What He Left Behind

Chapter 19

Chapter 19:

“Let’s get this over with,” I mumbled as I stepped into the magazine offices. Heads turned in my direction as I entered the room and I automatically pulled my coat around my body tighter, as if for reassurance.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Jade asked as she appeared from behind the reception desk in the lobby. Her auburn hair a mess, with a couple of pencils tucked behind her ear.

“Everything alright?” I questioned, completely ignoring her question as I walked over to speak to her better, without shouting over the room. I noticed the state she was in as I became closer to her. She had deep bags under her eyes and her skin was all red and patchy.

“Fine. Just fine.” She replied, busying herself with sorting out the already perfectly stacked folders on the desk. She stopped and slouched down in the office chair behind her, resting her head on the headrest and covering her face with her hands.

A few seconds later, she looked at me from behind her fingers. “I’ve had a busy morning with my family, that’s all. My husband is filing for divorce, my children have turned their attitude towards me…It’s just not going too well for me at the moment.” She finally confessed. I immediately stepped towards her and engulfed her in a hug. Every possible bad thing seemed to be happening to us both at the moment, and it felt awful. I could understand why she felt like she did. I hadn’t bothered to dress up today, just wearing some old tracksuit bottoms from my pregnancy with Nate and a grey baggy top that I had put on, not bothering to look at all glamorous. My hair was pulled into a loose ponytail and I had no make up on at all- what’s the point?

“Well, anyway, let’s just go and get this interview done shall we? They’re both waiting for you.” Jade said as she motioned for me to step into the vacant lift behind desk.

“Wait.” I said, stopping in my step. “You said ‘both’. Who else is with him?” I asked.

“Flynn Tucker, his co-star. You are here to question them both on their upcoming film together and also try and get some gossip on the recent situation. Am I right, or am I right?” Jade said, turning back into her usual bossy self.

“Flynn is going to be there?” I was alarmed! Well, isn’t this going to be awkward?

“Of course! It’s just as easy to interview them both at the same time, than separately.” She told me as she pressed the lift button. “But hey, why you complaining? Flynn Tucker is gorgeous! He’s a great way to get your mind off things!” She said.

“Uh, Jade. Might be a bit of a problem…” I said, motioning to my swollen belly. “And no, I love Noah, I always have and always will. I just hope he remembers us for the sake of Nathan.” I said, rubbing my bump.

“Well darling, I expect he will. Here we are.” The doors opened and we stepped out and into the bustling office floor. “I’ll leave you to it for now then Rose, but if something happens that you don’t feel comfortable about, just come and tell me.” Jade said, before screaming orders at some young, scared intern who had brought her the wrong coffee flavour.

“Well, here goes nothing.” I mumbled to myself, before walking towards my office and gently pushing open the modern, wooden door.