44 — Heard everything

(…) “I'm sorry to end our night this way.”
(…) “I just took Angelee home.”
(…) “She's not my girl, Cathy.”
ㅤ
*I heard everything*… Julian on the phone with the woman he left at the club.
When he got out of bed and left the room to talk to her, my chest tightened, and I became suddenly breathless. Now, I'm really trying hard to fight this agonizing feeling that's overwhelming me and bringing tears to my eyes, but I know it's in vain as my eyelashes wet the pillow.
I crinkle my lips, bringing my hand to my chest, to my throat….
I feel absurdly awful.
Just a friend…? It doesn't feel that way.
Suddenly, Julian is back, leaning over the bed. I know the talk didn't last more than five minutes, but somehow, I feel like a small eternity has passed. And once again, I feel his hand on my arm, slowly sliding under the sheet. His legs wrap around mine, and his abdomen rests against my back, fitting me to his body so perfectly that they seem to be made for it.
Draping his arm over my body, he snuggles into me, planting another delicate kiss on my skin that hurts more than if he were slicing it to pieces… Because such a tender kiss fills me with hopes that, I know, are in vain….
We're just friends with benefits — and though sex, moans, and orgasms are involved… at the end of the day, I'm just his best friend's daughter.
***
I wasn't able to sleep for a single minute. When Julian fell asleep, I snuck out of his apartment. But even as I lay in my bed, with his scent sinking into my skin, sleep didn't come. So, I spent the whole night remembering when we first met… how I just knew that yes, I would love him for a long time.
And I tried, really tried to fight it….
In the end, I still fell in love with him.
By the time the sun came up, I was ready for work, with more caffeine in my blood than I had in a whole day under pressure.
I left the house before Julian even got up, at six. And even this early, New York is already bustling… It's really a city that doesn't sleep, just like me.
With short steps, I take my time to enjoy the view, the early autumn sky that will soon begin to paint the trees with its warm hues. The surrounding stores begin to turn their signs, indicating that they're OPEN, ready to start a new productive day. I allow my feet to continue guiding me through the streets without haste, and before I know it, I'm standing in front of Laura's ex-boyfriend's restaurant.
Unlike the others, the sign hanging inside the glass says CLOSED. I don't look past it, just turn to go on my way… when a *click* catches my attention, and I'm startled slightly by the door being opened.
The Owner greets me with a smile that infects me without even realizing it, “Hi…. Do you like pudding?”
“Pudding?” The question takes me by surprise, so I just nod, “Yes-”
“Come on, I made some.” He winks at me and opens the door, ushering me through.
I look around as I enter the restaurant, and can't help but feel a little odd that it's so empty. The two times I came here, there were so many people that I could barely fit in. But now it's so quiet that even the sound of my heels stands out and bothers me slightly.
“Sit wherever you like… as you can see, we have plenty of tables available.”
I giggle, “I'm sure when you turn that sign, it'll fill up in a minute.”
The Owner raises an eyebrow, saying with a joking tone, “Don't tell me I forgot to put it open…. What am I thinking?”
I sit down at the table near the counter, feeling slightly disconcerted by the intensity of his gaze…. Why did I come in here anyway?
Meanwhile, he goes into the kitchen and, a few moments later, returns with a piece of pudding with lots of caramel syrup. When he puts it on the table and looks at me expectantly, I completely lose my shyness and take a piece of the dessert with and bring it to my lips….
And my goodness, it's simply delicious…!
“Hmm, you really have wonderful hands!” I say with a groan, and when he lets out a small laugh, I realize my words. I clear my throat, adding with slight desperation, “I- I mean, the food…. You're very good at cooking…”
“I really do have very good hands.” He tilts his head slightly, giving a cocky smile, moistening his lips, “I'm glad one of the ways is to your liking.”
I give a shy smile and lower my eyes to the dessert, taking an even bigger slice….
“Are you from New York?” He asks, pulling up a chair across from me.
“Nevada, actually.” I watch as he sits down and crosses his arms, resting them on the table.
“Has it been long since you moved in?” He asks, looking at me intently.
I sigh, looking up at the large window that gives me a view of the sidewalk, “Seven years.”
He looks surprised, “Really? And you like it here?”
“Oh, yeah… There are many good desserts.” I turn my eyes back to him and give a subtle smile, seeing that he liked my answer somehow because he gives me a smile back too.
I lower my eyes, staring at the dessert that is bites away from being finished…. But suddenly, my phone screen light up, flashing a notification from the company forum. I frowned immediately because I didn't recognize this user.
Opening the thread, I my heart skipped a beat, with an intense ice spreading through my chest…. Pictures of me, from last night, have been posted on the company forum. Short and flashy dress, at the entrance of that club — a kinky club. And now, everyone can see me entering it.
Bringing my hand up to my face, I close my eyes tightly.
“Is everything okay?” I hear the Owner's voice sound worried, and I try to open my lips to answer him, but no words can get out of my closed throat.
I just nod, scrolling down to see the comments…. And it only gets worse.
This is a forum that all employees have access to, not just my department or those who are part of the New York division. Everyone — *everyone* can see this…
Including my father.
I let out a grunt and shove my phone down hard on the table, not caring about the impact I've made on the screen or the clink of cutlery.
“You look pale… are you sure everything's okay?” The Owner insists, and I shake my head, feeling suddenly without appetite.
“It's just… I'm just a little nervous.” I say, getting up, leaving the last piece on my plate. I feel sorry for wasting food, but really, there's not the slightest chance of anything going down my throat now.
“Want me to make you some tea?” He asks, getting up too…
I don't need a tea; I need to go to the IT Technician team.
“I really need to go, but thank you…. How much for the pudding?” I walk quickly to the counter, hoping he'll get my payment soon because, gosh, I really need to run!
“I offered it to you, so you don't have to pay.” He says apprehensively, eyeing me curiously.
As I'm opening my lips to object, my phone beeps again, and I see they're replicating these damn pictures.
“Thanks…” I give a subtle smile, “I really need to go, but…. It was delicious!”
Leaving the restaurant, I run through the streets, dodging people who look at me with disdain and sarcasm, completely oblivious to my despair.
I cross the street at a red light, and a cab has to brake sharply to avoid hitting me. With the horn blaring in my ears, I shout a million apologies and continue running to the building that's already in my field of vision.
When I pass the security guard at the reception, he looks at me strangely… after all, I'm panting, with sweat dripping down my temple and possibly a disheveled hair… even if there's still an hour before the work. I give him a nod and an awkward smile, and press the 4th button on the panel, impatiently waiting for the elevator doors to open.
Once again, I made the mistake of opening the forum, being flooded with over a thousand comments in… fifteen minutes? This is complete nonsense, of absurd proportions!
I slam my heel on the floor. The incessant *tec tec* doesn't bother me more than the despair stuck in my throat that I can't get out even with a high-pitched scream. And when the doors open on the fourth floor, I practically throw myself out of the elevator.
Walking quickly to the IT Technician team room, I spot the group of desks and, when I stop in front of one of them, I notice a young man raising his eyes up from the partition, with a not-so-friendly expression.
“Hi… I need you to take this post off the forum.” I hold out my phone to him, and I notice that he doesn't take it, just looks at the screen without interest.
“Did you fill out the form?” He asks me slowly.
“Form?” I arch my eyebrow.
“Yes, the form.”
“I didn't fill any form.”
“Then there's nothing I can do for you.”
I sigh deeply, keeping my arm and phone outstretched in front of him, “Look closely at this picture. What do you see?”
“You in front of a club…?”
“Exactly. These photos are extremely personal, they were posted without my permission, by another employee. Do you think I'm going to waste time filling in forms?”
“That's the procedure. I can't just take something down when someone wants me to…. That would be censoring.” He says with the same slow, dull tone, like I'm visibly bothering him.
I snort, putting my phone away, “Censoring? Right. Let's see what Mr. O'Neil thinks about the IT Technician team indorsing bullying and deliberately allowing employees to commit crimes under the company name.”
Hah, I swear, I didn't want to use my father's name in that way. But as his daughter, my image is tied to his… and I don't want to tarnish my father's reputation with something so stupid. Someone saw me, assumed something, took a picture and is spreading it like it were the truth. The problem is that when a lie is repeated so many times, it can become true…. And on the internet, anything is possible.
My father is a constant target with enemies on all sides… I can't let this getting back to him.
Luckily, mentioning my father's surname is enough to change his posture, which suddenly straightens.
“You can take this down and find out who posted it-” I pause and look at the name on the uniform, “Jackson…?”
“I'll take it down, but I can't promise anything about who posted it.”
“That's enough. Thank you.” I move away quickly to not disturb him — I want these photos off the forum as soon as possible.
With another sigh, I push the button to my floor…. I'm already here, work will help me cool my head. But when the doors open, it's already occupied by someone.
Graces eyes widen slightly in surprise, as do mine.