Something Like Hate, page 10
Our drive home doesn’t take long, which puzzles me because my house is almost an hour away. When I look at my surroundings, I smile. Pine trees, a red barn, and a flower garden. My parents on an acre of land on the outskirts of the suburbs. It’s great because they live close enough to downtown Denver but far enough away they can have horses, chickens, and even a couple of alpacas.
Mom insists it’s to keep Dad busy since he retired a couple of years ago. It’s a nice story, but really she’s always wanted to have a farm-to-table setup. I miss our old house, but I like the place where they live. It fits them.
Wait, what happened to them taking me home?
“Mom, my apartment is twenty minutes from here,” I say when Dad opens the passenger door to help me out.
“I hope you don’t mind,” she says, getting out of the car.
Oh boy, mind what?
I jump out of the car and follow her. What did she do? Sublet my apartment and moved me in with her?
“Mom?”
She opens the door to their house, and Thomas jumps out yelling, “Surprise!”
I jolt and gasp but smile when everyone starts singing “Happy Birthday.” My big brother lifts me and twirls me around, saying, “Happy birthday, baby sister. Look at you, I think you finally grew an inch.”
I glare at him. Being the youngest wasn’t enough, I’m also the shortest of the three. Not that I’m really short, but Nikki is five foot seven and Thomas six three.
“Her sense of humor didn’t change at all,” he says, setting me down.
I stick out my tongue. “Oh I’m sorry, are you still trying to make those jokes work like those ugly pants?”
Everyone hugs me. Lucifer hands me a birthday card, made by him. It’s cute and he calls me his favorite aunt. Which honestly, I find endearing. He has three more aunts from his father’s side. Maybe I should sign a peace treaty with him. I’ll keep the favorite aunt title and he’ll stay away from my dog.
So maybe April thirtieth wasn’t such a great day, but today is one of the best birthday parties I’ve ever had. My sad mood is totally gone. The anger not so much since I am five thousand dollars in debt.
Miller Archer didn’t pay for the expensive presidential suite, nor the fancy shit he booked for us. My credit cards are maxed, I had to use some of my rent money, and I’m hoping my parents won’t mind helping me pay for it.
At least in Pretty Woman, Julia Roberts got to get pampered for free. Real life sucks.
Nikki approaches me and bumps my hip with hers. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing much,” I say, glancing at her little bump. “So there’s another one coming soon, huh?”
She rubs her belly. “In about six months,” she confirms. “Three seems to be a good number. At least that’s what our parents say.”
“Congrats,” I tell her, bumping her hip.
“I know you don’t like children, so don’t try too hard to look like you’re thrilled.”
“Maybe it’s an age thing. I turn thirty next year. Who knows, I might start liking them.” I wink at her. “But in all honesty, I’m happy for you guys.”
“So tell me about Cancun. It must have been amazing,” she says. “I miss being single sometimes. The thrill of meeting someone new. That first kiss is always the best. I love my husband, but ... sometimes I want to quit.”
“Being single is okay, I guess.”
It sucks too because some days you feel lonely even when your friends and family are around. This past weekend, I experienced something different. Feeling like I’m not alone. Like there’s someone out there who could love and understand me.
At least, that’s what I believed.
I want to slam my head against the wall to rearrange my brain because the nostalgia of having Miller next to me hits my chest hard. Like a wave crashing against the shore in the middle of a hurricane. It leaves me out of breath and crumbling.
“Did you meet someone?” she asks.
Every second I spent with Miller Archer since we boarded the plane plays inside my head and I want to tell her about it so bad, but what’s the point?
If I confide in her, she’s going to think I’m an idiot for believing I was in a relationship with a guy who proposed a fake relationship. I mean, we agreed it was just for the weekend.
I shake my head.
“Nope,” I say.
It’s not worth mentioning him, is it?
In retrospect, it was a crazy stunt taken from Pretty Woman and sadly, Miller is no Richard Gere. He never came back to say … he didn’t even say goodbye.
“Are you sure nothing happened?” she asks, giving me that suspicious glare.
It’s the same look she used to give me growing up when she swore I borrowed her stuff without permission and didn’t believe me when I swore I hadn’t touched it. Which let’s be honest, yes, I did break her first pair of heels. Which is also how I learned to only use tennis shoes while riding a bike.
But I never borrowed her cherry-flavored lip balm, nor lost her denim jacket. Thomas gifted that lip balm to his girlfriend, Taylor, and lent the jacket to Nancy after he ruined her top trying to feel her up.
“If you need to talk, I’m here,” she says, giving me a side hug. “I know I’m not Courtney or Madeline, but...you know.”
“Thanks,” I say, leaning my head on her shoulder as I try to set my head straight and come back to myself.
Cold, casual, all business. That’s the only way I get people to take me seriously and I never get hurt.
After everyone leaves, my parents drive me to my house. Surprisingly—not really—my place is sparkling clean, and Reggie is right by the door waiting for me. Leash in his mouth.
I am close to ask her something like, “Mom, did you clean my apartment and ... why is my dog in the house?”
But it seems pointless. I squat and hug my sweet boy, rubbing his ears.
“I missed you, boy,” I say, holding him tight to me. “We’ll go for a walk in a bit.”
“Thomas went to pick him up after the party. We just wanted you to relax for the next couple of days.”
“You guys are the best,” I say.
Maybe I didn’t need a vacation to relax. What I needed was a little time away from home to get some perspective and learn to see things in a different light. My family can be a handful, but they’re my handful and being smothered with love isn’t as bad as I thought.
“Your correspondence is on top of your desk,” Mom says, “and there are some bills due soon, along with a notice from your landlord.”
I sigh. “I’m behind for just one day,” I mumble.
“Oh, your dad took the liberty to pay the rent,” she says while Dad murmurs, “It’s your birthday.”
“Thank you so much.” I hug him pretty tight because he has no idea that he just saved me from financial ruin. “You’re the best.”
“There’s also a job offer that you need to answer soon.” Mom goes to my desk and brings the paperwork. “I didn’t know you were thinking about moving away.”
“It’s just an offer,” I say as if that explains everything.
“Well, you have until next week to answer. The salary is good and the benefits are better than what you have in your current job but—”
“It’s in New York,” Dad finishes the sentence. “However, we support whatever you choose to do. Seems like a great opportunity.”
“Daniel,” Mom warns.
“Time to go home,” Dad says. “We need to wake up early. The chickens aren’t going to feed themselves, are they?”
We hug and say our goodbyes one more time. “I left a few containers in the fridge with food. There’s fresh fruit in the basket. Hand-picked cherries and homemade frosting,” Mom says, as Dad drags her out of the apartment.
“Thank you for everything,” I say, closing the door behind them.
I change into a pair of yoga pants and a sweatshirt and grab Reggie’s leash to walk him around the block before I call it a night. I end up walking about a mile before I realize and turn around. I shouldn’t overdo it but I’m restless. The stupid part of my brain swears that Miller is a good guy and was hoping to see him today.
It hits me all at once. My first mistake might’ve been saying yes to his unusual proposal. My second and fatal mistake wasn’t to believe in him but to fall in love.
What do I do with that information and all the unrequited love?
“Reggie, why are guys assholes?” My dog huffs and continues walking all the way to the house, letting me soak in my misery.
After I brush my teeth, I grab my phone and decide to send a text to Miller.
C. Solis: Thank you for the weekend.
I wait for a response, but after staring at my phone for an hour, I decide to turn off the lights and go to sleep.
It was like Vegas. What happened in Cancun, stayed in Cancun.
What’s going to happen to me on Monday though?
Twenty
Claire
My weekend goes by fast. Mom offers to take me shopping for new clothes. Nikki drops by unannounced with Craig and their children. An unusual visit, but I welcome them, nonetheless.
Thomas arrives on Sunday with groceries and he stays over all day. We watch the hockey and basketball playoffs. His girlfriend went to her parents’ and what’s the next best thing other than spend the day with her? Apparently, he decided to watch sports with Claire.
Or maybe, Mom knows something is up with me because she keeps calling to check if I’m okay, and everyone in my family parades at my apartment since I came home.
By Monday, I’m very ready to go to work. New clothes, new attitude, and a pair of Louis Vuitton high heels my brother gifted me. The world is mine.
I usually wear pants to work, but today I’m wearing a skirt. Short enough to show my tanned legs but not too short that I have to make sure I’m not showing my underwear.
“I own the world,” I repeat to myself as I park my car.
The same four words I say as the elevator takes me to the sixth floor and the doors open. I got this. Going on vacation should be normal. Darth Vader and his asshole boss can suck it and learn to live.
They can’t bully me just because I wasn’t there when they wanted me to be. I did my job. Last night, I made sure to pull everything from my email. I screenshot the emails I sent and even print them in order. The weird thing is, I couldn’t access my office computer or the cloud storage. My work email is a mess. Thankfully, I always backup everything on my personal drive.
Do I have trust issues? Yes, I’m a woman working at a place where the male population behaves like they are the only ones who matter.
When I arrive at my cubicle, I spot Gary coming out from the empty office. Then, I turn to his desk, which is now empty. His computer isn’t there either. Weird. I try to turn on my computer but it’s not working.
I kneel to check that it’s connected, and that’s when I hear the asshole clear his throat.
“I like you on your knees. Maybe we should start the day that way,” he says with that slimy tone that screams sexual harassment.
“You know what I didn’t miss while I was gone?” I pause, but before I can say anything, he says, “If I were you, I’d be careful about your attitude.”
I chuckle at his threatening voice, adjust my skirt and stand up.
“Look, Gary, I have more pressing things to deal with this morning than you,” I say, crossing my arms. “If you don’t mind, scurry away to your hole, vermin.”
He drops a folder on my desk. “I need you to work on that. Have it ready by noon,” he orders.
“I don’t report to you,” I push the folder.
He smirks. “Ms. Solis, I’m happy to inform you that, as of last Wednesday, I’m your new boss.”
He points to the office and says, “If you need me, I’ll be in my office.”
“What?” I choke, my arms tremble. “The position won’t be decided until June.”
Gary shrugs. “I hope you enjoyed your vacation. I know I did. It was everything that I needed and more.”
With those words, he leaves me standing cold. I can’t breathe. Why did they do that? I’ve been working my ass off. Was it because I …?
Fucking Miller Archer, why did you do this to me?
I’m ready to scream. But instead, I do what I do best, mask the pain with anger, and march toward Devon’s office. Gary is right behind me.
Devon isn’t there, but I see posters of my work all around his office. There are a few things changed, and the cheesy tagline they are using is pitiful. When I turn around, I spot him.
“Ms. Solis, so nice of you to finally show to work,” Devon Evans says with a smirk. “I take you already heard the news about your new boss.”
“That tagline doesn’t fit,” I say, ignoring him.
“Well, you’ll have to take it to your boss and the creator of the campaign. If you wanted to be a part of the creative team, you should’ve sent the drafts as I requested.”
I frown. “Excuse me, but these are my ideas, and I did send my drafts.”
“This is what I was telling you, Devon,” Gary says, shaking his head. “Are you sure you want to keep her?”
I turn to Gary and glare at him. “You stole my work again, didn’t you, weasel?”
“Ms. Solis,” Devon interrupts me. “You have to talk to human resources. The way we handle a case like yours is by immediate termination, but you’ve done so much for the company that we’re going to keep you under probation.”
Is he fucking kidding me?
I glare at Devon, heat flushes through my body as my heartbeat accelerates.
This can’t be happening, but they look so determined that I take this to Miller. If anyone is going to believe me, it’ll be him.
I storm through the halls, bag in hand. It’s their word against my evidence.
“Mr. Archer is busy,” his assistant says.
I glare at her and push the door open. His eyes meet mine and his lips draw a smile that fades almost as fast as it appeared.
“Ms. Solis, I’m busy. If you’d like to discuss something, request an appointment.”
“Claire,” Devon says, crossing his arms. “You can’t just waltz into the CEO’s office to make a scene.”
“Why?” I ask Miller, my voice booms in his office. “You weren’t going to make a decision until June. Why did you give it to him?”
I stare at him, trying to find my Miller. There’s no evidence that the guy even existed. All I see is the same cold man I’ve worked for the past three years.
“You owe me an explanation,” I say.
“Devon leave,” he orders, his eyes focus on me as he stands up and holds the door to his friend.
“We have a presentation at noon,” Devon protests.
“Leave,” Miller repeats.
Once Devon is out, Miller closes the door and locks it.
He’s right in front of me, and though I’m fuming, I also want to kiss him. Ask Miller, the guy who I spent the weekend with, to hold me and make everything better because everything I’ve worked for is disappearing.
In an ideal world, that’d be my move. Right now, I focus on the asshole who owns this company. The man who doesn’t care about anyone else but himself.
“Did all my hard work disappear when I let you fuck me?”
Twenty-One
Miller
I flinch at her words.
“It’s business,” I say, keeping my distance because all I want to do is take her into my arms and erase the anger and sadness she’s carrying around.
God, I fucking missed her so much. Last weekend was great and unforgettable. Also, a mistake. I can’t mix business with pleasure.
“You gave him the promotion. The most useless person on Evan’s team, that’s who got the position.” She laughs and shakes her head. “You had lost the little respect I had for you. The man doesn’t know shit. In fact, everything he comes up with is either stolen from someone else, or he copied from the competition.”
“Seriously, Claire, now you’re being petty,” I accuse her.
“I deserve that promotion—not him,” she says, her voice echoing inside my office. “For the past six months, I’ve been landing you every single account you requested.”
She pokes me in the chest. “Three years of non-stop twelve to thirteen-hour days for what?”
“The Stewart account was at play and you dropped the ball,” I say.
“Excuse me, being on vacation isn’t dropping the ball. And if that was the case, you could’ve woken me up and brought me with you. I uploaded everything.”
“You didn’t send shit,” I argue.
“I did and I can prove it,” she takes a step closer to me. “That asshole stole it from me.”
“Stop being unreasonable, Claire. You’re important to the company.”
She chuckles. “Really, you’re going to give me that stupid speech? ‘I’m important, it’s not me, and you hope I keep working as hard.’ You’re unbelievable, Miller.”
“Stop,” I order.
“No, you stop. I want to know why the fuck you didn’t wake me up!” She straightens her shoulders and lifts her chin. “At least you should’ve said goodbye—or paid the fucking bill.”
My eyes widen. “I paid, didn’t I?”
“You’re welcome for such a wonderful week,” she says sarcastically. “I hope it was everything you ambitioned. For me, it was such a joy to listen to everyone whispering about how my husband left me in the middle of our vacation to go with his mistress.”
“Claire.” I’m speechless and my heart tugs when I see her chin trembling and her eyes glisten with tears.
“You’re unbelievable and an excellent actor,” she says and claps. “If this company crashes, try acting as your next career.”
