Page 4 of Chance Happenings
I’m stuck now, unmoving once I notice his speculative eyes appraise my body. For a moment, he looks amused until he gets to my face and his expression changes to a more serious, questioning look as he searches my eyes and finds the answer he seeks. That look I recognize and immediately cross my arms, looking away as to protect myself from the intrusion. But it's too late, the exchange is complete. He got everything he wanted, and I got nothing… as usual. Just as he’s about to speak, Cacey burst into the kitchen, completely oblivious to the tension in the room, but with impeccable timing.
“Good morning guys! Alex, I hope you don’t mind, but I asked Chance to stick around while we meet up with the guy who’s coming to look at your car. Just in case he tries something shady. You can never be too safe when dealing with the internet.”
I’m pissed, but I smile anyway. “I don’t mind,” I say, but of course I mind, and I’m pretty sure everyone in the room knows it. Chance and I have never got along. He was always a wolf in a very good-looking wolf’s clothing. He’s just like Pearce... driven, selfish, opportunistic and unashamed in business and in the bedroom.Or so I’ve heard.And for those reasons alone I play along with Cacey’s not so veiled attempt to throw us into each other's path.
Five hours and three showings later, I’m secretly grateful for Chance and his unscrupulous negotiation tactics. He was able to sell my car for more than expected. Actually, a lot more in such a short amount of time. As a gesture of goodwill, I invite Chance and Cacey out for dinner, which I’m now regretting because I haven’t bothered to buy any dressier clothes. Thankfully, we decide on a more casual restaurant that’s more of a bar and grille hangout.
We get a booth and our party of three expands to four when Chance’s friend Cameron Dane, who everyone calls Dane joins us. He’s all smiles, like he doesn’t have a care in the world and judging by his demeanor, he’s been here for a while. “Oh, shit! Well, look at you… Lanky Lex all grown up and shit!” Dane slurs, as he inserts himself in the booth beside Chance. It’s like we’ve gone back in time because that’s the same thing he said last time I was in town.
“Lanky Lex, I almost forgot about that.” Chance chimes in with a ridiculous smirk on his face. An expression that did not reach his eyes. His eyes looked more hungry than amused. For what I don’t know. Whatever this look was, he had never given it to me outside of the time I was not so discreetly watching some girl go down on him. An act that led to a series of events that put me in Pearce’s world…
“I don’t understand, I was told that this summer program would come with free room and board.” I say again, nearly close to tears at this point.
“It did have free room and board Miss Wilde, but as I said yesterday, the program is at capacity. We redistributed your spot to another student once you declined.Now, because of your exemplary transcript, we’ve made an exception to allow you to participate in the summer program with the understanding you would be responsible for securing your own room and board. The dorm is full.”The lady behind the desk says coolly.
It’s been a week since I arrived here in New York, my savings were dwindling fast and I’m too proud and committed to the idea to turn tail and go back home now. Being the stubborn girl that I am, I decide to dig in and find a way to stay. I grab a bunch of random flyers about work study, tutoring, and anything that might lead to some income and head back to my hotel room to work out a better plan. As I walk out of the office and round the corner, I hit a solid form that causes me to stumble backward and drop every scrap of paper I had in my handonto the floor.
Before I hit the ground, I’m caught by strong arms and engulfed by a smoky scent. Taking my eyes off the mass of papers on the floor, I look up to a pair of the darkest grey eyes I’ve ever seen...
Pearce and I would not form an intimate relationship till much later, but that day set everything in motion.
“Anyone ready to order?” I blurt out, breaking eye contact as I realize I’m still staring at Chance while recalling the first time I met Pearce.I continue my efforts to change the subject by signaling for the waiter, even though I don’t know what to order. Right now Chance is in his element, enjoying me being the butt of all his jokes and I’m sure that hungry look was just him playing games, as usual.
“Why did you call her that again Chance, I can’t remember?” Dane chuckles. Apparently, he’s not too drunk since he hasn’t lost focus on this subject like I’d hoped he would.
“Don’t you remember that time she came to school with some corduroy high waters on and those shoes that looked two sizes too big?” Just the mention of the infamous corduroy and shoe debacle sent Dane into a fit of laughter so hard I was sure he was envisioning the rest of the story from our freshman year of high school.
The summer prior to that year I had a growth spurt. I had out grown Cacey and any chance of getting her old clothes, so my grandmother did what she could. Chance and Dane teased me so relentlesslyabout my outfit that day, I got mad and tried to leave the cafeteria so quickly that I tripped on the way out the door in those big ass shoes, shredding a hole in the knees of my second-hand corduroys.
I was so mad at life then. So mad at my grandmother for not being able to provide the way I thought she should. Now I just miss her so much. All of that seems small compared to what I’m going through. It’s like a sad joke. I made it out of the shadows of this stupid place, graduated with honors from high school and college. Found the job and the man of my dreams who would make sure I wanted for nothing. Except for the most important things, like friendship, love, and companionship. Things I had all along, even on that day I tripped in the cafeteria. I just didn’t realize it till now.
I stop daydreaming and put my attention back on the conversation. They’re still hamming it up, having the time of their lives at my expense. Well, everyone except for Cacey. She has the grace to look annoyed on my behalf. I decide to just ignore them, studying my menu, when this leggy blonde comes to our table with breast just as fake and big as the smile on her face. Consciously, she moves towards Chance and Dane’s side of the booth. Then she leans into Chance’s ear and whispers something that has him grinning from ear to ear.God, I’m going to be sick.
“Chance, have you gotten any further on narrowing down the PM position?” Cacey asks, not so cheerfully. That seemed to get the blonde’s attention, but not Chance’s.
“No.” He’s short with her, giving his attention back to the blonde that is now almost sitting in his lap.
“That’s good because I was talking to Daddy, and he thought it would be a good idea for Alex to take the position,” she says smugly, now getting everyone’s undivided attention. Well, everyone except for Dane who’s apparently laughed himself to sleep...if that’s even possible. Chance is now glaring back and forth between me and Cacey like this has been some big scheme all along. I have no idea what position Cacey is talking about. I just go with it for the sake of pissing Chance off.
Chance
“You what?!” I ask, moving Madison out of the way. I can’t believe that Cacey is not only planning on getting Alexa to stay but is also trying to undermine my position with the company, by putting Alexa in the position on a whim.Qualified or not.
“Actually, I didn’t DO anything, I got a call from Daddy this afternoon and he wants Alex to come to the house tomorrow so he can talk her into staying and taking the job at SWG.” I relax just a little because this is my dad’s doing. I saw the initial shock on Alexa’s face when Cacey made the statement and if I know anything about Alexa, I knowthis is the last place she wants to be.
“Did you tell him Alexa’s not staying?”
I wait for Cacey’s answer, looking over to Alexa, searching her eyes for any sign that she’s going to fall for the trap, by staying and taking my dad up on his offer. For a moment, I don’t like what I see.I’m beyond pissed right now. This was supposed to be my chance to step up and take the company in a new direction, but my dad wants to throw his weight around a little longer I see. Not only does he decide to make an offer without my input, he knowingly offers it to the last person I want to work with.Not fucking happening.
“Alexa, could you step outside for a minute to talk?” I stand and I notice her flinch as she goes on the defensive.
“What, you’ve stooped to fighting women now?”She’s a little too serious, with no resemblance to the usual mocking in her voice. Like I would really fight her.
“Noooo, I just want to talk to you about business... in private.” I say, in the most elementary way I can manage while looking over at Madison, who didn’t get the hint to leave earlier.I know what her angle is. She’s been campaigning for this position for months. I just need to find out Alexa’s intentions.
Alexa relaxes slightly with a detached look, like she’s high or something and then responds. “Ok, let’s get this over with.”
Alex
