Samantha
SAMANTHA
L eaving the hotel without giving in to Chandler was easier than I thought. I can’t stand to even look at him after finding out that he had planned to quit all along. Stringing me along like some desperate girl who only wants the affection of those who struggle to give it. Well, screw him. Leave it to Chandler to try and ruin a night that was supposed to be life-changing for both of us. He can stick his check where the sun doesn’t shine for all care.
When the Uber I called arrives, I hop in and shut the door.
“Hello,” he says. I don’t respond.
He looks back at me, and there’s an awkwardness before he says, "Rough night?”
“You have no idea," I say. I stay quiet on the drive back to my house. It’s a little out of the way, but the only thing I care about is being away from Chandler and his smug, lying face. God, what was I thinking? That he’d whisk me away? That he’d really want to make things work with me? Yes, I did think that. Embarrassment rises to my cheeks at the thought, making them burn. He seemed so sincere, so sweet. How could he lead me to believe that he actually wanted something serious with me? My chest tightens when I think about how he had looked into my eyes and told me that he wanted this. He wanted it with me. What a load of garbage.
When I get to my house, I thank the driver before I exit the car and walk up to the lawn. I let out a sigh when I got inside. I’m glad I’m home. Too bad I didn’t get to have any drinks at the party before I left. Ken decided on having a full bar, but wine will have to do. I need it after the night I’ve had. I sit at my dining room table, drinking my wine and wallowing in my misery. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt like this, betrayed and absolutely fucking heartbroken. What did I expect? I knew he was a playboy, and I got played end of story. That’s what I get for playing with fire, I guess. I should’ve known better. But he should have, too. Jackass. He can go off to North Carolina and enjoy the nice house with his sweet family and have drinks with the pretty waitress at the bar all he wants while I build up my career as an interior designer. Chandler's deception is only fuel for my determination to make things work out. I look at my sketches for the sunroom I did for Penny and think of our conversation in the cafe. I don’t think about it. I just take out my phone and dial her number. She answers on the third ring. “Hello?”
“Hey. Pen? You know how you said you know someone who could make me a website? What’s their number?”
I pull into work just before 8 AM. The weekend was spent setting up the website for my new brand and working out getting business cards. Lucky for me, Penny knew exactly where to get them. With the new business cards on the way, I’ll be all set. Penny is supposed to drop them off on her way to a listing. Hopefully, my meeting with Ken won’t be long. I decided to take a leave of absence from work to focus on my career, and the extra ten grand in my bank will help out a lot with living expenses until I can get it off the ground. I just need to focus on something other than Chandler, so why not make something of myself? I’ve been pushing this off for months, and apparently, a broken heart is all I need to get me going. Maybe I should thank him. No, he’s still an ass. I made sure to double-park in his spot today. Let him figure out where to park for a change. I’ve been ignoring the pang in my chest when I think of him. The way my body reacts to the memory of his hands on me or the way he took me on the counter in his kitchen. I need to get a grip. I knew what he was before I let myself for him, and now I need to deal with the consequences. If I’m lucky, I’ll be able to avoid him most of the day, especially with the meeting with Ken about taking leave. I set my stuff down in my office and go into the elevator, pressing the button to take me up to Ken’s office. I just hope it goes well.