Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 58211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 291(@200wpm)___ 233(@250wpm)___ 194(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 291(@200wpm)___ 233(@250wpm)___ 194(@300wpm)
She’s not at her desk.
Perhaps she’s gone to HR. Another mess I’m unable to clean up.
Me: Any news from the douchebag? I text around an hour later, the most unproductive hour of my working life.
Holly: Nothing yet. I’ll keep you updated. How’s your day going apart from all this craziness?
Me: Terribly, I tell her. One of my employees, Mia, has been making eyes at me. We had an interaction at a bar, too, where I got the same vibes. Earlier, I snapped, telling her I wouldn’t sleep with my employees. My best friend’s sister, sure, but not my employees … That’s how much of a hero I am.
Holly: Whoa, you ARE in a dark mood.
Me: Can you blame me?
Holly: Have you spoken to Mia?
Me: Not yet. She disappeared, probably to get my ass fired. After everything we’ve done, it’s better than I deserve. I almost told Dan earlier. He came by to talk about his date. He was so happy; I couldn’t bring myself to do it.
Holly: I’m sorry for how things went with Mia, she texts. Thank you for not telling Dan. I still think there’s a way out of this.
Me: Is there a way that includes us being together, Snowflake?
Holly: You know the answer to that. I will say (and this is bad, major mixed signals territory) I’m relieved you haven’t got another Mia on your Christmas list.
I smile despite myself, despite everything.
Me: There’s only one woman on my list, and I’m her not-so-secret Santa.
Holly: Whatever else happens, we’ll always have those memories. You at the toy drive. The dinner. The climbing center …
Me: They might seem small to other people, but to me, Snowflake, they’re everything.
Holly: I feel exactly the same.
I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to let her go. Let’s say I continue working here—which was always the plan—how will I handle seeing her around the office, maybe with other men? How am I going to survive knowing we can never be together?
When Mia returns to the office, I approach her desk. I can’t let my bad mood infect everybody else.
“Mia, can we talk?”
She looks up at me with panic in her eyes.
In my office, I say, “I shouldn’t have spoken to you like that.”
You see, it’s just that the idea of being with anybody other than my Snowflake is anathema to me.
“I think I’ve given the wrong impression, sir,” she mutters. “I never wanted … that. It was just before your predecessor left. She mentioned I might be able to get a raise. I’ve been trying to figure out how best to raise the topic. I don’t want to be presumptuous, but …”
I laugh, shaking my head in disbelief. I have been an ass.
“I’m not laughing at you,” I tell her quickly. “I just can’t believe how wrong I was. I’m sorry, Mia, truly. Let me find my footing. I’ll keep a close eye on you and review your previous projects, too. I’ll also assess my predecessor’s notes.”
She smiles. “Thank you.”
“No, thank you for not flying off the handle at me. You had every right after how I behaved earlier.”
“I’ve got a boyfriend,” Mia mutters. “Just so you know …”
“I’ve got a girlfriend,” I say reflexively.
She leaves. Why did I say that? Oh, that’s right.
I want it to be true.
I do my best to focus on my work. Before I came here, it was my main passion in life. It was like meditation. I could sit at my desk, home in on a project, and hours would go by without realizing it.
Not anymore.
Maybe I need a no-cell phone policy. I leap on it when it rings.
Snowflake? I almost say before I hear Mom’s voice.
“Asher?” As usual, she sounds apologetic.
“Mom? Is everything okay?”
“My volunteer team leader at the church has received some disturbing emails. They mention you and Holly. I’m so sorry to do this.”
“What sort of emails?” I growl.
“Calling you and Holly vicious, ugly names, names I won’t repeat. He’s saying he has videos of me from …” She sniffles, barely holding back tears. “… from when I was an addict. An active addict, I mean.”
I curl my hand into a fist, ready to tear his throat out. “Are you at home?”
“Yes.”
“I’m coming right to you. Stay where you are. I love you, Mom. You don’t need to worry.”
I hang up, then call Holly.
“Asher …”
“He’s emailing my mom’s volunteer team leader at the church,” I snap. “Calling you and me names, threatening he has videos of my mother. He’s gone off the goddamn rails. We need to kill his leverage so he can get the punishment he deserves.”
“Kill his leverage, meaning …”
“Tell Dan.”
She sighs. “I—oh, fuck—I don’t know. What are you doing now?”
“I’m going to see Mom. She needs to be comforted. Do you want to come?”
She gasps. “Do you want me to?”
I didn’t plan on making the offer, but now that I have, I know I want her there. “She cares about you.” We both do.