Chapter 31
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
JAX
It takes me a good thirty minutes to get my shit together enough to drive home. Even then, the sun is too bright and burns my sore eyes, causing a new onslaught of tears to come pouring out.
I just don’t understand where everything went wrong. Sure, there was quite a bit of distance between us the last month or so, but could that really be the issue? Surely not. I’m sure Kai was feeling all the same things and understood why we needed space, especially in a professional setting.
Didn’t he appreciate that, though, too? Did he really want to risk being caught or having rumors spread of being that CEO who fucks his personal assistant? We were a walking, talking sitcom playing out before our very own eyes. I wasn’t just doing this for me.
As soon as I get home, I get my ice rollers from the fridge to try to calm some of the swelling in my face.
I don’t even need to look at myself to know I’m a hot fucking mess right now, and I’ll be damned if I let Kai take tonight from me.
Becca has been so excited about showing me every fucking detail, so I’m going to buck up and go, even if it’s just to support a friend.
When the rollers start to become more room-temp, I put them back and then head to the bathroom to risk a glance.
Yep. Hot mess express.
I have approximately six hours to get myself looking tip-top to show Kai exactly what he’s missing. I’ve had my cry; now, it’s time for vengeance.
I know it’s Christmas—we’re supposed to be wearing reds and greens and metallics, and I had that planned for tonight, but after today?
Well, black it is. I can’t say it doesn’t look good, the pressed slacks and jacket fitting my body to a T.
I have a black button up on too, making my green eyes pop, allowing the gold speckles to really shine too.
This is definitely have-your-boss-on-his-knees-begging material, if I do say so myself.
Thankfully, the cold compress and eye drops seemed to have done the trick, allowing my face to mellow out and depuffing me, like everything I’ve worked my ass off for the last two months didn’t come crumpling down today.
I just have to remind myself that, at the end of the day, I’m doing this for Becca. She’s been a great friend and an amazing resource throughout my time there. I wish her nothing but the best, even if her boss is a complete jack-wagon.
I get into my car, letting it warm up as I sit and think about my plans.
Do I avoid him? Do I meticulously walk by and strut my stuff so he has to notice?
Do I act like nothing has happened and stay at his beck and call, make him realize I’m an amazing assistant and he actually can’t do life without me?
Letting out a breath, I decide the best course.
I’m just going to wing it. Catching myself chewing my lip, I reach into my jacket and unwrap a piece of candy before popping it into my mouth.
My tongue bounces it around, the little clicks of sugar hitting my teeth quieting some of the noise in my head.
The amount of sugar I consume should be illegal, but that’s neither here nor there.
Once the car is pushing warm air through the vents, I head off into the night, heading straight for the one who fired me today.
What could possibly go wrong?