Desperate

Chapter 6

My mother called me Monday morning while I was on my way to work. She thinks I'm lying about my advertising job and that I'm actually a prostitute after seeing the pictures in People Magazine of me and Wes. She's also unconvinced that I am capable of making my own decisions because she wants me to beg for Dylan back. Apparently she thinks I wasn't a whore when I dated him. After I hung up with her I walked into my office building only to be greeted by photos of me and Wes from the magazine to be plastered all over the walls.

"Classy, very classy." Gina our receptionist commented as I walked past her tarring down photos.

I stuffed the pictures in the trash can and continued to my actual office space. I took a second to collect myself and closed my eyes. I was taking a deep breath when someone knocked on my door. I opened my eyes and saw my boss Frank leaning against the door frame.

"You're tarnishing the good name of my business Brianna." He scolded.

"I'm sorry Frank, but I was unaware that my personal life affected you." I said colder than I meant.

"I'm sure we can come to an agreement." He smiled closing the door behind him.

"What are you talking about?" I asked as he walked up to my desk.

"Well you can either clear off your desk and we can have some fun, or you can clear out your desk and go home." He said leaning across the desk towards me.

I didn't even hesitate. I slapped him in the face as hard as I could. The loud sound from the connection of skin echoed in the small room. "I'll clear out my desk." I said standing up.

"You'll regret it. I'll make sure you never get another job in advertising again." He said backing out of the room.

I couldn't believe that just happened. I slammed my belongings into my bag and a box from the floor. Then I threw papers around in anger. Once I had all my things I stomped out the front doors flipping off Gina on my way. I sat my things in my car and then it sat in. I didn't have a job, and I probably wouldn't be able to get another one in advertising because my boss was mad I wouldn't sleep with him! I sat behind the wheel of my car crying in the parking lot for about ten minutes when my phone rang.

"What!" I yelled angrily.

"I guess this is a bad time." Wes said softly.

"I just quit my job." I mumbled around the tears I was trying to control.

"Good for you!" He said happily. "Why aren't you excited?"

"Because it was either quit or have sex with my boss. Now he's going to make sure I never get another advertising job again." I sobbed at the end.

"That's ridiculous. You can press charges for that." He said sounding mad.

"Who's going to believe me? My own mom called me a hooker this morning because of those damn pictures." I groaned.

"Okay, you know what, I can fix at least half of your problems. I'm going to text you an address and you just come meet me okay?" He said.

"Okay." I sighed.

We hung up and he texted me an address. I put my car in gear and drove there listening to the radio. Music always calmed down the worst situations in my life. But even Jack Johnson couldn't fix my life right now. I pulled up our front of the swanky building and parked my car. I walked into the lobby and smiled at the lady behind the desk.

"Name please?" She asked.

"Brianna McLain I'm here to meet Wesley Stromberg." I said admiring the nice lobby.

She typed on her computer then picked up her phone and dialed some numbers. "A Brianna McLain is here." She looked me up and down as the person on the other line spoke. She hung up and smiled at me. "Third floor room 208."

I walked to the elevator and pushed the button. Once I was outside the room I knocked twice and Drew opened the door for me. Wes and Keaton were sitting at a table with four other people I didn't know.

"Guys this is the girl I was telling you about." Wes smiled patting the seat next to him.

"Miss McLain, Wes has told us about your history in advertisement and is insisting to have you join the Emblem3 team." One of the men I didn't know said. "Would you be interested in considering a job offer?"

"Seriously?"I almost choked.

"Seriously." The man smiled.

"I'd love that. What exactly do you need me to do?" I asked.

"We can discuss all the details next week. Wesley can give you a rundown on how things work, right?" He eyes Wes who nodded. "Then I'll see you all next Monday."

The boys stood up and I followed suit. We walked out to the elevators and I couldn't take it anymore I hugged all three of them tightly. "Thank you so much!" I said letting them go.

"Wes did all the work." Keaton laughed.

"Hey, I'm a problem solver. We needed a new advertising executive, and she needed a new job, problems solved." He shrugged.

"Executive?" I asked.

"Yeah it's all the same right?" He asked.

"Not nearly!" I laughed. "It's fine though. I can handle it."

"We'll help you out." Drew smiled pushing the button in the elevator. "Who's in for celebratory lunch?"

Keaton of course was the first to agree, and Wes and I just nodded. We went to Chipotle and got lunch. Then we sat outside in the sun. The boys told me how they usually only have business meetings once or twice a week and my job was basically to design layouts for whatever promotion they were doing that week. It actually sounded fun they way they described it. Working with Wes was defiantly a perk, I mean if he'd been my boss I might not have turned down the option I was given earlier today. Wait what!

"Brianna?" Wes was waving his hand in my face as I thought.

"Huh, what?" I asked snapping back to reality.

"I asked if you were ready to go?" He repeated as Drew and Keaton chuckled.

"Oh, yeah." I nodded standing up.

As we walked to where our cars were parked a girl about my age walked up with her friends and asked to take pictures with the boys. They took pictures then scampered off. Wes kissed my cheek for show in case anyone was watching and then we went our separate ways.

I got home at two and Shayla was home for lunch. "Why're you home so early? She asked.

"I quit my old job, but don't freak because I got a better one." I smiled.

"Better how?" She laughed.

"I got a job as the executive advertisement coordinator for Emblem3." I told her grabbing a yogurt.

"Dude that's amazing!" She smiled proudly. "Plus you can work close with that boyfriend of yours." She added with a dramatic wink.

"Shut it Shayla." I laughed as I spooned yogurt into my mouth.