Page 35 of Silver Fake

For the next ten minutes, I tell Melissa everything that happened from the moment John stormed into Jessica Rose's office. I tell her about Nelson, meeting John's parents, and my stupid rules. I even tell her about John and I sleeping together in the same bed.

After hearing the whole story, Melissa's laugh echoes through the phone again.

"I can't believe you two actually ended up in bed together. I knew it was bound to happen sooner or later. I'm happy the two of you are finally letting your guards down a little."

A breath I didn't realize I'd been holding escapes from my lips. Melissa's reaction is unexpectedly supportive, and it instantly lightens the tight knot in my chest.

"I was half expecting you to tell me I've lost my mind," I confess, letting out a relieved laugh. "So you don't think I'm crazy for going with John to the wedding?"

"Of course not!" Melissa exclaims into the phone. "All I want is for you both to be happy. But," she hesitates, "this might make the rest of our call a bit awkward."

My eyebrows knit together in confusion. "What do you mean?"

Melissa lets out a hesitant sigh before she finally speaks. "Victor's secretary just announced she's retiring.”

I can't help but break into laughter. "Why on earth would that make things awkward?"

"Well," she starts cautiously, "a little birdie told me that they're considering offering you the job."

The laughter dies in my throat. Victor's secretary?

Me?

My first instinct is to say no. I love being John's secretary. I love the routine and the order of it. It's not glamorous, but I'm good at it. Working for Victor would be an entirely different dynamic, and the thought of not seeing John every day leaves a strange, hollow feeling in my chest. Not to mention that John absolutely despises Victor. He'd probably burst a blood vessel if he found out I was even considering the job.

But on the other hand, should I really be making major life decisions based on what John feels?

I've been here before, putting my life on hold for other people’s dreams, and look where that got me. I spent years devoted to a man who ultimately chose someone else, leaving me alone in a two-bedroom apartment, while he happily lives in the house we once shared with his new wife and their twins.

John and I aren't even dating. We're complicated at best, and whatever it is we share, it's premature to let it dictate my life choices. The last time I let a man influence my decisions, I ended up heartbroken and displaced.

Do I really want to make that mistake again?

"Lisa?" Melissa's voice pulls me out of my thoughts. "Are you still there?"

I let out a heavy sigh before responding, "Yeah, Melissa. I'm still here."

Melissa's voice softens, "Hey, don't worry, okay? You don't have to decide anything right now. The position isn't even officially open yet. I just wanted to make sure you heard it from me before anyone else."

"I appreciate that, Mel. Thanks for looking out for me."

"Always, honey," Melissa replies, her tone warm and reassuring. "Well, I should probably let you get back to your vacation. But call me if you need anything!"

I chuckle at Melissa's enthusiasm. "Thanks, Mel. Talk to you soon."

Just as I sink back down onto the bed, the door swings open, and John strides into the room, a triumphant grin splitting his face.

He's holding two steaming cups of coffee, and behind him is a short procession of people pushing multiple room service carts, loaded with an array of dishes that could feed an army. They push the carts onto the terrace and set up a makeshift breakfast buffet.

I gawk at the spectacle, my jaw dropping slightly.

"John, what's all this?"

John sets the coffees down on the bedside table and chuckles.

"I couldn't decide what to get you," he admits.

"So, you goteverything?" I tease, gesturing to the mountain of food filling up the terrace.

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