Home Wrecker {A.F.I}

Chapter 24

Erin

I was sitting in my office; having a small meeting with the other line managers. We were working on a temporary replacement for Lex. I felt so bad that there was nothing I could do for her, unlike last time. Last time she was like this, I was able to put her into the management in training program, and then put her on at my store. She thrived at the program, getting assigned to a store with in six months. Where most managers in training don't make it until at least twelve months in. Sometimes even more.
The stores phone rang, "Erin speaking," I answered
"Hey Erin its Matt at the service desk,"
"What's up? I'm in a meeting," I told the team members we didn't want to be disturbed unless it was an emergency. I just hoped this was
"Yeah, there's a guy called Fletcher here, he wants to speak to you," I knew exactly who he was taking about
"Okay I'll be right out," I told him. What the fuck is he doing here? I asked myself, what more could he do? He'd already fucked up Lex's life. But I knew I should speak to him, mainly because I hadn't heard from Lex since she left Monday morning. I just hoped he had some information. I was extremely worried about her
"Everything okay?" Dave asked
"Yeah, just someone's here to speak to me,"

I walked out of the staff area, and saw him there. He looked like absolute shit, "what the fuck do you think you're doing here?" I asked
"I need to talk to you about Lex," he said, "look I know you hate me right now, and that you have no reason to help me, but please Erin, I'm begging you,"
"Alright, fine," she sighed giving in, "come with me," I said, leading him to the managers office, "alright you guys, get out,"
"What's going on?" Dave asked
"Just get out Dave, you too Rob, this is an important conversation that needs to be had,"
"Alright, alright," they in, "we're leaving,"
"Thanks," I knew I was being harsh on them, but this conversation needed to be had
"Thanks for this,"
"No, you sit down and you listen to me," I told him, and he looked scared. I didn't realise I was that intimidating, "I've just about had it with your shit,"
"I'm not surprised," he said, "but I'm not here to cop a lecture, Erin. I just want to know if you know where Lex is or not,"
"She's been given time off," I explained, "I've been trying to call her but she hasn't been answering my calls,"
"Mine either,"
"Why do you care so much?" I asked, "you fucking left her, the other night,"
"I know,"
"And she's only in this mess because of you,"
"Do you not think I know that?" He was basically yelling now. I hoped he would calm down, because I didn't want any attention brought upon us, "but her names not the only one in the media over this,"
"Again, I'm gonna ask you one last time," i said, "why the fuck do you care so much?"
"Because, I fucking love her okay? I've been in love with her since day fucking one, I never got over her, so there, that's why I care,"
"Then why the fuck did you not tell her?" I asked
"I don't know," he ran a hand through his hair, "I wanted too, but the words wouldn't leave my mouth,"
"Well that's not my fault," I shrugged

We sat there in silence for a while before he spoke up again, "please Erin, you have to help me,"
"I don't have to do anything," I told him, "she told you she loved you and you walked out, suck it the fuck up Irwin!"
"I'm begging you here," he said, "you know her better than anyone,"
"And the fact that you said I know her better than anyone, excluding you here; is exactly why I'm not going to help you!" I took a breathe, "because if I did help you, you could ruin her again, do you know how much you hurt her last time?" I asked, and he shook his head
"I imagine it was pretty bad though,"
"Bad doesn't even begin to fucking describe it!" I exclaimed, "do you know how many fucking strings I had to pull to get her into the Manager In Training program and then to get her to work under me?"
"Why did you do that?" He asked
"Because she's like a little sister to me! Why the fuck else? Besides I knew she needed something to be distracted! And guess what? You've almost fucking blown that for her!"
"What do you mean?"
"You realise the reason she hasn't been at work all week is because she was told to take indefinite leave because of what's happened,"
"That was out of my control,"
"Yeah the fact that your affair got leaked is, but not the fact that you lead her on!"
"I didn't know she was still in love with me!"
"How could you not fucking know? It's so fucking obvious! And it was blatantly obvious you felt the same way,"
"Then why aren't you helping me?"
"Because I'll be damned if I sit back and watch you ruin her again!" I screamed, "I can't fucking trust you with her!"
"I wouldn't do that," he said, "not again,"
"You've done it twice already Ashton, whose to say you won't do it again?"
"You'd just have to take my word for it,"
"We'll forgive me, but I can't, you don't have the best track record,"