Page 12 of Reconciling With the Rival

I take a calming breath before realizing where I’m headed. There’s no way I’m going to be able to hold this in all night, so maybe I’ll ask them what I should do.

Quitting sounds nice.

Just as I think about the girls, Hads calls me, and I pick it up through my car’s Bluetooth. “Hey! We just got to my brother's place. Are you on your way?”

“Yup. I’ll be there in fifteen.”

“Woah, Ells. Are you okay? You sound like you’re five seconds away from murdering someone,” Grant asks me.

“It’s nothing. I got stuck dealing with an imbecile at work.” I clench my jaw hard remembering I have to see him in two days, and I take another deep breath.

“Want to talk about it?” Hads asks, compassion lacing her voice.

“I can always tell Paige and Oliver to take care of it.” Hads must’ve hit Grant, because I hear him sayowin the background.

“I’ll see you guys soon. Is Amelia there yet?”

“I think so. A cab just left their complex, so I assume that was her,” Hads tells me.

“See you soon, Ells. Don't crash into anyone on the way here. I’d hate to lose my favorite karaoke partner,” Grant adds, making me smile for the first time tonight.

“Yeah, I’ll see you guys soon.” I hang up and try to calm myself down, because if there’s one thing I don't want to do, it’s ruin Paige’s birthday with my anger.

But God, I’m angry. I’m angry I had just found my footing at a job I love, and now, he’s going to ruin everything with his big ass ego. The girls don’t—and wouldn't—understand my hatred for the fucker, the most annoying thing he does is walking into every room as if he owns the place. People hand him things without him even doing anything just because he has a penis.

It’s not fucking fair that I, as a woman, have to work four times as hard to get the same things a man could. I’ve been dealing with it my whole life. At our internship, I was sent to get coffee, bagels, and menial tasks a receptionist could do while Leo got tosit in on important meetings and briefings because all the male executives loved him.

I can’t help but compare my internship experience with everything happening in the office with Brody. It gets fucking tiring after a while, and Leo didn't make it any easier. He used his stupid fucking charm to his advantage and purposely left me out of the loop.

So yeah, I hate the guy, and now, he’s going to be my shadow for thirty days so he can learn about our company.

Fuck. My. Life.

I should just quit.The idea pops into my head again, and I let that sit in my mind before I bring up my voice-to-text in my car and text the group chat.

Ella: Someone better have a bottle of wine for me, because I’m gonna need it.

If I have the day off tomorrow, I’m getting drunk. Maybe then, I’ll forget about the worst person in the world crashing my place of work. A few messages come through as I’m pulling into the lot.

Hads: A whole bottle?

Amelia: I have mine ready, but I’ll tell Oliver to get one for you.

Oliver: Amelia, I’m in this group chat, and I can read.

Amelia: Oh, I thought this was the book club one.

Grant: Nope. Although I’m in that one too!

As I park, I shoot off one last text, grab my purse with Paige’s present in it, and stalk up the stairs. I read Paige’s text from my phone as I rip open her apartment door.

“No, everything isnotokay!” I see Oliver rush to get me a bottle of wine as I drop my purse on the floor, and all my anger comes rushing in again. I slump down on the empty loveseat as I take a deep breath. “I have to quit my job.”

“What?” Hads questions, probably confused as to how our conversation from earlier got to this conclusion.

“Wait, why?” Amelia asks.God, it’s good to see her.

“But you love your job!” Paige exclaims.Fuck, she’s right. But I’m going to hate it if he’s there now.

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