Page 20 of Reconciling With the Rival

Well, I tried.

“There is absolutely more to this story, and I’m so excited.” Rae takes a sip of her coffee before coaxing me into telling her the rest.

I tell her all about our shared internship our senior year of college, and by the time I’m done, she has a mischievous look on her face.

“So, you two have fucked, then?”

“What? No! Why the hell would you say that?” I say defensively.

“I don't know. It just seems like you two would have really hot hate sex if he dislikes you as much as you do him.”

“I’m never having sex with that man ever again.” The words come out before I can stop them. Shit.

“Ever again? Oh, babe, Ineedthis story more than air. Was it good? How big is his—”

She stops talking, on account of Adam joining us in my office. “Holy shit. The new guy is here, and he has an accent.”

“Ella fucked him!” Rae all but shouts.

“What?” Adam looks at me, and I swear there’s pride in his eyes.Seriously?

“Not recently! Fuck! I knew I shouldn't have said anything. Stop bringing it up, please. I don't need to be reminded of the worst mistake I’ve ever made.”

“But—”

“Rae, no. This is teetering on another HR conversation, and that would only give Leo something to hold over my head. Ihave to start training him today, and I’m already on the brink of quitting because of it.”

“Quitting? But you love it here!” Adam says—a bit too enthusiastically, I might add.

“Yeah, I do. But ifheis here, it’s only a matter of time before I hate it. That’s what he does; he’s like an infectious disease that poisons everything he touches with his accent, his greasy hair—”

“Don’t forget my beautiful eyes, Ella. I’d hate for you to leave out one of my better qualities in whatever list of yours this is.”

The fucker just let himself in.Or Adam didn't close my door.No, Leo is the type to let himself into rooms because he can. Because he has a penis attached to his body, doors will always be open and unlocked for him.

Meanwhile, some of us have to knock, apologize profusely, and make our tone of voice eight octaves higher so we don’t come across as wasting someone's time.

I paste on my fakest smile possible as Rae and Adam turn their heads between the two of us like they’re watching a tennis match. “Leo. How nice to see you this morning. Have you been finding your way around the office?”

A smirk takes over his face as he leans against my doorway. “Please stop with the fake niceties, Ella. I heard your conversation from my office. I came over here to wave my white flag, on account of this being a professional environment. I want this transition to be as easy as possible for everyone involved. I’ll play nice if you do.”

Oh, how nice of him to wave his flag first. How nice of him, truly. This is an Oscar-worthy performance from Leo Zimmerman. I think I should call the Academy. Maybe they’ll create an entire new category for him—Biggest Asshole in a Drama.

“I always play nice, Leo. I was explaining to my friends our history. Forgive me for forgetting to close my door. You weren't supposed to hear it.”

He and I are staring at one another, an annoying smirk still on his face, my fake smile trying its best not to slip into a scowl.

“Ah. Well, when you’re ready to begin with training, I’ll be in my office,” he points straight across from where we are, “over there.”

He looks at Adam and Rae before he offers them both his hand. “Leo Zimmerman. Please don’t take Ella’s account of me as complete truth. I promise I’m not the twat she says I am.”

Adam takes his hand and shakes it. “Nice to meet you, dude. If you have any questions, you can find me in my cubicle.”

Traitor.

He flashes his blinding smile at Rae, and I swear, her cheeks change color. There it is: the Leo fucking Zimmerman effect. Thank God it has never worked on me.

Except that one time you were drunk and—

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