Love curves and heartbreak novel Chapter 14

Chapter 14: Deal

Everything had been weird, I don’t know… kind of tense. But my day to day life continued and I had no time for regrets or doubts. Now that we had the green light to go on to bigger and more complex projects.

The next one was in Seattle, a massive office, and it was a bigger challenge. They wanted us to organize everything remotely, and that was another logistical challenge.

“Priscilla…this one’s for you again…don’t disappoint me my boss told me. Clark was excited, and because Ethan’s boss liked my work so much, he suggested… that I run it as well.

It was supposed to be for that and because I think…. Ethan had asked for it. I thought that after his strange attitude with me he was going to leave me aside, maybe he even hated me, but he didn’t.

And you will think that all this is good, new project, more responsibilities, but also a chance to prove that I really could do it, with all the challenges.

But the problem had a pretty face and a name.

And this time it wasn’t Ethan… but Kate.

By now she was kind of my enemy, but really one of the worst. She treated me like a slave and made nasty comments that ruined my day.

“Priscilla! Where are you?”

“Where has this devilish girl gone?”

“I’m telling you she’s fat and slow… if she’d lose weight everything would be easier.”

“What a woman to know nothing! You have to do it all over again”

These were common words to hear, as well as her trashing my proposals, answering emails rudely, asking me for a thousand repetitions of even the easiest things. He would change everything, and then go back to proposal number 1. And even tearing my drafts into little pieces, which were flying around the office like a piece of paper.

I didn’t know what to do anymore. I was never very good at confronting others… and the situation was getting out of hand because she was somehow the favorite of this small design area, and because, in theory, she had a more advanced professional status than mine.

I felt imprisoned, my hands tied, when I really wanted to yell at her.

“Priscilla… we have to put more effort into this, alright? I’ll dedicate some extra hours, but honestly, this is a significant responsibility… I’m not sure if you’re up for it,” Kate whispered during another meeting. I felt my palms sweating and my hands turning cold.

And to make matters worse, Ethan was there, hearing every word, like any other colleague. Good Lord… This situation felt almost as uncomfortable as him witnessing me trying on a tiny dress that shows all my imperfections.

‘I’m pretty sure Priscilla can handle this, Kate…but she needs everyone’s support. Okay? Let’s go to work!” My boss said, and I was speechless. I didn’t even know what to say. I looked at him and gave him a grateful smile, but the rest of the meeting was silent.

What had I done to this woman? Ethan didn’t say anything and still didn’t look at me, and I sank deeper into my seat.

Sometimes, I noticed Kate chatting happily with Ethan. It seemed clear to me that she was flirting with him. She approached him, flashed a smile, and ran her fingers through his long reddish hair.

At times I saw her even touching him, very casually, putting her long hands in his chest… like is nothing. Like they are more than colleagues, client and designer… maybe even much more than that.

I can’t say I was happy. Quite the contrary. I felt… something that… I couldn’t even say.

He responded courteously, letting himself be touched, maybe a little too much. I didn’t like it. But Ethan was nice to everyone, without being too close to anyone. Of course, everyone but me… because I had asked him for distance.

Let’s not forget that.

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Chapter 14 Deal

I observed them from afar, focusing on my tasks, burdened with a heavy workload and receiving minimal assistance once again.

I went out with Rob a few more times and we finally kissed. It was… a somewhat warm, sweet, and affectionate kiss… but nothing more. I was ruined; Ethan’s kisses had ruined me. Sometimes I think he knew it… the effect he has on me… how my body responds to him.

A few days later, Clark informed us that we would be visiting another office we were going to remodel. He gave us more details; it was from a tourism company, so the design they were expecting was quite cozy and new.

It also meant that we would have to travel a few times. It seemed like something different and nice, out of the routine.

“Priscilla… I really don’t know what you were thinking. Are you deaf? S.O.S. Priscilla! Can’t you just do one design, just one like I said?”

She told me as she leaned on my desk in a deep but firm voice. “Kate this is what the customer asked for… he’s happy with this and…”

“Look… you’re not even a designer… you’re lucky that our beautiful client…. Ethan helped you the other time. But next time, don’t embarrass me…again!

“You can’t work with inept people… you have to do everything eventually… stupid fatty…” I heard her say when she was leaving.

Sometimes fulfilling our dreams was more painful than we thought. I know I need to set some boundaries, but it is so hard… I feel so insecure and I hate it!

I wanted to go to the bathroom to cry, but just as I went in I saw more people, and I was embarrassed.

“Damn…” so I just had to go to the only moderately safe place left… and mine.

My car. So like in the movies I imagined going to sit in front of the steering wheel to cry a little, I couldn’t help it, I really needed it. Nothing was going my way.

And when I was going straight to the parking lot… I met someone I didn’t want to. Another pretty face, but with another name.

“Priscilla…”

“Ethan…”

He looked a little better than before, he seemed to have regained a little sleep and maybe even a little of his weight. Of course, a moderately tired Ethan was better looking than most men. Some people really are born lucky.

“How are you?”

“I’m fine… tired maybe… a lot of work”

I answered. My trip to my car had been hindered, I would soon have to return to the office to face all my demons.

“Clark told me a few things about the project and the trip,” he said in a more friendly tone.

I just wanted to finish what I had to do today and go home. He took a few steps towards me, hesitating a bit.

“You… really work hard. Like… really hard. And I know it’s not always easy… rather you have a lot of challenges, and not everybody appreciate your good effort he tells me, and it seems he is referring to Kate, to how she treats me.

Has he noticed that?

“Well, I do my part, I reply, uncertain of what else to say.

“I’m sorry if my demands have caused you undue stress… I truly am. Please know that it was never my intention to burden you. Believe me when I tell you that… I see you. That I see your great work… Priscilla” he towers over me, bending slightly to meet my eye level.

It’s evident that he’s aware of my tears and the struggles I face in seeking recognition here. Perhaps that’s why he offered those words of apology.

“Thank you, Ethan. It means a lot to me,” I say with a smile, and I feel that the atmosphere between us improves. He keeps looking at me worriedly, as if he doesn’t know what to do with me.

“I’m sure everything will work out and the next project will be a success. Don’t worry,” he tells me, encouraging me with a small, sad smile.

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