Chapter 16 Lexie
Hi Annabelle and Theo,
Lots of new developments—
Backspace.
Hey friends,
I just wanted to—
Backspace.
Hey Guys! Some news—
What’s my problem? I slam my laptop shut, press my thumbs against my forehead and push out a long, unsatisfying breath.
Jesus Christ, I need to snap out of this funk.
I should be thrilled that earlier this week the mother of all calls came in that Annabelle’s parents rented a beautiful, hundred-year-old Victorian mansion three hours outside the city with sprawling grounds that can easily accommodate the guest count.
But even with that win, my thoughts keep drifting back to my last conversation with Theo. It’s been over a week since I confronted him and watched for any signs of lying.
He fucking ruined my life, and he doesn’t remember me.
I refuse to dwell on this any longer and head to the breakroom to make what I’m certain is my fifth coffee of the morning.
At the table, I message a couple guys back who DM’d me on a dating app, and start my daily lunch break routine of scouring social media for anyone connected to Theo.
Last week, I contacted the St. Ben’s alumni office, convinced them I was the assistant of a large donor who was organizing a university fundraiser, and the school gave me the names of all the students in Theo’s graduating class.
It’s a shot in the dark, but every lunch break, I pull up each of their social media accounts and scroll through all public photos, praying that one contains the woman from the hotel.
Even though she looked much younger than Theo, I keep hoping there’s a connection to someone he knows.
“Hey, what’s up?” Justin says as he tears into a protein bar. “You look frazzled. Even by your standards.”
“Such a dick,” I say, and throw a straw in his general direction, but, just like everything else this week, it falls two feet short of its intended target. “Ugh. I can’t even get that right.”
Justin’s playful smile drops, and he points at the high-top table. I slug over to it like I’m dragging a cinderblock tied to my ankles and drop my forehead against the cool top. I don’t want to do this anymore. Two months in, and Theo’s breaking me. Again.
A moment later, a chair squeaks next to me, and a cup of coffee slides into view. “What can I help with?”
I’m not sure Justin can help untangle the chaos rattling around in my head about Theo. Especially not when I can’t forget how it felt to have his body pressed against mine.
I pull my head off the table and take a sip of the coffee. “Everything just feels… overwhelming right now.”
This is one more thing weighing on me. I want this promotion—I need it—but there’s so much more to do than there was when I was an assistant. I feel like I’m paddling frantically without getting anywhere.
“I know. But it’s got to feel good that the venue piece is done, right?” he says, bringing the mug to his mouth. “I still don’t understand why they aren’t having it at one of the parents’ estates. We’re talking about two families with the combined wealth of some entire countries.”
“I know, right?” Trust me, the very last thing I wanted to do was see Dr. Astor in his home after he was part of the committee who voted for my expulsion, but my guess is that he probably doesn’t remember me.
Just like his son. Regardless, the hours spent chasing venues could’ve been spent on a million other things on the wedding to-do list had they just agreed to their families’ estate.
Justin pops a piece of bar in his mouth. “The bride seems pretty cool, but my God, that dude is intense, right?”
I look over my shoulder like Theo might have just walked in. Intense is certainly a way to describe him.
“He’s hot as fuck, though,” he whispers.
“Oh, I hadn’t really noticed,” I say, aiming for nonchalance but knowing that I’ve missed completely.
He laughs. “You are so full of shit. Please, it’s insulting that we’ve worked together this long and you still try to pull that with me.
” Justin looks like he’s going to say more on the subject, then veers in another direction.
“You know what might be good for you?” he says.
“Going on a date. Getting laid. Getting drunk. Something. You need to let loose.”
He’s not wrong. But now that Theo’s back in my life, it’s like my body’s tethered to him again, refusing to budge. I’m not sure a hook-up will satisfy anything at this point.
“God, why can’t I just find someone like Dylan?” I say, holding the mug between my palms. “I swear your relationship is what greeting cards are made from.”
Justin grins. “You’re not wrong. I got lucky.” He claps off the crumbs from his hands, crumples the wrapper, and gives my hand a squeeze. “You know the right guy’s out there waiting for you. Just have to give him a chance.”
The last person I tried to give a real chance to is the man whose wedding I’m planning.
“Hey, Lexie,” Amanda’s voice from the hall cuts through my thought downward spiral. “Sydney wants to see you in her office for an update on the Barlowe wedding.”
I give Justin a hug of gratitude, finish my coffee, and make my way down the hall, pushing away untoward thoughts of Theo as I try to do my job.
Sydney’s been off-site a lot lately, and with my busy schedule, we haven’t had a chance to sync in-person for what feels like weeks. I knock on her open door, and she waves me in. “You wanted to see me?” I ask.
“Yes. I can’t find the latest update on your project plan and I don’t have time to chase you down for all the details.”
Great. All I need is Sydney stressed out, too.
“I’m in the middle of updating it now.” I’m lying.
I hadn’t planned on doing that until tomorrow when I had an hour of free time.
“I curated a list of caterers who’ll work outside of the city, gathered sample menus, and confirmed the county laws for a one-day alcohol permit.
We’ve also narrowed down the colors to three sets and locked on invitations. ”
“Good,” she says with a firm nod. “Did you call the table and chair rental place?”
I swallow. Dammit. Not yet, because there are literally not enough hours in the day. I know I’m ready to be lead, but there’s an endless number of details and so little time to get everything sorted. “Oh, um, I’ll get on that today.”
“Perfect.” Sydney nods. “You’re doing great, Lexie. It’s a huge, high-profile wedding and you’re really stepping up. I see your efforts.”
I soften. As supportive as Sydney is, she doesn’t easily hand out compliments. Her smile drops when she looks at a ping on her phone.
“Is everything okay?” I ask.
It takes her too long to respond.
“Sydney?”
A heavy exhale leaves her ruby red lips. “Let’s just say it’s very good that we’ve landed a two-million dollar client.” The words are so weighty I feel like they’re stuck in the air. “I trust you’re doing everything possible to ensure the couple is happy—we can’t afford for them to back out.”
The words spark a flicker of guilt through me.
Yes, I’m doing everything I can to make them happy.
For now. But I’m counting on Annabelle to back out.
Once I reviewed the legal contract and saw that the couple is required to pay all fees if they cancel the wedding within thirty days of their wedding date, I finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Sydney cannot revoke my promotion if we collect our fees.
Which means, Annabelle can leave Theo for a better life, I still get my promotion, and he will be destroyed.
For the first time today, a genuine smile builds.
I turn to leave the office, then pause. “Hey, from now on, could you maybe not give my home address to clients?”
Sydney thumbs up her dark frames and her eyebrows crease. “What are you talking about?”
Well, this is awkward. I don’t love calling out my manager’s mistakes to her face. “When you gave my address to Theo so he could pick me up for our meeting. I just… I mean… the intention was nice, but in the future, please don’t.”
The ticking on her wall clock, the phones ringing in the lobby, and street traffic twenty floors below are the only sounds as she studies my face. “Lexie,” she says, after a long moment. “I didn’t give anyone your address.”