The Spectator

Chapter 15: 'Tis the Season for Fuckery

     Ella's plan had been working for the past couple of days--though who was avoiding who was no longer clear. They were both avoiding each other, she supposed, which was better than getting underhanded lectures about her tardiness any day. But this couldn't last forever. The app was running, thus far, like a well-oiled machine but there were sure to be hiccups at some point and there were the inevitable expansions to plan. Oh, well. She had until at least next year before she had to worry about that and, despite Adam and Eddy seemed to think, she wasn't planning on being in New York for any more holiday parties.

     "I want a week off," She told Dan bluntly.

     "A week?" Dan exhaled, eyebrows raised. "We literally just got the app up and running, I don't think we can spare you for that long, El."

     "Oh, come on Dan, I'm way ahead on my deadlines and I want to spend time with my family," She begged him. He grimaced sympathetically. She wasn't going to like what he was about to tell her...

     "...You have to take it up with Nate. I can't make this kind of decision for him right now." He told her, watching her eyes narrow and her mouth screw up.

     "Fine," she snapped, turning on her heel and stalking out of his office. She didn't stop back at her desk, not wanting to lose the bit of courage she had. This was going to ruin her plan, but she had to treat it just like a band-aid and rip it off immediately. She paused in front of Nate's office door... and knocked.

     "Come in!" She heard him call. She opened the door with a deep breath.

     "Hey, sorry to bother you, but--," She cut off mid-sentence, realizing there was a third person in the room. A very beautiful, very blonde, and very female third person. "Oh, hi... Sorry, am I interrupting? I can come back--."

     The woman stood.

     "Don't leave on my account, I was just going," She assured Ella, before leaning over Nate's desk to kiss him on the cheek. "I'll be seeing you on Saturday?"

     "I'll let you know. See you later, Aurie." Nate bid her farewell. Ella stepped to the side to let the woman pass. Whatever perfume she was wearing lingered in the air-- it was delicious.

     "Sorry if I interrupted anything..." Ella apologized again, hesitating by the door.

     "Not at all," Nate told her quickly, motioning towards a chair. "What's up?"

     He offered her a polite smile which she returned even more half-heartedly.

     "I was actually wondering if I could have a week off. I tried asking Dan, but he said I had to take it up with you," She got to the point quickly.

     Nate leaned back in his chair.

     "A week? Which week?" He asked her.

     "The week of Christmas, from Monday the 24th to the 28th... I want to visit my family in Miami," She explained, now making eye contact with him.

     "I don't know Ella...That means you would have the next Monday off for New Years, as well. It's a lot of time," Nate blew out a breath, "The app..."

     "I'm ahead of my deadlines and if anything happens you can still call me and I'll do work from there... Please, Nate," Ella asked, fixing on him with her eyes.

     Nate couldn't escape that gaze-- simultaneously pleading and accusatory. Accusatory? He knew instantly what she was accusing him of, and he was flooded with guilt for a brief moment. At least, until the anger set in. What had he done? She's the one who'd yanked away from him, what did she care if he saw other women? It was one kiss, for Christ's sake!