Page 18 of It's Only Make Believe

She makes a squeaking sound and throws her head back and laughs. She sits back up and tries to stop the laughter. She is mostly successful, but she can’t quite stop her smile. I smile back at her.

“I take it that means you’re happy then?” I say and she nods her head.

“Yes. More than I can explain. Thank you so much. I won’t let you down, I promise,” she says.

“Please don’t,” I say. “Because I have made it clear to Karl that he is your boss for the duration of your time on his team and if you drag your feet or don’t perform, he’s not going to put up with it.”

“I wouldn’t expect him to,” Louisa says. “So, on Monay do I come up here first or just go straight to the web development team?”

“You can go straight to the team. Karl is expecting you,” I say.

“Perfect. Thank you again,” Louisa says on her way out.

She closes the door behind herself, and I smile. I can tell by her reaction how happy and proud of herself she is, and I love that for her, I really do. And I tell myself that I am not in the least bit bothered that I probably won’t see her again for the duration of her internship unless she does let me down, and I genuinely don’t think she will do that.

Chapter

Thirteen

TIA

Iwalk back to my tiny office like I’m floating on air. If it wasn’t for the fact that I just know someone would appear from somewhere and catch me, I would be doing a happy dance right about now. As it is, I can’t keep the smile off my face as I squeeze around my desk and tell myself I won’t have to do that anymore after today. I can’t believe Luke is giving me this chance. I know I asked him to consider something more challenging, but even in my wildest dreams, where I thought he might agree to it, I didn’t think he would give me an opportunity like this. I am so excited, and I almost wish it was Monday now. It’s strange to think that I will be wishing the weekend away so I can get back to work rather than it being the other way around.

I take my cell phone out of my pocket and send both Louisa and Justin text messages with my news. Louisa texts back instantly. She sends a heart emoji and says congratulations, but then she also says that she has to go out of state this weekend, because her and her new boyfriend have a trip planned already,but that we’ll do something to celebrate when she’s back. I reply telling her to have a good time, even though I am secretly a bit gutted that I won’t be able to celebrate with her over the weekend.

Justin’s reply comes in just as I’m about to put my cell phone back away. He too congratulates me, and he invites me for drinks tonight to celebrate. I hesitate for a moment before I reply to him. I want to say yes, but I keep thinking about what Louisa said about him wanting to get back with me. I don’t think it’s true though and I ignore her warning voice in my head and text Justin back saying I’d love to. I tell him to meet me at Ray’s, a bar not far from my apartment, at seven. That will give me time to finish work, get home, eat and change. His reply comes in quickly and it’s simply a thumbs up emoji.

I put my cell phone back away and concentrate on getting the last of the filing and typing done. I don’t want to make Luke regret his choice before Monday even comes around by starting to slack off now.

I finished work pretty much on time and went home. I put a pizza in the oven and while it was cooking, I jumped in the shower and washed and dried my hair. I paused in my getting ready routine to eat, and then put some fresh makeup on and got dressed in a pink body con dress that sits just above my knee along with silver heels, purse and jewelery. I walked to the bar and made it in plenty of time although Justin was still there before me. He stood up when he saw me coming and after greeting me, he went to the bar without asking what I wanted and came back with an expensive bottle of champagne in an ice bucket and two flutes. I objected to the amount he musthave spent on the bottle, but he insisted he wanted to treat me because I deserved it, and I didn’t want to make a scene, so I accepted the drink graciously.

That bottle is gone now and we’re onto our second one. I’m more than a little bit tipsy, but I’m far from being really drunk. I’m at that nice level of almost drunk where I feel all warm and cosy inside. Justin has just finished telling me about how he is almost finished renovating a house he bought here on the cheap and how he is debating between staying living there or selling it, at a profit and doing the same thing on another house.

“I’ve just realized something,” Justin says, reaching for the champagne bottle and topping both of our glasses up. “I asked you out tonight to celebrate your good news and all I’ve done is go on and on about the house.”

“It’s ok,” I said. “I asked you about it.”

“And now I’m asking you about your news. Tell me all about your job,” he says.

“Well so far, I haven’t really done anything worth reporting. This first week has been about me proving that I am not work shy or spoiled, and now I think I’ve done that, and that’s why I’m getting a chance to join the web development team on Monday,” I say.

“That’s perfect for you,” Justin says, and I nod.

“I know. I can’t wait to get started,” I tell him.

“I get that as an intern you might have to start at the bottom, but did your boss seriously tell you he wanted to make sure you weren’t work shy and spoiled? That seems a bit rude and rather presumptuous don’t you think?” Justin says.

“He didn’t actually say that. I said that’s what I figured he was doing, and he agreed. I don’t think he would have said anything if I hadn’t said it first. And honestly, I don’t think he does that to every intern. I think it’s just because of what my dad said to him,” I say.

Justin frowns for a moment and looks at me.

“What?” I say.

“You’re in touch with your dad?” he asks. “Why didn’t you tell me that sooner?”

I shake my head.

“No. Of course I’m not in touch with my dad. If I was, I would have told you sooner, but I’m most definitely not. What even made you think that?” I say, confused.

---