Page 102 of Merciless

It was the middle of June and I had spent more than four months in London. I was nowhere near the place I wanted to be. I wasn’t enjoying the internship. The fascination I used to have with Duncan and his work was long gone. I wasn’t exactly happy with my living arrangements either.

The excitement I felt when I first landed here had evaporated. I no longer felt I was doing the right thing, and I definitely felt like I wasn’t where I was supposed to be.

I missed Hannah so much. I had no idea if she would ever speak to me again, since I ignored every single one of her calls, texts, and emails. She stopped reaching out about three months ago. There was just no point in me calling her now. I had to make things right in person. You couldn’t possibly apologize to your best friend for freezing her out for four months over the phone.

Or could you?

A thought was lingering inside my head all day long. It appeared after a short but irritating exchange with Duncan.

“I want you to come with me to a meeting. To take notes.”

“Okay. Where is Ana?” his PA usually accompanied him to those meetings.

“Who?” he asked with a frown. He had changed six assistants for the four months I had spent here. He fired five of them. I was sure Ana’s faith was no different.

“Your last PA,” I specified. “You hired her two weeks ago.”

“Ah, yeah. I fired her.”

“Shocker,” I whispered to myself because, let’s face it, I was scared of him.

“Wear something nice. Ditch those ripped jeans for once. I’m thinking pencil skirt and a shirt.”

“Sure. No problem,” it was like living with my mother all over again, but he was my boss and it was his meeting, so…

“Oh, and would you please get rid of that necklace of yours? It’s so tacky, it’s an insult to our brand.”

I pursed my lips together, swung on my heels, and left his office.

I never took off the necklace Lucas gave me. I wasn’t going to do it for that stupid asshole. And my idea was born at that moment.

When I left work, I took my phone out of my pocket and scrolled down my screen to find Hannah’s number, but I chickened out.

I dialed Elizabeth instead. She answered right before I hung up.

“Hey, what’s up?” she sounded like she was trying to hide something. Probably the fact she was talking to me. I bet Lucas was around.

“I…I’m confused,” I managed to utter.

“What’s wrong? Is Duncan giving you a hard time again?”

She frequently offered to talk to her ex-boyfriend and to ask him to be nicer, and this time I refused like every other.

“It’s fine. It’s not about him. He just inspired an idea.”

“What idea?”

“How is he?” I realized that the question was overdue. I had to ask that months ago. Elizabeth paused for a moment.

“He’s better. I think he’s still miserable but in a slightly more manageable way.”

“What would you say if I told I was miserable in not at all manageable way? That I hate London, Duncan, and I nevereverwant to make another piece of jewelry in my life?” I asked breathlessly.

“Hmm, what would I say?” Elizabeth thought about it. “I would ask if you wanted me to wait for you at the airport.”

I heard laughter around Elizabeth. A familiar one.

“I’m sorry…Is that my mother?” I was sure it was her high-pitched laugh, but I couldn’t possibly imagine her with Elizabeth.

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