Chapter 2

I was awoken some point later that day from an afternoon nap by the repeated sound of text notifications and then a phone call. They were all from my sister.

“Hello...” I said with a groggy voice.

“What the fuck Nick! What the actual fuck is your problem!” She shouted down the phone; it was so loud I had to pull the phone away from my ear. “Well? What do you have to say for yourself?” There was a pause.

“First of all, Lizzy, I’m gonna need you to stop shouting at me!” I told her a little irritably. “Secondly, what the hell are you on about?”

“What am I on about? I’m on about Catherine!” She was still shouting but all be it not as loud.

“What about her?” I asked confused.

“What about her?” She repeated. “Are you being serious? Do you not even care that you ditched her?” Lizzy was pissed off.

“Wow wow wow” The memories coming back to me of last night. I was out on a date with this chick Catherine who was great fun until she ditched me for another guy. Then I went home with that slut, fuck I didn’t even get her name. “Lizzy ... what did she tell you?”

“That you fucking bailed on her at a bar, left her all alone!” She shouted.

“Lizzy stop shouting at me and talk to me like a fucking adult!” I shouted back. “And for the record, I didn’t ditch her, she fucking ditched me!”

There was a long moment of silence, the weight of what I said sinking in with her, so I pressed my advantage. I kept my voice calmer now as I explained. “So, we had dinner and it was great, I paid for it by the way but that’s not the point. We had a good connection, and she suggested drinks, so we went to a bar. I bought us more drinks and felt the night was going well. I went for a pee, came back and she was off with some other guy making out with him.” I had been raging at the time, but the little whore made it all better.

“Oh...” she said in a softer voice. “That’s ... um that’s not what she told me.”

“That is the truth Lizzy, I did leave her at the bar because she had clearly found someone else. If that guy bailed on her then in honesty, she deserved that.” I told her.

“Nick ... I’m sorry...” she said in a quiet thoughtful voice. “I ... that fucking bitch.” Her tone flipping at the realisation of what actually happened. “That little cunt, you wined and dined her and then she went off with some other bloke?”

“Pretty much.” I agreed.

“Oh Nick, I should have just asked you. I’m sorry I jumped down your throat ... what a horrible date that must have been.” She said in a sad voice.

“It’s cool, just in future ... don’t set me up on any blind dates.” I chuckled lightly.

“Ok deal.” She laughed back. “Let me send you half the money you spent? That’s not cool to spend all that money for nothing.” I could tell she genuinely felt bad, but I wasn’t going to take her money.

“Lizzy don’t worry, next weekend, let’s go out for dinner ourselves? We haven’t done that in a while.” I suggested.

“Yeah ok, I’d like that! I’ll pay though.” She said sternly.

“Won’t here an argument from me.” I laughed. We spoke briefly more before we said goodbye. I spent the rest of the day moving around the apartment like a zombie, the takeaway for dinner helping heal me a little.

I just made work on time on the Monday. My body and mind were not in go mode; it was very much in wish I had five more minutes in bed mode.

“You look like shit.” Jerry commented as I passed him.

“Still better looking like you.” I replied to him, not giving him a second glance. I had barely sat down at my desk when my cubicle was filled with the sweet aroma of perfume.

“Good morning, Nick” Stephanie greeted me.

“Good morning, Stephanie.” I replied as I swivelled my chair to face her. Today she had on a very professional looking pant suit with high heels. She was looking hot as ever.

“Good weekend?” She asked politely.

“Yeah, it was ok, yours?” I asked back.

“It was nice, my boyfriend and I went for a hike up the hills.” Ok good to know that she is not single. Not that I don’t think I’d have a chance with her anyway.

“That’s cool” I nodded, my eyes trailing to the small stack of files in her hands. “Are those for me?” I asked hopefully.

“No these are for Jerry, I don’t actually have anything for you, well not at the moment anyway. I do believe Mr Holcomb has a special task for you.” She said.

“Really? Did he say what?” I asked a little nervously. I had been happy flying myself under the radar all this time, but it seems Mr Holcomb is taking an interest in me. Suppose good thing is, it will probably piss off Jerry.

“No sorry he didn’t, he has some meetings this morning anyway.” With a smile she walked away. I tried to shake the thoughts of what he could want and tried to get on with some work.

It wasn’t until after lunch when Stephanie came to get me. I entered Mr Holcomb’s office and he was on the phone and indicated me to sit down.

“Hello hello Nicholas” he greeted me as he hung up the phone.

“Hello sir” I nodded back politely.

“So, I have a big task for you, my daughter is going to be working with us until she heads off to college. I’m a busy man so I want you to show her around, be her guide, be her tutor. Can you do that for me?” He asked but by his tone and demeanour it wasn’t really a question.

“I mean yes sure I can sir but maybe there would be better staff to carry the task out?” I didn’t really want some stuck-up little bitch hanging around me and snitching me up to her father.

“Nope, I think you are the exact right man for the job. You are young and ambitious, and I don’t want some sleazy creepy guy looking after her.” The image of Jerry instantly coming to the forefront of my mind. I mean there was a lot of other staff on our floor, a few women as well but it wasn’t clear his mind was set.

“Ok sir, sure I can do it.” I nodded in acceptance.

“Great, she’ll be here any minute.” He beamed with the apparent pride in his daughter. Sure, enough less that five minutes later the door opened. “There’s my sweet baby angel.” He said grinning widely as he stood up and coming around the desk. I was sat in a chair facing away from the door and only rose from the seat when he had embraced his daughter in a large hug, almost like he hadn’t seen her in months.

“Nicholas, this is my daughter Sydney. Sydney, this man will be looking after you while you are here.” I turned to face her and extended my hand. My heart sank, my face went pale, I somehow had enough muscle memory in my arm to keep my hand up. I stared at the brown eyed, brown haired girl in front of me. It was the girl from the bar, my supposed little whore.

“Nicholas, it’s a pleasure to meet you!” She smiled broadly at me as she shook my hand. No sign of recognition on her face. Either I had the wrong girl or she didn’t remember me.

“Yeah, um yeah ... it’s eh nice to meet you too.” I managed to speak out as I shook her hand.

“You can close your jaw now Nicholas.” Mr Holcomb chuckled. “I know my daughter is quite the stunner isn’t she.”

“Oh, daddy stop.” Sydney said she she swatted her father. The use of that word triggering my memory. It definitely sounded different from how she said it the other night.

“Yes ... yes, she is sir. Your daughter is exceptionally beautiful.” I naturally took a step back, I needed distance, I needed time to think.