Page 83 of Kiss Me Ever After
This reply, however, was different.
Hi Lennon,
Thank you for your interest in CompleteDiva.
Your email comes at quite a good time as we’re looking to take on an intern to support our Communications department by contributing towards the development and delivery of high-quality administration and support to the team. This would initially be for 12 months…
I couldn’t help but hold my breath as I scanned the rest of the email. While the duties seemed straightforward: responding to press queries, maintaining and distributing press clippings and reports, checking for brand coverage and industry news, assisting the PR Coordinator with appointments and VIP opportunities, there also appeared to be the chance of attending fashion shows, press days, store openings, sample sales and press trips. They didn’t appear to make it a requisite to finish my degree, and the salary on offer would mean I could stay in this apartment. While they weren’t offering it to me straight away, it seemed to suggest all I had to do was pop in for a chat.
“Eeeek!”
Lucas jumped and dropped his gin and tonic all over his lap. “Jesus, fuck, Lennon, what the hell?”
I shoved the laptop towards him and went to fetch some kitchen roll.
When I returned, he let out a similar noise to the one I had.
“Lennon, this looks fantastic! I didn’t know you were thinking of leaving uni?”
“Neither did I really.” I dropped back down onto the sofa beside him. “I haven’t enjoyed uni since being back. And I know some of my former classmates have got jobs or internships without a degree, so... ” I gave an evil laugh.
Lucas pulled me in for a hug. “It would be an amazing opportunity.”
“You don’t think I’m crazy for pursuing it?”
“Not at all. You deserve something nice happening after everything with Justin,” he reassured me as he released me. “And Robert. Ugh. I’m so sorry about him.”
I squeezed his hand. “You weren’t to know.” The tiredness I’d kept at bay returned threefold. I let out a massive yawn. “I think I’ll pass on the film and go to bed. I need to think about a response to this company.”
“CompleteDiva? Not sure that’s appropriate for you, more suited to me perhaps?” Lucas struck a pose, and I laughed before heading to my room.
Once I’d shut down my laptop, I lay on the bed and checked my phone for any messages.
There were a couple from Amber, telling me Justin was staying with them for a while and he was doing okay. Another from my mum asked me to call her, she had news about Dad’s case. And one from an unknown number, which simply said ‘sorry’.
I frowned.
Justin still hadn’t replied to my message.
On impulse, I dialled his number. I held my breath as the call connected, but my heart sank as it went straight to voicemail. For a few seconds I paused, wondering whether to leave yet another message which would likely go unanswered. There seemed little point in doing so. Justin had made his choice to stick with Candace, and I was out of the picture. I don’t know why I hadn’t realised it before. Although maybe I had, but now I had to accept it. Stabbing the end call button, I threw the phone across the bed and reached for my laptop again.
It was time to make a change for the better.
37
Justin
Later that day,I settled back into the Kane’s spare room. I was truly grateful to Sonya for letting me stay again.
My head spun with the revelations of the day, and I felt sick as I processed them.
There must be something really wrong with Candace for her to lie as she had, simply to get back at someone she didn’t like.
I’d been a fool to take her at her word, to not question her when she told me, to take everything she’d said as gospel.
We’d been close once, but never, ever again.
I pitied Grant, who was clearly besotted with the girl, and wondered if he really was the baby’s father as she’d stated. If she could lie to me…
