71 — Let's sort things out

I cross my arms, looking at the arrogant expression on Laura's face, at the way her eyes seem to burn in flames of anger. And I can't help but take a deep breath, trying to control my temper that's already about to explode.
How do things always end up this way?
Not only did I not solve anything with Julian, but maybe we worsened it. I didn't want things to end this way… And now, right afterward, I'm facing Laura, of all people.
It's like the universe is having fun with my suffering.
“Didn't you hear me?” Laura's voice sounds too loud and shrill — drawing the eyes of the people around us… And this only makes my blood bubble even more.
I walk past her and say in my politest, composed tone, “Why don't we find an empty room like last time? People are working right now, Laura. They're busy with projects, and you're disturbing them.”
“Why don't we go to the terrace?” She says with a sarcastic smile.
*If you don't want to be thrown off the top, I suggest you stay away from the terrace. And away from windows, preferably.*
Hah. I ignore her and keep walking away from there, knowing Laura is following me because she has let out a huff laugh, and because I can her red heels tapping out of line with mine.
But when I stop in front of the same room where she confronted me the first time, I notice that her expression isn't the best. I turn the knob and let the door open fully, expecting her to walk in.
But she doesn't.
“Didn't you want to sort things out?” I say harshly, and point with my head into the room, “Let's sort things out then, Laura.”
I notice her expression close even more, and she finally steps into the room with her arms crossed. When her back is still to me, I step inside and close the door, resisting the temptation to lock it and teach her a real lesson.
“Just to be clear, I haven't heard from Eric in a while. So if you're stressing about that, we can save time.” I say, turning to her with my arms equally crossed, digging my fingers hard into the skin of my arm… suddenly aware of how my fingerprints are cold; it feels like I'm in the middle of winter without gloves.
“You don't realize how much you've hurt me, do you?” Laura says with a huff, almost incredulous laugh. “Because of you, people are judging me for being a single mom. And I don't know what you said to Eric, but he hasn't been answering my texts. Even if I stand in front of his apartment for hours, there's no response at all. You really got what you wanted, didn't you?”
“What?” I part my lips, too baffled to formulate anything more than that.
“Don't play innocent, Angelee. You said something to Eric, just like you said something to Ethan. Do you think I don't know that he's being so harsh with Deborah because of you? The girl has been crying alone in the corners, don't you pity her?”
I give a satisfied laugh, “Pity her? I'm sure you had no pity when you were gathered in the bathroom running your mouths about me.”
Laura's eyes widen slightly, but I don't let her interrupt me, just continue with this venting that's unleashing from my throat…
“And why would I pity her? *Pity you?* As far as I know, they always talked behind my back, even when we two were best friends. You probably had fun badmouthing me while enjoying the things I could offer you. I gave you this job, Laura. The life you have today, you earned through me, either through my selflessness or because you used me like a stepping stone.”
“Through you?” She laughs out loud, sarcastically, “Angelee, I got everything I have by my own effort-”
“What effort, spreading your legs?” I interrupt her, seeing that she didn't like that, neither my tone nor my words, but I'm the one who lets a giggle escape this time. “One way or another, you use your body to climb, Laura. Whether it's giving a hug or using what you have between your legs. You said that I have no self-respect, but the one completely shameless here is you.”
“How dare you-”
“I'm telling the truth.” I interrupt her again, my tone louder, harsher. “You're always using people for your own benefit and stabbing in the back when you don't need them anymore. If I hadn't seen you and Eric with my own eyes, would you have told me at some point?”
“I don't know what you mean by those things. We kept it a secret because Eric was afraid to tell you. For me, we would have told you from the beginning.”
“Is that right? And when would that *'beginning'* be?” I raise my eyebrows, noticing that she's slightly uncomfortable with my question and doesn't seem willing to answer. “One month? Two? Maybe *eight?”*
Laura flinches but remains silent.
I can't help but chuckle sarcastically, “You say you meant from the beginning, but didn't you cheat on Tyler? Funny that Eric's description matches exactly the person you took into his bed. And you used to say Eric is like a brother, but you got pregnant with him… No, wait, are you even pregnant?”
“You're talking nonsense.” She looks nervous, shifting her body weight to the other leg, “Who cares how long it was? What happened between Tyler and me isn't related to you, so why are you getting into this?”
“He told me, Laura. He told me how you had no shame and used his bed to have sex with someone else. But I understood why — so I wouldn't know you two were stabbing me in the back. But as you said, it doesn't really matter. Eric doesn't mean anything to me anymore. Neither you.”
“You try to act superior, but aren't you doing the same?” She gives an anxious laugh, straining to raise her voice, “Aren't you dragging your ass to Tyler?”
“No. And even if I was, that's none of your business because he's your *ex-boyfriend.* Unlike you, I don't throw myself at committed men… Or at my boss, trying to get some promotion, or I don't know… maybe you're just an easy woman?”
Now, she's smiling wickedly, and I regret mentioning it… But I'm still with a certain bitterness in my mouth, my throat so tight I didn't notice the words unraveling. I'm simply blinded by rage.
“Do you think I was throwing myself at Julian? No, darling… He wanted me.” She tosses her red hair behind her shoulders, “I don't need to throw myself at anyone, men are just like that… naturally attracted to me.”
I feel the blood almost freeze inside my veins.
“Naturally attracted?” I laugh unbelievingly, shaking my head, trying to ignore the way my chest seems to be seized by an intense cold, as if there's a harsh winter inside it. “Well, whatever. Why don't you just say what you want? I've already told you that there was no further interaction between Eric and me. If he's giving you the cold shoulder, it's not because of me.”
“I told you to stop playing the innocent, of course it's because of you!”
“Have you ever considered that it could be that maybe — *just maybe* — that's because you're pregnant and not married to him?” I raise an eyebrow, “I've made it clear how Eric's family is… Maybe they're not willing to accept a bride that not only isn't a virgin, but pregnant? You've been tossed out and, I assure you, there's no finger of mine on it.”
Laura raises her hand, threatening to slap me, saying loudly, “You bitch-”
“Go ahead, Laura… Hit me!” I interrupt her loudly, taking a step toward her, lifting my chin high. “Give me a reason, I'm dying to hit you back!”
She widens her eyes slightly, stopping her hand in midair.
“There are things about me that you have no idea, Laura… Angelee from New York doesn't come close to the girl from Nevada. If you want me to show you how I handled my dark times, I'm willing to show you.”
I see the way she swallows hard, slowly retracting her hand.
“Don't forget that I put you where you are now and gave you this job, but I can also take everything back. You can give your pussy to the manager, to Julian or whoever you want, but if I wish for, you're out of this company.”
“You're a low person, Angelee…”
“Am I? Maybe I am… But if you and your little friends who like to run your mouths and talk bad about me in the restrooms are still here now, it's because I want it that way. You'd be out on the street right now if it weren't for my good will.”
I take another step towards her, leaving our chests almost touching for a few inches.
“Actually, if my father finds out… Losing your jobs will be the least of your problems. He can be pretty protective, you know? Oh, yeah… You actually know, since you used to be my best friend.”
She grits her teeth hard… I can tell by the way her jaw tenses.
“You don't want an O'Neil as an enemy, do you?” I blink a few times, then give a sweet smile. “So don't piss me off.”
I tilt my head slightly, noticing how she's shaking… perhaps annoyed that I'm using my father's name, something she certainly didn't expect… After all, I've always avoided being a burden to him.
I didn't mean to trouble my father, didn't want to ruin his life more than I already did. Because of me, Dad almost lost everything… What right do I have to use his name and what he built?
But I'm so angry right now… I'm at my limit.
“I think we're clear now… Or do you have something else to add?”
“You should stay away from Tyler.” She says, taking a sharp breath. “You never know what rumours might pop up about you two.”
I frown, looking at her carefully… Could it be Laura who is spreading the photos and videos? Or maybe she knows something?
*Hah, my head hurts.*
“You don't get to decide that.” I say, turning away… But before I turn completely, I look over my shoulder and add, “I'll no longer stay still and bow my head to the nonsense you say. I'll make them pay for everything they say, so let your little friends know. And if I were you, I'd be more careful with that tongue of yours.”
Before she can answer me, I rush out of the room. And when I set foot in the hallway, I notice that there are several stares at me, and people a little closer… Honestly, this and that, these people… *I want it all to explode.*
Grabbing my phone, I type a brief message to Tyler, quickly hitting the send button… **[Apparently, your petty revenge worked.]**
I sigh and start walking back to my desk… When my phone buzzed with a new message from Tyler, **[Really? We can take this petty revenge to a whole new level… Are you in?]**