Chapter 52 – Amelia
The afternoon is even worse than the morning after that. I keep having to blow my nose and wipe my eyes to avoid leaking all over the court documents I’m supposed to be reviewing. I can’t keep my head on straight, apparently.
“Since when did all of this get so complicated? Maybe it’ll be better if I just call it all off. No promotion, no wedding stuff…no more Brent.”
Maybe.
“Don’t be ridiculous, Amelia!” Rosa, who’s been listening to me vent and weave back and forth for the last twenty minutes, points her finger at me. “You’re letting Jason get under your skin, and that’s the exact wrong thing to do! He’s a heartless jackass, and you’re about to give up on someone you’ve really fallen for, just for him? Come on!”
“It’s not that simple, Rosa. What if Jason’s right, and I’m just not the right material for the Junior Partner position…or for Brent? He was so angry when I told him I didn’t want to do the catering tasting.”
“Well, that’s his problem. And I have a feeling he’ll get over it. Or if he doesn’t, you know he’s not worth your time.”
“That’s not making me feel better, Rosa. This whole thing…maybe it’s just too much, too soon. All the trips, the food, the wedding stuff. I’m not sure I’m ready for it.”
Rosa looks resigned. “If that’s how you feel, I’m not going to argue with you. But sweetie, I think I’m the wrong person to be having this conversation with. If you’re going to do all this, you should at least talk to Brent about it, don’t you think?”
For a long time after that, I sit in my office alone, thinking. My thoughts spiral around and around, but the one that keeps coming back to the surface is that Rosa’s right…I should at least talk to Brent. He deserves that much. So I pick up the phone.
“Hello?”
“Brent, hey, it’s me. I, um - listen, I’m sorry about earlier. I’m just not…not as sure about all this as I was. I think - I think that we should call off the rest of this wedding stuff.”
“Amil, where is this all coming from?” Brent sounds more hurt than angry - somehow, that’s worse. “Let’s at least talk about this in person, okay? How about dinner tonight?”
I hesitate. Then, “All right. Dinner sounds good.”
“Great.” I can feel the slight smile in his voice. “How about Alessandro’s after work? I’ll text you the address.”
“Sure.” I wonder if he can tell that I’m not smiling, the same way I can tell that he is. “I’ll see you there.”
Almost as soon as I hang up the phone, someone knocks on my door. “Yes?”
I expect Rosa to poke her head back in, but it’s not her. It’s Jason. I’m surprised, and immediately defensive. “What?”
His smile makes my stomach clench. “I just got a phone call. Nothing all that important…unless you consider wedding arrangements meaningful.”
Wedding arrangements…what is he talking about? I just look at him, clenching my fists under the desk. He doesn’t need my prompting to continue.
“I really couldn’t believe it when I picked up the phone and it was a wedding venue…one of the ones you told me you cancelled. They were…confused. Apparently someone made a name change to the participants and they wanted to confirm it.”
“I don’t - I don’t know what you’re talking about,” is all I can manage.
Jason comes around to the corner of my desk, looming over me. I feel suffocated.
“Please. We both know that’s not true. Are you really so desperate that you’re getting married to the first lunk that comes along just to prove you’re worth someone’s time?” The smile on his face is predatory, and my stomach twists even further into its preexisting knots.
“What I’m doing is none of your business.” I manage.
“I think we both know that’s not true, sweetheart.” Fuck, I hate him so much. Especially because I think he might be right.
“I don’t much care what you’re doing, honestly. I just feel bad for the poor guy you somehow made think you’re worth his time and attention. Is it that guy who was wandering around the office earlier today? I hope he learns his lesson before it’s too late…or you could save him the trouble and just cut him loose yourself.”
I think he sees my eyes getting glassy with tears, and if it’s possible, his smile gets wider. He turns to go, but before he closes the door behind him, tosses one final barb over his shoulder. “I learned my lesson with you. I hope he does too.”