Total pages in book: 52
Estimated words: 52699 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 263(@200wpm)___ 211(@250wpm)___ 176(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52699 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 263(@200wpm)___ 211(@250wpm)___ 176(@300wpm)
I stopped listening. I’d mastered tuning out everything that came after his “but” over the years.
He was the king of making the world feel so small, reminding me that he was my first for a reason, and even though I knew him inside and out, I’d learned never to lead him past the front door of my heart.
I didn’t allow him to roam any other rooms; I was too scared for him to use my weaknesses against me in a potential demolition.
“You understand?” He pressed a chaste kiss against my forehead, signaling that his unhinged rant was over. “What interview did you have today?”
“Hamilton & Associates.”
“I could’ve sworn I told you not to go to that one.” He sighed. “In the off chance that they take sympathy and hire you, you won’t last longer than a week.”
“Just because your friend didn’t make it there, that has nothing to do with me.”
“I’m sorry I ever mentioned it then.” He didn’t look genuine at all. “Are we having sex tonight or what?”
“No, Frank.” I was utterly repulsed and wondered if our current “off” season needed to be our last one. “You’re welcome to stay for ice cream and Law & Order, though.”
“Okay, then.” He moved past me. “Which of the cats do you want to keep?”
“What do you mean?”
“We bought Olivia and Elliot together,” he said. “It’s not fair that you keep both every time we break up, and then I’m left waiting until you come back.”
“Frank, please stop.”
“I’ll take Elliot.” He scooped him up from the couch. “Let me know when you want to come clean about the cheating or when you’re finally ready to act like a real girlfriend.”
“Stop!” I tried to snatch Elliot, but he turned away and sprinted out of my apartment.
I ran after him to get my cat, nearly spraining my ankle, but he was too fast.
I called him repeatedly, begging him to answer, but he hit ignore every time.
As I hit his name again, an unknown number crossed my screen.
“Hello?” I groaned.
“Is this a bad time, Miss Tanner?” Mr. Not Guilty’s deep voice caught me entirely off guard. Despite searching through the hundreds of other lawyers on the firm’s website, I still hadn't found his name or profile.
“Oh, no.” I immediately changed my tone. “Not at all. Good evening.”
“Good evening.” He paused. “I wanted to thank you for coming in today, but unfortunately, we won’t be able to hire you.”
“Why not?”
“What?”
“I said, ‘Why not?” I repeated.
“We don’t have to discuss our hiring processes with people we don’t want.”
“Is this about the crash?” I asked. “Did I ruin my chances by leaving you on the bridge?”
“Miss Tanner, there are tons of other qualified applicants who would love to work at our firm.”
“I’m aware,” I said. “I watched everyone who went in, chatted with them when they left, and pulled up their resumes on my way home. I was the best candidate today, by far.”
His low laughter came over the line, and butterflies took flight in my stomach.
“How humble of you,” he said. “We couldn’t verify the ‘A’ in the class you mentioned.”
“Well, I definitely didn’t make that part up.”
“Are you admitting to making up other things?”
I said nothing.
“There are plenty of other firms you can apply to in the meantime,” he said. “I’m sure they’ll be happy to have you.”
“Thank you for stating the obvious, sir.”
“Are you getting an attitude with me?”
“No, but I’m curious.” I was pissed they didn’t just send an email. “Do you normally call the people you’re not hiring at ten o’clock at night, or are you that bored?”
He hung up.
PROVE (V.)
V. TO PRESENT EVIDENCE AND/OR LOGIC THAT MAKES A FACT SEEM CERTAIN
DAMIEN
Subject: Your Therapist Appointment
Mr. Carter,
As I’ve mentioned to you several times before, the more you reschedule your appointment, the more your condition will worsen.
It’s not healthy to sleep in two and three-hour spurts for extended periods, and you will eventually suffer a mental breakdown.
We need to work together to prevent this, and I’ve been studying several new treatments. Whenever you make the right decision, perhaps you’ll be inspired to say more than “I don’t feel like talking.”
I’m willing to come to your office if you cannot come to me. I can also come to your condo.
Please allow me to help you.
Sincerely,
Dr. J. Mathis
I don’t feel like talking.
I sent his email to spam like always and poured a shot of whiskey.
Tonight was a deep research night for me, and I was determined to discover that I was correct about the grade I never gave to Miss Tanner.
Since Harvard refused to send me a copy of all my teaching records, I had to sift through every term paper I’d ever read.
So far, all I’d found were the same drab ‘C’ and ‘D’ works. This task was also a much-needed reminder of why I needed to turn down teaching online courses for a while.