chapter three
1000 Words
Lisa's legs successfully carried her back to work, but her mind was stuck on the weird conversation she had with Seth.
Was she going to get fired for refusing the CEO, or was this going to be the beginning of terror at work.
She came to a halt when she spotted Karla in front of the break room, near her office. She took another step forward and then paused when Karla walked up to her. That's when Lisa noticed the bandaid on her finger.
"Hi Lisa," Karla spoke softly, crossing her arms behind her back.
Their co workers slowly dispersed but sent glances their way while pretending to focus on work.
"Look, I'm sorry i pushed -"
"I forgive you." Karla cut her off, her voice slighly louder, enough for everyone to catch her words.
"Even if you don't apologise. " Karla added." We should keep things professional, and I'm sorry for grabbing you so suddenly. "
This b***h. Lisa mused. Karla always gave Lisa a bad vibe but she never focused on it. But now she knew exactly what she was feeling.
The office got a bit loud as people mummered to each other then Todd walked in.
"Miss Carter, i asked for the sketch of your team's design. Why isn't it on my desk? " He yelled, silencing the mummers in the office.
"Oh I'm so sorry sir, i kept her here. She was just about to submit it when i stopped her " Karla spoke.
"That's still not an excuse. I need that file on my desk now." Todd replied then stormed out.
"I'm sorry for wasting your time-" Karla started but Lisa just walked past her.
"Karla is so nice, she really tried to save Lisa even after what happened. "
She heard a co worker whisper before she shut the door to her office.
Karla was truly an angelic demon. Lisa groaned as she dropped down on her office chair.
She twirled her chair around and stared out the window, taking in the view of the parking lot and part of the city.
**I want to help you**
Seth's voice replayed in her head again as a groan escaped her lips.
"Why does my life suck so much right now "
She leaned back on her chair and stared up at the sky and let out a deep breath. She reached for a file on her table and pulled herself up and walked out of the office.
"I think she's just jealous. You know Karla and director are dating. And you know the team leader likes him"
Yet another whisper caught her attention. At this point they were not even trying to whisper.
Lisa shot them a glare and then walked away, gripping the file tigheter to control her anger.
She had become a topic for gossip and not the right type.
She knocked twice on the office door and then walked in. As she turned around, she spotted Todd, his legs crossed while he sat on the sofa in the middle of his office.
"Sit down, Miss Carter," he gestured towards the long sofa beside him.
As she approached him, she dropped the file on the center table and sat down quietly as he swipped though the pages.
"Good" he muttered to himself then grabbed a pen and put down his signature. " You can go ahead and start the design."
She grabbed the file and stood up, heading towards the door and waiting to be out of the same room as him.
"I'm sorry, Lisa. " Todd spoke from behind her.
"What?" Lisa scoffed then turned around.
"I don't want you to give me an attitude. Just hear me out." Todd sighed as he stood up and walked towards her.
"I know that i wronged you but you have to understand me. You weren't there in moments that i needed you, and i couldn't handle it. "
"I was always there for you, Todd. Why are you choosing to remember things this way? " Lisa closed the distance between them.
"Choosing? You think i would just make up what to remember?" Todd stepped back.
"No, i-"
"Karla was right. " Todd turned around and walked towards his office chair.
"Karla?" Lisa questioned.
"If you actually did love me, you would have listened to my side of the story. But all you care about is justifying your actions."
Lisa stummbed back, unable to believe what she had just heard. She dated Todd for two years but she never imagined that he was this ugly.
"Is that all you have to say?" Lisa replied, her eyes glued to white wall behind him.
Looking at him would only force her to tears and that isn't what she wanted. She wouldn't cry again for someone like him.
"You're dismissed. "
Lisa stormed out of the office.
■■■■■■
Seth tossed his phone on the desk in front of him and groaned in frustration. As much as he put up a front with Robert, he was hungry for Everstead. He had always been.
But he wasn't ready to go down that path again, not after what happened.
He let out a sigh, his mind travelling back to Lisa's reaction. That encounter made him feel stupid.
A fake relationship for three years. The more he thought about it, the more he cringed at his own idea.
A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts.
"Come in," he responded.
As the door swung open, he paused. Lisa walked in, her bag hanging on her shoulder and her nose red and puffy.
"I'll do it." She muttered.
Seth slowly stood up and headed towards her.
"Do what?" He asked as he sat on the head of the chair, shoving his hand in his pocket then slightly leaned forward.
"What do i have to do?" Lisa closed the distance between them, her face inches from Seth's.
A smile slightly tugged at his lips.
"Be my fake girlfriend. "
- Writer
