CHAPTER FIVE #2
‘You have to. It’s a delicate time for me and I can’t risk not showing up.’ My stomach churned at the idea, but there was no other option. I wouldn’t let everything slip through my fingers after three months of dedication.
‘I’m sorry, did you say delicate time at work? Because this trumps delicate work crap.’ Corey rested his hands on his hips.
I didn’t realise how much I looked like a seven-year-old who’d been told she couldn’t wear makeup until Corey stood before me, lips pouted, eyes narrowed.
‘Is this about that guy who got the promotion you wanted?’ He rolled his – my – eyes as though my job didn’t matter.
‘The promotion I deserved, and yes. If I call in sick, it’s a reflection of how I’m handling it, and it will look like I’m not handling it if I don’t go in. I can’t risk it.’
What I meant was, I can’t risk them finding out that I am, in fact, not handling it at all. Freddie wasn’t going to last in that promotion, and they needed to know I could swoop in and save the day. It was only a matter of time. That promotion would still be mine.
‘Nora,’ Corey’s voice strained, his fingers pressed to his temples, ‘this really isn’t a good time to focus on your work ethic.’
‘Corey, I need you to go to work for me.’ I held his gaze despite the embarrassing tear that rolled down my left cheek.
‘Fuck.’ The word flew from his mouth with his rushed breath.
‘Thank you.’ I clasped my hands as though giving thanks for the food he’d provided and released a sigh of relief. It was all about maintaining eye contact, a domination technique I’d read about last year. ‘Right then, follow me.’
I led him to my bedroom where he dropped to the bed, hands covering his face.
‘Nora, I’m freaking out.’ His chest rose and fell.
‘Good things come to those who wait. Now, first we get through today, then this afternoon we’ll figure it out. I’m sure it won’t take long.’ I marvelled at how confident I sounded considering my heart pounded like a jackhammer.
Corey jolted upright. ‘I have a meeting today.’
‘I’ll take care of it.’ I fluttered my hand.
‘Nora, it’s a really important meeting with every department. They’re going to recognise if I don’t know what the hell I’m talking about, and my job isn’t something to fuck around with.’
‘I work in finance, too. I’m sure I can read over your notes and pull it off.’ I gave him the demoralising look I’d been practicing in the mirror to deliver to Freddie when he inevitably screwed up – hopefully sooner rather than later, so I could finally tell my mother the good news.
Instead of being offended, he appeared intrigued, which made me offended.
My hands sat on my hips like a two-handled version of ‘I’m a little teapot’, lips pressed tight to rein in the verbal thrashing he deserved.
Corey dragged his gaze to the wall, but I recognised the expression in his eyes.
He didn’t think I could do it, just like Mark thought I couldn’t be a senior financial analyst.
‘I can do it,’ I repeated, then turned to my wardrobe. ‘Also, have you always been this blind?’ No amount of rubbing my eyes would clear the blur. My dresses were a mix of colours, all the patterns and sleeves a jumbled mess.
‘Since I was fifteen. I wear contacts,’ Corey mumbled.
I stepped closer to move the hangers back and forth across the rail under the pinch of my fingers until I found the perfect dress.
‘This is the one.’ I held out a floral combination of yellow, orange, and green.
Bright, cheerful, and definitely showed the office I wasn’t in mourning. No, I would appear like a blossoming field of flowers, even though inside I’d been cut and stuffed into a vase, slowly wilting and dying.
‘Are you serious?’ He held the dress in front of him like a snotty tissue.
‘I’m always serious when it comes to work. I’ll teach you how to walk, what to say, and where to sit. But it must be done with a smile on your face.’
‘Why?’
‘Because everyone has to think I’m okay with working for Freddie.’
‘But you’re not okay with working for Freddie.’
‘He took my job,’ I bellowed.
‘It wasn’t your job,’ Corey clarified.
This man didn’t think I deserved anything, and right now, I wanted nothing more than to throttle him because he didn’t deserve my body, yet there he stood with my silky hair.
‘I’m older, I’ve been there longer, and I have more qualifications.’ I raised a finger with each point I made.
‘And you know this because…? Did you see his résumé ? Were you there for his birth? Do you watch him through his window at night?’
My eyes were daggers, stabbing him with each ridiculous question. I hadn’t made it to twenty-eight without learning a few detective skills due to shady ex-boyfriends. ‘Call it a hunch.’
Corey oozed judgement, but a hunch was worth a lot in my opinion. None of the men were asked to take notes during meetings. Or fetch coffees. Or expected to organise farewell gifts for team members.
Corey walked to my dress rack. ‘Don’t you have one of those lady pant suits or something? A “power suit” as they say.’
‘That is the shittiest thing you could have said to me. Especially right now.’
‘All I’m saying is, I don’t want to wear a dress. It’s weird.’
‘You woke up with a vagina, what could be weirder than that? Now, put on the dress because we still need to do hair and makeup.’
‘I’m not wearing a dress.’
‘Yes, you are.’
Corey held my stare until I won our game of eyeball chicken. He snatched it with my manicured fingers and stormed to the bathroom while it fluttered behind him like a colourful victory flag.
Forty minutes later, amongst the black leather couch and deep Jarrah furniture of Corey’s apartment, I straightened my expensive, black jacket in the mirror.
‘Corey Flemmington. Grade A jackass and arrogant by nature.’ I extended my hand to my reflection.
‘You remember what I told you?’ He rolled my brown eyes.
‘Yeah, yeah. The meeting will be fine.’
Corey let out a groan with my soft voice, insinuating his confidence in me was so low, it provided the ceiling in Hell.
‘Give me your phone so I can put my number in it, and meet me back here straight after work,’ he insisted.
I handed over my phone. ‘Unless I’m too busy swinging my new manhood around.’
Was that how it would feel? Like I’d trapped a pendulum in my pants to rock back and forth with each step? When I’d pulled my underwear up, I’d had no idea where to place his penis. In the end, I’d settled on pointing it up.
‘Nora, I mean it, don’t—’
‘Of course I’ll be here straight after work. I’ve woken up a six-foot muscle-man.’ I snatched my phone once he’d saved his number and sent him a message so he’d have mine, too.
Thankfully, I knew exactly the book to figure this out. Back to Your Roots on the third shelf of my bookcase would suggest the perfect way to find ourselves again.
Corey gave one quick nod and reached forward with the arm I already missed being attached to me. He dropped it before I could feel the soft skin of my old fingers.
I missed me.