Chapter 3 To Hell With All This
902 Words
Beverly stood under the steaming shower for two full hours after returning home.
The heat turned her skin crimson, and she might have stayed there longer if not for the sound of her phone ringing in the living room.
Wrapping herself hastily in a towel, she braved the chill that raised goosebumps on her damp skin and walked to the dining table to grab her phone.
The screen lit up. Damn it. Of course, it was Robin.
She wanted to hang up immediately, but her wet fingers slipped on the screen, and the call connected before she could stop it.
"Hey, babe! Guess what? I lost my phone for a whole day, but I finally found it!" Robin's voice was as carefree as ever.
"I've been missing you like crazy, but... uh, listen, I've run into a little trouble with my startup."
He hesitated and then continued, his tone almost casual. "Could you lend me some cash? Not much, just 100 grand. Once I sort this out, I'll come straight to you. You're the best girlfriend in the world, you know that?"
Beverly felt a wave of disgust so strong it nearly made her gag.
"You didn't see the breakup text?" she asked coldly.
"Babe, no! That's on me. I shouldn't have gone off the radar, but I swear it wasn't intentional. You're amazing, honey. Don't be mad, okay?"
The syrupy tone that once seemed endearing now made her skin crawl.
"Where were you the night before last?" she interrupted, her voice cutting like a blade.
There was a beat of silence.
Then, Robin stammered, "That night... uh, I don't really remember. I think I was at Ollie's farm, having drinks."
Beverly didn't waste another second on him.
She hung up and immediately blocked his number, along with every other way he could contact her. She couldn't bear the thought of more of his nonsense. Then, she swiftly cleaned up herself and packed a small bag of essentials.
She had to leave the apartment before Robin came back. She had neither the strength nor the patience to deal with him again.
After catching a few hours of uneasy sleep in a motel, Beverly headed to work early the next morning. On the way, she listed the apartment on a rental app for subletting.
Good. She could sleep at the office for now. It would save her on rent and make working late easier.
Maybe the universe had finally decided to cut her some slack because, as soon as she sat at her desk, her manager, Sam Kench, called her into his office with a rare smile.
Sam was a man she'd never particularly liked: greasy, lecherous, and always too familiar.
Sure enough, as he spoke, he placed a hand on her shoulder, giving it an unwelcome squeeze. "Beverly, your hard work over the years hasn't gone unnoticed. After careful consideration, the higher-ups have decided to promote you. Here's your new badge."
The badge read: Project Manager.
The sight of her new title briefly lifted her spirits.
Sam leaned back in his chair, his eyes skimming over her in a way that made her skin crawl. His smile was too knowing and suggestive.
"Now, go on and get ready. We've got a client meeting at eleven. Dress to impress."
For a moment, the promotion made her forget about Elroy entirely.
Men like him didn't belong in her world anymore.
At eleven, she climbed into Sam's car for the meeting. They'd barely driven halfway when his hand landed on her thigh.
"Hey!" she yelped, recoiling into the door.
Sam grinned, his teeth flashing unpleasantly. "You know, you're the real face of this company. A true asset."
Beverly had always been the office's unspoken jewel. Her beauty was both innocent and alluring—a natural magnet for attention. Even in the simplest outfit, she exuded an effortless elegance.
Sam had been waiting for the right moment to make his move.
"How about you stick with me? I promise your career will skyrocket even faster."
The bile rose in Beverly's throat, and the thrill of her promotion vanished in an instant. Her voice trembled with suppressed fury. "Sam, pull over."
His grin faltered, and his face darkened. "Don't be ungrateful, Beverly. Since you have the chance, just use it. Just stop pretending to be high and mighty.
"I said pull over!"
The car jerked to a stop by the curb. As she reached for the door, his mocking voice stopped her cold.
"You sure about this? The contract you signed is clear as day. Refuse to cooperate, and you'll owe us a hefty penalty."
Her hand froze on the handle.
"Break the contract before it's up, and the non-compete clause will make sure you can't find a job in the industry for three years. Think about it, sweetheart."
Her breath caught in her throat.
Beverly had been in such a hurry that she hadn't regarded the contract seriously. After she started working, her every step was like walking on the blade, so nobody had ever seen her making a mistake. However, Sam's intentions were unexpected.
Her fists clenched tightly at her sides, her nails digging into her palms as she wrestled with the bitter reality.
Three years without work. Could she survive that?
Even after cutting ties with Robin, she still had a massive loan to pay off. Losing her income would be a death sentence.
- Writer
