26. Jack
Chapter twenty-six
Jack
I ’m sure it’s been a day and a half and it’s only lunchtime. Work is manic and I’ve got a dreaded ‘Quick Chat’ meeting entry with my boss that’s appeared in my calendar coming up very soon. Why couldn’t he determine in the invite if it’s a good chat or a bad one, for fuck’s sake?
I eat a sandwich at my desk while trying to clear my heaving inbox. Why has everyone decided this week is the one when they need to ask me forty questions? M y phone has been repeatedly buzzing and I decide to take a breather from the crazy emails to take a peek at the group chat with Tom and Cass.
As usual, they have me beaming with their innuendo and flirting. Just as I’m about to reply with my best witty response to their jokes, I see a notification come through on the company’s messaging system from Duncan. I can’t see much apart from the first couple of words: ‘Good News’. I navigate out of the group chat to see what he’s saying. That’s all it says. And there’s a photo of him attached where he’s trying to hold up the Statue of Liberty in the palm of his hand. I don’t have time to reply because the notification bell dings to tell me I’m expected in my boss's office right now.
I take one last bite of my sandwich before chucking the empty packaging in the bin. Pull up my camera app in selfie mode to check I don’t have any food around my mouth or between my teeth, chug down some water and then get up from my desk. I stride over to his office and chap lightly on the door. He smiles up at me, which I take to be a good sign, before inviting me in.
Half an hour later, I’m back at my desk, in a state of shock. The New York office want me. And they want me as soon as possible. It had all gone quiet for a while and I assumed it wasn’t happening. But suddenly it’s all moving so much quicker than I thought possible. My boss has been negotiating with them to try and get as much time with me to finish up and hand over projects here before I head over. They’ve all just assumed I’m taking the job. I put my name and CV forward, after all.
He told me I’ve got a call with them in an hour to formally offer me the transfer and confirm the details. He’s asked that I hold them to the two weeks' notice they’ve agreed with him. And he wishes me well. He told me he hopes he’ll see me back here after the contract finishes, as I’m one of the best damn business strategists he’s got. But he understands I want to travel, spread my wings, and get some New York experience on my CV.
I’m sitting here feeling one hundred things at once. My mind whirls with thought after thought. Excitement at the opportunity. Pride for the awesome work I’ve put in which meant my boss gave me a shining recommendation when they asked. But then comes the confusion. And a twinge in my chest as I think about Tom and Cassidy. I’m going to miss them. We were just getting started. I told them everything about the past. It felt like we were becoming a real thing. And now this. Am I doing the right thing, as things are just starting to come together for the three of us? And how the hell am I going to tell them?