Chapter 7
There were many ways to worsen an already terrible day. But, none were as daunting as seeing my landlady by my doorstep. Her piercing gaze scrutinized me. This was the evening after a chance encounter with my ex-boyfriend. The meeting had left me feeling drained and vulnerable.
I stood frozen. My landlady”s presence seemed to make my emotional baggage feel heavier. It felt like a dark cloud hanging over my head, threatening to pour out unwelcome emotions.
Her sharp features were pinched into a scowl. They seemed to embody the misery that had been my day. They were a constant reminder that some things were better left unspoken. “Mrs. Kiel...?” I said as I gripped my purse strap. “Good evening.”
The woman glared back at me with cold, steely eyes. ”I see you are back,” I said, my voice stern, indicating that the old woman was definitely here for trouble. ”I hope you haven”t forgotten our conversation this morning.”
I nodded with a forced smile on my lips, “Of course, I remember, ma’am. And I promise you that--”
“I came here to inform you I will not be giving you a week of grace anymore. A personal matter recently happened, and I”m afraid all I can offer you is three days now.” The woman cut me short. She looked straight into my eyes. The smile on the younger lady vanished without a trace.
“Ma-ma’am?” I stuttered, shocked at the news being delivered to me so suddenly. My hands gripped the straps of my purse harder, trying hard to conceal my growing panic and fear. “Three days?” my eyes flickered with confusion as the corners of my lips tilted downwards into a small frown.
”Yes, Miss Evans. Please pay up before then, or you will no longer have access to this apartment,” Mrs. Kiel stated calmly. She held my chin high. It was as though I was in control of everything and everyone that happens in my presence. ”With that issue cleared, have a good night.”
With that last sentence, I left my standing alone in the middle of the gloomy space. I felt a heaviness in the pit of my stomach.
After the older woman walked away, I couldn’t help but cry. I was frustrated and tears threatened to spill. I knew well that I had no way to pay everything I owed the woman in three days.
My weak legs aimed for the door, and I struggled to move into my home. The moment the door closed behind me, I fell back against it, covering my face with my palms as sobs wracked my body. “My life is so shitty...” I muttered between gasps of air.
My thoughts drifted back to the events of the day. I was starting to doubt my stubborn attitude of not needing Leo”s help would last for long.
I didn”t even want to start with the number of bills that were piling up in my unfortunate financial life. There was no other way to solve the problems. I had to use the first available means. That meant swallowing my pride and accepting the fact I really needed a job at SoundEase.
My phone vibrating brought me out of my thoughts, the light screen shining in the dimly lit living room. I wiped the tears off my cheeks hastily, my vision still blurry, and my mind still a complete mess.
I finally got a grip on the screaming phone, and it took me a few seconds to calm down. Then I answered Lisa”s call - my best friend was on the line.
“Please tell me you nailed the interview!” Lisa”s voice rang cheerfully from the other side. My friend”s energy was a strong constant compared to my own depressed state.
”Lisa...” I groaned, pressing the phone a little harder to my ear. There was no need to pretend everything was fine. ”Did you have everything all planned out?” I asked in a low voice, trying hard to keep my emotions from seeping through.
Some seconds of silence came from the other side. I wasn”t sure if my friend was too confused or surprised to have been caught to say a word.
“What do you mean?” Lisa eventually replied, the tone of my voice making it obvious I had no idea what I was talking about.
”Do you get what I”m saying?” I frowned, raising my eyebrows at how confused my friend looked. ”You know, working for SoundEase...?” I asked, hoping my friend would finally get it.
I heard my best friend let out a frustrated groan. ”Well, no...” Lisa admitted once more.
”Ugh, please stop speaking to me in riddles. I”m pretty sure something important did come up. So what’s up?”
It became clear that fate had arranged my meeting with Leo. Not my innocent friend, who simply wanted the best for me.
I sighed softly. I was determined to speak plainly and directly, no matter how hard it might be. ”You wouldn”t believe who I met today...” I began, ”Leo...” I uttered his name slowly, not pausing as I stared down at my feet.
There was another long pause. Then, Lisa exploded with a screech. It was loud enough to make me flinch. ”Wait, wait, wait!! Did you just say your ex-boyfriend??? What was he doing here?? That Leo Woodrow?” My best friend bombarded me with questions as fast as the wind while pacing around.
I nodded to herself. ”Yeah, Leo.” I bit the inside of my cheek. The bitter taste of defeat and regret invaded my mouth. I was remembering his warm touch and soft eyes. It seemed impossible, but he somehow managed to control me within the short amount of time they met again.
”So how did this happen?” Lisa spoke after a few moments of silence. They were filled only with the sound of shuffling furniture.
”He was part of the panelist... I think he works there.” I answered quietly, trying my hardest to stay calm. I was not going to allow my sadness to make me so emotional.
“Wow...I had no idea,” Lisa said with slight admiration in my voice. “How did you two reconnect?” My best friend continued, asking curiously. “Don”t tell me he asked you difficult questions on purpose.”
A quick chuckle escaped my throat at the thought, because thinking about it reminded me that I failed to accomplish the real purpose of visiting SoundEase. ”He didn”t get a chance,” I said dejectedly. ”I couldn”t get myself interviewed, Lisa...” My voice broke slightly on the last words, causing a knot to form in my stomach, and I knew how pathetic I sounded.
Lisa hummed softly in reply. ”Oh, Cass... are you okay, though?” The concern was evident in her voice, and it made me feel a bit better. At least I had a friend who cared about my well-being. ”It seems like he”s getting on your nerves again... you couldn’t imagine yourself seeing me every time, right?” I added playfully.
It always amused me how she always figured out things before even knowing all the information. “Yeah, I guess.” I smiled sadly at my phone. “It sucks that things worked out this way but...” I paused momentarily as I tried to organize my thoughts. “I think I might have to take the job.”
”Wait, you didn”t even attend the job interview?” asked the other woman with a puzzled expression, finding it challenging to understand the situation. She was clearly having trouble grasping the reasoning behind your decision.
“I didn’t,” I said as I shook my head. ”But I think… Leo can get me one through connections. I know it sounds pathetic, but I’m in a financial crisis right now, Lisa…”
”Hey, don’t worry about it,” her tone changed into a more serious one as a thought must have crossed her mind. ”No one knows Leo better than you do. He could be the person you regret meeting the most in life, but we both know you are not someone he could possibly hurt. So, grab that chance, baby, and make sure you take the damn offer.”
Another smile appeared. Relief washed over me when I heard my friend”s wise and positive words about the situation. “Thanks Lisa…for everything.”
After hanging up the phone, I stood by the window as I watched the dark street outside. My mind drifted back to the previous afternoon when I met Leo. My eyes got watery as memories rushed in.
I only approached you because of the bet I made with my friends. You were the stupid and gullible one to fall for me.
Those bitter and harsh words he said three years ago echoed loudly through my ears. They were replayed in my mind over and over again like a broken record.
And the worst part of it all, I was in a wretched state of needing his help even after the way he had treated me. It seemed life wouldn”t stop giving examples of how I could never be as great as him.
I swallowed my pride. My fingers scrolled to the deepest part of my contacts. I hoped I hadn”t deleted his number. When I found something similar to what I was looking for, a message popped up on my screen:
Congratulations, Miss. Cassie Evans! You’ve earned an employment position at SoundEase! Please leave your name, address, and phone below. We will send the forms you need to get ready for work!
That was it; the one ticket to creating more memories with Leo Woodrow. And whatever the future had in store for us, I wasn”t sure I could handle being broken one more time.