[18+] Mark just wants a quiet life. With plenty of action at work, he has no interest in bringing the drama home with him. But he does need a flatmate, and when blonde bombshell Zoe crashes onto the scene, she's more than he bargained for.
Zoe is a...
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December 2017
ZOE
A cold sensation of dread slithers down my spine as Will stands in front of my desk, delivering an eloquent resignation speech. At one point, his words blur into a distant hum as blood rings through my ears. This is what happens when I fail. When I can't keep people happy. They leave to find someone else who can.
"I hope you understand," he says. "I've learnt so much under you, and in my heart I would love to stay, but I feel I can give more, and The Regent will offer me that."
I breathe out a long sigh and lean back in my chair.
"I do understand. I would never want to hold you back, Will. Is it the title or the money?"
"Both." He passes his resignation letter from hand to hand. "I wouldn't expect the pay rise without the promotion, though."
It would destroy us to lose Will. He's the glue holding this team together. And what about me? I rely on him. I trust him. At the same time, he's good enough for this promotion at The Regent. He deserves it. And right now, I can't give him that because the role he deserves here is already occupied. By me.
Next week will be judgement day. Either I get the Hotel Manager position and promote Will to replace me, or I don't get the position—for the second time—and I'm the one who hands in their notice. Whatever the outcome, there will be an open spot for Will.
"Have you signed a contract with them yet?" I ask.
"Not yet."
"Can you give me a week?"
He stops fiddling with the letter. "A week?"
"You can tell them your current employer is trying to negotiate. It might even get them to increase their offer."
"And is that what you're doing?" His brow furrows. "Negotiating?"
Hopefully he doesn't think I'm stringing him along; he should know me better than that. Still, if he is going to trust me enough to put his other offer on hold, I owe him the same.
"This is confidential, so don't repeat it to anyone." I sit up in my chair and rest my forearms on the desk. "I have an interview for the Hotel Manager position next week. If I get it, I'll promote you."
His eyebrows shoot up. "Wow, Zoe. That's great. Your interview, I mean." A softer smile lifts his mouth. "You'd make a great Hotel Manager. I'd be honoured to work with you."
"Thanks. I'm sure there are other great candidates, too. We'll see." I don't tell him it's not my first time trying. That won't exactly fill him with confidence.
"I can wait a week." He shoves the letter into his back pocket. "Even if just to buy you a congratulations drink."
