Page 38 of Kisses and Paperclips

“What? Am I wrong?” Mika asked, taking another sip. “We asked for details, ma’am, not the SparkNotes,” Mika sighed, kicking her feet.

“So, you slept with him and had no idea he was connected to Guilty Pleasures?” Nia asked, her voice dripping with disbelief. “Did you not exchange last names? Does he not have the same last name as his mother?”

“Oh, please,” Mika cut in. “I’ve had lots of back blowing nights exchanging less.”

“I bet,” Nia muttered, rolling her eyes.

“You got something to say, Nia?” Mika challenged, raising a brow.

“Plenty.” Nia shot back.

“Well, go on, then. We ain’t got all day.” Mika said, with a dramatic eye roll.

“It’s dangerous,” Nia said, folding her arms. “Sleeping with some random stranger like that. I’ve watched enough crime shows to know how these things end.”

“And what? It’s not dangerous sleeping next to some man you married who might kill you ten years in because he found some 20-something with a perky tits and a phat ass?” Mika shot back, her tone sharp.

Nia rolled her eyes but didn’t argue.

“I’m just saying,” Nia continued, “the danger is more probable with a stranger off the street.”

“We had dinner first,” I said, defending myself. “And I always share my location with y’all, so it’s not like I was completely reckless.”

“Plus, he was a perfect gentleman,” I added, my voice softening. “I felt safe all night.”

“But you still kept your mace handy,” Mika said knowingly.

“Always,” I said with a grin.

“So, how are you gonna deal with this at work?” Nia asked, her tone serious. “Are you still going to… you know?”

“Hell no,” I said, shaking my head.

“Why not?” Mika asked, looking genuinely disappointed. “So, no dirty office sex stories for me? Where’s the fun in that? Ya’ll so lame.”

I laughed, finally feeling some of the tension ease. “Sorry to disappoint, Mika. But this is already complicated enough.”

My mind is reeling, thinking about how complicated things are about to get, replaying every detail of today, and my body is tense with pent-up frustration. Nia stares at me, then at Mika, sharing a silent exchange as if I’m invisible.

Neither rush me; they give me the space to breathe. One thing about our friendship that’s always felt natural is how well we understand each other, even without words.

“I really cant believe she did you like this. She’d been hinting at making you CEO for years now. She practically made it sound like you were next in line.” Nia said, her voice tender and compassionate.

“She has!” I exclaimed, my voice cracking under the weight of my frustration. “At every quarterly meeting, every company party, she’s there praising me, calling me her ‘right hand,’ saying she couldn’t do this without me. So, I thought.” I paused barely able to catch my breath. “But today?” I let out a long, shaky breath, trying to compose myself. “Today, she introduces her son as the new CEO, one I didn’t even know she had all the years we’ve worked together. No warning, no heads-up—just a announcement, and everyone’s supposed to smile and clap like this is some happy family reunion.”

“Why now? Why would she just let him walk in and take the one thing I’ve poured my heart into? She even called me ‘family’. Said I was like a daughter to her.” I pause, my voice softening as the memory strikes a deeper, more painful chord. “And I believed her.”

Mika takes a slow sip of her wine, her gaze never leaving mine. “I get it, Serena. It’s hard not to believe someone who’s treated you like that. But you should’ve had that promotion in writing years ago. Girl, You know better than to just trust someone’s word on something like this.” Her tone is gentle, but there’s a firmness beneath it, the kind that only a real friend can deliver. “At the end of the day talk is cheap.”

I let her words sink in, feeling the pang of regret hit me in full force. “I know. You don’t have to tell me that twice.” I sink back, staring up at the ceiling. “I didn’t want to be that person, you know? The one who’s constantly looking over her shoulder, who can’t take anyone’s word. I wanted to believe she meant it when she called me family, that she’d never pull something like this. But now… I feel like a complete dumbass.”

Mika scoots forward, leaning in as if to close the gap between us. “You’re not a dumbass, Serena. You’re just… human. But you do have to be smart about this. You’ve worked too hard to let someone else walk away with what’s yours. And you can’t keep putting your faith in people who won’t even put you in the fine print.” She sighed, shaking her head. “You remember what happened with Preston.” Nia shoots her a warning look at the mention of my ex-boyfriend, Preston. “I know it’s not the same thing, but still.”

The mention of Preston is like a slap, the memory of another betrayal sliding into the forefront of my mind. “I know,” I whispered, feeling the bitterness creep in. “I should have seen the signs with him, too, but I wanted to believe he was genuine, that he was… different.” I swallow hard, feeling the familiar sting in my chest. “And now it’s happening all over again. Different person, same heartbreak.”

Nia reaches over, placing a comforted hand on my shoulder. “You’re not the same person who got burned by Preston, Serena. You’re stronger now. And wiser. And you deserve this. Title or no title, that company is yours. You built it from scratch. And everyone in that building knows it, whether they want to admit it or not.”

I take a deep breath, her words filling me with a flicker of strength I didn’t know I needed. “But where do I go from here? Half of me wants to march in there tomorrow and demand what’s mine, to tell that son of hers that he doesn’t even belong there. But the other half of me?” I pause, my voice dropping as I stare into the depths of my glass. “I’m so damn tired. Tired of having to prove myself, tired of fighting for what should already be mine. At what point is it enough?”

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