Page 3 of The Physical Attraction Seminar
“Oh, you guys cannot be laughing at me right now,” I groan, sinking further into the upholstered wingback chair opposite his desk. “Not after I just got publicly fired. No thanks to you, might I add.” I glare at my boss, who is leaning back in his seat, taking a long sip of the hazelnut latte I brought him.
How could he besmilingat a time like this?
“Elliot, please tell Lyla she’s not being let go. I’ve been trying to calm her down for the past twenty minutes, but she just doesn’t trust me.”
Of course, I don’t buy what she’s saying. She’s kept me in the dark formonthsabout this acquisition, never letting on that my world was about to be shaken to its core. The rational part of my brain knows that her position in the acquisitions and mergers department prevents her from telling anything or else she could lose her job. But it still hurts knowing that while we’ve been living under the same roof, she’s been harboring a life-altering secret.
What I don’t understand, though, is how and why Elliot hid this from me. I know Elliot’s routine like the back of my hand. His schedule is fully booked from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day except Sunday. If there had been any important meetings or phone calls, surely I would’ve known about them, right?
“Don’t stress, Lyla. You’re not losing your job.”
Don’t stress, Lyla,I mock his happy-go-luckytone in my head.
Didn’t he know that saying that only made me more stressed?
“All you have to do is pass an interview for a new one,” Camila adds with a straight face.
My vision blurs, my limbs start to tingle, and I barely manage to mumble a quick, “Excuse me?”
“Breathe,” he instructs with a chuckle like I shouldn’t be on the verge of blacking out right now. “It’s just a technical interview for HR. Banks’ assistant retired last month, and there won’t be any other candidates interviewing,” he assures me. “As long as you don't do anything stupid during the interview, the job is yours.”
His last sentence makes my heart plummet into my stomach.
“What— How— Since when was selling Solus even on the table?” I shake my head, trying to process the conversation.
Elliot sighs, and for the first time all morning, his face turns soft. “It’s time, Ly. I’ve been building this business for half my life. Every milestone I set out to accomplish, I’ve achieved… some more than once.”
I give him an understanding nod.
“I’ve got more money than I know what to do with, and now I… I guess I just want my time back.” The weight of sadness in his voice lingers, and a dull ache tugs at my heart. “The last thing I want is to spend another eighteen years chained behind this desk.”
Over the years, Elliot had become like a brother to me. He and Camila have been my listening ears after every terrible date. Whenever the company hit a milestone, thethree of us would eagerly head to the bar across the street the second the workday ended. We’d savor the taste of victory while toasting drinks that were paid for by the company credit card, neither of us daring to leave until we forgot the reason we came to celebrate.
Despite the ache in my heart, a bittersweet understanding settles in, and I can’t ignore the truth in his words. If anyone deserves a graceful retirement, it’s him.
I shake my head, trying to suppress the tears that threaten to escape before mustering a weak smile for Elliot. I extend my hand across the desk and gently cover mine over his. “It’s time.”
We lock eyes and share a meaningful nod before letting go of each other’s hands, but the tender moment disintegrates when Camila clears her throat. “Now that our little heart-to-heart is over, can you tell us about getting trampled by a hot dog cart?”
“Don’t spare any details,” Elliot adds with a growing smile.
“I already told you that story is going to my grave with me. The only reason I blurted out the truth was because I was too shell-shocked from the meeting to remember the lie I practiced in my head.” My hands flail in the air as I speak. “But can the two of you explain to me how this slipped under the radar without me noticing?”
“A lot of late nights,” Elliot laughs to himself. “We chose to handle the matter privately in case the deal fell through at the last minute, so the legal and financial matters were taken care of behind closed doors.Starting Monday, we’ll begin integrating the offices until everyone at Solus is settled into the new office.”
“Mhmm,” I hum offhandedly while sagging back into my chair.
Any other day, I would pester Elliot with questions until my mind was at ease. But after being force-fed a mix of emotions this morning, I think I’m starting to prefer the idea of remaining oblivious.
“Wait… hold on.” I tilt my head to the side with pursed lips. “Did you just say… Monday?”
I turn to Camila for confirmation, and she offers me a clipped nod.
“If today is Thursday, and we’re switching offices on Monday… when exactly is my interview?”
“Tomorrow morning.”
“Tomorrow?” I croak out the word, practically choking on my saliva. “Have you lost your mind? How am I going to prepare for an interview that’s in twenty-four hours?”
