Bad timing

The Offer

Nowadays I'm 26, still working that same job, living with the same man and I can say that I'm relatively happy. Chris and I texted from time to time, to update each other on our lives, but that was really it. I still had feelings for him, at this point I just thought I always will. I guess today is a weird day, because I got reminded of all the hours we spent on the phone together and I was getting all warm and fuzzy in my stomach as I was walking up to the office.

The moment I got at my desk and laid down my laptop I heard my boss behind my back asking for me.

'Vicky, can you please come by my office when you settle down?' he said with a somehow cheerful tone in his voice.

'Sure thing Nick, just let me grab a cup of coffee first, I really hate Winter, never can get enough of sleep'

'No problem, I get you' he responded warmly as he went on greeting the rest of my colleagues that were coming in.

I got a coffee and chatted with my colleagues for a bit, then head down to Nick's office. He really is a great boss, the best one I've ever had. I was a top performer and I knew it, maybe this was to tell me I got great feedback on my last completed project.

I knocked on his door.

'Come in' I heard Nick say and I entered his office.

'Sorry to drag you in here so early in the morning, but I'm afraid this can't wait'

I almost choked as I was taking a sip of my coffee, what the hell?! Was he firing me? Did I do something wrong? OMG WHAT THE HELL?!

Without letting the panic be seen in my voice, the only thing I mumbled was a faint 'Uhm okay' as I sat down on the chair before me.

'Haha, I got you scared there didn't I?' he responded with a huge grin on his face. That bastard is just messing with me - typical Nicky.

'Ok, now to the topic. You know how I always knew you're the top performer of this team. You work so hard, and I can see that not just with my own eyes, but the feedback I've been getting from all our customers. Everyone simply loves working with you.' he paused for a moment. I still didn't understand where he was going with it? Was he promoting me?

'Alright, no more stalling - I chose you to go over to our office in San Francisco for 2 months, all expenses paid, to get training by the real top guns of the company, then come back and become a Supervisor for our team here!' he said with the happiest face ever

'Oh my God, really? That's amazing.. I mean.. wow.. to San Francisco? That sounds awesome, I'd love to go... Wait, did you say 2 months?' I didn't know what to say, it's like I forgot how to speak, this sounds like an amazing opportunity, I've never been overseas, and I always wanted to visit California. But 2 months?! How the hell was I going to leave my whole life for 2 months?

'Yes, 2 months, I already have a schedule for you, you'll be meeting with a lot of people and those 2 months you'll be almost fully busy. Typically this program can be done in a month, but I know how much you always wanted to visit the US and California especially, that I managed to buy you some time to take trips around and just enjoy some tourism over there.'

Whoa, do you remember when I told you he is the best boss ever? WELL HE REALLY IS!

'So when is this happening?'

'You'll be flying out this Saturday'

'Oh that soon, can you let me make a fell calls before I give you my final answer?' 

'Final answer? For what, I thought this was your dream come true??' he was surprised by my reaction, hell I was surprised by my reaction, but this just sounds like a huge decision and it wasn't fair of me to take it on my own.

'Yes, please just give me until the end of today, if possible.'

'Sure, no problem, but if you won't take it, I'll have Brian go over there and ultimately, become the supervisor here, so please think well of how and if you're ready to throw away such a chance'. He was somehow disappointed, and I get it. I mean he was the best boss ever, but still he was my boss and not my BFF. 

I nodded and I left his office, my knees soft from the anxiety. I quickly got to my desk and called Peter, my hands shaking.

'Hey sorry, I know you're working but I really need to talk to you'

'What's wrong, did anything happen?' of course I worried him, we never really talked during the day, we were both extremely busy at our jobs. 

'No everything's fine, it's just I got a proposal at work that I need to discuss with you, can you talk, it's urgent.'

'Sure. Wait. Don't tell me! They're finally promoting you right?? I knew you will make it!' well he's just the best man in the world. I knew he'd be happy for me, I was making more money than him, and he was never jealous or unsupportive.

'Uhm.. yes and no... they will promote me.. in 2 months... after I come back from San Francisco.' well, I could've picked better words to say it, but it is what it is.

'Wait, what? You're going to San Francisco for 2 months? 2 months?'

'Well that's the deal - I go to San Francisco for 2 months, I come back and they promote me to a supervisor. And I must give my final answer by the end of today, otherwise the deal is off and they give it to someone else'

'Let me guess Brian?' he knew me well, and he knew everything about my work, we talked a lot and it made me feel really good that he actually remembered all the hours I spent complaining about that piece of s**t that just always wanted to screw me over. 'Anyway, this is not something to talk over the phone, I'll come by to pick you up for lunch at 1pm and we can talk about it then. How about that?' God how much I loved him and how thoughtful he was.

'That sounds great, I love you'

'I love you too Vicky, see you at lunch'

I was swamped with work and I almost forgot about the whole thing until he called me at exactly 12:55 to tell me he's downstairs. I picked up my stuff and didn't even wait for the elevator, just rushed down all 5 floors of stairs.

He was already waiting for me at the parking lot, in his leather jacket that made his gorgeous body look even hotter and his sunglasses slightly pulled down so I could see his beautiful brown eyes. I ran to him and he picked me up and kissed me on my lips, like he kissed me for the first time.

'So, what's up?' he said with a grin as he put his hand over my shoulders and squeezed me tight.

'Well, you know nothing much, just checking the weather forecast in San Francisco, I hope it's warmer there, considering it's in California' he looked at me with worry in his eyes, didn't really say anything, just opened the car door for me, got in and drove to a close restaurant nearby where we could discuss the matter privately'

We sat down and ordered our food, he was just making small talk, not mentioning the elephant in the room, and I was getting a bit annoyed by that already.

'Ok, I really enjoy how passionate you are about the napkins they use here, but can we discuss what we came here to discuss?' he wasn't surprised by my forwardness, I wasn't a person who beats around the bush. He raised his eyebrows and let out a loud sigh as he looked at me with the most serious expression I've ever seen on that face.

'Listen Vicky, you're a very talented and smart woman, and I have no doubt that you deserve this opportunity and it's only going to be beneficial for your future, but I'm just worried about it. I want you to go and pursue that, however I'm really going to miss you, for the last 4 years we've been apart for how long? Like 2 days tops? And that's 2 months, 2 long months I won't be able to hold you or kiss you. I'm not saying it's going to affect us and our relationship, but as far as I am concerned I'm not looking forward to it. Ultimately it's your decision to make, and I'm not going to stop you or stay in the way of your dreams.' 

Well, I expected that, I knew him so well that I could've had this same conversation in my head. I liked that, I liked that he was so predictable, I didn't like drama. I loved how we can talk so openly.

'Ok, I get that. I don't think it's going to affect our relationship and if it does, it's only going to make it stronger. This has been my dream, and I want to go. I'm going to miss you badly, but this is an opportunity of a lifetime and I'm not going to pass on that. Is that ok?'

'That's more than ok. Now, let's eat.'

We didn't talk about it anymore, and not because I didn't want to, I was excited and wanted to discuss every detail of it, but I just felt like he was a bit hurt that I made my decision. After lunch he dropped me at the office and kissed me on the cheek.

I practically run up the stairs as I wanted to go tell my boss I accept. By the time I reached to the 5th floor I could no longer breathe. I raced to Nick's office and didn't even knock, I barged in and hold out my hand in a gesture to tell him to wait as I was trying to catch my breath. His expression was pretty confused, I bet at this point he was regretting his decision to pick me. 

'Ahem, did you run a marathon on your lunch break?' 

'I'm..... going..... to...... San......Francisco' well this took like 4 minutes to come out from my mouth. 

'That's great Vicky, I'm sure you won't regret it. Now please go sit and drink some water, I don't want any dead people here, it's bad advertising.' he winked at me. Funny guy..

I was so excited I couldn't wait to tell everyone. I called my mother first, she was really happy for me, with the right amount of worry that every mother has. I asked her to tell the rest of the family as I was calling my three bestEST friends - Mia, Athena and Riley. I just group called them all and they were screaming out of excitement, congratulating me and openly being jealous about it. We talked for about 5 minutes when Riley shouted.

'WAIT!' all of us instantly froze. 'Did you tell him?'

'Tell who?' Mia and Athena asked in one voice.

'What do you mean who? HIM!'

Damn it Riley, way to ruin my mood and send my heart pounding like it's going to burst out of my chest. I knew perfectly well that she meant Chris. Up until this point I haven't even thought about him, the last I remember he was going to a mission somewhere, maybe Africa. 

'No, Riley, I haven't told him, and I'm not planning to. He's probably not even in the US right now, and even if he is I'll be in California and he's living in New York. Plus I'll be there for work, not pleasure' the last thing was a lie, Nick told me he got those 2 months so I can have some fun as well, but I just didn't want to seem weak in front of the girls.

'b***h, that's bullshit. Stop looking for excuses, you guys have been destined to meet some day and maybe that day has finally come, don't you think 6 years is enough?' she really killed my mood that one, but it's only because she knew me best and that was exactly what I was doing, I was avoiding it, because it felt like something wrong - well it was wrong. I had a man here who was ready to do anything for me, and I was thinking about chasing an old love. Mia and Athena backed her up with 'You go girl'

'Anyway I have a lot of work and I'll be hanging up now' I said in annoyance.

'b***h don't you da..' and that's when I hanged up.

I know she was right, I wanted to meet him, but not now. Bad timing... as always. I laid back in my chair and let my thoughts drift for a while, when I heard my phone ping with a new message. I unlocked my phone and when I saw who the message was from my heart was about to burst out of my chest:

Chris

Hey, what's up?

I stared for the message for about 5 minutes, so I can control my shaking hands as I responded:

Well.. guess what