big blow-up with Nikki, I avoided the office for a few days by working from home. I soon realized Lex would eventually track me down, so I needed somewhere else to stay, somewhere he couldn’t find me.
Unlike anything I have done before, I reached outside my comfort zone and contacted Kate. She answered immediately, and thankfully, was willing to help me out for a few nights.
I’m standing inside the hotel lobby with my pathetic suitcase beside me. As soon as she sees me, she rushes to where I stand, throwing me into an embrace. Kate is exactly what I need at this moment—a friend not involved in this so-called mess known as my life.
Inside her suite, I instantly notice how nice the room is—an upgrade, no doubt. Surely, she must have been giving her boss serious head for this.
“Wow, this is amazing.” I glance around the living area separate from the bedroom. “I can’t thank you enough. I really needed a place to stay, life has just gone…” I sigh. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know who else to ask.”
“Hey, don’t worry.” She motions for me to take a seat. “Life has thrown me a giant curveball, too. Arsehole was banging that beastly bird in that pic on Insta. I said goodbye to that tosser.”
“Oh my God, Kate. I’m so sorry.”
“Better now than later, right?” There’s a sadness in her expression, but she’s quick to replace it with a mischievous grin. “Don’t worry, I met this gorgeous Navy guy last weekend, and can I just discuss how yummy that rebound was? I’m so done and dusted with that Aussie jerk. Found better and bigger fish in the sea… one with better gills if you know what I mean.”
Of course, I know what she means. His cock was bigger and better, always a plus.
“Arghh, excuse me for just one second, it’s the boss.” She answers the call with an annoyed look on her face. “Good morning, sir.”
She remains on the line while I walk toward the window admiring the view of the park. It’s early morning in the city that never sleeps and is busy as usual, even with a storm due to come in over the next forty-eight hours. I watch as people scurry along, zigzagging in and out of the crowds, obviously late for work. The tourists are walking around in awe, snapping photographs of everything in sight. I watch the few homeless people who roam the streets, lost in their own little world. How, in that moment, I envy their strength to carry on every day despite their shitty circumstances.
“Yes, she got the contracts. No, I don’t know. Her assistant refused to give me that information. Okay… okay, thank you, sir.”
Kate hangs up the phone.
“Sir?” I tease, grinning. “Sounds kinda kinky.”
“Oh, trust me, it’s not.” Throwing her phone onto the couch, she gazes at me intently. “Charlie, you look like a truck ran over you. Tell me what’s been happening. So, your love life has gone tits up?”
Tits up? I’m confused but assume she means upside down.
“I don’t really want to talk about it. Everyone is pushing me, and I just don’t want to think about it for a while if that’s okay.”
“Fair enough. How about we grab a drink tonight? Let’s have fun and forget about our man troubles.”
“Deal.”
Kate’s phone starts buzzing again, and this time she lets out a frustrated groan before grabbing it. “I’m sorry, I have to take this again.”
“Hello, sir. Yes… yes. No, there’s no way out. Why? Because the board requested you be there. Uh-huh… uh-huh, look, I’ll be there in ten minutes, and we can speak then. Yes… okay.” She hangs up the phone, muttering profanities beneath her breath. “Bugger me, it’s been a sodding week from fucking hell. I’m ready to explode after the shit that’s gone down with work. Look, I’ve just gotta meet my boss. He’s gone crazy, and is making it difficult to work for him even though it’s not all his fault.”
“Sounds like fun. Remember, think of me if he gets over this chick and needs some great rebound sex,” I call out.
She laughs, exiting the room as I crash on the couch and stare at the wall.
Later that night, Kate and I went out for drinks, and I mean plural. We had a blast and even got chatting with a few guys. I wasn’t into the whole thing, of course, but she took to a hot bartender.
The next morning, we’re suffering from massive hangovers, and I