Chapter 10

___________________

Rose

I HARDLY HAD TIME to stop and catch my breath in the week that passed. Between putting together the makeover piece and gearing up for our first male article, my days were filled. Instead of answering Confused & Unhappy in the way I really wanted to, which was dump the bitch you’re with and here’s my number, I listened to the logical side of my brain. It had been four days since I responded, and I had yet to hear back from him. I sat at my desk and refreshed my email, hoping for some type of reply, but came up empty. I went into my sent files and re-read the advice I had given him a few days ago.

Dear Confused & Unhappy,

I would go with your gut on this one. If you want to know for certain then ask her before the trip but know that her reply may cancel the trip altogether, depending on the outcome. If you just want to go, have a good time and temporarily put your doubts on the backburner, then ask her after the trip, again knowing it may not end in the manner you had hoped for. Whatever you do, do not ask her while you are on the trip, otherwise you’ll be stuck with each other, arguing for the rest of your time there. Whatever the choice you make, I hope it works out…remember, the outcome may sting a little, but it will eventually subside. Good luck!

~ Miss Demeanor

I read the last sentence over again. I had made it sound so final, maybe that’s why I hadn’t heard back from him. Perhaps, he went with my advice and wasn’t happy with the outcome or maybe she really was in love with him and not using him for his money like I’d thought. She was getting her happily ever after with my Prince Charming who magically showed up in my inbox. I was losing it. I had fallen for someone online just because he had the one thing I was after in a man—money. I was being totally ridiculous. For all I knew, he could’ve been some crazy psychotic killer who kept bodies in his basement and not at all the wealthy, successful person he portrayed behind the screen. Get over it, there are hundreds of rich, suitable men in New York City. I’ll find one in person—not over the Internet.

I lifted my head to the faint knock on my door. “Ready for the meeting?” Marisa asked, standing in my doorway, looking out of sorts.

“Oh yeah, let me grab my notebook…I’ve got lots of ideas to hopefully piss Alex off some more.”

She managed her best smile, but I could tell something was definitely wrong.

“Is everything okay, Marisa?”

She nodded, and tears welled in her eyes.

“Oh my god, what happened?” I blurted out when she turned her head, and I couldn’t help but notice the bad makeup job she did trying to conceal the black and blue mark on the side of her face.

“It’s nothing…really.” She walked ahead of me to avoid my inquisition.

It was definitely something, and even if she was too scared to tell me, I was going to find out what it was. She filed into the conference room, making sure to take a seat far away, trying to dodge any more questions from me, no doubt. I took a seat between Lucy and Kent, happy I was spared from sitting next to Mr. Personality this week.

“Nice shoes,” Kent remarked.

“Thanks.” I smiled. Whenever I needed a compliment, Kent was the one to go to. I paid close attention to Marisa with her face buried in her phone. When she lifted her head, her eyes were even glassier than before. Something was definitely not right. She wasn’t in her right frame of mind. Alex walked in behind Mr. Andrews, and I got angry when I realized I was checking him out a little longer than I should have. I couldn’t lie, even to myself, despite the fact he was an arrogant prick whose bank account was probably as small as his personality…he was a nice-looking guy.

Mr. Andrews started the meeting with his normal bad jokes that everyone feigned laughter over then went around the table for our weekly updates and suggestions.

“So, Alex, have you thought of any ideas on how to incorporate the female staff into being a part of Him?”

All eyes were on him as he picked his head up from whatever he was paying attention to on his phone. I impatiently waited for his answer, knowing how much he didn’t want for this to happen. “Actually, I have.” He was upbeat with his reply, not at all what I was expecting.

“Okay, let’s hear it.”

“I was thinking about having them do something that’s the exact opposite of what they would normally do and then write an article on the experience.”

“Such as…” Mr. Andrews waited for him to elaborate.

“Like Laurie hates sports, so maybe have her go with Keith when he’s covering a game and write about the experience.”

“I like that idea. What are your suggestions for some of the other women?”

He cleared his throat. “I, umm haven’t really thought about it. I wanted to bounce the idea off you first and see what you thought about it.”

“I love it.” Mr. Andrews adjusted his glasses and looked my way. “What would you suggest having Rose do for her article?”

My face heated when I sensed all eyes on me. I dropped my head and stared at the table, just imagining what horrible adventure he was conjuring up. Skydiving. Fire juggling. Swimming with sharks. The possibilities were endless.

“I-I, umm…like I said, I really haven’t thought much about any of the others.”

“Surely you must have something in mind for Rose,” Mr. Andrews badgered.

Why was Mr. Andrews doing this? I thought he liked me.

I peered up from the table for a brief second. Alex shrugged his shoulders, seeming just as distraught as I was. “I-I...I guess maybe, have her volunteer at a homeless shelter.”

Oh, God. He couldn’t be serious. Me…volunteering in a homeless shelter? I’d rather take my chances with some of the other alternatives I was certain he had in mind for me. I lifted my head and caught his gaze, expressing my irritation, which only seemed to fuel his ridiculous plan even more, as a slow, satisfying smirk spread across his face.

“Actually, now that I think about it more, that would be a really great idea. I’m sure Rose has never done anything like that before in her life. Maybe it will do her some good.” Alex grimaced.

I pursed my lips, shooting him daggers with my eyes. He met my glare with the same intensity.

Mr. Andrews raised an eyebrow, appearing to be deep in thought. I waited in angst for him to rescue me from this ludicrous idea his nephew had set in motion. “That’s brilliant, Alex.”

“What?” I whispered. There was no way I was doing this. None. I’d donate some old clothes, I’d have my father write out a check for food, but there was no way in hell I was setting foot into some dirty old homeless shelter.

“Although, I don’t know how safe it is for a young woman like Rose who doesn’t have any experience with this type of situation going at this alone, so, Alex, you’re gonna go with her.”

“Uh…no!” He shook his head.

“You volunteer all the time, so just bring Rose along with you,” Mr. Andrews reasoned as if it were no big deal, completely overlooking the fact we hated each other’s guts.

Suddenly that dirty old homeless shelter didn’t seem so bad when I sensed the frustration on Alex’s face as he struggled to get out of the corner he had backed himself into.

“I’m sure Rose will be just fine going by herself.” Alex played it off, trying his hardest to veer off topic.

“Actually, I wouldn’t feel too safe doing that on my own.” As much as I didn’t want to go with Alex or at all for that matter…I was going to make him pay for his little game he was playing.

“I agree,” Mr. Andrews chimed in. “Then it’s settled. You’ll go with Alex.”

I lowered my head, stifling my laughter as he let out a frustrated breath and raked his hand through his dark wavy hair. Being in his company for longer than five minutes was torture, so this was going to be pure hell. But he was the one who started this game. Now I’d be the one to end it—at his expense, of course.