The Darker Exterior

Chapter 17

My jaw nearly fell to the floor.

"You know goddamn well that is never going to happen. I can't let that happen. I won't," I respond," standing up abruptly and backing away slowly.

"You technically have a choice, Aurelia, but consider your options," he stood up and walked to where I stood, towering over me, "you could be my plus one, maybe my girlfriend officially later, get all of the benefits, appease the public, shop for designer clothes, get out of that ratty apartment, and live a lavish life. You wouldn't need to work as my employee any longer. You know it's the better choice. Your alternative," he crossed his arms, "is you're fired, removed from the script of this business, relocated, possibly sued. You'd lose your job, your apartment, and your belongings. You'd be ruined. And a pretty girl like you needs a  job like this. Think about it, what would you do?"

"So you're threatening me?" I ask in disbelief.

"Call it what you will. You have until the end of the week to make a decision," he replied, taking one late look at me before retreating to his desk, "I expect your decision in paper, on my desk, next Monday. Until then, you will act the same way you always have. You're dismissed."

I stood firm, my feet frozen to the ground.

"Ford Gainer, you're a terrible person," I utter, turning my back to him.

"Never use that last name on me again, Aurelia, I'm warning you," he gritted out as I walked out of his office, slamming the door behind me. I was lucky there were only a few people in their cubicles before me.

This whole situation was insane and out of hand. And yet, I could feel myself yearning to call Atticus. To tell him what was going on.

But I couldn't. He was one of the reasons I was in this mess in the first place.

I couldn't breathe. everything was too loud and too quiet at the same time. Without reacting, I stood up abruptly and began to hastily walk toward the women's restroom. As soon as I made it inside, I collapsed on the freshly cleaned floor and threw up.

Shaking, I grasped onto the toilet bowl and looked down in disbelief. I hadn't panicked as hard as I was in so no I almost forgot what it was like.

I worked every day for ford, making his coffee, scheduling his trips, working overtime... and this is what I get? To be treated like some kind of cheap whore trophy wife?

I cleaned myself up and tested my shaky legs before glancing at myself in the mirror. I didn't look too disheveled. It was almost scary, the stark contrast between the way I looked and felt.

And soon, I was back at my desk, staring into space at the blank wall across from me. Things weren't making sense, and everything was still foggy.

Write it down

I took out my notepad and clicked a pen in my hand, shakily beginning to write down all of my pros and cons. It did feel like I was in a middle school English class, but once I had finished, I tore the paper out and stared at it for a few minutes.

I don't think I can do this.

I worked through the day in a daze, the weight of my future decision looming over me like a dark cloud, rumbling through my veins. The hours passed by one by one, each tick of the clock hours apart, until it was five, and I was ready to be gone.

I looked back at Ford's office. He was standing, looking out the window, his cell phone to his ear. This was my chance.

I slipped everything into my bag and slugged it across my shoulder before standing up, pushing my chair in, and starting to pace down the hall. I tried to walk at a respectable pace, I didn't want to draw any unnecessary attention to myself if I didn't have to.