Old & Knew

THREE

AVA

I hung up from JL, pleased to partner with him on my next venture. After leaving the biggest publicity agency in the U.S, this was indeed a win. I sat in my entry level position for years awaiting the opportunity to move up, hell, at least adjacent to marketing management. But it never came. I held on longer than I should've too. Despite the rumors, layoffs and interoffice dramas, I maintained hope that working hard would pay off. For me, it didn't.

While doing my best for my work ethic to be recognized, I turned a blind eye to the gossip about Sabryna that regularly streamed in from the Aidan office. I even gave her the benefit of the doubt that her rocketed promotions were for working the industry and not a partner's couch. But when Mason Diggs himself summoned me to his office suite and aired out how my former bestie sucked his dick for a bigger paycheck and a title, I was done.

She left without even a good bye, and we hadn't spoken since. Her antics and our friendship set a precedent with Mr. Diggs though. And dealing with the aftermath of his expectations of pussy prompted promotions were more than enough conversation without awaiting her excuses.

What hurt more than the trail of destruction she left behind, was that if anyone in that entire agency could've been honest with me, it should've been Sabryna. Because who was I to judge. Hell, on the day we met, I was practically ready to pole dance for my position. So, how much could I really blame her for fucking our boss then using it to her advantage, especially when three blind mice could see that was going to happen anyway.

Still, I thought she was my girl. I also thought I had released all of the negative feelings attached to her. That is, until JL sat next to me on that flight. In the airport, I spotted him long before he did me. A part of me wanted to high five him for blowing up her life. For a while, that shit was pleasingly ugly. 

Don't judge. I'm petty not perfect.

That's why I prayed hard he would be close enough to me in first class that I could be nosey while enjoying a personal account of their marital mess that had been all over the news. But when he sat right beside me, mesmerizing me with that damn multi million dollar smile, the idea of payback for a woman who didn't care enough to acknowledge my existence quickly waned.

In that moment, I realized I had grown too much to go backwards, and that felt better than any semblance of revenge. So, I donned my mask, turned up the volume in my earbuds to tune him out with the hope that I would sleep through the flight.

After a terrifying trip, I couldn't break free of JL's charm. And with the vast amount of glob-fish in the dating sea, it was nice to have a decent looking man appreciate my presence. Yes, I could've grabbed my luggage sooner, but I had a selfish moment and used it to reload an ample amount of my self esteem. I never meant for him to see me after I left him on the curb though. Yet, I had not only seen him once, but made plans to meet with him again. Was it for the best or for payback? I'm still trying to figure that out.

"Are you going to tell him you know his wife?"

I spun my chair to face my mother standing in the recording studio doorway. 

"No, Ma. I'm not. That has nothing to do with getting people to support this business."

And I didn't want to bring up my connection with her if he didn't.

"You don't think he's ever going to find out?"

"Unless it miraculously comes up during these interviews, it won't have the chance. Dealing with him is about getting ReGenesis' name out there, nothing else."

"I don't know. Reggie said that man was chasing after you like a hound in heat. I don't think having a work only relationship with him will be that easy."