Page 11 of Julian's Curse

I felt my breath catch, a rush of warmth flooding my cheeks as I looked into your eyes—eyes that sparkled with hope and sincerity. Still, I focused too much on the reputation that traveled with you. The girls went in and out of your life like a weekly carton of milk. And most likely, so would I. I wouldn’t be able to stand the pain of it. These days, I called my own losses before they happened.

I was holding onto my innocence dearly, afraid that if we went that far with someone like you, it would break me. You smelled of cigarettes and alcohol, but strangely enough, it wasn’t repulsive. Instead, I found myself drawn to it, intrigued by your smarts and poise for life.

But the closer we got, the more I felt that tug of fear. After experiencing my dad’s drinking, I couldn’t get myself to touch alcohol, while you were always drunk at this time of the day. So, it was the thing that put me off but also made me interested in you at the same time. I was pretty sure there was a psychological theory about this. If only I could balance you out, I could maybe heal something that was deeply wrong within me.

It may have been a bore to drag around a girl who was sober at college parties, yet for you, it was worthwhile to stick around. The more I refused to fit in, the more you seemed determined to spend time with me. I could see the way your friends rolled their eyes or whispered behind my back, their contempt echoing through the crowded room. But you always set them straight, defending my conservative ways with a fierce loyalty that warmed my heart. I didn’t show it, but I’d never forget the genuineness of you.

Even when the group of eager, pretty blondes clamored for your attention, vying for a ride in your Discovery, you still found a way to include me. As the only brunette in that sea of golden hair, I felt out of place, yet somehow, I’d captured your interest the most. You’d glance my way, those warm eyes holding mine for just a moment longer as if to say that I was more than just the odd one out.

But I was here now. Alone without you in the dead of the winter. It was right here on this step where I’d said the words that caused me to be here alone in the first place.

“I can’t date you, James.” I’d let fear creep in. It was self-preservation instinct for sure. It was also everything that was wrong with me in one reply.

As a result of this, something changed on your end. A dark curtain fell over your eyes – and that’s when I saw it with clarity, you really liked me. And I’d blown it.

The scarf was most certainly another girl’s scarf. You went back to living the life you knew the best. You called it theGood Lifebecause of the Wheezer song, and in that, I was the punk bitter and alone and you were trying to warn me against being like that. Now you had to prove a point to me. And I was too stubborn to do anything about it, to tell you how much I still cared.

Kali’s fingers danced across the keyboard, a steady rhythm that mirrored the hum of the office. The palpable tension in the air signaled that Amanda, our stern boss, returned. But unlike my early days atApogee, I wasn’t as intimidated by her anymore. If anything, I felt a sense of relief knowing that she was back overseeing the office.

“You doing okay so far?” I queried as I skimmed her screen glowing with charts and data, a reminder of the relentless pace that we all had to embrace while working long corporate hours, a fact that Julian often pointed out with disgruntlement.

“Everything is great,” she lifted her head and smiled. “I am loving it here so far.”

Seeing someone else at Sophie’s desk still tugged at my heart. I struggled with change, even though I knew it was ultimately for the best. Kali had a warm personality so I hoped we wouldeventually become good friends too. I slid into my desk, ready to tackle the newest opinion column for our daily app.

“Happy Friday,” Misha, our office sycophant, twirled in with the charisma of a can of soda. “It took a while, but we’re finally here.” He puffed his chest.

“Happy Friday,” I managed to sound excited, even though the sight of him annoyed me. And yes, I adored Fridays, especially since they usually meant a late dinner date with Julian, but I wasn’t counting down the days of the week with despair from Monday to Wednesday either.

“So, I heard your boyfriend is opening up the Dubai resort this week,” Misha teased.

Kali’s eyes flicked toward me with curiosity, clearly anticipating his usual verbal diarrhea. She seemed to have already learned the ropes from her own encounters with him.

He straightened his back, jutting his chin out. “Lucie, I have a deal to propose.”

Begrudgingly, I narrowed my eyes. I understood that Amanda kept him close to gather information for her about office staff—a secret just between us—but it was definitely not a preference of mine. In my opinion, she would have been better off investing in an eavesdropping system. “What’s that, Misha?”

“I’d like to take a few pictures with Julian for my social media, if possible. I think it might impress the girls, you know.” He turned beetroot red.

Kali nearly spit out her tea, while trying to hide a chuckle at his vanished bravado.

“What’s the second part of the deal?” Skepticism crept into my voice. What could he possibly offer me in return?

“I have information.” He cleared his throat. “Something in regards to Jess and Sophie.”

I was done with the drama. I exhaled sharply. “Misha, we’ve closed the chapter with Jess recently. And I am not going toask Julian for pics with you, that’s absurd. Why don’t you try to impress girls by becoming an upstanding citizen instead?” I raised my eyebrows. It was a warning not to push my buttons. “Maybe try not to park in disabled spots without a pass.” I was now beginning to sound like Sophie who had never gotten along with Misha. Had he been pestering her like this for years?

Kali glued her eyes to the screen, but her mouth stayed twisted in a mischievous grin.

“Miss Benton, my office,” a smooth voice sliced through the air. With the faintest sound of her light steps, Amanda strode in like a puma on the prowl. Her eyes swept the room, sharp and calculating, as she glided toward us. I couldn’t help but wonder if she’d overheard Misha’s little bargain, but it seemed unlikely. If she had, she would’ve shot him a deadly glance by now.

“Coming!” I leaped to my feet, eager to escape the awkward conversation.

“Chou chou of the office,” a nearby coworker whispered in a condescending tone.

And I couldn’t blame them for this nickname. At times, Amanda’s fascination with me felt almost morally wrong. Yes, I’d worked hard for it, and perhaps was great at my job, but the spotlight of Julian’s publicity had taken my career to new heights, pushing it into overdrive. Still, they only saw the success—none of them saw the struggle that came with it.

I followed Amanda intently, drawn in by the way her smooth, long ponytail swayed with each step, its rhythmic motion a testament to her poise. Soon, we reached her office, which felt more like a museum dedicated to her achievements. Displayed prominently were her Doctorates in Business and Literature, along with several prestigious accolades, including magazine covers likeVogue, National Magazine Awards, and the Harvard Humanitarian Award. Harper, her Bengali cat with striking leopard-like markings, immediately scampered over to greet me.According to Amanda, Harper usually retreated to the closet when visitors arrived, yet somehow, every time I came, we seemed to connect effortlessly, and she welcomed me with a warmth that defied her usual aloofness.

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