𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐄(gxg)

Chapter 11

ROSE'S perspective

For a moment the world stopped moving and I had become certain that my heart had dropped to the pit of my stomach.

Ms. Scott was Emily.

All this time I had been falling for my boss, through a dating app of all things. And I'm sure my face showed it. I had stopped chewing and almost immediately dropped my fork. She was looking at me, with narrow eyes, and perhaps, a bit of pity. All of which I hated. The room had fallen silent, and for a moment, the silence between her and I felt familiar. This was one of the few things she and I had in common.

I wasn't sure where to start...or if I should even speak. I'm sure the look in my eyes confirmed that I was in fact Rose, the broke twenty-four year old raising her brother who did nothing but complain. And even the look in Emily's eyes, confused and shocked, confirmed that she was the workaholic bitch I had rambled on about in many of our conversations through text.

But neither of us said any words, I'm sure it would be a dangerous move to do so anyway. Though I wanted to. I wanted to quickly hide myself and say that I wasn't the girl she had been talking to, that I wasn't actually Rose.

But all the signs were there. She would have to be blind to not see that I was obviously the girl who had admitted I was growing feelings for her.

Now the answer was definite. My love life was pathetic.

With a brush of her hand she gripped her wine glass, throwing it back in a quick swig before pouring herself another round. She looked at me once more, making it clear she was debating to converse with me about the topic. And although I'd be done with this job after this week, we were still stuck with each other in a hotel for the next few days. I was sure dancing around the topic would only make the situation worse.

That is, if it could get any worse.

She cleared her throat after clearing her second glass of wine, leaving the bottle practically empty. Her spine had straightened up and she was no longer looking at but through me. And suddenly, feeling small, I bowed my head to glance at the crossed hands in my lap. There was no way I was getting through this.

But she just chuckled, something that started off as a small scoff ended up building its way into a pool of laughter.

More embarrassment washed over me, I couldn't help but mutter the words: "W-what's s-so funny?" And I completely hated the fact that I sounded like a child after being scolded by her mother.

She bit back more of her laughter, trying to maintain a straight face but a smile, erupting into a laugh, would helplessly crack through, and after two minutes of her laughing in my face I grew annoyed, and my face, failing me once again, showed how upset I must've looked.

"O-oh I'm sorry Rose but this has to be a joke!" She choked out, more expressive laughs coming through.

I rolled my eyes.

I wish this were a joke too.

"I'm not laughing at you but Christ! Look at the shit I've gotten myself into now." She blabbered, not necessarily talking to me but more so to herself. Which in most cases, was a bad sign.

"I'm sorry to disappoint E-Emily. It's my fault. I should've connected the dots." I whispered.

The muffled laughs came to a stop, she picked up the rest of the wine bottle and took it to the head. Hell, I didn't blame her. When I got back home the first thing I'd do is open the nearest bottle of alcohol.

"Screw that. I should've known my damn self!"

Her words stung, like tiny bees pricking me one by one. I've endured worse pain in my life but this was different. No one wants to know they've been crushing after their boss after a week of texting via a dating app. But hey, at least she wasn't a crazy murderer like Erin assumed her to be. That was the only good outcome of this entire shit show.