Total pages in book: 64
Estimated words: 62404 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 312(@200wpm)___ 250(@250wpm)___ 208(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62404 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 312(@200wpm)___ 250(@250wpm)___ 208(@300wpm)
He stands, waving a hand at me while saying with a chuckle, “Okay, boss.”
Chapter 14
Not my home, bitch
Oriana
I found a job.
I’ve been applying for weeks for pretty much anything and everything and finally, something came through the other night. I didn’t see it until I woke up the following morning, but I smiled as I read the email.
* * *
Congratulations, you have been awarded the position of…
* * *
I won the position.
All by myself.
I wonder if they called Kyler for a reference.
I did put him down as a referee and sent him a message that I was doing so, but he never replied.
Does it bother him that I’m looking for work? He was more than happy to have me do everything for him.
I had an interview for this one over the phone, and a Zoom call as well. I wasn’t sure I would get the position, as I don’t have much experience in managing multiple people, but what a surprise. I guess when they find out you were a personal assistant to one of the biggest stars in the world, that helps.
I start on Monday, helping an agency of personal assistants to the stars. We hire and assign each one individually.
Working for myself and not for my husband feels good.
I jump out of bed to go tell Harvey the good news, but when I get to his room, I find he isn’t there. Deciding to go out for breakfast by myself seems like the best plan. Celebrate by myself.
After dressing in jeans and a cropped shirt, I put on a large hat, sunglasses, and a pair of boots. It doesn’t take me long to arrive at a local café that makes the best breakfast. When I sit down, my phone starts ringing. When I look at it, Kyler’s face flashes on my screen.
I forgot to change it.
I bite the inside of my cheek as I stare at his face, a picture of him one night after we went out. He’s looking up at me as I snap it from two steps above him. He was waiting for me, and I told him to smile. Instead, he chose not to, holding out his hand and saying we should go.
I love that picture. It’s a mixture of my wife is impossible and the hidden smirk that lingered, which told me he was thinking my wife is cute.
Maybe I made all that up in my head.
But I still loved him either way.
The question right now is, why is he calling me?
My birthday was yesterday, and I didn’t hear a word from him. So why now?
I’m almost too afraid to answer, so I sit there and let it ring out. Not touching it in case I accidentally press accept.
When the screen goes black, a sigh of relief leaves me.
Then it starts again vibrating and loudly chirping with his face looking at me.
The waiter places my food in front of me. A stack of fancy syrupy pancakes, with cotton candy sprinkled all over them with berries and gold flakes. But I’m too busy looking at my phone to appreciate the yummy food in front of me.
When it stops the second time, I reach out to switch my phone off. But before I can, he calls again.
Nope.
Nope.
Nope.
Why would he do that?
When I finally have it powered down, I slide it into my bag and eat my pancakes. They don’t taste the same as I hoped they would. I think because now I’m not so excited about everything. Kyler has a habit of spoiling my mood and even though I didn’t pick the phone up, I still feel like whatever he was going to say has soured my state of mind. I’m disappointed that my day has been ruined. Goddamn him.
I eat half the pancakes, drink my coffee, and then decide to leave. No point sitting here dwelling. Why can’t he leave me alone? I know I have to get on with my life, and I am trying so hard to do that. One unanswered phone call from Kyler, and I am back at square one.
Turning my phone back on as I walk out the door of the café, multiple messages come through one after the other. All from Kyler.
* * *
Kyler: Call me.
Kyler: Now.
Kyler: Oriana, this isn’t a joke.
Kyler: Call me.
Kyler: This is urgent.
* * *
I debate not calling him back. He does not deserve to talk to me, but if it’s urgent, how can I not? It would be irresponsible, right?
So pressing call, he answers on the first ring.
“You need to come home. Now.”
“I’m almost home,” I answer.
“You are?” I look up at Harvey’s house and smile.
“Yep.”
I hear rustling before he says, “I’m standing out front. Where are you coming from?”
My feet freeze as I look at Harvey’s place, but I don’t see anyone there.
“You’re here?”