Passion and pursuit

appy when his phone buzzed; I knew the conversation would end there. When I l

I couldn't bear his stare any longer, I disappeared from in front of him and das

e day, so I decided to change into my casual dress. While I was changing in the dressing ro

ally kept it tucked away to avoid misplacing it or damaging it if

d calls f

as thi

tely dialed her number. She

you called," I stammered, not giving her a ch

ere were you?" she sna

t. I fell silent, bracing myself for the torrent of insults that was sure to follow.

chelle rushed in, her energy palpable,

my Angel..." she shou

call, she mouthed an apology, her eyes wide. She set her bag down with a thud and prepared to

one carrying through the room despite being turned down to the lowest volume. I wou

he background, she abruptly shifted the topic, her t

boyfriend," she said, he

yfri

of surprise at

ression morphing into one of i

th a firm to

'babe'? You think I don't know what

t me, but I turned away, knowing how serious Diana's words could be. I understood now why she thought I

aurant called Michelle "Smoky" b

le, ma. She's one o

hoping to defus

nse, her voice dropped to

ing like a man's? Is

stant, my gaze darted to Michelle, my thoughts

customers asked her if she was a hermaphrodite, due to her husky voice, she erupted

paused, the phone pressed to my ear, struggling to find my voice. I hated to

hrough the line, booming like thun

why the

stammered, stumb

estion at me that m

use your phone wh

ghes had fina

, a sharp contrast to the cool air f

n these two friends in my life. Why

a loss

e but to tell

ear what I asked you? I don't have time

didn't show up to work to ask why she was absent. T

taff who weren't around? Are yo

ustomers. Do you even know what you're doing in this restaurant? If you wanted

e phone, her words

any more complaints from the res

g a party in Ontario, and we're already here. If you want, go live at your boyfriend's

uptly cut off the call, le

all she ever seem

on their trip. Even she and her husband

days. I grabbed my bag and stepped out of the dressing room, waving at Michelle as she

was 5:15. The 5 o'clock bus had already left, and I was

rder a cab to th

ealization hit me lik

n my appointme

s today

heart sank as I saw that the date had passed; it was a

r moment, I opened my

I couldn't shake the frustration

let it sli

ions to problems, yet here I was

at had caused the oversight. I had been so preoccu

job, even if it meant starting under a boss before I could stand on my own as a qualified journalist.

ob offer, but I would fight for it. I had been

hink it was my diary

on I was at the office, eager to find out if Jasper was around.

the other day," I said, smiling as I l

tted me, her face lit up, and she hugged me tightly.

ay?" she said, her smile brightening the room. It was as if her

ne picked up the phone, her usual duty as a secretary, to ask for his permissio

cting you,

case to his office, feeling like a butterfly taking

xed on me as I entered. I felt his eyes scan me from hea

r." He smiled and co

staring at

he usually looked at people. We hadn't had

r and spoke. "Angel, why weren't yo

ion. I couldn't believe he would a

a little busy at

hough I often tried to look away. He began explaining

he said, taking a sip of the coffee placed before h

gh to become editor-in-chief is that the owner

lly, I thought he was reaching for the appointment letter he had kept in the drawer, bu

this gu

nk I was,some s

EMPLOYERS WHO SLEPT WITH WO

ders away from him. But he didn't stop; he

ous chuckle escaping his lips. He continued,

ing a jolt of surprise through me. I was

n't bel

ehind, a chill ran down my spine. He had me tra

urged w

o to escape th