Page 8 of Ansel

DON’T DIS THE ESPRESSO

NEHA

Iwas two drinks in, halfway through my second slice of greasy, extra-cheesy pizza, and still, the ache in my chest hadn’t dulled. It probably never would, not entirely.

“You know”—Penny slammed her wine glass onto the coffee table with more force than necessary—“I could walk into Sterling tomorrow and dump an entire caramel macchiato on Ansel’s overpriced suit. And then maybeaccidentallyspill a second one on Vanessa, just for good measure.”

I let out a choked laugh. “Violence isn’t the answer.”

“No, but it isananswer,” she shot back, pointing at me with the crust of her pizza. “And a damn satisfying one.”

I curled my legs beneath me on our worn-out but ridiculously comfortable couch, letting my head fall back against the cushions. The horror of the day, the heartbreak, the sheer humiliation, all of it made me feel like I was ill, like I had the flu. My skin itched, my throat sore, my insides hurt.

I’d held it together during lunch, I had to give myself credit for that. I’d managed to walk out of there with my dignity intact. But now, in the safety of our cozy apartment, far away in Brooklyn from Sterling’s fancy offices in lower Manhattan, with my best friend next to me, I let myself break.

“I gave everything to that job.”I stared at the ceiling, my eyes wet. I’d been crying on and off since I got home. “Three years. Late nights, early mornings, doing work that wasn’t even mine just to make sure Ansel had everything he needed.”

Penny huffed. “You basically did half his job for him.”

“Please don’t say that,” I groaned. “That’s what Vanessa told him I was telling everyone.”

“Vanessa is a puss boil on a gnat’s ass,” Penny claimed.

I laughed at that imagery despite how shitty I was feeling.

“I did my job as his assistant—and maybe a little more. But he didn’t need me, Pen. Everyone is dispensable in corporate America.”

She arched a skeptical brow. “Puhleasestop with the self-deprecation! You kept that Asshole In A Suit’s entire schedule running, prepped every report, fact-checked every analysis. You’re the reason he always looked like the most prepared guy in the room.” She took a long sip of wine before adding, “And the worst part? He knew it.”

“Yeah, that’s why he was going to fire me,” I retorted dryly.

That stung the most. I had never expected credit, never needed public acknowledgment. But I’d thought Ansel at least respected me. Instead, he’d talked about me like I was nothing.

“I think you made him feel insecure,” Penny said thoughtfully.

“Highly doubt it! The man doesn’t have a vulnerable bone in his body.”

Penny let out a long breath. “Darling, everyone has fears, we just have to stay ahead of them. You did. Don’t tell me you’re not scared shitless about quitting without having a job.”

I swallowed hard and reached for the tub of ice cream we’d abandoned on the table. Double chocolate fudge. Because if I was going to wallow, I was going to commit.

“I am scared…don’t know about the shitless part though,” I joked.

Penny nudged my foot with hers. “Hey. I know it feels like the end of the world right now, but this could be a good thing.”

I shot her a dubious look. “Right! I have no job. The man I’ve been pining over for three years thinks I’m a deceitful and desperate woman. I can’t see the silver lining, babe.”

She sat up and wiggled her eyebrows. “I’m the champion of silver linings! I’ve got the playbook for it.”

“Ugh. Did you just make a movie reference?” I shoved a spoonful of double chocolate fudge in my mouth.

“Bradley Cooper is a god and I would be happy to go on my knees in front of him to worship,” she admitted salaciously.

“By worshipping, I’m assuming you mean polish his….” I trailed off.

“Penis, darling. You can say the word.”

I made a face. “It’s just so…technical.”

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