Chapter 40
Chapter Forty
I’m a bad bitch. You can’t kill me.
These wise words from my favorite Vine are the only reason I haven’t taken the closest exit and sped back to Clear Lake yet. There are probably more professional mantras I could repeat to hype myself up, but this resonates most with me.
After raging with the girls, I realized I was hiding, and I do not hide.
It’s time to go back to work.
My phone has been buzzing nonstop since I let my clients know I was back in the office; a mix of disappointment that I ended my “vacation” a week early and excitement that I’m available again.
I may not have gotten Garrett or the promotion, but I have them.
Ernie, Trevor’s assistant, pales when I walk through the glass doors. Technically, he’s one of Permian’s two receptionists, but Trevor keeps him on a tight leash.
“Turner!” His attention darts to the elevator. “You’re back early.”
Sliding the two boxes of donuts onto the counter between us, I lift my bag higher on my shoulder. “I needed to come back. Is Trevor free right now? I didn’t see anything in his calendar when I checked this morning.”
He nods, but his expression warns me to steer clear.
Sadly, that’s not something I can do.
Instead of taking the elevator, I head to the stairs in hopes I can work off some of this adrenaline. Demanding respect from men usually goes one of two ways: they either apologize and promise to do better, or they get angry and act even worse.
I can already guess which one Trevor will choose.
Stopping by my office to take a breath would be smart, but the mantra I wrote on a pink sticky note is burning a hole in my pocket.
Demand respect. Sign clients. Be happy.
Right as I’m about to lift my hand to knock, I pause and peer through the tiny crack in the door to find Trevor pacing.
“I still can’t believe she took a vacation. It’s a surprise she’s been able to stay in this field this long if she can’t handle hearing the word no. Can’t imagine she’s going to last much longer.”
The pause goes on and on for so long, I assume he’s on the phone. But that’s when a person out of view speaks.
“I probably would’ve taken time off too. She got two noes in the span of, like, two days. I can’t imagine it’ll be easy to get over.”
Andy. My friend Andy is talking to Trevor about me.
“I didn’t know flaunting around the office in little pink outfits equates to working hard.” Trevor’s laugh is rough, full of hatred that I’ve never been able to understand.
“Trev, come on. You know she does a lot for Permian. Doesn’t she also do work for your clients?”
He scoffs. “She does scut work. I could do it myself.”
“But you don’t,” I mutter under my breath. Eavesdropping on this conversation isn’t right, but my feet are stuck to the ground.
“Please cut her some slack when she gets back next week. You know how it feels to lose a client you’ve worked your ass off for. Especially when you think they’re yours. She’s going to need support and—”
“Jesus Christ,” Trevor shouts. “When did you become her little bodyguard? I know you two are friends now, but I didn’t think you’d protect her. You’re supposed to be on our side.”
“There shouldn’t be sides! We’re supposed to be a team! I’ve never understood why you treat her like shit even though all she does is cover for you, me, Jonah, and Kyle on a regular basis without complaint. I think you’d agree that she works harder than anybody here if you weren’t so against her.”
“Oh, I get it.” Goosebumps rise along my arms as Trevor’s voice pitches, letting out a low chuckle. “I thought you were smart enough to not fall for it, but it looks like she’s got you under her spell. Like she did with the golden boy.”
“What the fuck, Trevor? You’re going too far.”
“Going too far? I’m trying to protect this company and everything we’ve built.
Winston may not see it, but I do. She’s not meant for this life, no matter what you or anyone else thinks about her!
I think she will last one more year before running off into the sunset after her boyfriend.
That’s why I didn’t submit her letter of intent for the promotion. ”
My vision goes hazy as I press my back against the wall.
Trevor never submitted my letter of intent.
I wasn’t even in the running for the promotion.
“You what?” Andy hisses, taking the words from my mouth. “Why the hell didn’t you submit it?”
“Why would I?”
As if an explosion has gone off, Andy erupts.
“Because she deserved the promotion! Turner actually cares about her clients. She doesn’t look at them like a paycheck.
They’re real people in her eyes, which is way more than I can say about you.
She’s the first one here in the morning and is the last to leave.
She brings those damn donuts you can’t live without every Friday.
She does your job for a fraction of the pay.
She has more clients than any junior agent and still chases other athletes.
There are multiple reasons you should have submitted her letter of intent!
And whether you want to admit it or not, you know she would’ve gotten it if you had. ”
“C’mon Andy.” The cocky edge in Trevor’s voice crumbles as his former minion turns on him. “I did what I thought was best. I knew she wasn’t fit for the job long before she slept with the golden boy.”
“At least she did the honorable thing! She stepped back the moment things got serious and gave him someone who could work with him professionally. But you? How many clients have you slept with and continue to manage? I remember you bragging about, what? Five?”
He what?
“So?” Trevor’s shaky laugh is defeated. “Would you really want someone like her to be your boss?”
“Yes! I’d love for her to be my boss! Jesus, Trevor! Everything you’re saying is discrimination!”
I don’t even realize that I pushed open the door and stepped into the office until their eyes swing over to me and their jaws drop in horror.
“You never submitted my letter of intent.”
Not a question. It’s a statement, and he knows at that moment that I heard everything. I see it in the way his perfectly trained smile cracks.
Trevor straightens. “I never said that.”
We both look at Andy, and I hope his boldness will continue for a little while longer. That our friendship means something to him too.
My chest releases when he moves to stand beside me and glares at Trevor. “Yes you did, Trevor. It’s time to stop lying.” When Andy meets my eye, his face crumples. “I’m so sorry, Turner.”
“Don’t be,” I whisper. “I heard everything. Thank you for standing up for me.” I turn back to Trevor, who is shaking in his expensive dress shoes.
“All I wanted was to work at Permian under some of the best agents, and one of them was you, but you’ve spent every single day reminding me that I don’t belong here.
From the moment I walked in, you made it your mission to not give me a chance. ”
Trevor shakes his head, but I don’t let him speak.
“I have given so much to you and Permian to be seen as equal, but I’m starting to realize I will never win in a system that is against me.
” As I look down, my eyes catch my badge.
Smiley Shay who took this photo on the first day of her internship had no idea this is where we’d end up.
“I’m going to be a great agent, but I’m sure it won’t be at Permian. ”
I should feel scared, but as the words slip out of my mouth, I can’t help but feel relieved.
“I quit.”
“You did what?” Holly shrieks.
I asked myself that question a million times on the drive home.
I have no job.
No income.
No references who can help me get another job.
No idea what I’m doing next.
Turning down the volume on my phone, I curl myself into a ball by the front door and force some false bravado into my voice for my former client.
I couldn’t even make it to the couch. “I overheard something and decided it was time to leave Permian. For good. It may sound impulsive, but it wasn’t. It was—”
“A long time coming?” Holly sighs. “I agree. It’s about damn time.”
I nearly slam my head against the wall. “What?”
“Don’t sound so shocked. You do know that I know you pretty well, right?
” Holly pauses, and I nod, though she can’t see me.
“That office drained your bright pink energy that shined so beautifully when I first met you in the Permian bathroom. You never stopped taking care of your clients, but being there dulled you. I hated seeing you work so hard and be treated so poorly.”
If anyone else would’ve said these words to me, I wouldn’t have believed them, but Holly was my first client.
Even if I haven’t broken our professional boundaries to vent about how much I hated working at Permian, I’m not surprised she noticed.
We talked daily, our bond like a professional sisterhood.
The tile chills my calves as I stretch my legs out. “Why didn’t you say anything earlier?”
“Because you love us. You would’ve put up with just about anything if it meant you got to be our agent. It was an honorable sacrifice, but I secretly hated it for you.”
Tears threaten to fall. “But now I’m not your agent because I quit.”
“And I’m positive the reason is plenty enough,” she breathes. “I don’t need to know specifics to support your decision and know you did the right thing.”
Hugging myself, I sniff. “You don’t hate me?”
She sniffs too, and I know she’s close to tears. “You’re like my favorite person, Shay. I could never hate you.”
My eyes start to water as I pull the phone from my ear, place it on speaker, and scroll through the texts that have been popping up since I stormed out of Permian. I didn’t even go back to my office to grab anything. I left with my head held high.
Andy
Trevor is spiraling. Proud of you. Here if you need me
I text back a thumbs-up and a pink heart before opening my group message with The Quartet while Holly swears she will never work with the stuck-up assholes in my office.
GOAL GALS
Menace to Society
Arson is always an option!
Joelly Bean
Did you slap him? Please tell me you slapped him
Marshmallory
Heading to Permian. I’ve always wanted to whoop a grown man’s ass, and it looks like today’s the day
Joelly Bean
Come pick me up! I’ll record
Menace to Society
WORLD STARRRRRRR
Swallowing my laugh, I tune back in to Holly. “Tomorrow, send an email to Winston and say you want to be on Andy Walker’s client list moving forward.”
She gags into the microphone. “What don’t you get about me not wanting to work with any of those bastards?”
“Andy’s a good one,” I promise.
Not only did Andy have my back when he didn’t know I was around, but he stood up to Trevor and verified what I heard through the door. He’s a real friend.
“Maybe I can find a way to get out of my contract and follow you—”
“I have no clue what my next steps are, Holls,” I choke out the sad reality. “Stay with Permian. I’ll always be here for you. To call or cry or chat. Okay?”
“Like a friend?”
I smile. “Like a friend.”
“Good, because I’ve always thought of you as my best friend.” She chuckles. “Have you talked to Cade?”
As if summoned, the doorbell rings, and I pull myself up. “About to. Good luck tonight!”
“Thanks! For someone who just quit her job, you sound like a total badass.” Her praise keeps me from collapsing, but I can feel my body starting to shut down. “I’m about to watch Bridge to Terabithia. I’ll shed some tears and play hard for you.”
With a quiet goodbye, I open the door, and a wave of floral sweetness hits me. Flowers in every shade of pink, yellow, and orange spill across his broad torso. When I count eight bouquets, I try to smile at the lucky number, but my lips wobble.
“Eight for good luck?” I ask, the strength fading from my voice.
Cade’s jaw tightens at the wavering sound, but he follows me into the house and to the kitchen without a word. Before I can put the flowers in water, he engulfs me in the hug I’ve needed since the moment I stormed out of Trevor’s office.
It all comes rushing back to me. Trevor’s hatred. My decision.
“I’m so sorry, baby,” he whispers. “I’m so sorry.”
After somehow managing to hold it together, his words and security shatter my composure. So I finally break and sob into his chest.