Page 23 of Reconciling With the Rival

Huh. I never thoughtI would see the day Ella Williams backed down from one of our quips. I enjoy pushing her buttons a bit too much, but the girl has to lighten up.

Despite her thinking I’m a selfish arsehole who only cares about himself and his looks, I’m actually a decent guy. She would know that if she didn't judge me based on a few interactions.

Ididsteal her folder, but only because Tim was going ballistic looking for her this morning and I didn't want her to get yelled at.

I thought she enjoyed these games we played, but maybe I’m misreading the situation.

Whatever, I think to myself as I sit down in the conference room.

Ella Williams might love to read, but in reality, she judges books by their covers. We met once before this internship, and when I introduced myself on our first day, she refused to shake my hand and rolled her eyes at me.

And that fucking pissed me off. She doesn't know a single thing about me. Sure, she probably heard the whispers about me around campus. Grand Mountain is small, and shit spreads like wildfire because nobody can keep their mouth shut.

I like to fuck. I don’t date because I don’t have the time or energy for a relationship with everything on my plate, and the girls who get with me know that.

Assuming Ella knew all of this when we first met, she didn't even bother to get to know me, and that’s how our mutual hatred started. She hates me for some stupid bullshit reason, I’m sure, and I hate her because she judged me without knowing me.

On top of all that, it’s way too easy to push her buttons. She wears every expression on her face, and I can always tell what she’s thinking. It’s almosttooeasy.

As if she knows I’m thinking about her, she walks into the conference room moments before our meeting and begins to fill the coffee, bagels, and donuts.

She doesn't meet my stare, and since I’m the only one in here, the silence is deafening.

“Do you have decaf over there?”

She doesn't turn around as she answers. “Yes, but you have two legs and can get it yourself. I’m not your fucking servant, Leo.”

God, the way she spits my name with all that jest, you think I’d done something unforgivable to her. “I didn't ask you to. It was only a question."

“Nothing is ever that simple with you,” she says, turning around to walk out of the room. “Enjoy your meeting, asshole.”

8

Be Ella's Bitch

July 2024

I’ve been training underElla for one week, and it has already been a nightmare.

Thank fucking God it’s Friday.

All I’ve done this entire week is be Ella’s bitch. I’m not even kidding. I know I have thirty days shadowing her, but I thought for sure I’d be doing more than just shit she doesn't want to do.

It started small. At first, she asked me to make copies and showed me how to use the machines—which I thought was helpful, until she made me copy random sheets of paper. Did sheassume I wasn't going to read the things she gave me? Is this some sort of test? Initiation? Or is it because she can’t stand me?

Probably all of the above…

And that’s exactly what I’m doing now. I’m making copies of some important documents Ella said she needs for a client, but all that’s on the paper is a singular sentence.

My name is Leo Zimmerman, and I think I’m hotter than I am.

Bitch work, like I said.

And the papers keep fucking jamming in this bloody machine. I go to kick it, but someone stops me.

“Need some help?” Brody asks, his hand on my shoulder.

“Yeah, that’d be nice.”

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