CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Nora
Quick consistent beeps shot through the air with the same effect of pinpricks to the brain.
My symbolic early Monday morning jog was off to a great start, simply because I had my own body again.
I slipped my feet into my lightning-bolt joggers and crept out the door, Corey’s snores confirming he’d fallen back to sleep after protesting the noise with a floppy hand.
The morning breeze and sunlight worked together, both cooling and warming my skin at the same time.
I was energised, refreshed, ready to seize the day and make it my own.
By the time I returned to the apartment, Corey hadn’t budged.
It almost hurt my heart to wake him, but I didn’t spend two weeks repairing his reputation at work only for him to fall back into his shitty habits.
He’d wanted more from life than living in his father’s shadows, and now was his chance.
I crossed my fingers and hoped that today he’d reach whatever goal he stretched for.
‘Corey,’ I whispered.
I wasn’t sure if he groaned or farted, but he rolled away from me pulling the covers over his head.
Reading What a Man Wants was about to pay off, because I slid my hand under the cover, brushed my fingers down his side, and gripped the erotically large bulge between his legs.
What a Man Wants should be relabelled What Everyone Wants because this was going to be the greatest pre-work ritual for both of us.
‘Don’t forget to smile.’ I handed him a travel mug of coffee while he glared at me.
‘Did you want to lick your finger and wipe a smudge off my face, too?’ he grumbled. ‘I’m not a child leaving for school photos.’
I took a step back, smoothing my creased forehead. He was right, I was mothering him. Meddling and planning his life after two measly days.
‘I’m so sorry, you’re right.’ I tried for an apologetic smile.
He reached out and pulled me to his chest, kissing the top of my head. A moment later, I pulled back and stared up at him.
‘I mean it. I’m sorry. I won’t meddle, I won’t nag, I won’t do anything. It’s your life.’
He smacked my ass, earning a yelp. ‘Good. Now, go show Fuck-Face-Freddie what you’re made of.’
Red. That’s the colour I’d chosen today. Red lipstick, red dress, and a powerful stride that no doubt emitted a red aura.
‘Wow, Nora.’ Izzy admired my outfit.
‘Is Freddie in yet?’
‘Of course not.’ Izzy rolled her eyes. ‘Apparently his new role means he can waltz into the office whenever it pleases him these days.’
My fingers twisted like vines as my nerves started to get the better of me. If I didn’t do this soon, I wouldn’t do it at all. Mark’s voice echoed down the hall, and his assistant scampered from his door a moment later.
‘Right.’ My shoulders rolled back, chin lifted, legs back to parading.
My knuckles rapped the door three times before Mark boomed for me to come inside. Papers fluttered through the air like paper planes, his hair standing in awkward directions as though he’d raked his hands through it one too many times.
‘Er, is everything okay?’ I swivelled my head around his office and paused at the broken coffee mug on the side of his desk.
‘Fine, fine.’ He waved his hand through the air.
‘I, ah, wanted to, ah…’ my voice trailed off, losing confidence.
Then Mark did exactly what I needed him to do. He widened his eyes, tilted his head, and threw his hands out in front to gesture to me to hurry up. ‘Spit it out,’ he added for good measure.
‘I quit.’ The words barrelled from my mouth like a dart hitting its target.
Mark’s mocking eyes widened further with surprise.
I wished they would fall out of his ridiculously large head and roll across the floor so I could kick them out the window.
Tension melted from my body like butter dripping from toast. Drop by drop, my chest loosened.
I should have done this years ago when he asked me to bring his car round front for him last year. Fucker.
‘You can’t quit,’ he bellowed.
If I was melted butter, he was ice. Frozen, hard, frigid.
‘Here’s my resignation letter.’ I held out the paper I’d handwritten last night by the bedside lamp in a last-minute burst of courage.
‘You’ll find my reasons listed, and I’ve taken the liberty of going over my contract and mentioning how I’m happy to continue working my last two weeks, starting from today. ’
Each day of those weeks beckoned me with a bright light at the end of this dark tunnel I was finally escaping.
I’d spent all morning researching Italian recipes to surprise Corey with the good news over dinner.
No longer would I sit back and watch my dreams slip further away, not after the taste of success I’d had in Corey’s body.
Management was in my blood, ready to show the world my capabilities.
‘You… When… How…’ Mark blubbered.
‘I’ll be at my desk should you need anything further from me.’ I blinked twice and stretched a grin over my face.
I hadn’t quite made it to my section, let alone my cubicle, before Mark stormed out of his office, my name echoing from wall to wall. White ends of paper stuck out from his closed fist where he’d scrunched my resignation in his hand.
‘You can’t do this, Nora. Dreyton counts on you.’ He stopped behind me, spit flying from his mouth with each word.
Those words were glitter in my bloodstream. I’d been waiting years to hear them. ‘Dreyton couldn’t possibly need me.’ I arranged my face in surprise. ‘You’ve got Freddie, after all.’
Mark’s nostrils flared enough to look like black holes that could suction anything in its path into oblivion.
His cheeks went red, then his forehead, until his entire face turned to a large swollen balloon.
‘Is that what this is about? You want a promotion? Fine, take Freddie’s damn job.
You can move your things in first thing tomorrow morning. ’
I shook my head. Mark was a child throwing a tantrum, and I was the respectable adult telling him no, because that’s not how we behave.
Not anymore. Not when I’d been propositioned by a new company.
Corey was right – loyalty in companies like these would only float you so far, and I’d reached the end of this river.
‘Sorry, Mark. It’s unfortunate the company didn’t recognise my potential sooner, but I’m afraid I’m ready to move on and enter a company that respects me enough to acknowledge the work I put in,’ I said and shrugged.
As I turned to continue to my desk, Mark’s feet thundered down the hall in the opposite direction.
‘You didn’t.’ Izzy gasped.
‘She did,’ Chris said, delighted. ‘Good for you, Nora.’
The thud of my heart made it hard to hear much more. I’d done it. I’d slayed the beast. I’d taken a step closer to fighting for what I wanted.
‘I also have some news.’ Izzy’s lips twitched with excitement. ‘Thanks to Nora’s positivity, I’ve been making amends with my ex. Your words always stick with me and make me think about my life. They impact me in ways you don’t even know about.’
‘Oh, Izzy, that’s great.’ I grinned. ‘But then, don’t blame me if things go wrong again.’ I held my palm out and laughed.
‘Of course not. It’s like reading star signs and deciphering it with your own life. You see, when I fell pregnant almost two years ago, it happened so fast that I didn’t know what I wanted anymore. Now, we’re both ready to put the work in and see if we can work things out.’
‘If you’re happy, then I’m happy,’ I told her.
The email in my inbox that pushed me to fight for my dreams continued to thrum in my mind.
I excused myself and took the lift down to the shared lobby.
Tucking myself into a corner, I pulled out my phone and typed in the number I’d been chewing over for days, trying to figure out if working with or for Corey was the right choice.
He’d made it work with Paddy, so I’d decided it was finally time to take the next step forward.
Before I could press the call button, karma manifested that same number to ring me.
‘Mr Flemmington? Hello.’ My heart pounded with anticipation.
‘Ms Claremont, how are you?’ Hearing Corey’s dad’s voice through the phone was equally as intimidating as in real life.
‘Great, thank you. I was about to call you, actually. Had your number dialled in and everything. The universe must have been looking out for me,’ I blabbered.
Mr Flemmington cleared his throat, the forced kind of cough and grumble for the sake of making a noise.
‘That’s good to hear. Look, I’m sorry I’m not calling with better news, but I wanted to talk about the email I sent you.
Unfortunately, the position I’d wanted to discuss with you has now been filled. ’
Back in my own body with my own bad luck. My heart pounded in my ears, muffling his words like two weeks ago when Freddie had gotten my promotion. God, I had to stop calling it my promotion. It isn’t mine and it never was.
‘But, I didn’t even have the chance to interview.’
‘Yes, well, we never discussed a specific job for you to interview for. All the same, I’m happy to let you know if another opportunity appears in the future.’
A heavy pit formed in my stomach. In two weeks, I’d be jobless, with no money.
I couldn’t believe I’d assumed this job would be mine, just like I’d assumed that promotion would be mine.
History repeated itself, and I hadn’t learned from my mistakes.
Even worse? I was relying on this damn man for my career instead of making better choices myself.
Instead of speaking, my breaths dominated the phone call. Mr Flemmington was as bad as Mark, and I’d only be jumping from one sinking ship to another, but that was the case for almost every company. My stomach churned, my head lightened. I needed to end this call before I became a hysterical mess.
‘Thank you for the call.’ My hand remained frozen with the phone to my ear.
On the other end, the phone rattled and clunked, but he missed the end call button, because his voice continued. ‘Thanks, Corey. Dodged a bullet with that one.’
‘She’s not a good fit for the company, trust me.’
My face tingled as the blood drained from it.
Corey.
Was I having a heart attack? My chest clenched, and my heart pounded hard enough I thought my stomach would empty its contents with each beat.
He’d made it seem like he didn’t want me to have to work for his father, but it turned out he didn’t think I was good enough to work for them.
For him. I never wanted to see that two-faced asshole again, which meant it was time to pack everything of mine sitting in his expensive apartment, including Lucky, by rushing there now to clear my things before he got home from his dickhead job, with his dickhead boss, who was a dickhead let down.
I shouldered my way through small gaps between bodies as I raced down the pavement, puffing and panting by the time I stood outside the door of his apartment block.
In the fresh air, I stretched my arms behind my head and walked back and forth for a few minutes willing the stitch in my side to disappear.
I stepped inside the lobby as I’d done daily for the last two weeks.
This time, though, my organs twisted with agony instead of excitement.
I wasn’t coming here with the thrill of change from my monotonous life.
I came here to end the biggest adventure of my life; with the only person I could share it with.
I took the lift up and headed towards the silver handle of Corey’s apartment door, when Gerald’s head popped out of his own.
‘Miss Claremont.’ He nodded his silver head.
‘Afternoon, Gerald.’ I clasped my hands to hide my shaking fingers.
I couldn’t muster any more words, so I nodded and turned away before tears rolled down my cheek, closing Corey’s door behind me.
Every nook and cranny of his apartment prompted memories I could no longer trust. The patch on the ceiling in the kitchen from when we’d dropped the tomato sauce and squirted it everywhere.
The leather couch where we’d watched Mean Girls and Corey had laughed hard enough that he’d got a stitch.
Had he really thought it was funny, or did he laugh at how oblivious I was to how much he hated me?
The bed where we’d slept like puzzle pieces, the grooves of our bodies clicking together into the perfect sleep.
Was everything he did only part of his grand plan to convince the universe to swap us back to our own bodies?
In a fortnight I’d gone from thinking I was about to be promoted to a senior role, to turning into a man, to living with an arrogant rich boy, to getting my body back and becoming jobless.
On the way, I’d somehow learned to love myself with confidence, and possibly even him.
My chest stretched and tightened too fast, losing everything I thought I’d gained.
I paced the apartment and checked under the beds, looking for any final items. I didn’t want to leave a reason for him to need to see me, and now that I had no job, I probably couldn’t afford to replace them.
As I closed Lucky inside his cage and wheeled my suitcase to the front door, the handle twisted itself beneath my hand.
Corey’s grey eyes came through the door, but the smile on his face dropped as his gaze darted from me to my suitcase.
‘Where are you going?’ He frowned.
‘Home.’ I tried to keep a blank face, refusing to let him see how much he’d hurt me.
‘But…’ his voice trailed off. ‘I thought you were going to stay here for a bit. With me.’
‘Well, I think things might have changed and it would be best if we put all of this behind us and moved on.’
‘Move on? Nora, we can’t put this behind us. You? Me? This?’ He wiggled his finger between us. ‘This changed everything. You changed everything.’
‘Yes, well, you seem to have changed some things, too.’ My voice came out harsh and cold, betraying the neutral vibe I’d promised myself I’d deliver.
‘What do you mean?’ Corey asked.
‘You convinced your father to withdraw my job opportunity,’ I yelled.
Calm and neutral had left the building. My blood was boiling. Heat radiated off me, my face likely red. If I’d thought I hated Corey before, those feelings were nothing compared to the rage coursing through my body now.
Corey’s gaze dropped with guilt.
‘See!’ I shrieked.
I wasn’t proud of my behaviour, but my body was hovering above watching everything play out down below.
‘Nora, it’s just—’
‘Don’t say another word.’ Each word shook worse than the last. ‘And don’t you dare speak to me at class tonight. I mean it, Corey.’ Tears rolled down my cheek. ‘I’ll leave the class if you so much as look at me, and then you’ll have ruined my exam on top of my job.’
I spun from his door and shoved my way down the stairs with my suitcase bouncing behind and jabbing my shins, too embarrassed to wait for the elevator. The moment he’d gotten his body back, he’d gotten his bullshit, careless attitude back, too. I’d been right all along.
I would never rely on a man.
Not for my job, not for my happiness.
Not for a single damn thing.