CHAPTER THREE #2
That baby-faced bastard. My time would come and Freddie would scurry back to the legal nest he never should have left.
‘Should have been yours? That’s a bit presumptuous, don’t you think?’
‘No, actually. I don’t. The last three promotions at my work have all been men and there’s no way Freddie’s more qualified for the job than I am, considering he came from legal.
He barely even has any experience in the actual role.
No doubt similar to your promotion that landed you as a finance manager. ’
Corey swerved the car and stopped in the gutter. ‘That’s it, enough about how you don’t think I deserve my job. Our final exam is in two weeks.’ His finger wiggled between us. ‘Whatever this is we’re doing here? Highest score wins, no more arguments.’
The challenge was an itch I couldn’t wait to scratch with victorious nails.
A final chance to prove I was equally worthy of a role like his despite being a woman.
‘Absolutely. And you’ll admit women in the workplace don’t always get offered the same opportunities – even when our qualifications and experience are on par? ’
‘It doesn’t really prove that, but I’ll look into it.’ He offered his hand.
I reached for it, but he pulled it back at the last second.
‘And you’ll admit my brain is worthy of my job,’ he said.
‘Deal.’ I sealed our fate with a shake.
By the time we arrived at my apartment, the rain still hadn’t eased.
‘I’ve got an umbrella in the back. I’ll walk you to your door.’ He unbuckled and reached behind his seat.
I couldn’t take this gentlemanly offer from him. It would risk me thinking he actually had a heart. ‘I’m already wet, it’s fine.’
‘You’re damp, but there’s no need to be soaking.’
‘You men,’ I bellowed. ‘You’re all just putting on a good face to get you into heaven, aren’t you?’
His chin dropped, his mouth forming an O while trying to conjure words. ‘I— I’m not trying to sleep with you.’
‘You don’t have to sound so horrified. I meant being in the good graces of the world. Not… that.’ I shuddered.
‘Men aren’t dogs that drool over anything that breathes.’ He pushed open his door, released the umbrella to shield him from the rain, then stomped around the car and pulled mine open.
‘More like a Bonobo,’ I muttered about the horniest animal I knew.
He sighed. ‘Let’s go.’
My nose wrinkled at the green splatters covering his black umbrella. ‘There’s mould growing on your umbrella.’
Lowering it to inspect, he raised it above his head a few moments later. ‘That’s not mould,’ he said through gritted teeth.
I tilted my head and squinted at the green blobs, then at Corey’s clenched jaw.
Either he’s a compulsive neat freak, or I’ve hit a soft spot insulting his umbrella.
I glanced back up and focused on the curves of each shape, all of them identical.
Two rounded squiggles connected by a line?
The rain blurred them beyond recognition.
‘Hurry up,’ he said.
‘I’m not an assistant you can order around, you know.’ I climbed out and grabbed the metal handle of the umbrella, the only defiant act I could think of. ‘Why don’t I take the umbrella and give it back to you next week?’
His eyes widened and his fingers tightened around the handle in a death grip for fear that I might rip it from his hand. ‘No, I might need it before then.’
I prepared to argue that it was almost summer, but this freak thunderstorm ruined my point. ‘I’ll drop it off to you tomorrow, then.’
He shook his head and tugged the umbrella closer to himself. ‘You don’t know where I live.’
‘Use your words like a big boy and tell me.’
‘I don’t want to te—’
White noise filled my ears from the piercing crack that split the air and searing heat singed my palm wrapped around the umbrella. My gaze darted to Corey with frantic panic, alarm bells ringing in my head as I realised I couldn’t release my grip.
‘Let go,’ he muttered.
We stood under the umbrella, both our hands welded to the metal stem as it got hotter by the second.
‘I’m trying,’ I cried.
‘Not you, I was talking to myself.’
My eyes widened as I stared at our hands wrapped around the metal stem, imagining us stumbling into the emergency department because he’d accidentally spilled super glue over it.
I didn’t want to be stuck with Corey! I pulled harder, earning my hand no extra distance, and terror flooded my mind with neither of us able to let go.
Just as I considered sawing his hand off, we were released and stumbled onto our asses while the umbrella fell to the ground between us.
I inspected my scorching palm where a single red line curved from my middle finger to my thumb.
In front of me, Corey stared at the identical mark on his own palm.
‘What was that?’ he asked.
I shook my head, a million explanations flying around my mind in a panic.
‘Are you okay?’ He reached for the umbrella, hesitated, then left it on the ground.
Neither of us were game enough to risk another electrocution by touching it.
I stood and straightened my dress, then brushed my drenched hair from my forehead. ‘I’m fine. Thanks for the ride. I’ll see you next week.’
I climbed the five flights of stairs to my apartment, staring at the mark on my palm. How long would it take for this physical reminder of that strange experience to disappear? The odds of being struck by lightning are a one in twelve-thousand chance, so did that make me lucky, or unlucky?
Inside, my black cat, Lucky, curled into my lap and I decided that was my answer – lucky. I could only hope my luck continued as I tried to figure out how to reclaim my promotion. Then again in two weeks when I kicked Corey’s ass at our finals. Crap, it might have given him luck as well.
I tried to focus on a plan to take Freddie’s role, but I couldn’t quite shake the jitters from my body. It was like my soul was jiggling inside, fidgeting and twitching. Desperate to try something new.
Like the role of a Senior Financial Analyst.
I was trying, soul.
I was trying.