.
I took a sip and winced slightly at just how strong the drink was.
It was exactly what I needed after today.
“Can we also get a round of darts?” asked Juliet, twisting her finger around her blonde hair as she looked at the cute bartender.
Sadie and I both giggled as we watched her flirt. She shot us a look before smiling sweetly at the dark-haired bartender who was already in love with her.
“On the house,” he said, sliding over a wooden box of darts.
“Thank you,” she said, taking it from him.
“You two are the worst,” she snapped at us as we walked to the dartboard toward the back of the bar. She couldn’t help the smile that crept across her lips. She couldn’t stay mad at us for more than a millisecond.
We found a high-top table next to the dartboard and settled in with our drinks.
Juliet slid the box of darts toward me. “I figured this would be a good way to get out some of that aggression,” she said with a shrug. [
“Good idea,” I said, picking up a handful of red darts. I stepped toward the dartboard and set up my stance. I looked at the bullseye and squinted one eye as I raised my arm. “I’ll just picture Chandler’s face.”
I pulled my arm back before launching the dart forward in one swift movement. It hit the wall and bounced to the floor. I picked up another dart. It hit just outside the bullseye. I picked another dart and tried again. This time it landed right in the center. I smiled at it proudly.
“Who knew you were so good at darts?” asked Sadie with surprise.
“Just need the right motivation.” I shrugged, returning to my drink and taking a sip. It didn’t taste as strong this time. I wondered if that was a good thing or a bad thing.
“I can’t believe my father chose him over me…” I shook my head, looking down at the lemon floating in my drink.
“He must have some reason…” said Juliet, putting her hand on my shoulder and giving it a squeeze.
“And the worst part is, he wants me to show him the ropes. I can’t imagine spending more than a second with that guy.”
“Try not to let him get under your skin. Don’t let him have the satisfaction.”
I nodded, taking another sip.
Sadie leaned in, a smile tugging at the corner of her lip as she eyes me curiously.
“What?” I asked, raising a brow. She looked tipsy already. She didn’t drink much, but hadn’t had a girls’ night out in a while.
“Chandler is a hot name.”
“Sadie!” I exclaimed loudly, playfully shoving her and shaking my head.
“What? Is he?”
“Is he what?”
“Is he hot?” she asked.
I rolled my eyes, trying not to think of just how stupidly hot he was.
“He is!” she said, her eyes growing wide.
“His outsides might look good, but his insides are rotten.”
Sadie leaned back and smiled, a silly expression on her face.
If she thought there was any chance of something happening between me and that asshole, she was surely mistaken.
It was just like her to concoct some romantic love story in her head.
She was so in love, I think she just wanted it for everyone else too.
I wanted it eventually, but definitely not with a guy like Chandler.
“It’s not happening,” I said, putting a dart through her little dream floating above her head.
She stuck her tongue out at me and I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Good,” said Juliet with a firm nod. “Just focus on working and your father will eventually see what a mistake he made.”
She was right. If I could just keep my eye on the ball and prove to my father that I could handle the role of CEO, then maybe he could somehow change his mind.
There had to be something in the contract that could allow him to rethink his predecessor.
It was too big of a responsibility to just hand over.
As much as I wanted to make Chandler’s life hell, I knew I had to help him. If I were to eventually be the CEO, I couldn’t let him run the company into the ground before I got the chance to take over.
When Monday morning rolled around, my mindset was mostly positive.
I was determined to not let Chandler get under my skin and be the bigger person.
I gave myself an internal pep talk on the way to work and in the elevator ride up, but the words I recited faded to a distant echo when I walked into Chandler’s office and saw him sitting in another suit that looked like it had been sculpted perfectly to his strong physique.
I cleared my throat nervously and his green eyes shot up to meet mine. I felt my breath catch.
“Good morning,” he said, tilting his head slightly.
“Morning,” I said, mustering a smile.
“Ready to start?”
“Mhmm.”
“Good.” He stood from his desk chair and walked toward me, giving me now a whole view of him that was entirely distracting.
He strode past me, leaving me reeling and breathing in that damn cologne of his.
“Let’s go,” he said, clapping his hands.
Asshole.
I quickly walked to catch up with him, his personality quickly drowning out any of the good thoughts I had about him.
As the morning went on, I realized he was an asshole to everyone, so it wasn’t just specially reserved for me.
He talked to the staff like they were beneath him, barking orders, and being an arrogant smartass.
As if he had any room to be. He had never worked here a day in his life.
It wasn’t until he practically berated Bernice for making a mistake on his schedule that I stepped in.
“Hey,” I said calmly, stepping between him and Bernice who looked like she might cry. “Back off. Mistakes happen.”
“She just ruined my entire day,” he said, pointing at Bernice.
“You’re being dramatic.” I rolled my eyes. “Just chill out.”
He narrowed his gaze at me and I felt my knees weaken under the weight of it. I swallowed down the lump that was forming in my throat, trying to keep it together.
“Are you my handler or my boss?” he asked with an arched brow.
I felt anger begin to grow in me. This was one hell of a rollercoaster ride. One minute I couldn’t stop staring at his sharp jawline, the next I wanted to punch it. I simply clenched my fists and kept my mouth shut.
At my silence, he cracked a devilish smile that made him even sexier and I hated myself for thinking it.
“Precisely. You work for me. I suggest you sit down and take notes. If you want something done right, you can’t afford sloppiness.” He turned to Bernice. “Understood?”
“Y-yes, sir,” stammered Bernice before she began typing frantically on her computer.
Chandler turned on his heel and strode into his office.
“Bully,” I muttered under my breath as I followed in after him.
“Pushover,” he shot back.