Page 14 of King of Deception

“Yeah, no. I can do that. Johnson’s attending.”

“Y—You don’t need me there anymore?”

“That’s fine. Just… finalize that report, will ya?”

“Okay,” I whispered.

As soon as we hung up, the thought that everyone must have been still upset about me missing Mr. Engelbert’s toast plagued my mind.

Really? I thought to myself as I launched the report sheet. Although I understood the politics behind everything that went on at the office, I was still a little surprised that Mr. Engelbert would be so petty. Or perhaps it was my boss, threatened by the good impression I was leaving everyone within the division.

Discouraged, I began updating the report that I had started compiling a week ago. Even though I felt like going over to my boss’ office and flipping him the bird, I took a deep breath and tried to resist the urge. So what if I slipped once? I could still turn it around and give him my best, most elaborate report yet.

Damn Jude and his revolting intoxication with power. He did this, I thought. He had the ability to step into any good situation and turn it ugly. His disillusionment about being broken up with by me was growing more and more toxic, even worse than the nightmare that was our relationship.

What was I thinking? I angrily typed across the keyboard, remembering all the red flags I had ignored at the beginning. Just because he was handsome and ambitious, I consciously overlooked a handful of warning signs that should have made me run for the hills.

Well… I’m not going to make that mistake again, I decided. The next time I felt like I was being swept off my feet, I needed to examine the prospects more thoroughly, paying attention to every detail that concealed itself behind the infatuation of early courtship.

Powering through the rest of my time at the office, I let out a sigh of relief when I was finished with my last task for the day. As I gathered my belongings, I looked at the phone screen and saw the five messages from Jude that I had been ignoring. In the office bathroom, I texted my best friend to see if he wanted to meet.

Lexi, what are you up to?

Hey. Just stepping into my last meeting for the day. Wanna do something?

Yeah. Jude’s losing it, he’s being impossible, and if I don’t vent about it and drink myself numb… I just might lose it, too.

No need to terrorize me. In or out?

No, definitely in. I don’t feel like braving the Friday night frenzy of every bar in town.

Gotcha. I’m bringing the wine.

Guess that leaves me with the snacks. It’s your funeral!

Smother me with carbs. I don’t care.

Uh, interesting?

I’m saving the despair till we’re face to face.

Misery loves company irl, haha!

See ya, babe.

See yah!

I parked my car under my building and walked a couple of blocks to the nearest grocery store. My eyes scanned every comfort food they carried, wishing I could buy it all.

Easy, Ella. Just because Jude’s being an asshole doesn’t mean that he gets to make you fat, too. My mind attempted to pull the brakes on my spree. And it worked. I walked out of there with a large bag of chips, a pack of microwave popcorn, a box of salted grissini, four candy bars, and two ice cream sandwiches. From my initial twenty-item wish list… that was considered a good compromise.

“So? What did Mr. Wall Street do now?” Alex asked as he lounged on my couch with his feet up on the coffee table, biting into a grissini.

Pouring the wine, I sighed. “Remember the scene from the wedding?”

“How could I forget?”

“He’s been texting me. Like… non-stop.”

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