Page 3 of The Proposal Pact
He turns around, strolling into his office with a broad smile while I’m left sitting here like that ice sculpture he accused me of being.
Suddenly, a blazing fire roars through my body, melting the ice as the feeling of unfairness makes my skin crawl to the point where I can no longer sit. No, instead I get up and storm into the asshole’s office.
“Show me!” I demand as I throw the door open.
I don’t know what’s gotten into me, why I can no longer control myself, but I was fucking done.
“What?”
“Show me those mistakes? Show me every single one of them.”
“Get the fuck out of my office, I don’t have to show you anything.”
“Because there’s nothing to show,” I grit out.
Daniel gets up from his chair, shuts the door behind me and comes way too close to my face for my comfort.
My already overstimulated heart takes off again but this time for a whole new reason when he drags his nose over my cheek, his cool, minty breath washing over my raised skin. “You want credit? You want promotions? Is that what you’re after?”
“Y-yes.”
“Well…that can be arranged. For the right price.”
“Price?”
“Yes, Sophie, price.”
“There shouldn’t be any price! I work my ass off for every project.”
“And?” he asks me, raising one perfectly groomed eyebrow as if I’m the dumb one here. “Did it get you anywhere?” When I don’tanswer, he continues. “No, it hasn’t. Come to my office tonight after work and we can discuss some other options.” Daniel takes a small step back, but not far enough.
I’m an idiot, I know what these other options are, I just can’t believe I’m hearing this. I clench my fists at my sides. “That’s harassment.”
Finally, he takes a bigger step back, sighing. “No, it’s reality, sugar. That’s how things are done.”
Suddenly, the fight leaves me just as fast as it came. It hits me, I’ll never win because I’ll never cross that line. I already lost all of my magic. I can’t lose this part of me too.
I live at this job. I eat and breathe these stupid codes. I gave it my all without as much as a “thank you” in return. I’m not even getting paid what I should be, but I’ve been sucking it up, thinking this is how it is for everyone at the beginning, but it’s now been three years and there is no light at the end of the tunnel.
Only endless codes I don’t seem to be able to crack.
Codes to life I wasn’t taught. The one where nothing is fair. The ones where you live how you’re supposed to, instead of how you want.
“I quit.”
1
Sophie
“Sometimes we can only find our true direction when we let the wind of change carry us.” — Mimi Novic
“Hey.” I sigh into the phone, dialing Craig as soon as I get on the subway.
“Sophie?”
“I had such a crap day. Do you want to come over?” I lean my head against the germ-infested pole.
“Come over?” Craig asks slowly.
