Page 19 of A Conflict of Interest

“I’m cleaning up. I don’t like to apologize, so I’ll do random things for you instead. Do you want me to clean your bathroom or something?”

She sighed. “Sure. I hate scrubbing. Take a raincheck for when your shoulder is better, though.”

I hadn’t expected her to say yes. I should have offered to clean a different room. I didn’t mind a little elbow grease scrubbing, but it didn’t take a genius to piece together how much Anna and Lucy were into shower sex.

Well, whatever. The more suffering, the more I’d feel absolved. Maybe I needed to offer to clean Kelcey’s bathroom too.

Chapter 7

Kelcey

I pushed open the door to my apartment, resolutely committing to not cry, and I saw the cutting board I’d used for charcuterie boards the past couple evenings while texting Nic, and I broke down completely, throwing the door shut and sitting on the floor, nice dress be damned.

It wasn’t my fault.Ididn’t know Veronica was going to be there. Why wasshethere? There was no wayshegot mom privileges. That was probably just something Maria said.

And… I guess maybe I’d overreacted alittlebit throwing Veronica into the tree. Apparently she got hurt in the process. Anna and Lucy took her to Anna’s apartment after the event was cleaned up and emergency damage control was done, making sure she was okay. And I did feel alittlebad, but I just… needed her away from me. Was that so much to ask?

I’d gotten some very serious conversations with Anna, with Janet from HR, and even with Miranda, who acted like I’d knocked the tree down to spite her specifically because she liked Christmas trees. As if I was supposed to know? I didn’t know Miranda likedanything.

The worst part of the whole thing, though, was when Miranda told me I wasn’t going to be fired. She’d rolled her eyes with a short, pert sigh, and she’d said,

“They could never fire you. Can’t afford to get rid of a nepotism hire.”

And I’d found that really, really deeply hurtful, once I got back to my phone to look up what anepotism hiremeant.

But sitting here on the floor in my pretty and expensive dress that had been a gift from my mother, after having just screwed up an important event for everybody and being sure I wasn’t going to get fired for it, it wasn’t like I could deny that I was. Would I actually have ever gotten a second look, let alone the job itself, if I weren’t related to my grandfather?

I was a little shaky as I sent a text to the first person who came to mind right now—all my friends from the office felt like they were suddenly menacing figures far away where I dared not approach, and my family members were the wrong people to go to about this, and I wanted to feel safer in the way Nic made me, so I sent her a message.

I think you might be working with someone else soon

It took her a while to reply. Woman was busy… Liam had talked about how she wore a lot of different hats, did a lot of different things. I probably should have left her to it, done something better with my life, but I couldn’t make myself stand up from the floor, and I ended up just scrolling through the conversation, microdosing Nic and feeling a little better for it. My heart jumped when I saw her come online and start typing.

did something happen? are you okay?

I chewed my lip.I’m good,I replied, even though it was a lie. I just… wanted her to think I was cooler than I actually was.I screwed up a company event and made a big scene and I think I’m going to get taken off this project…I sent, and I went on typing a message about how I hoped we could stay friends anyway, before I deleted it in a fit of frustration—stupid and presumptuous and showing how naïve I was. She waited a minute to see if I would start typing again before she sent a message.

okay, I just got in the car to go home, but I can talk here right now if you need that now?

I shifted awkwardly. I really shouldn’t have been bothering her like this… I was sure she had bigger things going on. She was probably busy… wearing a lot of different hats.you can get home!! you don’t need to worry about me, I just wanted to let you know it’s been really nice working together with you and I hope whoever takes over the case in my stead is good to work with!Ugh, I sounded like I was looking for pity. I threw in a bad joke.even if it’s someone who doesn’t get muffins and coffee and cozy lodges like we do!! haha

okay I’m staying right here and talking to you, firstly you know I see you as a friend and wouldn’t ditch you just because I’m working with someone else, right?

I choked on an embarrassing blubbering little sob that came up out of nowhere. I was better than this. This was so… humiliating. I wasn’t better than that, though, and that was the real problem.you don’t need to worry about me!! you’re so nice haha anyway you can go drive your car!!She could probably tell I was actually crying. I needed something more lighthearted.vroom vroom,I sent, with a car emoji, and then I realized that made things worse, and I groaned.

kelce, I’m here for you

you don’t need to stick around out of pity…

I’m not, I’m sticking around because you’re my friend and I like you and I like talking to you.She kept typing, following it up with,You’re a clever woman with a quick wit and an undeniable charm, and you have a lot of good insights on things and I feel more inspired for my work when I talk to you.

Oh… oh, god, I was in deep with a girl whose face I’d never even seen. I hunched my shoulders, shrinking more and more into myself, welling up just a little looking at the messages, and coolness be damned, I sent,yeah?

promise. everyone makes mistakes, kelce! if they actually try to take you away from your projects or things because of it, then I want to help you find your way back onto steady footing, okay?

I took a shaky breath in and let it out slowly.why?

She replied right away.because I care about what happens to you.

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