~Joan~
A few days had passed since I spent an extra day at Aaron’s house, waiting for the storm to pass.
Once it was over, I returned home, trying to move on with life as if nothing had happened-pretending I hadn’t received a text that had almost wrecked me completely.
Aaron hadn’t said much about the text either. He never brought it up, only occasionally asking if I’d received another one from whoever sent it. The answer was always no.
I hadn’t received anything else since, and I couldn’t help but wonder why someone would send a message like that, then vanish without a trace.
Now, sitting cross-legged on my couch with my laptop in front of me, I tried to focus on my writing. My book was coming along, and I felt like I’d reached a decent pace.
The sound of the door opening brought me back to reality. Indie walked in, balancing a bag of groceries in her arms, her skeptical gaze locking onto me.
“Hi,” I said with a small smile, brushing a stray strand of hair behind my ear.
She gave a short smile in return before heading into the kitchen to drop off the groceries. “There’s nothing in your house. What the fuck are you eating? Junk food?” she asked, returning to the living room and crossing her arms.
I cleared my throat and glanced at her.
She rolled her eyes. “I’m 42, Joan. Not too old to cuss.” With that, she plopped onto the couch beside me.
Her familiar honey-like scent drifted over, calming me. Indie wasn’t just a friend-she’d become family. The mother I never had.
Indie was a divorcee. Her marriage had ended after discovering her husband had an affair with her sister. She had no children, so she’d been on her own ever since.
“Thanks, by the way,” I said, nodding toward the overfilled bag of groceries.
She nudged me lightly with her shoulder, rubbing her hands together as she settled in.
“I got invited to an interview tomorrow,” she said.
My eyebrows shot up, and a smile spread across my face. “Oh my God, Indie! That’s amazing. I’m so happy for you.” I leaned over and gave her a quick hug.
She shook her head with a small smile. “Yeah, I know. I’m happy too.”
But something about her expression made me pause. I narrowed my eyes at her. “You don’t look particularly excited. Indie, you’ve been searching for a job since I’ve known you. This is a big opportunity!”
She grabbed my hand, her voice soft. “I’m just nervous, okay? It’s been so long since I’ve done this. And it’s a reputable company-I don’t want to screw it up.”
I rubbed her shoulder gently. “You’re going to kill it, Indie. You’ll walk in there and blow them away.”
Her lips curved into a hesitant smile. “Oh, you think so? I’ll go in there and just whoop their butts?”
I laughed, scrunching my nose as I patted her hand. “Maybe tone it down just a little, buddy.”
She laughed too, rubbing the corner of her eye.
“I mean it,” I said, leaning closer. “You’ve got this. You’re smart, beautiful, and sassy. They’ll hire you on the spot.”
She pressed her lips together, nodding slowly.
After a brief silence, she shifted. “Would you, um, come with me? Just until the interview is over?”
I hesitated, forcing a tight smile. “Indie…”
“Please?” she pleaded, her tone desperate. “I can’t go alone. What if I screw something up-like miss the address or say something stupid?”
I raised an eyebrow. “You’re not going to miss the address, and you’re definitely not going to screw it up.”
She pouted. “Come on. Just having you there would make me feel more confident.”
I sighed. Indie could be convincing when she wants.
“Fine. I have a 4 PM shift tomorrow, though. So you have to promise we’ll be back on time.”
Her eyes lit up instantly. “Yes! We’ll be back by noon, I swear.”
I turned away, trying to hide my smile. Yeah, I’d do this one thing for her.
—
“You look hot,” Indie said the next day as I stepped out of my apartment, locking the door behind me.
I chuckled. “Not compared to you. You look amazing, Indie.”
She was dressed in a crisp white suit and skirt, paired with black heels and a matching bag. I’d never seen her look so professional before. Then again, she’d never had a big interview like this before.
“Oh, please,” she laughed, waving me off as we headed outside.
Because we didn’t want her to be late, we’d booked a cab in advance. It was already waiting for us.
We climbed in, and Indie gave the driver the company’s address. I glanced down at my flowery blue blouse and black skirt. I’d chosen flats-professional but comfortable. The last thing I wanted was to be kicked out of a reputable company for looking inappropriate.
We arrived at the building half an hour later. As soon as we stepped out, I glanced at my watch.
“Thirteen minutes to eight,” I said, glancing at Indie. “Looks like we’re early, buddy.”
She grinned widely before leading the way into the building.
The reception area was buzzing with a mix of men and women, all of them looking polished and professional. I guessed they were here for the same interview.
Indie approached the receptionist with a confident smile. “Hi, I’m here for the interview.”
The blonde woman barely looked up from her computer. “You’re welcome to Zenith Crypt Securities. Please wait over there. The boss isn’t here yet. The interview will begin once he arrives.”
Indie thanked her, and we turned to find seats among the others.
As I sat down, a thought flickered in the back of my mind. Zenith Crypt Securities? The name sounded familiar, but I couldn’t quite place it.
Before I could figure it out, a wave of murmurs swept through the room. Indie clasped her hands together nervously, and I looked up.
A group of men walked in, led by someone with jet-black hair. My stomach twisted as I recognized him instantly-dark whiskey eyes, a sharp jawline, and a suit that fit him like a second skin.
Aaron.
Oh, for fuck’s sake.