LEFT ME, TOOK HER

CHAPTER 4: AFTER CONFIDENCE

CHAPTER 4: AFTER CONFIDENCE*

I did not reply to Jayden. I put phone on silent and went to sleep in my small studio.

But I did not sleep.

I was thinking of Vicky at the wig kiosk. No designer bag. Simple hair. Looking away.

Three months ago, Vicky was wearing my gold coat. Now she is selling wigs.

I woke up the next morning at 5am. New York was still dark. I entered my bathroom. Small bathroom, but mine. I looked in the mirror. Black blazer hanging behind the door. Own office. Own boardroom. Own confidence. But my eyes were swollen. I cried in my sleep.

I went to work early. 6am. My office in SoHo was empty. I sat in my boardroom alone. This boardroom is not big like Jayden's company boardroom. It has one long table, six chairs, and a window that looks at SoHo street. But my name is on the door: AMAYA WILLIAMS - CEO.

At 8am, my assistant Lila came. Lila is 22, from Brooklyn. She said, "Boss, you are early. Are you okay?"

I said, "I am fine."

At 9am, I had a meeting with a big client. A fashion brand that wants us to do their i********:. I presented. I was confident. They loved it. They signed a $50,000 contract.

After the meeting, Lila said, "Boss, you killed it! Own confidence!"

I smiled. But inside, I was still thinking of Vicky.

At lunch time, I did something I did not plan. I walked to the mall in SoHo. To the wig kiosk.

Vicky was there. She was arranging wigs. She was wearing a black polo with the kiosk logo. No makeup. Her blonde hair was tied back. Simple.

She saw me. She froze.

I was in my black blazer. Laptop bag. Heels.

For two seconds, nobody talked. People were passing, buying pretzels, talking on phone.

Then Vicky looked away. She pretended to arrange a wig.

I walked to her kiosk. I said, "Vicky."

She did not look at me. She said, "Amaya. What do you want? Wigs? We have 20% discount today."

Her voice was shaking.

I said, "I don't want wigs. I want to talk."

She finally looked at me. Her eyes were red. Like she had been crying.

She said, "You came to laugh at me? You have office. Own boardroom. Own confidence. I have wig kiosk. Are you happy?"

I said, "No. I am not happy to see you like this."

She laughed, but tears came out. "You should be happy. You won. Jayden left me after one month. He said I am a liar, that I will lie to him like I lied to you. He fired me. Aaron left me. He said I am toxic. Now I work here, $15 per hour. My mom is sick in Ohio. I need money. So yes, this is me now. No designer bag. Simple hair."

I did not know what to say. For two years, I hated Vicky. I imagined this moment. I imagined I would shout, "You took my boyfriend! You are a bad friend!"

But seeing her now, in that polo, with red eyes, I did not feel hate. I felt tired.

I said, "Vicky, why did you show Jayden fake chats? Why did you tell him I slept with Aaron?"

She started crying fully now. Customers were looking.

She said, "Because I was jealous. You had everything. You had Jayden, who is rich and kind. You had a big apartment. You had good grades. I had nothing. My mom is sick. My rent was due. Jayden gave you everything. I thought if I take Jayden, my life will be good. I thought Aaron will still love me even if I leave him. I was stupid. I am sorry, Amaya. I am very sorry."

She sat on the floor behind the kiosk. Crying.

I sat with her. On the floor of SoHo mall. Me in black blazer, sitting on dirty floor, with Vicky in kiosk polo.

People were staring. But I did not care.

I said, "Vicky, stand up. Floor is dirty."

She stood up.

I said, "I forgive you. But I cannot be your friend again. Forgiveness is for me to be free. Friendship needs trust. You broke trust."

She nodded, wiping tears. "I understand."

I brought out my card holder. I gave her my business card. My CEO card.

I said, "My company needs a receptionist. $25 per hour. Not $15. If you want, come for interview tomorrow. Not as my friend. As a worker. You will work with Lila. You will not work with me directly. If you lie again, I will fire you same day. No second chance."

Vicky collected the card with shaking hands. "You... you are giving me job? After what I did?"

I said, "I am not giving you job because you are my friend. I am giving you job because your mom is sick and you need money. And because everyone deserves second chance to work, not second chance to be my friend. Come tomorrow 9am. With your CV. Not with stories."

I left.

That night, Aaron came to my apartment. He brought Chinese takeout.

He said, "Lila told me you went to Vicky's kiosk."

I said, "Yes."

He said, "Are you okay?"

I said, "Yes. I gave her a job interview."

Aaron was shocked. "Amaya, after what she did? She ruined your relationship. She almost ruined mine."

I said, "I know. But if I keep hating her, I will be like her. I want to be free. Also, her mom is sick. I remember when my own mom was sick in Queens. No one helped us."

Aaron hugged me. He said, "You are too kind. That is why Jayden was stupid to leave you."

We ate Chinese. Then Aaron said, "Can I tell you something?"

I said, "Yes."

He said, "I am leaving for a law conference in Washington tomorrow. One week. Will you miss me?"

I smiled. This is Aaron. He never says "I love you" directly. He asks small questions.

I said, "Yes. I will miss you."

He said, "Good. Because I will miss you too. Very much."

He left. I slept early.

Next morning, Vicky came for interview at 8:45am. She wore a simple white shirt and black trousers. No designer bag. Simple hair. Her CV was in a clear folder.

Lila interviewed her. I did not. I watched from my office glass.

Vicky was nervous. But she answered well. Lila hired her. Receptionist, $25 per hour, probation for one month.

Vicky started work that same day. She sat at reception. She did not come to my office. She did her work well. She greeted clients. She arranged files.

At 5pm, she knocked on my office door. She said, "Thank you, boss. For today."

I said, "Thank you, Vicky. For coming on time. See you tomorrow."

She left.

That evening, Jayden called again from London. I did not pick. He sent a voice note. 2 minutes.

I listened. He was crying. He said, "Amaya, I saw Vicky. She told me she lied. She showed me the real chats. I am sorry.You are gone. Can we at least be friends? Please reply."

I did not reply. I deleted the voice note. Some apologies come too late. Some trust, once broken, cannot be friendship.

I opened my diary. I wrote:

_Today, I forgave Vicky but I did not become her friend again. Today, I did not reply Jayden.

I closed diary.

Outside, New York lights were shining. Times Square was noisy. But my small studio was quiet.

And me? I was free.