Page 83 of Once Bitten, Twice Fried
“Did I miss something, Zoe? Since when have you felt like that?”
There was no going back now. “I saw Julie again at the wedding, we hit it off and, well, one thing led to another.” She bit her lip, hoping that Nicki would understand without her having to spell out the event of that night.
But Nicki, ever the perfect assistant, wouldn’t make any assumptions about Zoe. She looked patiently at her boss, waiting for the rest of the story.
“You know what I mean.”
“Not really.” Nicki lifted a brow.
Zoe rubbed her eyes with one hand.
“Nicki, I shagged Julie.” Zoe hadn’t expected to be so crude but she was tired of looking for the polite thing to say. “It just happened.”
Nicki’s eyes widened.
“I guess you were right about how I felt,” Zoe said, defeated. She sat back, still feeling terrible but somehow much lighter.
“Wow, Zoe.” Nicki was still processing. “I’m speechless.”
“I was supposed to meet up and talk things through but this tabloid crisis happened and I had to leave her hanging. Now she hates me and doesn’t want anything to do with me any more.”
“So you’re not leaving Tom to be with her?”
“Not really.” Zoe turned to her assistant. “It wasn’t fair of me to keep this from Tom but I still had some hope that things would work out. I would’ve told him before the wedding, for sure.”
“But, would you want to be with Julie?” Nicki looked at her seriously.
Zoe had tried not to think about it. It’s not as if it was something that was possible, was it?
“Yes. No.” She sighed. “I don’t know!” Zoe paused. “Julie really seemed mad at me on the phone. She told me to get out of her life.” Her heart pinched a little.
“So, from Julie’s perspective, you slept together then you went home to get married to Tom?”
Zoe had also tried not to think about this. “I don’t know. I guess I fucked it all up. I stood her up to go catch the first flight back to London.”
“Have you tried explaining it to her?”
“I tried, but everything’s been such a mess, and she was so angry.” Zoe hesitated. “Do you think I should try again?”
Nicki gave her a small smile.
“I don’t think I can help you with that, Zoe.”
“Sorry.” Zoe shook her head. “I know I’m asking so much of you.”
“I didn’t mean it like that.”
“What?”
Nicki settled herself more comfortably on the couch. She crossed her legs and sat directly across from Zoe.
“I didn’t mean I can’t help with that because I’m not paid enough.” She continued before Zoe could interject. “I meant that I can’t help because it should be your decision.”
Zoe felt like this was another one of those moments where Nicki seemed a little bit too wise. She chuckled. “It’s my decision, indeed.”
“Don’t laugh, Zoe.” Nicki looked very serious. “I’ve been working with you - for what, three years now? - and I enjoyed every moment of it. You’re a great boss and I know a lot of personal assistants who are being asked unreasonable things.”
Zoe had no idea where Nicki was going with this. “Thanks, Nicki, I appreciate that.”
