Lucy

 

I fetched coffee for my boss at the PR firm. In my wildest dreams, I never imagined that people didn’t get their own damned coffee anymore, but as it turned out, they still had people like me running around for it. My advisor in college had assured me that the internship was worth it. That making copies, typing up people’s handwritten meeting notes, and fetching coffee would be the perfect stepping stone into a career. It seemed like a lot of bullshit. As I looked down at my thrift store Louboutins, I rolled my eyes.

 

Every penny I made was going into looking the part for this job, and it wasn’t paying off at all. I hadn’t learned anything, because I wasn’t sitting in on any meetings. I was waitressing for the attendees of the meetings, and missing out on every detail. As I carried the hot coffees for my boss and her newest client - a socialite with a drinking problem - I sighed, but put on a happy face. I was always a firm believer in faking it until you actually made it. The old ‘dress for the job you want, not the job you have’ philosophy. That meant that I was wearing my designer shoes, and carrying a designer bag, but I was eating noodles most nights because that’s where my money was going. Into looking the part.

 

As I was dismissed once again from sitting in on the meeting after the coffee delivery, I went back to my desk, which was set back from Ms. Baldwin’s actual receptionist who was a guy named Kieran. He turned in my direction briefly, acknowledging I was left out once again.

 

“She’ll let you sit in eventually; you just have to prove yourself,” he said, slightly reassuringly.

 

Pursing my lips, I replied, “I’ve been here for almost a year, Kieran. The only thing I’ve learned is how to be quiet, and to deliver coffee without interrupting anyone. This job was supposed to teach me how to actually thrive in this industry. My brain is turning into mush.”

 

“Well, it’s mush inside of a very pretty container. I love your shoes,” he smiled at me. Kieran and I had become friendly over the last few months, ever since he showed up at the nightclub with his boyfriend and ran into me there.

 

“Thank you! I got them at that store you told me about. Someone was selling them for two hundred dollars. You’d think, for being eight hundred dollar shoes, they’d be more comfortable and wouldn’t pinch your feet so much,” I whined.

 

“It’s a small price to pay for couture, my dear,” he winked, and went back to his work.

 

I kicked my ridiculously expensive, terrifically uncomfortable shoes off under my desk and pulled my cell phone out. I didn’t have many real responsibilities, other than being on call for coffee runs and other tasks no one else wanted to do, so I was planning to troll social media for a bit. As I opened my phone, I realized I had a missed call. I had saved Karen Flores’ phone number, in the hopes that I’d hear from her sooner rather than later, and it looked like my luck was changing. I had a voicemail from her number, exciting me to the point of panic. As I looked around suspiciously, afraid someone would hear, I listened to her message tell me I had been matched with someone, and that I should call her back right away for the information needed to begin my contract.

 

I slipped those awful shoes back on, and slid my phone into the pocket of my vintage Dior dress I’d found in another thrift shop downtown. “Kieran, I need to take a walk. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

 

“No worries, doll. I’ll be right here.” He waved at me without looking away from his computer. When I first met him, I thought he was so handsome, and I instantly had a crush on him. Until we had our first conversation, when I realized he’d been with his partner for five years, and they were planning to get married at some point. I never would have guessed that he was gay, I just thought he was put together. A man of the city, if you will. It turns out that growing up in a small town just made me clueless. Another reason to be thankful I was out of there.

 

My heart was pounding against my chest by the time I made it to the elevator, and my phone was burning a hole in my pocket. I couldn’t get outside to make the return call fast enough. In just one ring, she answered.

 

“Ms. Flores, it’s Lucinda. Lucinda Quinn, returning your call?” I said apprehensively.

 

“Yes, Miss Quinn. We’ve found a suitable match for you. Can you come down to my office now?”

 

Realizing that I still had another two hours on the clock, I was unsure what to do. “I’m at work, I can try to come as soon as possible?” I said, as if it were a question.

 

“Miss Quinn, you won’t be needing that internship anymore. I’d like to suggest that you come down to see me now, and then make your way to our client’s home. You’re now an employee of Infidelity, and my expectation is that you’ll immediately fulfill your end of the agreement that you signed with us. That is also the expectation of the client who will be paying you twenty thousand dollars per month, plus living expenses, effective immediately.”

 

Twenty thousand dollars a month? Fuck this internship. Holding the phone to my ear, I glanced down at my used shoes, and recycled handbag. “I’ll be there as soon as I can get a taxi.”

 

“That’s what I figured. See you soon, Miss Quinn,” she replied, and hung up.

 

I stared down at my phone, my mouth hanging open. I dialed Kieran’s number, my hands shaking. “Ms. Baldwin’s office,” he answered.

 

“Kieran?” I asked shakily.

 

“Lucinda?” he replied.

 

“Yes, it’s me.”

 

“What’s up, honey?” he asked, clearly doing something else at the same time.

 

“I’m not coming back,” I replied.

 

“You’re what?”

 

“I’m not coming back. I quit,” I said, the words falling out in slow motion as if I were watching them.

 

“What? It’s not that bad. Just come back up here, and talk to her at the end of the day,” he said, sounding surprised.

 

“I took another job. It’s time. I will submit a formal resignation letter this evening, but I wanted you to know that I wouldn’t be coming back up today.”

 

“Are you sure about this, girl? That’s a big opportunity to throw away,” he said.

 

“I think I’ve fetched enough coffee for a lifetime, Kieran. It’s time to move on. I’ve gotten another job, so I’ll be okay,” I said as confidently as I could muster.

 

“Alright honey. I’m going to keep this to myself, and just let Ms. Baldwin know that you had an appointment you needed to get to. I’ll deliver your letter to her personally once you send it. Are you really sure?”

 

Starting to come to terms with the decision I’d just made, I smiled. “I’m sure, Kieran. Call me tomorrow and we can talk if you’d like. But I’ve been working on a few things, and it’s time. Today’s the day.”

 

“Well you are full of surprises, doll. Keep me posted. I have to run, the phones are ringing off the hook today, but I want to know all the details over brunch as soon as possible.”

 

“You got it,” I replied, almost laughing, hanging up. I couldn’t believe what I was doing. I started to giggle, almost manically, before I realized that I needed to get my ass in gear. I flagged down a cab and was on my way to the Infidelity offices in moments. On the fifteen minute ride there, I stared at my phone, wishing briefly that I had someone to tell. Someone in my life I could trust with my excitement; with my secrets.

 

A brief wave of disappointment washed over me as I realized that I was in this alone. I had been for some time, but in that moment, I missed having someone I could share my news with, someone I could confide in. That would be one hundred percent against the rules though. I slipped my phone inside my used Louis Vuitton, running my palm across the soft leather. Smiling, I realized that with the money I was about to earn, I would be able to buy a brand new one at the downtown store soon.