Sleeping With a Friend

Chapter Twenty-Eight

If I was on Survivor and had to do sit in a truth session where I'd just stare at the camera, I'd spill all my secrets of the past few months. How I hated hurting people, how I hated to be hurt over again, how I managed at one point to make sure that everyone hated me and I couldn't even recognize who I was if you gave me a mirror to look at. That's how I felt now, I knew I screwed up many times with the people around me, but at least Sophie and I were still friends. Although, sometimes it felt like we were just friends for tabloids, as if the paparazzi were following us around and selling our pictures for thousands of dollars, if only that was the case.

At times I also thought my life just revolved around Sophie and the things that she did and the friends that she had. After all, that's how it was in college. I took the same core classes with her so that I wouldn't be alone, I let her pick the apartment, the guys I almost dated. At least I was smart enough then to choose a different career path.

That's another thing, my career. The big promotion has yet to be announce and after my presentation last week, I think I have a pretty good shot at it. My opponent, however, doing an amazing job as usual. If I couldn't prove I had control over my social life, I had to prove that I could control my career path. It was all I ever thought about doing and I'd be damned if I let someone take that away from me. Even if that meant doing some coffee runs here and there for my coworkers.

After Michael left my apartment I felt a relief off of my shoulders after I sat alone for a little while. I didn't actually fall asleep until late which gave me time to think things over thoroughly and effectively. Here's what I came up with: 1) Sophie was going to get married to Luke, whether she'd tell me the reason they rushed, well I'll never know; 2) I was glad Michael had left because him knowing things were over (maybe for the wrong reasons) meant that I didn't have to pretend I was happy anymore, I could be happy being alone for once; 3) I had to make things right with Ashton. Not so that we could be together in that way, but for the fact that our friendship was great while it lasted. He brought out a great side in me I didn't even know existed and I wish every day that I can bring it back out by myself. I was such a bitch to him those nights, but I had a right to and I think he understood that. And a part of me wanted to punch myself right in the arm for walking away that night. A lot has changed since we first met between everyone around us. Maybe down the road we could be together, but not right now, for once I needed to focus on myself and the things that I needed.

When I woke up today, a Wednesday, meaning it had been a whole week since I gave my presentation and a week and a half since I had this revelation within myself. Honestly it had felt like I went on a personal retreat, this whole doing things for myself was going great. I had managed to throw out majority of the contents of my closet and draws with packages of new ones. I had also successfully found a new place to live, a small townhouse with reasonable rent—and no it's not anywhere near Ashton's, it was actually right in the heart of downtown, only a few blocks away from my apartment now. I was successfully reinventing myself without anyone else's help. Well, maybe I'd need some movers, but that's it, no one else's.

I sat at my desk, staring off into space and pretending like I had something to do with myself. My eyes ended up staring into the staff meeting that only the prime employees were allowed to be in. I imagined myself sitting in with them, hearing them talk all about the wonderful things they'd be doing with the look of the magazine and the chance I would get to do the same thing. Then, my mind trailed off into this imaginary world where I was at the top of the board when it came to this place, a pure dream come true. All of these people would answer to me and they'd have to do all the things I had to, including the coffee runs in the morning on the way to work.

"Y/N..." In the distance I heard my name being called, but the sound of my teeth clattering against the end of a pen was enough for me to pretend like I didn't even hear it. "Y/N!" This time the voice was much louder, shocking me and making me drop the pen onto the floor. There was no way I was putting that in my mouth now, who knows the last time they cleaned the floors in this place.

"What? Oh sorry, I was just daydreaming." Hovering over my miniature cubicle was my boss' secretary, Darlene. An older woman who looked like she had once tried to do the same thing I did, but failed so she became a secretary for the place. I'm not going to say anything though, she never talks about her past and yet she probably still makes more money than I do.

"Ms. Palmer would like to have a word with you." Shit. This was it. I nodded, putting on my best smile for her. Darlene grinned in return and waited for me to stand. She walked me over to his office and knocked on his door. I didn't even notice the meeting was over that's how intense my daydream was. No shock there. "Ms., Y/N is here like you asked." She smiled, opening the door and looking straight at him. Even if she may have failed at getting a promotion when she was my age, I felt like she was the best thing to ever happen to this office, even if I've only been here for a couple of years.

"Right, come on in." I heard her say along with some shuffling behind her desk and Darlene nodded me inside, shutting the door behind me. "Y/N, thanks for coming in." She smiled—the most I've ever seen her when she wasn't getting pleasure out of yelling at one of the mail-boys.

"No problem. May I ask what this is about?" She pointed at couch on the opposite side of her office, it was a huge office, one that I wouldn't mind putting my name on in fact. I sat down and she did the same.

"You know, I've been very impressed with your performance here for the past few years. You've really proven yourself." My heart was shaking inside my chest and all I could do was smile and slightly nod. Was this really it? Was she really about to say what I had longed for so long? She paused, taking all the time in the world to do so. "Don't you like this office?" Why the hell would she change the subject right now?

"Uh, yeah, of course." I fixated my skirt over my legs, covering up any skin I thought she'd say would be too revealing. I was too nervous to say or do anything else.

"When they first put me here, I didn't even know what I would do with myself. I guess that's why they make mini-fridges." She laughed. She actually laughed—at her own joke I might add. I allowed myself to chuckle, but nothing more. "How would you like to have an office like this?" My mouth dropped.

"Oh my-I, I can't even imagine it. I would probably just sit in the middle and stare at the walls for most of the time."

"Well, I hope you would be doing more than just staring at blank walls," She began and I could tell what was coming next, "How would you like to be the newest member on an executive advertiser here at the magazine." Now, my mouth was hitting all the way to the bottom floor of the building.

"Are you kidding?" This is the most I've ever seen her smile and it's the moment when she's offering my dream job. I felt a rush of excitement all over me and hugged her tightly. She seemed sharked at first but then hugged back.

"So you'll take it?" She asked when we pulled away and stood from the couch.

"Of course! I can't believe it, thank you so much!" I was glowing. All I had worked for finally paid off.

"You won't get an office as big as this, but if you keep up the good work in a few years, who knows?" Ms. Palmer smiled at me, showing all of her teeth.

"Thank you thank you thank you!" I jumped up and down cheering.

"Every new executive gets a celebratory day off. So take some time tonight, go out with friends, have a few drinks and then I'll see you on Friday. That's when we'll get down to business." She walked me toward the door. Was this seriously happening to me?

Not only would my salary go up by at least two figures, but I'd be able to sit in my own office with my own desk, my own projects. I could easily say that Julie was the best boss ever. I'd even be able to have people get my coffee for me! This entire feeling was amazing, I felt like I was a parcel outside of my body, watching everything as it happened. A few of my coworkers congratulated me on my way back to my cubical. I wanted to kick down the whole thing and set it on fire.

Seems like Project Me was off to one hell of a start.