The Delivery Girl

17. Cookies

Julie

I stand on my toes to peek over Mr. Sterling's tensed shoulder. I can't believe he defended me so strongly.

He's just being a decent human being, I tell myself. Don't overthink it.

My heart pounds as this woman furiously glares at me. She has wavy black hair and pale skin with dark circles under her eyes. She's very thin and wearing a short dress that's too cold for this weather. I can tell she must have been beautiful at one point, but something has worn her down. She's been hurting for a long time.

She looks vaguely familiar but I can't seem to put my finger on who she is.

Who is she and what could she possibly be this mad about?

"Do we really have to do this again?" Mr. Sterling groans.

She scoffs. "You're still not ready to do what's right?"

Curiosity gets the better of me and I speak up. "Um, what's going on?" I ask meekly.

"Callen ruined my life!" she shrieks. "I was at the top of my career, and I lost everything because of him."

Mr. Sterling doesn't even flinch. "You're fucking delusional if you think you're in the right here."

I suddenly realize why this woman looks so familiar. "Oh my gosh!" I gasp, stepping out from behind Mr. Sterling. "You're Maddie Gretchen."

The supermodel who had been on every magazine cover and walked in every fashion show. She modelled products for every high end, luxury brand out there.

She was at the top of her career before she seemingly disappeared after the scandal a few years ago. It was leaked that she had cheated on her husband. According to Casey, Maddie ended up in rehab for a drug addiction soon afterwards.

My stomach sinks as I quickly put two and two together. He's the one she cheated with?! I guess when you're as attractive and powerful as Mr. Sterling, you can probably get away with anything.

Just a cliché, rich playboy.

Maybe I was naive to think he might be different.

Mr. Sterling looks at me and sighs. "It's not what you think," he says, apparently reading my mind.

I find my gaze falling to the floor, unable to make eye contact with him anymore.

"I'm sure it's exactly what she thinks," she snaps before looking at me directly. Her dark brown eyes are cold and piercing. "After the story was leaked, my ex took the house, kids, cars, and money in the divorce. My friends wouldn't speak to me and companies stopped reaching out with jobs. All because Callen here chose to sleep with a married woman."

I decide not to point out that she was a married woman who chose to cheat on her husband – I'm too afraid of what she might do to me. But regardless, they're two consenting adults who both chose to do one of the most disgusting, hurtful things you can to a relationship.

"So... what are you here for?" I ask.

"Callen needs to make it up to me." She crosses her arms and returns her attention to him. "Do you know how many stupid foreign commercials I've done since the last time I was here?! I'm barely scraping by."

"Nothing is stopping you from getting a regular job," he says and points behind us to our building. "The hair salon on the third floor is looking for a receptionist."

"I'm too talented for a job like that." She wrinkles her nose in disgust.

Mr. Sterling sighs tiredly before taking his chequebook out of his pocket. He quickly fills one and tears it out, handing it to Maddie.