Miss Unattainable

4

Ann Mei ended up taking the day off, and called an Uber to get the both of them to her apartment as fast as possible. She kept a loose grip on Georgie's wrist, like she was afraid she was gonna run.

Georgie tried to persuade Ann Mei out of accompanying her to her condo. It was truly the last thing she needed, another reminder of how successful Ann Mei had become, and how much she had lost. She didn't say anything as she was led through a very nice lobby into a busy elevator bay, Ann Mei's hold on her not wavering. Every once in a while Georgie caught the other woman staring at her, a panicked look on her face.

Entering a beautiful modern living room, Georgie was reminded of the life that she had lost. Her right was a huge mirror, and she finally got a good look at how decrepit she looked. Roaming the streets of Toronto for two days would do that to a person. Staring at the mess of what used to be her hair at Georgie turning away, not wanting to see it anymore.

Her hair used to always be something she was so proud of, part of who she was. Her mother had always taken care of her hair for her, before she died. It was some of her fondest memories, her mother braiding her hair for her. She used to be Georgianna DeAngelis, the girl with the great hair. It used to creep just over her hip bones naturally, but with the extensions she had gotten every year since her 15th birthday, it reached her upper thigh. She spent a lifetime getting compliments on it, until she hacked it all off in a manic drunken haze at 25 after her life fell apart. The nurses in the ward had tried to straighten it out for her, but it had never been the same again.

Georgie had never worn her hair past her shoulder since then. It was a reminder of everything she lost, and how much had changed. She realized she'd been standing staring at herself in the mirror for God knows how long, Ann Mei had gone off somewhere. She took a moment to take in the woman's space. It was very clean, modern, with minimal stuff— but clearly expensive. Exactly what she would've expected. Ann Mei had come from the foster system, from nothing, and was able to build all of this on her own.

It was something that Papa reminded her about frequently. People like him and Ann Mei were different, they were smarter, sharper, because they had to be. He was fond of saying how much Ann Mei and Jeremy were similar— hard-working, diligent, and loyal. She wasn't like them. She knew that Ann Mei and Jeremy were better people than she was, honestly, then she'd ever be.

The sound of footsteps indicated Ann Mei was back. The woman frowned, avoiding looking at Georgie. Her fury from earlier, almost completely invisible. But Georgie knew Ann Mei. It lingered beneath the surface, brewing. "I've just run a bath ... for you. And ... there's some clean clothes next to the sink," she said. Georgie just nodded, leaving her shoes at the door and following her old colleague deeper into her apartment.

When they reach the bathroom door, they both stood awkwardly for a moment. Ann Mei gestured inside. "I'll... I'll be sitting outside the bathroom, ok?" she said, her voice quiet. Georgie stiffened. "My God Ann Mei!" She cried out in disbelief. "You don't need to watch me. I won't drown myself in your bathtub." Ann Mei flinched. More softly, Georgie added "I- I'm sorry. I wouldn't do that to you. Especially not after ... "

Ann Mei nodded, and Georgie hurried inside, locking the door behind her. She heard the other woman sit down, and wanted to scream with exasperation. She hated being treated like she was breakable. Before.... she had been a lot worse than she was now. Ann Mei hadn't been there then. Georgie was sure she heard about it in the news. It was hard not to. Angelis Investments filing a chapter seven, followed by her own family estate filing OA bankruptcy, and then the DUI and disorderly conduct charges. It was front page news in more than just the financial world.

Georgie imagined it must've been satisfying. Watching the person who ruined you, ruin themself. After all was said and done, with a criminal record in hand, she left behind Georgianna DeAngelis of NY state, and stepped into Georgie Sutton of Ontario. And strangely enough, her old life had crashed into her new.

Georgie scrubbed at her skin until it hurt. She raked shampoo on what was left of her hair, crying softly in the process. A hand knocked at the door. Ann Mei. "Still alive," Georgie called coldly, before climbing out of the tub. Ann Mei didn't bother answering that. Pulling on the borrowed clothes, she used the new toothbrush Ann Mei had left and washed her face. This was all ridiculously familiar.

Ann Mei had taken care of her during her internship, back when she was a poorly functioning addict. Georgie didn't remember most of those nights, too busy networking and getting her father new clients, but she did remember Ann Mei taking her home. She used to run her a bath, then too. And sit in the room with her so she didn't drown if she accidentally fell asleep. But in the morning, Ann Mei would never mention it. Georgie was never sure if she just made it up in some drunken stupor, desperate for Ann Mei's affection, or if it really happened.

Soon enough, Ann Mei would be rid of her again. After all, her Papa wasn't around to give her a 50k bonus for it, anyway. Despite her claiming otherwise now, it was pretty obvious how much she had hated Georgie, and the whole office knew she only put up with her for the money.

She had met Ann Mei at a case competition in Seattle back when she was a freshman at NYU. It felt like a lifetime ago now. Ann Mei's team, UPenn, of course took top place. NYU took second. When Gianna bounded over to congratulate the winners after the award ceremony, she had been particularly struck by Ann Mei's wit and intelligence.

"Ann Mei, right? I'm Gianna! From NYU. I just wanted to say I was really impressed by your quick thinking. I mean, I would've never thought of that," she complimented. Ann Mei just stared at her, arms crossed. Gianna continued, unperturbed. "You know, my father works at a company that's looking for new grads with that kind of skillset," she added, smiling. Ann Mei shook her head, sighing. "Look. I'm not interested," she said coolly, the rest of her and Gianna's team looking awkwardly at her tone.

"Oh uhm, no worries! I just thought I'd mention it! You know, put in a good word," Gianna recovered, winking. Ann Mei just looked at her coldly. "No thanks. I like to earn my place," she answered, turning away. She wasn't wrong, but the implication was cruel. Gianna's team had genuinely worked hard for the competition, and they had been happy to receive second place. A few of Gianna's teammates sucked in air at that statement. Gianna's face fell. She wasn't trying to rub in that she was the daughter of a CEO, but rather try to help another student. A very pretty student at that.

"It's fine, Gianna. You don't need to give your help to people who are ungrateful," one of her teammates said loudly, putting an arm around her shoulders. She didn't really remember the rest of that evening, other than having a wild night drinking and partying with her classmates.

At some point, she must've mentioned it to her father, gushing about the super smart junior from UPenn. And when Ann Mei graduated, Gianna's father made her an offer significantly more generous than the going rate and her other offers. Georgie didn't realize what she had been setting herself up for at the time— a lifetime of being second-best.