seven

After the awful weekend that I'd had, walking into work on Monday morning actually came as a relief. It didn't change my mood, or make me forget, but it certainly did provide a sort of distraction. As soon as I entered through the doors of Gray's Consulting, it was business as usual; people all over the place moving every which way, and the soothing sound of small-talk.

Small-talk was such a funny thing. It was humanity's way of building rapport, without the added stress of vulnerability. We were all equally guilty of it, but it was certainly a strange concept when you took a step back and examined it from a different perspective.

"How was your weekend?" Bella called over to me from where she sat behind the main desk.

"It was good, thanks," I smiled back. "Yours?"

I was just as culpable of idle chat as anyone in this office, but it wasn't like I was going to pour out my heart and soul to the receptionist in such a public setting. 

My weekend had, in fact, not been good at all. It was the sort that started badly, but ended worse, Saturday being the sort of light relief in the middle. Just when I had thought that I would never have to see my ex again, he had texted me early Sunday morning to inform me that I had left my employee key-card on the bedside table of the hotel. If it had have been anything else, I would have told him to throw it away and stop contacting me. However, this tiny card, which held my work ID and gave me elevator access, was something that I could not get very far without.

After texting back and forth for a while, we had agreed that he would meet Becca in the lobby of our apartment on his way to the airport in the afternoon, as there was no way in hell I was going to voluntarily see his face again. It appeared, however, that the man had no respect for my wishes or for the arrangement we'd made, as he had showed up on my doorstep just thirty minutes later, my lanyard wrapped tightly around his wrist.

But the unexpected change of plans was not even a hint for what my cruel ex had in store for me. Let's just say that if it weren't for our fancy fire escape and the physical agility that I had worked so hard to maintain, I wouldn't now be standing at the top floor of Gray's Consulting with my key-card in hand.

"Morning, Al," Nikki called from her desk as I headed for the hallway at the back of the room. "Have a good weekend?"

"I'll leave that for lunchtime," I replied, earning a reassuring smile from my office confidante. I sent a small one back, silently thanking her for the insight and support that I already knew she would give me when she found out what had happened.

Switching on my computer, I was met with the usual pile of mundane tasks, ranging from contacting important clients to organising my boss's disgraceful filing cabinet. This was perhaps my least favourite job, as it was unbelievably time consuming and required me to be in Mr Gray's intimidating presence for much longer than I liked. Leaving this until the end of my day, I got started on making some phone calls.

By the time twelve o'clock hit, I was just over half way through my day's list of jobs. I swivelled my chair around to take in the impressive Manhattan skyline, which was currently being attacked by rain. The downpour had started on Friday night, and hadn't let up since, which had only added to my gloom.

Given the current weather situation, we decided that today would be one of our cafeteria lunches for the week.

"So tell me about this weekend of yours," Nikki began as the three of us we took our seats around the table. We'd so quickly become an inseparable clique, a sort of packaged deal in the company. It's not like we were the office Mean Girls (and guy) or anything, but everyone definitely knew us, and very few dared to mess with us.

I started from the beginning, recounting in detail how I'd originally gotten the job, kept it a secret, and how it had ultimately come back to bite me a few nights ago.

"The bottom line is," I concluded, "you don't have to worry about meeting my boyfriend anymore."

"He sounds like a dick anyway," Conner was the first to respond.

"I wish he was," I chuckled. "It would make this whole thing much easier."

"He ended it like a dick though," Nikki commented. I had to agree with her on that one. "You deserve better than that."

"We were together for five years," I sighed. "I don't even remember how it feels to not have someone."

"But you have us," Conner smiled. "And if there's one thing the both of us are experts at, it's being single."

"We should give her a makeover!" Nikki practically slapped Conner out of excitement. "Just like I did to you when you last went through a breakup."

"You're messing with me," I laughed. "There's no way this man has ever been anything other than freaking gorgeous.

"Show her the pictures," Nikki hit him a couple more times, forcing him to take out his phone and find the evidence.

He turned the phone around so I could see what was on his screen. The photo was of a nerdy teen, with clunky braces and thick black glasses which failed to hide his acne-scarred face. If it weren't for the boy's piercing green eyes, I would have doubted that it was of the same guy who was now sitting beside me.

"Ok, I retract my previous statement," I announced. "Nikki, you're a miracle worker."

"I certainly am," she joked, brushing off her shoulders, "and given that your starting point is like a million times better than his was, it shouldn't be too hard to make sure every guy falls in love with you at first sight."

"I'm not sure that's what I'm going for," I laughed. "But I'll put it in your capable hands."

"Very wise," she chuckled, shifting her attention to something behind me. "God, our boss is a sexy beast."

I turned to see where she was looking, catching his powerful gaze as I did so. I quickly looked away, not wanting to play this with him again.

"I guess I should get back to work," I checked my phone to see that it was nearing the end of my lunch break.

"Be ready at six," Nikki instructed me. "I'll pick you up from your apartment."

A large grin spread over my face, mimicking her mischievous expression.

"I'll see you then."

———

"Sir," I hesitantly pushed open my boss's door. "Is now a good time for me to sort out the filing cabinet?"

It was now three in the afternoon, and everything else on my list was done.

"Yes," he replied without looking up from his work. "That should be fine."

I walked into his office, closing the door behind me before heading over to the cabinet which stood in the corner of the room. I opened the first drawer, disgusted by the mess of papers that were scattered on top of the previously organised folders. No matter how clear I made my system of categorisation, Mr Gray always seemed to completely ignore it.

"How was your lunchbreak?" he spoke, catching me slightly off guard. He, unlike most, wasn't usually a fan of small-talk.

"Not too bad," I replied simply.

"I see you've made some friends here," he continued.

"I have, Sir," I once again kept it short and sweet. I still hadn't turned from my work, but I could sense his eyes on me.

"How are you liking it here so far?"

I finally stopped what I was doing, twisting my head to meet his gaze.

"I honestly love it," I began. "Believe it or not, I wasn't lying when I made that pitch to Mr Russo the other day."

I wasn't sure If I should have been bringing that up, but given his current good mood, it seemed safe enough.

"I'm glad," he nodded, his face vacant of emotion. "Any complaints?"

I took a moment to consider my next move. I could go one of two ways here, and wasn't sure which route to take. Play it safe? Or play with fire?

"The boss can be a bit difficult," I smirked, choosing the latter option.

"Oh can he now?" an amused expression finally took over Mr Gray's features. "I'm sure he has good reason."

"Probably just stressed," I nodded. "Although if I were that wound up, I'd probably find something other than my employees to take it out on."

"Is that so?" I could tell he was loving this little bit of banter, and I certainly couldn't deny that I was too. "And what would you suggest as a better method of stress relief, Miss Carson?"

The conversation was quickly going in a direction that I definitely hadn't intended it to. I knew he was pushing me, trying to get a certain reaction. But I wasn't planning on giving him the satisfaction.

"I personally like running," I smiled innocently, turning my attention back to the filing cabinet.

He made a funny noise, a sort of hybrid between a laugh and a groan, but made no further conversation with me. However, as I worked, I couldn't help but feel as though he was watching me from where he sat. It made me a little uneasy, but didn't affect me as much as I'd expected.

"All done," I informed him, standing up and heading for the door. "Same time next week?"

He chuckled, shaking his head as he eyeballed me dangerously.

"You're going to be the absolute death of me, Miss Carson," he spoke so softly that I didn't know if I was meant to have heard it. I left his office with a small smile on my face, grabbing my things and setting off on my journey home.

———

"Do you trust me?" Nikki posed the million dollar question, smiling almost evilly as she draped a towel over the mirror in front of me, covering up my only frame of reference.

"I'm scared for my life," I laughed, "but I do trust you."

"Correct answer," she smiled. "Ok ladies, let's get this started!"

We were sat in the back room of a beauty parlour which apparently did everything - from haircuts, to piercings and even tattoos. Becca seemed to be a regular here, as she knew everyone like they were family. I had no idea what she had planned for my little makeover, but I couldn't deny my pure excitement to find out.

"We'll start with the hair," a stylish red-head spoke up, grabbing some bottles of product from the back wall. I couldn't see exactly what she was holding, but it looked like a lot of stuff. "We're still going with the neon green, right Nikki?"

She appeared to be joking, although I honestly found it hard to tell.

"What happened to the hot pink?" Nikki replied, trying to hide her smile but failing miserably. "I guess lime green will do."

"Y'all are scaring me," I groaned. "Let's just get this over with."

"As you wish," the lady smiled.

As the various staff members started working on my hair, I decided that I would have a flip through some of the magazines that were on the bench in front of me. Ever since coming to America, Hollywood gossip seemed so much closer to home, which caused me to follow it closer than I had before. I picked up the latest issue of the infamous Life & Style Weekly, flipping through the pages to find the inevitable article about a certain boss of mine.

"Anything interesting?" Nikki took me by surprise, taking a seat in the swivel chair next to me.

"Just found some story about Mr Gray," I replied.

"Ahhh, the first victim of your new look," she chuckled. "He won't be able to look away when he sees you tomorrow."

"You may be a miracle worker, but I'll never look like one of these cover models he's always with."

I took another look at the page, where pictures of our boss schmoozing with the familiar blonde littered the spread. He'd been spotted with the same girl who I'd caught walking from his office just days before, obviously one of his more serious pursuits.

"Who, Courtney?" Nikki asked, studying the magazine herself. "She's nothing but a strategic alliance to Mr Gray."

"What do you mean?" In all of my researching, I'd never really gone into depth about any of his mistresses. It hadn't ever really interested me before now.

"She's the daughter of Mr Hart," she explained, "from-"

"Power Corp.," I finished her sentence for her. "That makes so much sense."

Mr Gray's partnership with Mr Hart's financial empire was by far his most prestigious affiliation, even greater than that which was recently made with a certain Mr Russo. Gray's Consulting relied on Power Corp. for almost everything they had, which may have seemed a risky deal if it weren't for the incredibly rich history between the two establishments.

"So she's just a pawn in his game then," I commented.

"Either that, or he's a pawn in her's," Nikki shrugged her shoulders. "All I know is that it's convenient for the both of them."

Nikki was once again whisked away by one of the hairdressers, who wanted to check something with my friend. I strained my ears in an attempt to hear their conversation, but they were too far away to even bother.

"Ok," the lady who was currently doing my hair grabbed my attention. "While this develops, we'll move you on to the next station."

"Next station?" I asked, hoping she would give me some sort of clue as to what I was getting done.

"And not the last, either," she smiled, providing me with the stark opposite of the clarity that I desired.

———

"What's your Instagram?" Nikki asked as I sat in a reclined chair getting what I could only assume to be eyelash extensions put in. I'd just finished with the second part of the transformation, getting my nose pierced, and had only just begun this rather uncomfortable procedure.

"I don't have an account," I replied. "I'm not that big on social media."

"Where's your phone?"

"Over on the table," I directed her. "Why?"

"I'm gonna make you one," she said simply. "I'm sure your family and friends back home would love to see what you're getting up to nowadays."

"Ok fine," I laughed, "but don't expect me to use it much."

I told Nikki the password to my phone, giving her the access she needed to make my profile. She asked me a few questions as she went through the process, but made most of the executive decisions herself. 

"All done," she said after a few short minutes.

"And so am I," the lash technician spoke from behind me. "You can open your eyes if you'd like."

I did as she said, blinking a few times to readjust to the light. Everything looked a little different now that I had extensions; my eyes felt quite a bit heavier, and a subtle black shadow lined the top of my view. But I'd always liked how fuller lashes looked on people, and was excited to see what they did to my appearance.

As the initial hairdresser finished off my hair, the last step of my makeover, Nikki talked me through my new Instagram account. It was all quite foreign to me, but didn't look too difficult to navigate.

"I think we're finished," the lady informed me, brushing her fingers through my hair to get it looking just right. "You ready for the reveal?"

It had been well over four hours since I'd last seen myself, and from what I'd felt, a lot had changed since then.

"Absolutely," I nodded.

"You look stunning, Al," Nikki assured me, giving me a quick once-over. "I really hope you like it."

With that said, she removed the towel that was covering the mirror, giving me full view of my new appearance.

I couldn't believe it. The woman who I now saw in the mirror was literally the culmination of all my wildest dreams; the platinum blonde hair, the nose ring, the perfectly executed lashes. I had never felt so stunning, so powerful, and I had never felt more like myself.

"Wow," was all I could manage to get out, but from the looks in everyone else's eyes around me, they all understood how I was feeling.

It wasn't that I felt different, it was more a feeling of a fresh start; same me, different appearance. And for once in my life, the two seemed to line up.