Inked

“Well, today it’s my boss. He’s been a real pain in the ass here. I knew that he would be an ass the moment he tried to wreck my date with Will, do you remember me telling you about that?”

“It’s that guy?” As she squeals, I realize that I wasn’t supposed to be mentioning that. This is why lying is hard. I’m so used to being open and honest with Jane that it’s strange to keep things inside. I’m so used to telling her absolutely everything, so any secrecy is hard to deal with.

“Oh, sorry I forgot that I didn’t mention it to you earlier. Yeah, it’s him.”

I feel a bit sick. I’m worried that this conversation is about to take a different turn. One that I wasn’t ready for.

“How did you keep that a secret? That’s so exciting. He’s your boss now?”

“Yeah, and a real pain in the ass. He has got me doing all kind of terrible jobs today, it’s doing my head in.”

“What sort of jobs?” she asks with a glee to her voice. “This is so funny.”

In a way, I suppose it’s good that it’s making her laugh. I usually don’t care, even if it is at my expense, but I guess today I’m feeling a little more sensitive than usual. I hate feeling this vulnerable.

“It isn?

??t funny. It’s a nightmare. Personal errands and cleaning toilets. You should see my hands.”

I glance at them again, knowing that really, I deserve this. I snapped at Isaac which wasn’t cool. He might be a dick but moaning on the phone to my sister isn’t the right thing to do. I shouldn’t bitch. I am his personal assistant and I do have to get on with whatever he tells me to do. Like it or not.

“Anyway, I think that’s how the job is going to be from now on. Shitty jobs.”

“Are you still attracted to him? I bet you are. He sounds hot and fun… I said that before, didn’t I? I think that’s what you need. A man who can challenge you, make you have a good time. Bring you out of your shell. I know you think that you are there already because you’re not the girl from high school, but there’s more to you.”

Her words are oddly touching, and silence me for a moment. I wasn’t expecting a general bitch session about Isaac to turn into this! Now I’m going to have to gather myself before going back to work.

“Jane, I would never be attracted to Isaac. You said that the first night I met him, and I told you that he was an arrogant man in a suit who thinks that he’s better than anyone else, and that still stands.”

“So, you wouldn’t fuck him? I bet you would. I bet it would be awesome as hell.”

I gulp down the thick ball of emotion that lodges itself in my throat. The mere mention of going near Isaac sexually just reminds me of what’s coming for me. There’s no way I can escape it. I keep trying to push it from my mind, forget about it so I can just get on with my job, but it’s still there.

“I wouldn’t have sex with him. Will you stop it, Jane? You’re making this day way worse.”

“Oh, no I’m not. I’m making it better. I can hear the amusement in your voice. You know what I think you should do? And before you shoot me down, just listen to my idea.”

“What do you think that I should do, Jane? Please, fill me in.”

“You should fuck him. Get this strange sexual tension out of your system. Have some fun.”

“There is no sexual tension. There’s no need to get anything out of my system. I just need to keep my head down. Keep on with it and try to make the most of this job.”

“Or you could quit. You don’t have to be there you know. Certainly not for me.”

But that’s exactly why I need to be here. I have finally managed to convince her to give this treatment a go. I won’t do anything to screw it up now. Not a chance in hell.

All of a sudden, before I can think of an appropriate response to this, a cough rings out from behind me. I jump and spin, trying to see who has caught me, and much to my horror. It’s Isaac.

My blood runs ice cold, and my heart sinks. This is the worst possible thing that could have happened. I don’t know how much Isaac heard, but anything is bad. Embarrassment swallows me as I realize what he might have heard. The negative comments about him, the sexual jokes, it’s all cringeworthy.

“Lexi, are you still there? You’ve gone quiet. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to…”

“Jane, I have to go,” I half whisper. “I need to go back to work.”

“Is everything okay? You sound really stressed. Do I need to kick some ass?”

I force out a laugh because I know that’s what she needs me to do. “No, I’m okay. I will see you tonight.”