What a Pain

Okay, here's the next chapter, this one came out easier!
Lemmie know what you think! =)
Rx

____________________


Chapter Ten

I was shocked. Mr Jared was going to fire me? I sat in the café for hours, staring into space. Awan had left not long afterward with the scathing remark:

“Remember you owe me.”

The noise in the café slowly filtered out until there was a quite din. There was only me and a few patrons left. How late was it?

I checked my brown leather wristwatch, just gone half eight in the evening. May’s closed at nine. I didn’t want to leave at the moment, but I knew I ran the risk of being kicked out pretty soon.

I gathered my jacket and brief case and slowly made my way to the door. I mumbled a “Bye” to May and went out onto the wet streets. Sometime during my stay in the café the sky had opened up. There was a fine drizzle still going so I stopped under the awning of May’s and put my brief case on the floor. I shoved my jacket on then started in the direction of my flat.

I kept my head down as I walked, watching as my black shoes got swallowed up by some puddles. I was going to have wet feet when I made it home. A cold wind blew and whipped against me, I shuddered as goose bumps appeared on my skin. I wrapped my jacket around my body, my arms hugged my torso.

I imagine I was about half way to my apartment when I suddenly bumped into something.

“Ow!” Well, someone then.

“I’m so sorry! I wasn’t looking where I was going,” I said to the person who I’d knocked over. I offered him my hand and he took it. I helped him up and only then did I look into his face.

Bright green eyes was my first thought. He looked kind of familiar. He was short, he only reached up to my chin. I saw a shock of blonde messy hair as he looked down at the floor, then back up at me.

His eyes widened.

“José?” he asked.

Woah, how does he know my name?

“Yeah. Who’re you and how do you know my name?”

He held out his hand. “I’m Andy, we met at the club the other week.”

Ah, I remember. The cute little guy that Tony was raving about. I wonder how that went. I grasped his hand in mine and shook it.

“I remember you. Look, I’m really sorry about knocking you down. Me and Tony seem to have that in common eh?” I said with a grin.

It was hard to be depressed around Andy. He just had that cute bubbly air about him.

“Not a problem,” He smiled. “Yeah, you guys are a lot alike.”

I raised an eyebrow. I thought we were polar opposites. Rich guy versus well…not. Tall versus short. Well built versus skinny. Yeah me and Tony were quite different in appearance. Maybe in attitude we’re similar.

“Well, um, I’m kinda busy right now. It was um, nice meeting you again Andy.”

He smiled again.

“You too José. I hope we meet again soon.”

He waved slightly and started off in his previous direction. Sweet guy, I hope him and Tony do work out. By the look on his face, I’d say they were doing just fine.

By the time I reached my apartment the fine mist of rain had managed to soak me through. I flipped on the lights and started pulling off my clothes, intent on having a warm shower to knock the chill from me.

I climbed into the shower, the warm water pattering lightly on my skin. I just stood there for a while, thinking about what Awan said. Mr Jared was going to fire me? I really thought I was doing well in my job. I mean I met the deadlines; many of the clients were satisfied with their designs. I don’t think I ever had any complaints. So what was wrong?

The water started to get cold. I hauled myself out of the shower and changed into some grey sweat pants and a tight black t-shirt. I felt like lounging around and feeling sorry for myself.

I made myself a hot drink and flipped on the TV. I skipped through the channels, trying to find something decent to watch. I settled on BBC One, they normally had some random dramas. I settled in to watch a period piece. I fell asleep within ten minutes of watching it. I was woken up by the ringing of my phone. Ugh, what a pain!

I got up and rubbed the tension out of my neck. Note to self- don’t fall asleep on the sofa again, it leaves you in pain.

I pressed the mute button on the TV and went to answer the phone.

“Hello?”

I heard some muffled shouting in the background.

“Hello?” I said again, slightly impatiently.

“Oh hey! José! It’s me,” I could hear the excitement in his voice.

“Hi Tony,” I drawled into the phone. “What’s up?”

“I uh, took you advice about Andy.”

“Oh really?”

“Yeah, we went out the other night. I explained everything to him and took him to that Italian place in town.”

Yeah Tone, there’s quite a few Italian places in town.

“Really? How’d he react?”

I could already guess the answer, what with the way Andy was practically floating through the street and now with Tony calling me like this.

“He said he wants to give our relationship a go!”

I smiled, even though he couldn’t see me.

“That’s great Tony! I’m glad one of us has a decent love life!”

I heard him sigh, “So things with Awan didn’t work out then?”

“No, they didn’t. He has a boyfriend apparently. He’s coming over to visit soon and told me not to say anything about us to him.”

“What? That no good cheating fuck! I should go break down his door and trash his place!” He was fuming. Good old Tony, he was like my brother. Always ready to fight my fights.

He calmed down after a few minutes of ranting and asked in a softer tone:

“Are you alright?”

“What? Yeah I’m fine. I mean I’m upset about it, but the worst thing is, he said I owe him.”

I could hear Tony about to get riled up again and decided to diffuse the bomb before it blew.

“He said I owed him because he stopped Mr Jared from firing me.”

The line was silent for a minute. I waited.

Then the explosion went off.

“What?! Mr Jared was going to fire you? What the fuck? You’re the most decent worker I know. You work twice as hard as anyone in that office. If anything he should fucking be promoting you.”

I sighed.

“I know Tony. I just don’t understand it myself. I mean I haven’t had any complaints and he hasn’t bought me to his office about anything.”

“Look, don’t worry about it José. I know you like that job, but if it all goes pear shaped you know you’re always welcome working for our company. Dad would be thrilled to have you.”

I smiled. Roberto Maioni had offered me a place as one of his head designers in advertising at the beginning of my career. I had declined it though, wanting to work my way up under my own power. But now, if I did get fired, I think I would seriously consider working for them.

“Thanks Tony. I think I’m going to wait it out though. See what’s going on yeah?”

“Ok Jos. Just let me know if you need the job and I’ll sort you out alright?”

I smiled.

“Yeah, thanks a lot Tony. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

He chuckled.

“Yeah you’d be completely lost, man.”

“I’ll keep you in the loop, ok?”

“You better do!”

“Yeah, I will. Good luck with Andy yeah?”

“Thanks man, we’ll have to meet up soon. Look, I gotta go, talk to ya later.”

“Ok, Tone. Thanks.”

“Not a problem. Bye!”

I heard the dial tone and smiled. I replaced the phone back into the cradle.

Maybe things would be alright.

The next day at work started like any other day. I was determined to ignore Awan at all costs. I really didn’t feel like talking to him at the moment.

I found another room to complete my work in, not many people used it because it was so small. I’d managed to hide out there for about half the day and had got nearly all my work completed.

I was going down to the photocopying room, praying to all things mighty that I wouldn’t run into Awan or Mr Jared. Unfortunately the deities weren’t listening to me today.

I ran smack bang into Awan, the papers I was carrying flying all over the place. Juuustt great.

I chanced a quick glance at him. He had a scowl on his face. Yeah well, it wasn’t like I wanted to be near you either, buddy.

I quickly gathered all my papers, heart racing. God, what was wrong with me?

I stood up straight and continued towards the room, hoping to avoid confrontation.

“José! Where have you been? I’ve been looking for you. We have to get ready for the presentation this afternoon.”

Awan sounded mad. Well, shit. I’d forgotten about that. Luckily I had most of my stuff prepared. I liked to do it as I went along, saved rushing at the end. I stopped walking and kept my back to Awan.

“Ok, no problem. I’m ready, just give me half an hour or so.”

I managed to keep my voice even.

“The meetings in three hours in conference room one. You better not make me look bad.”

With that he left me alone.

I reached the room finally and let out a sigh I hadn’t realised I’d been holding in.

What was I going to do?

I finished photocopying and made up my mind.

I wasn’t going to let Awan get to me. I was going to show Mr Jared what I was capable of.

Bring it on Awan. I was so gonna win this round.


____________________________

Reviews-

Aleks- Sorry about that, as I said before I was having trouble with that chapter so I decided to leave it there. And yeah, patience, there may be some Boss action.

Aduial- Yes, I bow down to your updating two times last week. Now I've updated twice =P
Yes, Awan's a goon. And he's done something worse...*cough* you'll find out later *nudge*update*nudge*
Oh BTW, in your post on your story you said English isn't your first language, which is? And your English is amazing =)

KD- Thank you for reviewing. It's about to get more interesting soon!

Jen- Thanks for your help hun!

Kryst Sutures- Thanks for your review. Mwahaha sorry about that cliff hanger, but I updated quick so it cancels it out right?

TheSiner- I'm glad you like it! Thanks for your review!