Haunted

November 17th

My week off work had helped. I now felt refreshed. I had been back at work for about a week and nothing eventful had happened.

Jack had left a month ago and he still wasn't back. Everyone else that had been on the tour with him was back. I couldn't get my head around it. Today also happened to be the third anniversary of his attack so I doubted that he would return today.

11:00am
I was at work. Matt, Stacey and Harriet were discussing a story that they thought we should write about it. I wasn't really listening.

When Jack hadn't come home for a week, it hadn't bothered me that much because it was like him to do something like that. But it had been a month now, I was scared because anything could've happened to him. However, despite my worries I was still sticking to my original plan and breaking up with him the minute he got back.

"Lola." Matt said.
"What?" I replied.
"Have you even been listening?" Harriet exclaimed.
I rolled my eyes.
"Lola. This is not acceptable. We all know that you need this job." Matt stated.
"Whatever. It's not exactly easy being in my position right now. I don't know whether the man I love is dead or alive. So just cut me some slack." I spat, before standing up and heading to the toilet.

I opened the bathroom door and hoisted myself up onto the windowsill.
"Alright Lola?" A voice said. I turned my head to see Ella.
~She was one of my work mates and we frequently skived off work in the bathroom together~
"Not really." I said.
Ella pulled a cigarette out of her jacket.
"Want one?" She asked.
I shook my head
She hoisted herself up onto the windowsill next to me.
"What's up then?" She asked, taking a drag and blowing it out the open window.
"My so-called fiancée."
"He's still not back" Ella cried.
I shook my head.
"What a rude prick." She said.
I grimaced.
"I'm sorry. My careless mouth."
"No it's not that."
"Then what is it?"
"What if-?" I paused. "What if he's met another girl?"
"Lola. Babe have you seen yourself. I doubt he could replace you even if he tried."
I smiled.

"But that's not why you're sat on this windowsill."
"No it's not. Matt and Harriet keep giving me grief."
"Just ignore them." Ella said.
~It was easy for her she worked in the PR section of the company and her colleagues were all really nice and frankly didn't give a shit if you stopped listening for a minute~
"Don't you think I've tried." I sighed.
"Do a runner then. Say your daughter's sick or something."
"I don't know. I tried that before and it didn't work."

My phone beeped. I had a text, it was Finn.
"Aye whose that hunk?" Ella cackled, seeing the contact pic.
"He's just my best friend."
"Who you've fucked a few times right?" Ella said.
I slowly nodded my head.
~Ella was my friend but not necessarily someone you wanted to share everything with~
Ella laughed.

Finn's message read:
"Shannon is fine. Jack hasn't rung the landline and he hasn't shown up. Don't worry too much babe. Finn xx"

"Babe?" Ella questioned, peering over my shoulder.
"Leave it out."
I didn't want to worry about Jack because he didn't deserve my concern. But I couldn't help but worry.

The bathroom door opened. Libby walked in.
"Alright you two?" She said, sounding stressed.
"What's wrong with you?" I asked.
"You know your boss Matt." She said.
"Well I like to refer to him as the head of department, but yeah what about him." I said.
"He keeps asking me to go on a date with him." Libby said, raising her hand to her face.
"What even though you've got that on your finger?" Ella said, pointing at the ring on her finger glistening in the light.
"Yeah even with this on my finger. I keep telling him no, because of this but he keeps asking."
"I'll get him to leave you alone." I said to Libby.
"I've already tried." She said, despairingly.
"I have an offer he can't refuse." I said, jumping off of the windowsill.
"See you later babes." Ella said.
"Later bitches." I said, opening the door.

I stepped out into the corridor.
"Last time I checked it didn't take half an hour to go to the toilet."
It was Matt.
"I was catching up on your escapades." I said, pushing past him.
"With who?"
"Libby. Who in fact is a taken woman."
"Yeah. But I'm going to change that." He said, smiling.
"Leave her alone." I spat.
"You can't tell me what to do concerning my private life."
"But when I'm at work you want me to forget about mine."
Matt rolled his eyes.
"If you leave Libby alone, I'll pay attention to your stupid team meetings."
"Fine" Matt said, knowing that he needed me on the team.
"But if you don't I'll go to Becca and tell her that you're harassing Libby." I warned

3:00pm
I was sat at my computer endlessly bored. I saw Matt get out of his chair in the corner. I followed him with my eyes.

He walked past Libby's desk. I saw him say something and then smirk. Then he left the office.
Almost automatically Libby jumped out of her seat and ran over to me.
"Lola. I thought you told him to stop." She cried.
"I did. That obviously didn't work. So now I'll put my revenge plan in action. Don't worry Libby, I'll sort it." I said.

I then rose from my seat and walked down to Becca's office.

3:15pm
I knocked on the door.
"Come in."
I walked through the door.
"Lola. What is it?" She said.
"I'm concerned about Libby."
"Marketing Libby?" She asked.
I nodded. There was like three Libby's in the office.
"Why are you worried about her?"
"Well she told me, that Matt-"
"From magazines?" Becca questioned.
"Yeah. Anyway Matt keeps flirting with her and asking on her dates, even though she's engaged."
"Has she told him to stop?"
"Yeah and he just tells her that one day she'll be his."
Becca shuddered. "Okay that is slightly creepy. I'll look into it."
I walked towards the door.
"Lola?"
"Yeah?"
"This was a nice thing to do. I'm proud of your actions."
I smiled and left her office.

5:00pm
I was at home. Finn was cooking dinner. There was a knock on the door.
"I'll get it." I called.
Shannon crawled into the hallway.
I laughed and picked her up.
I opened the door. It was Maria.

5:10pm
Maria was kind of my agent. Before I got my current job, I had done some modelling to pay for some of the bills.

"Come in." I said, welcoming her into the hallway.
She smiled. "Hello Shannon."

I walked into the living room and Maria followed me.
"Lola. Who was at the door?" Finn called from the kitchen.
"Maria." I called back.
"Is that Jack?" Maria asked.
I shook my head. "He's away at the moment."
"Do you want to talk about it?" She questioned.
I shook my head again.

"Anyway, I guess I should get to the point. The reason I'm here is because Crowns have expressed some interest in your modelling."
"Crowns? As in the Crowns?" I asked.
"Yes Lola."
"Oh wow."

Crowns were like Victoria's Secret but bigger. The business was owned by husband and wife: Kristina and Mr Crown. The only people that knew Mr Crown's first name was those who had been working with him for a long time.

"Well Kristina rang me."
I nodded enthusiastically.
"She saw some of your work and she asked if you would like to go to New York and do some modelling with Crowns there." Maria said.
"No way." I breathed. This was such a big opportunity.

Finn walked into the living room.
"Hi Maria."
"Hello Finn." Maria replied.
"When would I have to go to New York?" I asked.
"Probably next week."
"Wow." I breathed.
"New York?" Finn questioned.
I told him about the modelling opportunity.
"Lola, that's great. You should definitely go."

"Kristina said that you could bring someone with you. All expenses paid."
I looked up at Finn. He deserved a treat after the way he had helped me out.
"You can't take me. What about Jack?"
"Will everyone please stop asking about him?" I cried.
"Sorry." Finn said, raising his hands in defence.
"I want you to come with me."
"Okay then I will."

"Well that's decided then." Maria said, standing up.
"Thank you for coming round." I said.
"No problem. I'll contact Kristina when I get home and I'll drop tickets and things round."

We reached the front door.
"I know you don't want to talk about Jack, but if you want to talk to someone that isn't necessarily your closest friend then I'm here."
"Thank you Maria."
She stepped out into the cool November night and I shut the door behind her.

I couldn't believe it. Kristina Crown wanted me to model for her. I was going to New York and it was waiting for me.