I squeezed the Evian bottle with my right hand, condensation dripping down the sides.
He’d lucked out.
He had gotten the easy job.
The one where he could probably eat at his desk and spike his own coffee and nobody would so much as blink, whereas I—
I adjusted my Spanx—again. And tried to take a deep breath. I had to wear black every day, and unfortunately for me, all my black dresses were a bit too small.
I blamed being single and using my parents’ Netflix and their Postmates account to deliver food, but really, I was stuck in a rut. I knew it. My friend Amelia knew it. It was just, this was not how I saw my life going.
I was driven.
And I knew that I was even overqualified at times, but the best jobs were going to people with experience or master’s degrees. Nobody really cared about a business major and how good her grades had been through all four years of studying.
If anything, my lack of experience worked harder against me than if I had failed all my classes.
A little growl escaped my lips when Mark’s truck disappeared down the street. He was probably getting out early so he could hang out with friends, which he still had because he got off on time. Meanwhile, I hadn’t seen Amelia since last weekend, and even then, she was acting like something was wrong and kept checking her phone. She finally came up with this lame-ass excuse of not feeling well and left me alone at the bar to fend for myself.
Well, I guess I wasn’t totally by myself since Mark had stopped by to punish me with his good looks, killer smile, and all-around annoying presence.
“This seat taken?” He’d grinned.
I glared. “It was.”
“Hmm, looks empty, feels empty, seems like you’re all by yourself, Olive.”
“Don’t call me Olive. It’s not my name. Amelia just left because she didn’t feel good and—”
His expression darkened. “Let me guess she suddenly came down with something, oh… say around two minutes ago?”
“Yes.” How did he know?
His eyes pierced through mine as a slow lazy smile appeared across his face. “Interesting…”
“What is?”
“Nothing…” he said slowly as he reached over and downed the rest of my beer, setting an empty glass back in front of me. “See ya around, Olive.”
I swear I was shaking by the time he sauntered off.
My heart pounded against my ribs.
And for whatever reason, I wanted to run after him, climb his body like a tree, then wrap my legs around his waist. It would be a moment of pure sexual need fulfillment followed by his death.
I’d black widow him.
But I’d at least I’d know what all the fuss was about.
Nobody was that good at sex. Nobody.
“Olivia!” My boss Mathew came jogging down the hall in his perfect black suit with his dark hair swept to the side and his tanned skin glowing like he’d just got back from the beach. Could his sparkling white teeth be any more capped?
“Yes?” I met his gaze.
He was in his late thirties, had two kids, and a wife who was a walking poster for fillers. To this day, I still had no clue if she was older or younger than him.
“Glad I caught you before you left…” He motioned me into the downstairs finance office; it was empty as he led me toward the large wooden desk.
He sat in the chair behind the desk and smiled. “You’ve been doing a really good job, Olivia.”
“Wow, thank you.” I beamed, glad he appreciated all the little extra things I’d been doing around the place. Whether it be making sure the snack section of the waiting room was constantly full or water bottles handed out to the sales floor when it was hot, but I’d been trying.
“In fact—” He stood abruptly and moved behind me to close the one massive blind that overlooked the sales floor. “—I have a proposition for you…”
Proposition almost sounded like promotion! I didn’t want to get my hopes up, but I sat straighter in my chair, my lips parting ready to accept, when I felt his hand touch the back of my neck as he leaned down behind me and whispered, “You want to move up the ladder…” He tugged a wisp of my hair as goosebumps of terror rose over my body. “Nobody has to know what you did to get the next opening in marketing…besides, most everyone’s gone home.” He moved to face me. His gross smile widened like I’d already given in when I was too busy freaking out and looking for an exit.
I slowly stood. “I’m not into doing sexual favors for a promotion, Mathew. Especially considering you’re married.”
“Oh, that.” He waved his hand dismissively, a bored expression on his face. “We have an open marriage. Very open.”
Disgusting. “Good for you.” I eased from my chair to the door and pushed it open a crack.
“You walk out of here, and you’re fired,” he threatened in a low voice.
“Guess I am, you asshole,” I muttered under my breath as I walked to my desk and grabbed my purse, lunch, and coffee mug.
Tears streamed down my face as I got into my parents’ Prius, ready to drive back to the house.
Guess I got off early like Mark.
Only I got fired.
And he still had a job.
Pissed, I made an abrupt turn off the main highway and headed toward the seedy bar Amelia and I frequented. It was a short drive, and in under two minutes, I made it to the parking lot, where I parked and cut the engine. In a full-on fury, I climbed out and slammed the door, stomping my heels as I crossed the lot and jerked open the door. Squinting until my eyes adjusted to the dim lighting, I continued stomping my way to the bar, ready to rage at the bartender and use him or her as my therapist.
“Double,” I announced before the bartender could ask.
The bartender smirked. “Of?”
Could he tell I didn’t do this often? “Wh-whiskey.”
He sighed in annoyance. “What kind of whiskey?”
“Oh well…” I thought about it. “What kinds do you h—”
“She’ll have Maker’s Mark,” came a familiar voice behind me.
With a groan, I turned around to see my nemesis holding a beer and smiling at me like this was the best day of his life.
“Mark,” I said in a chilly voice.
“Olivia,” he deadpanned and then took the seat next to me. “What brings you to this side of town so early in the day?”
I had a vibrant daydream of clocking him in the face with my purse before answering. “If you must know, I chose to quit my job after my boss came on to me…he made it sound like I would get a promotion; you know all I have to do is suck old man dick.”
Mark choked on his next drink and started coughing. “Are you fucking kidding me?”
“No.” My eyes did that watery thing again, which was so not crying! “I mean, I wish I was kidding, so I left, and rather than go to my parents’ house at five announcing my failure as a college graduate, I ended up here, at the dive bar. I’m sure they’d be proud.”
Mark shoved the shot glass into my face. “Drink and forget.”
“Drink and forget.” I lifted the shot and swallowed; it burned down my throat.
I was rummaging through my purse for cash to pay when Mark grabbed my wrist and gently took my purse, setting it on the floor. “I’ll take care of it.”