Page 51 of Tiebreaker

I'm tired of being passive and just letting life happen to me. I hit the button for his floor again and the doors sweep closed. And then I'm standing outside of his door, staring up at it, uncertain. I can't hear anything from the other side, but he's probably on the phone still with his team, demanding answers for what went wrong today.

So that woman, who was she? What's she doing in his apartment? A sudden snatch of impatient jealousy grabs at me, and I knock at his door. I wait for a long minute, but there's no answer. Should I text him? No, that seems crazy. I knock again and it rips open, the blonde woman standing there.

"You!" she says, eyes narrowing. "You can get fucked," she says.

I'm startled at her sudden aggression.

"I'm sorry?" I asked.

I'm immediately on the defensive and I've been feeling a little bit worked up. I'm like I want the answers to my questions just a few seconds before.

"Look, you've had your fun. And just so you know, Kai isn't yours and never will be. At best, he was on loan to you, you slut! And also, don't ever come around my kids ever again. I saw that happen. It's disgusting. He knows better than that and he knows better now. "

I stand there shocked like the world has exploded all around me. She sniffs, takes one more look at me, shakes her head, and slams the door in my face. I rock back on my heels. What the fuck is happening?

Twenty

Olivia

Sitting in my dark apartment,my gut turns over and over. I'm so sick in my stomach. Kai hasn't answered any of my calls or texts. And it's been hours. I don't want to go back down to this apartment and just be screamed at again by that crazy blonde lady.

I don't even know who she is. The only clue is that she said she'd seen me playing with her kids, which must mean she's Everett's sister. I don't want to check social media, I don't want to turn on the TV, and I don't want to ask Everett about what's going on because he would just take pleasure in seeing me so rocked. That cruel side of him is too deep.

And Vince thinks I'm an idiot for messing around with Kai anyway. Maybe he realizes that I was punching up out of my weight class.

I should never have come here. I should have stayed where I was. What was it that dragged me here? Money? I'm no better than they are.

Now I've possibly ruined Kai's career just by being who I am, for something that was beyond my control — being innocent and trusting. There's a cold spot in my chest that refuses to warm. I sit there shaking.

I pull out my phone and check my bank account. I'm sure if I leave, they'll cut the credit cards off. But I've been squirreling out money through cash advances for the last couple of weeks. The amount of money I have stashed in there gives me a little bit of relief. I could leave now and I'd be fine. At least it's enough for a couple of months to keep me on my feet until I get a new job.

It feels like I'm ripping out my heart to think about leaving. I really felt like I was starting to have a place somewhere and people I mattered to. How fragile was that reality that I'd created for myself, that I'd pretended was real?

Of course, Kai was only messing around with me. Everett was only interested in me for what I could give him. And Vince, I don't even understand him. I need to go talk to the CEO guy. I need to tell him I'm leaving. I don't care about the money. It's not worth losing my self-respect and being treated like dirt all the time.

I go into the bedroom and pack myself a small bag of the things I want to take with me. My black lace dress, I run my fingers over it and put it back in the closet. I'm not going to need that kind of thing. Not where I'm going back to my old life where the world is small and dull and gray.

I catch a look at myself in the mirror, and I don't even recognize myself anymore. Who is that strange sad woman? At least before I had Toby and a home that was my own and I didn't owe anybody anything.

Maybe I was lonely before. Maybe I had no family, and no friends, but at least I understood my place in the world, and things didn't feel so crazy all the time.

Hitching my bag over my shoulder, I ditch the elevator in case I run into Kai, or Everett's sister, or anyone else, and walk the several fights down to the communal floor. It's near empty as always, lights on as if someone's going to come in and make a big dinner or have a pizza party around that table, but never will.

How did I not see how empty this place was? How broken the people were inside of it? I was just star-struck by the bright lights, all the luxury around me. I was taken in by it, like an idiot.

I shake off the tears that want to fall, wiping them away. And I walk steadily towards his office. The door is cracked. But before I can knock, I hear his voice.

"Yeah, it was fucking brilliant. Exactly what I wanted to have happen. You do great work."

It sounds serious whatever he's talking about but in a good way. And I wonder if he'll be in a good mood when I tell him that I'm leaving. I'm not sure how that affects his planned departure from the company. Who knew it was as easy as bringing some sad little street girl into this building and putting up with her for a month to bring those three men to their knees.

His next words shock me and I stand there.

“Who knew it was as easy as bringing some sad little street girl into this building and putting up with her for a month to bring those three men to their knees?” He laughs, the words shocking me. What? He’s to really saying that. I must be hearing-

“It was that simple. Bring her here, and they’re at each other’s throats. I’ll walk with the whole damn company and leave them with nothing. And then we won’t have to worry with them getting wise. No… it’s to gonna happen, I tell you.”

He groans and I hear the sound of his chair squeaking, like he’s turning in it or leaning back.

---