17. Chloe
17
Chloe
I probably look like a hot mess right now.
The party ended a while ago, and I’m standing here in front of the empty venue, utterly drained. My high heels dangle from my fingertips, and my once neatly styled curls are beginning to rebel, tangling into a frizzy mess that frames my face.
I watch as Daniel drives off with Michelle, whose hand flutters out the window in an overly enthusiastic wave that I barely have the energy to return. He had offered to drive me home, but I couldn’t bear the thought of being confined in a car with him, not after what I had overheard. So, I insisted that Amber would pick me up, even though it meant calling her at the last minute to get me at 10:00 P.M. and enduring her tantrum throughout the drive.
I can’t even decide whether I’m mad at Daniel, or just hurt.
How could he belittle me to Garamond? As if I’m beneath him. It’s ridiculous to feel this way—I shouldn’t care what he thinks. But the truth is, it stings. Especially after we shared that passionate kiss. If I’m not on his level, why did he kiss me back? Why was he acting territorial over me tonight?
But that’s how Daniel is. Hot and cold. He’s my boss, not my friend, and definitely not my boyfriend. Yet, here I am, feeling like a fool for letting his words get under my skin.
A while later, Amber’s car pulls up by the curb. She leans over and opens the door before I reach it.
It takes Amber one look to realize that something is off with me. “No, no, no. Heck no!” Amber yells as I enter the car. She has so many shopping bags in the backseat that I wonder how the vehicle is able to move. “Tell me he didn’t do it again? He ruined your night, didn’t he?”
I nod, “Yeah, he did.” I tell her with a sigh. “I’m just...over it…and tired.”
Amber’s eyes widen, but she quickly catches herself before she grins like a Cheshire cat. “What did he do? Tell me everything.”
Amber drives aggressively as I recount the events of the night, not sparing any details. The more I talk, the tighter Amber’s grip becomes on the steering wheel, her knuckles turning white. She’s completely silent.
“Amber, say something, please.”
“Chloe, you’re not going to like what I have to say.”
I press her, needing to hear it, whatever it is. “Just tell me.”
She sighs, then glances at me briefly with a serious look on her face. “Do you like him? Like, like like him?”
I open my mouth to deny and ask Amber if she’s crazy, but her piercing stare stops me. My hands fly up to cover my face as the truth I’ve been denying spills out in sobs. “I’m so stupid. Why him? Of all the people to fall for...”
“Hey, it’s okay. Feelings don’t always make sense, and they sure as heck don’t ask for permission.”
Amber doesn’t say anything more. I suspect she’s giving me the space just to feel—typical caring Amber. But right now, I need to exhaust her bank of words of comfort and advice.
“I don’t think Daniel sees you the way you see him.”
Ouch .
“I’m sorry to have put it so blankly, but it’s simply the truth.”
“But why did he kiss me back then?” I blurt, realizing that I haven’t even told her that part yet.
“What!?” Amber pulls over, slamming on her brakes. Her eyes bulge. “When, how, why am I just now finding out about this!?”
I can tell she’s hurt about me keeping this from her.
I begin, “That night I came home late because the power went out in our building. We had to wait for maintenance to fix it before we could take the elevators down. We started talking about his wife and I said he could always lean on me, talk to me about it…or about anything really. And, of course, he was being Daniel, just pushing me away, but drawing me in at the same time. He's always so hard to read, and I got sick of it. So, I confronted him, explaining that I was done with him. But he wouldn't let me walk away. He grabbed my hand, and when I looked into his eyes, they told me a different story than his behavior. So, I just lunged for him. And he took it. And it was so good. Like, I can’t stop thinking about it good.”
“Chloe Summers! You’ve got some guts! I’ll give you that,” her voice softens. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me about this when you got home that night. But, wow, girl. Look at you…and with him ?”
“I know, and I’m sorry. I was just so confused. You, of all people, know how it can be.” I sigh.
“Yeah, and that’s why I forgive you.”
“And to top it off, we haven’t even talked about the kiss since it happened, as if it was a mistake. Was it?”
“Probably. But, also…now tonight makes more sense. He could’ve just kissed you in the heat of the moment. He might not be into you like that, you know? He’s still just a guy. Why would he pass up the chance to kiss a smoking hot female?”
“I guess…but the look,” I sob, my voice cracking. “I need to look for another job. This is not worth the headache or the heartache.”
“There’s a whole world out there beyond Daniel and his company. You’re talented, Chloe. You’ll find something better…you’ll find someone better.”
I wipe my face. “I think I’m done with love for a while,” I say, more to myself than to her. “I need to focus on me. My career. My life.”
Amber leans over to give me a hug.
“What if I set you up on a date? Just to—”
“Don’t you dare,” I cut her off, laughing. “You always know what to say…when to say it.”
She winks. “Well, it just so happens that I got you something for your next interview. It has Chloe written all over it.”
Glancing at the bags behind me, curiosity piques my interest. “Oh, yeah? What did you get me?”
“You’ll see when we get home. Trust me, you’re gonna knock their socks off.”
The first thing I do once we get home is turn the shower on, so I can wash Daniel’s words off of me. The nerve of him.
“Chloe,” Amber calls as I step into the shower. I can almost hear her grin and tell it’s a prelude to a well-intentioned meddling. “You know I’m your best friend, right?”
“Sometimes,” I yell back, peeling off my dress, stepping under the warm cascade of water.
Without warning, the bathroom door swings open, and I let out a squeal.
“Goodness! A little warning next time?” I gasp, watching Amber through the glass shower door as she smirks and hops onto the sink.
“So, I was gonna tell you in the car, but Daniel kinda ruined that timing,” she begins. “I landed the job with Octavia Vanderbilt!”
“OMG! Congrats, girl! I know you wanted that job so bad!” I shriek.
“I caught up with my dad over coffee earlier today and told him all about it. Of course, I had to fill him on your less than stellar boss, too. He was so proud of me that he offered his credit card for a shopping spree as a congratulatory gift.”
“Well, that explains all the bags! So…what did you buy?” I ask.
Amber’s always had a knack for fashion. That’s part of the reason we became friends at such a young age. We just click with everything.
She’s been eyeing job postings on Octavia Vanderbilt’s website for a long time, waiting to pounce on the perfect job opportunity. Octavia is one of the biggest names in the fashion industry, and she nailed the interview for the Junior Assistant Designer role today. She has worked so hard to get to where she is, and it finally paid off.
“Outfits, Chloe. Lots of them!” Amber declares with a triumphant grin.
“Amber!” I can’t believe she went through with it. “I’ll pay you back.”
Amber dismisses my offer with a wave. “You’ve covered rent so many times for me. It’s my turn to pay you back.”
For a while, I was making more money than she was, but things always balance out one way or the other. We’ll both be doing better financially now, which means we can finally live a little more comfortably and move out of our small one bedroom apartment. I’ve always been careful with money but do like to spoil myself now and then.
“I’m giving you a makeover,” Amber announces, hopping off the sink. “Let’s make your last days at Andrews, you know, a statement.”
“Does your shopping spree include shoes?” I tease as I lather shampoo into my hair.
“Duh! I’m gonna go down and grab the rest of the bags,” Amber chuckles, her voice trailing off as she walks out of the bathroom.
Finishing my shower, I wrap a towel around myself and head over to my computer. I click on the inbox icon, not expecting much, but I find a single email from Regina Huntington. My heart leaps as I read the subject line: ‘Invitation for Interview.’
I open the email, and sure enough, they want to meet me this week. I applied with them the same time I applied to Andrews Enterprise. Maybe their hire didn’t work out, or maybe they still haven’t found the right fit. Whatever—I got my foot in the door!
The universe sure has a funny way of working things out at the right time, doesn’t it?
I scream, “Amber, you still here?”
“Yeah, Chloe, you good?” Amber responds from the doorway.
“I got an interview!” I exclaim, unable to keep the excitement from my voice. “It’s with Carter & Associates. They want to meet me in tomorrow afternoon!”
Amber’s squeal can shatter glass. “OMG, Chloe! That’s amazing! Looks like my shopping came in handy.”
“I know, right? I finally feel…like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.”
“You absolutely have to call in sick tomorrow. We need to prepare you for this interview in the morning, and you need to look the part. Those suits I got are going to make you the most stylish candidate they’ve ever seen!”
“Okay, I’m gonna do it.”
“Epic! You’re gonna nail this interview, Chloe. I can feel it.”