Show me love.

Nine

For a Friday afternoon, the streets were surprisingly calm but it didn't settle the sickly feeling that churns within me. The walk downtown seemed forever and after twenty minutes, the unforgivable throb stings my feet. But it isn't enough to occupy my mind. 

I rang my team. Sapphire, Ivy and Julian. None knew anything about the sudden cut from the restaurant. 

Confusion, hurt, guilt, fear and most importantly, betrayal sworm every emphasis of my body. I had even began a mental scripture of everything I had planned to say to Jason when we came face to face. 

How could he not tell me that he was replacing me on this job? How could he not tell me Matthew was already taking interviews? How could he put so much faith in him and let him take over the office? 

And as my steps grew closer and closer to the building site flowing with men in florescent jackets and hard hats, every question started scraping into thin air and my subconscious had shrunk to nothing. 

"Frankie!" I hear a familiar voice exclaim. My body seizes. David approaches, clipboard beneath his arm and hard hat secured on his head. "I didn't expect to see you here today. Hows your dad?" 

I squeeze my eyes shut. "Can everyone stop asking about my dad!" 

When I peak my eyes back open with a blazing glare, my loud exclaim drew the attention of surrounding workers and causes a look of alarm to appear on David's face. Guilt hits me harder. 

"David, I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean-" 

"What's he done?" 

"What?" 

He furrows his brows. "Jason. What's he done?"

"Nothing,why would you say that?" 

"Because in almost four years, I've never heard or seen you this upset." He says. "So what has he done?" 

My chest was heavy. "Where is he?" 

"Frankie." He pleas. I could feel my lip quiver and the look of concern is only strained, but he surrenders his further questions. "He's back there."

I nod firmly, suppressing the tears that were taunting my waterline. I shift past him, regretting my shoe choice as I step around the building site with wide eyes and tense shoulders. 

"Hey miss, you shouldn't be in here!" A loud voice whistles. "And especially without gear on!" I see him. "Hey! Hey you!" 

The sudden commotion was enough to turn him around before I reached. The yellow vest over his suit and a matching hat flattening his dark hair. His eyebrows that were curled in confusion sprung high on his forehead when he sees me. 

"Frankie." 

Stay strong. 

"What are you doing here?" 

Breathe. 

"You're replacing me?" 

The words felt like liquid metal dripping from my tongue. They burned just as much as my chest. In that instant, that split second, I saw the look in his eye. He knew what I meant. 

"Excuse me a minute." He mumbles to the other man. He too held a clipboard like Jason and David, and stared at me with a crazed look. "Come on. It isn't safe for you."

He attempts to reach for me, his fingertips grazing my elbow before I snatch it back to regain the very little strength I had. He gulps back whatever he had to say and proceeds to lead me away from the curious builders to his car parked on the street.