marshall

22/ benjamin franklin

1 month later.
My job.
My job is both giver and receiver.

Giver in the case of money and experience, meeting new people.
A receiver in the case of taking almost all of my time. I knew this is going to be different than the job I've had in petshop, but I wasn't expecting this. I'm coming home totally exhausted, almost every day. And believe me, you don't want to deal with exhausted Tanya.

I always have to be here for my boss. Setting up his meetings, searching for new contacts and customers, making the coffee, sometimes even clean up his office. I knew it's not going to be all easy peasy, but sometimes it's just too much.
Sometimes I share only a few hours in a day with Marshall. He's tolerant, trying not to show his irritation but I still can see it on his face and hear it in his voice.

And Evan? He hates my guts now. I get it, It was unfair leaving him like that. Without a word, change a job and let him struggle with finding himself a new co-worker. I miss him sometimes, but what can I do, right?

—
"Tanya, could you bring those papers on the 7th floor to the designer's office?" my boss asked, but it was still a demand.

I took the papers out of his hands and headed downstairs. I got used to wearing high heels for 9 hours a day, together with a skirt and blouse. New me.

As I was walking back to my office, I've heard some chatter from older female co-workers in the social meeting room.
I slowed down my steps and tried to catch some words because I was sure they mentioned my name.

a: "I still don't get it how he could hire her"
b: "I've heard he was going more for the looks than for the skills. The lower cleavage the better I guess"

a & b laughing, me frowning.

"It's only a matter of time when she'll become one of them"
"Give it a few weeks and few more revealing outfits and she'll be in the club"

A million questions were running through my mind. What club? How one of them? My outfits are not revealing and I have no jugs so I don't have to wear low cleavages. You old murders.

Just before I left, my boss called my name.

"Tanya, hold on"
I didn't answer, just waiting for him to speak.
"Our company is having a representative ball this week, and you should be there as well. I hope you'll have the time"
I pretended I was thinking if I'm free even though I knew I've had no plans.

"Sure, yes. We'll come. Just let me know when and where"
"We? Oh, how could I think that such a beauty like you would be single" he chuckled and scanned me up and down which made me a little uncomfortable. I cringed in my head at his lame compliment.

I fell silent which made the whole situation even more awkward.
After a few seconds , my boss awkwardly coughed and finished his sentence.
"So wear something really nice. For you a pretty dress and for your partner a tux, don't forget you are supposed to represent, alright?"

I just nodded at his comment and gave him my goodbye.

When I came home, I started to search for Marshall's suit. To be honest? I can't really imagine Marshall wearing fancy things. I'm used to "baggy" Marshall. But I must admit, Marshall in a suit must be a pretty nice thing to see.

As I was going through his closet, my hand touched something that was not a pair of sweatpants or hoodie. It was on the upper shelf so I had to tiptoe. I decided to bring myself a chair and investigate the mysterious object.

It was an old black duffle bag. I tried to lift it but it was way too heavy, so I just dragged it down. The bag made a heavy sound as it fell down on the floor, but no sounds of broken things.

I jumped down of the chair and kneeled down. I was unzipping the bag slowly, meanwhile, my heart started to beat faster as I started to have a better sight at the bag's content.

"Oh god" I gasped and covered my mouth in shock.

The bag was full of money. Hundreds, thousands of dollars. I have never seen such amount of money in my life. I dived my hand inside, touching the green papers in amazement. A bag full of 100$. Benjamin Franklin everywhere.

I was caught in that moment so intensively that I didn't notice Marshall entering our apartment.

"What the fuck, Tanya?" Marshall hissed, grabbing my arm dragging me away from the bag.
I stared at Marshall with a shocked expression on my face.

"I put that bag on the top shelf on a purpose, Tanya" he pointed at the opened closet, meanwhile his eyes were still glued at me.

"I was just curious and-" I tried to explain it to Marshall but he cut me off,
"I don't fucking care, aight? You have no right to sniff around my stuff like a fucking cop" he continued with the raised voice.

Then it hit me.
That money is not illegal.

"So are you keeping away from me something?" I raised my brow and crossed my arms, Marshall fell silent, but I could see how he was trying to come up with.

"That's none of your business"
"Excuse me, what? I just found a bag full of Benjamin Franklin and you totally lost your temper because of it. And you still trying to tell me that there's nothing going on?"

Marshall exhaled sharply and ran his hand over his face.

"Not today, alright? Imma explain it to ya but just not today"

"Marshall I-"

"NOT TODAY" Marshall yelled, making me jump from the sudden shock.

He left me speechless. I felt like if I was about to cry. I didn't want to face Marshall anymore so I grabbed my hoodie, my keys and left.

Going nowhere.

_______
AUTHOR'S NOTE: this book is not 'fading away'. With my finals coming, I've had a lot of things to do in the past month. I've been also busy with television castings, but it was worth it because I just had a shooting this week and more is coming. I'm going to update more often from now on, so stay tuned!