Chapter 18
JOSIE
I take a big bite of the almond croissant and, as always, it is the most delicious thing in the entire freaking world. I sit back and relax in the chair as I chew on the pastry. It has certainly been a long hard shift, and I’m only now on break. For a long time today, I’ve really needed to sit down and just let go.
There’s been a lot going through my mind recently, and it is exhausting. Just thinking about all my problems has been tiring beyond belief.
The chair opposite squeaks as Amanda moves it to sit down. I look up at my manager.
“Hello,” I say to her.
“I hope I’m not interrupting your break,” Amanda says. “I thought I’d come over and have a little chat.”
“No, you’re not interrupting.”
Amanda smiles.
“Good,” she says. “How are you, Josie?”
I blink. Her voice is uncharacteristically seriously sympathetic. Amanda’s usually very light and jokey. I wonder what she’s getting to...
“I’m good.”
“I have to say, you’ve been... distant the last few days at work,” she observes.
“What do you mean?” I ask, getting even more suspicious of her atypical tone.
Amanda shrugs. “You just seem distracted by something, so I’m just checking you’re doing okay.”
“Yep. All fine. I’m fine. I’m hunky dory.”
“How’s the divorce going?” Amanda asks, her voice softening and going quiet as if she doesn’t want anyone else in the coffee shop to hear.
I nod. This is what she was getting to. The fucking divorce. I should’ve known.
“I’m working on it,” I say with a slight smile as if to tell her everything is going perfectly.
“Do you need any help with anything?”
“Amanda, I’m all good.”
“I’m here if you ever want to talk.”
“Thanks.”
“Okay. Well, I’ll leave you to the rest of your break.”
“Thank you, Amanda,” I say. “Thank you for checking on me.”
She gives me a final soft smile before she heads back to the main counter across the room.
I close my eyes. I want to run back to my apartment and hide under the bedcovers.
I hate being reminded of the divorce. It makes my stomach churn. Like with a lot of things these days, I want to be sick.
And I’m trying to avoid the elephant in the room - the thing that’s been eating away at me. The thing that is making me avoid actually having a nice relaxing break.
Victor’s leather briefcase.
It’s sitting on the chair beside me ominously. Like a creature waiting to pounce if I show a moment’s weakness.
I’ve been avoiding looking at it all day. I’ve been avoiding even thinking about what it means and what it contains...
The offer.
The crazy fake relationship.
The potential ticket to getting a divorce lawyer and therefore my freedom. Victor promised me that. I wonder if I should even trust him.
I’ve read through the agreement already. I’ve done it twice, in fact. It’s all the same stuff the actor told me in the park. It seems legit. The same terms for his harebrained scheme - a fake relationship until he gets that best actor award. I’m to act as his girlfriend. I don’t have to sleep with him, but I do have to display my love for him in public. I might even have to kiss him if it helps the cause.
I might have to actually do this.
Like, what other choice do I have, though? There’s nothing for me now except for this. I need that lawyer, and then I can move on with my life. The bank rejected my loan. There’s no way in hell I’ll get the money to divorce that man. Victor’s handing me a life raft in the middle of a storm, and I’ll be stupid not to take it.
I sigh and open my eyes.
And I pick up the briefcase. And I take out the agreement.
Victor’s written a note in his handwriting on the first page.