“No,” he confirms. “I think you’ve learned your lesson. And you just need to wise up to the way the world works, Opal. Someone like Brett is never going to end up with a glorified secretary and I think you see that now.”
That did it. I’d felt so afraid I would be fired and now I’m not, but I know I can’t stay working here now. Not after that comment. Mr. Connell is always going to look at me as the naïve idiot who thought she had found her Cinderella story. I stand up. “As I’m only a glorified secretary, I’m sure I won’t be that hard to replace. Mr. Connell, I quit. Effective immediately.” I walk away without giving him the chance to respond, and for the first time since this time yesterday, I feel pretty damned good. It felt good to stand up to Mr. Connell.
The feeling good lasts as long as it takes me to clear out my desk and head outside. I call a cab and as I’m waiting for it, the reality of my situation hits me. I am unemployed and I have pretty much ensured I won’t be getting a good reference from Mr. Connell. And the worst thing? It was all for nothing. Brett doesn’t love me. He’s not even into me. He just used me to manipulate the situation with his father.
By the time the cab arrives, silent tears are pouring down my face.
24
I have barely gotten into my apartment when I know I have to get back out of it again. I was still half expecting Brett to call or text me. I did tell him we should talk after work today. He hasn’t reached out though, and I know Mr. Connell was right. I have been played completely.
The notion hurts my heart, like a real, physical pain that I can’t shake away, and I know if I sit in the apartment, I am going to drive myself nuts berating myself for falling for Brett. I go through to my bedroom and strip out of my work clothes. I’m probably not going to need those for a while. I shake the thought away before the enormity of what I’ve done can hit me.
I go to my wardrobe and angrily pull out a pair of leggings, a sports bra and a crop top. I put them on, jam my feet into my trainers, and pull my hair up into a ponytail. I go to the fridge and grab a bottle of water. I leave the apartment, stuffing my keys into my bra as I don’t have any pockets.
Pounding the pavement, I try to work off all of my anger and my heartbreak. I soon start to feel better, but I know deep down it’s only because I’m moving, and because I’m focusing my energy on my run. I can’t outrun these feelings. They’ll all still be there when I get home.
I run for about twenty minutes and then I turn around and start heading back towards home. I’m going to take a shower and start looking for jobs. And I’m not going to think about Brett at all.
By the time my apartment building comes into sight, I’m down to a slow jog. My body aches and I know I’ll be as stiff as a board in the morning, but right now, I welcome the aching feeling. I can focus on that instead of the pain in my heart.
As I get closer to my apartment building, I see a man sitting on the steps and for a horrible moment, I think it’s Gary again. But it isn’t. It’s Brett.
I think maybe that’s worse. He won’t hurt me physically, but he has the power to hurt me far more than Gary ever has. Seeing Brett sitting on the steps reminds me of that first weekend we spent together. It all started because Gary was sitting on those steps just like that and I didn’t want to have to face him.
I debate turning and running down a side street now, but it’s too late. Brett has already seen me and I won’t give him the satisfaction of thinking he has an effect on me.
He stands as I approach him and he smiles at me.
My heart lurches at the sight of his boyish smile, but I swallow down the feelings that threaten to overwhelm me.
“Opal,” Brett says as I get closer to him.
Digging my keys out of my bra, I ignore him. I open the door without looking at him. He puts his hand on my arm and I ignore the shivers his touch sends through my body. I shrug his hand away. “Go fuck yourself,” I snap as I step into the building.
Brett follows me inside. He gets around in front of me and blocks my path. He grins at me. “I’d rather be fucking you,” he says.
How can he be so blasé about this? Doesn’t he know how badly he has hurt me? He has what he wanted now, can’t he just leave me alone? “Oh, I think it’s fair to say you’ve already done that,” I snap. “Your father told me everything.”
“Told you everything? What exactly did he tell you?” Brett says, looking confused.
I can’t believe he’s still playing his role. “It doesn’t matter. It was enough that I’m done falling for your shit. You got what you wanted Brett. You don’t have to work for your father. And I am left jobless and alone. So thanks for that.”
I start to move around Brett.
He doesn’t move to let me pass.
I sigh. “Really?” I
“Opal please, just sit down here on the stairs and talk to me. Five minutes okay?” he says.
Knowing I should refuse him, I see his eyes burning into mine, pleading with me to hear him out. I sigh again. “Fine.”
I guess it won’t hurt to get some answers. Not that I’m going to believe them and get sucked
