Chapter 26: Shelley, Down!

The next day Maryanne enters work with dread filling her chest. She does not want to face Shelley or really any questions about what had happened. She is emotionally exhausted after her talk with Max and the pressure of the woman’s constant nagging only causes the stress to weigh down on her shoulders. Max has refused to talk to her since then, but every time that she caught him looking at her, he would smirk. It causes irritation to be her constant companion. He is toying with her; he has to be.
Why does he decide to be nice only some of the time? He buys her a car, and yet ignores her. He is too complicated for Maryanne to figure out.
It technically is her fault for using him in the first place, but his reaction is unnecessary. Maryanne was only trying to protect him from Shelley, right? What other reason would she have?
She reaches her desk and sighs, placing her rugged purse next to her chair and taking off her jacket. The winter cold still bites at her bones and she finds herself getting wracked with a viscious shiver.
Jessica wheels closer on her chair, her eyebrows raised with curiosity, “Did your night go more smoothly once we all left?” She huffs, blowing strands of her hair from her face so that she can see her friend more clearly.
Maryanne shakes her head and slumps down into her own chair, “I wouldn’t say that it was quiet, or in any way smooth, actually.”
“Oh, was it really that bad?” Jessica cringes and pushes away slightly. She stretches, wincing at the pressure in her limbs.
Maryanne ponders the correct answer, “It was just. . . awkward.” Is that even the right word to associate with it?
Now her coworker’s voice turns to a whisper and she leans in, “Can I ask, is it true? Are you and Max actually going out?”
Forcing herself not to roll her eyes at her friend she says, “No, that was purely for show. To kick Shelley down a notch.”
Jessica nods and spins in her chair, staring up at the ceiling. “I figured that was the reason why. I have to say, it was very convincing.”
Maryanne chuckles, “Really? I didn’t think it was, but thanks.” Was it really convincing?
After a moment of silence, Jessica halts her spinning and whips her head forward, her hair flying around her face, “Can I ask if there is any truth to it?”
Heat erupts in Maryanne’s face, “Um, I—”
“I’ve been thinking,” Shelley walks up, not caring that Maryanne had been in the middle of her sentence. “Just because you kissed Max, doesn’t mean any of it is true. It could be purely for show. I’m not sure why you would do such a stunt, but I wouldn’t put it passed you. Even if you supposedly are together, doesn’t mean that Max can’t choose someone else.”
“Shelley,” Jessica begins.
Maryanne releases a breath before her words begin to tumble out in a torrent, “I’ve had enough. You’re seriously a terrible person. Max has no interest in you whatsoever. He is the CEO of his own company, he doesn’t have time for you, even if he had the slightest interest, which he so clearly does not.”
Even Maryanne is surprised by her own forward response. She cannot help but be irrational with the thought of Max being with Shelley.
Her coworker hides her pained expression with a scoff, “How would you know that?”
“Because he doesn’t like crass, rude people.” Maryanne shrugs nonchalantly and pushes her chair farther from Shelley.
She continues closer, her shoulders shaking. Shelley’s face is contorted with anger and she leans toward Maryanne.
“Shelley, calm down.” Jessica is now standing, her hand reaching out.
Maryanne holds fast, “You barely know him. Why are you so gung-ho about getting with him?”
Shelley bites out, “Maybe I actually like him.”
“Shelley, you met him once,” she huffs, crossing her arms. She is unafraid of her coworker, knowing that she will not try anything at work. For some reason, today she is more confident than she normally would be. She feels the words falling from her tongue with ease. Maybe it is too easy to act this way than it should be.
“Yes, and that’s all the time I needed to know that I like him.” Shelley’s entire body tenses up, almost as though she is about to lunge at Maryanne.
Jessica stands from her desk, her eyes wide with concern. She inches toward Shelley.
Maryanne cannot help but to laugh, “That’s ridiculous.”
These reactions are unlike the calm librarian. She is usually more business-like and polite, but there is something about Max that is beginning to influence her way of reacting. Especially towards someone as rude as her annoying coworker.
“Says you,” Shelley growls, her hands tightening into fists. Jessica grabs her arm.
“Shelley, I think it’s about time you back down.” Maryanne’s body is wired, her emotions rolling up and down. Her pent up emotions are beginning to slowly leak out, at the worst possible time.
Her coworker doesn’t seem to listen though, as she still continues to invade her personal space. She presses her hand against Maryanne’s desk, leaning in and pulling against Jessica.
Maryanne continues, “There’s no way you’re moving in on Max. I live with him and we share custody of Riley. I see him every day. I get to talk to him and spend time with him. I see the soft sides to him as well as every part of him. You can’t even come close to seeing him for anything except for his money.”
Shelley’s features devolve from anger into disbelief, “That is not why—” She shakes her head, not completeing her sentence as she tries to figure out how to respond.
Maryanne is now completely ruled by her anger. She will not stand by and allow Max to be pined after by a gold digger. “Don’t lie Shelley. Just own the truth that you will never be with Max.”