31 Days of Winter by C. J. Fallowfield Read Free Book Online Page B

me at only twenty-six and
he’d completely thrown me by acting like a human being for once.
    ‘Say nothing, take the letter with you, your desk
will remain yours and come back and see me in a month’s time with your
decision. I’ll get HR to email over a contract stating the new terms and pay. In
the meantime, email me a meeting date and we’ll discuss it then and see how you
feel.’
    ‘Thank you, I really appreciate your
consideration,’ I smiled and let him see the sincerity behind it.
    ‘Well I’m busy, I have people to shout at all day
and scare the shit out of, so if you’d make me a coffee before you go then
you’re free to leave. Natasha makes crap coffee,’ he sighed and looked back
down and starting writing again. I headed to the staff room in a daze. Had
that really just happened? No shouting and a new job offer? I had
some serious thinking to do while I was away.
    ‘Here’s your coffee, John.’
    ‘I think you mean Captain Cranky,’ he smiled with
an arched brow as he looked up at me. My mouth dropped as I felt my cheeks
flame. ‘I’ve been called worse, I hope you sort out your personal stuff and
Happy Christmas, Ellie,’ he waved my letter at me and I took it and noticed
another envelope. ‘You’d miss the Christmas bonus cheques while you’re away,
now go, I have work to do.’
    ‘Thank you.’
    ‘Yeah whatever, don’t have a girly moment on me.’ His
head was back down and I walked out, tucking the envelopes into my bag, still
marvelling at how my day was turning out.
    I should have known I wasn’t that lucky. When I
headed out to the lobby downstairs my heart sank, Zac was leaning against one
of the pillars just outside the security turnstiles and he’d spotted me. I
should have known that he’d be here waiting for me to come to work, after all
it wasn’t like he had anywhere else to be. He was dressed down in jeans, a
white shirt and black blazer, and I sighed to think only this time last year
I’d looked at him and wanted to run my hands over his body. Now … nothing .
I decided that I couldn’t hide behind the safety of the security checkpoint
forever, I needed to get to the bank, get some cash and let them know I was
going to be away. I also needed to go and buy a new iPhone, then get back to
the hotel to collect my bags and meet Brooke who was taking me to the airport. I
walked through the turnstile and put out my palm again as he tried to step too
close to me.
    ‘What are you doing here, Zac? I thought I’d made
it clear that I didn’t want to speak to you.’
    ‘How else am I supposed to, El? You clear out your
stuff from our place, have Brooke get in the way of me coming after you, then
she ditches me and your mobile’s in pieces all over our bedroom floor.’
    ‘Your bedroom floor, I don’t live there anymore.’
    ‘El, honey, we really need to talk. I’ve fucked up
big time, I know that, but I don’t want you to go.’
    ‘Zac, I’ve already gone.’
    ‘If you had, you’d have taken off your engagement
ring,’ he advised with a flick of his head to it. I shoved my hand in my jeans
pocket.
    ‘I’ve had rather a lot on my mind Zac, my fiancé
has been lying to me, cheating on me, doing drugs, clearing out our bank
accounts and faking his job. Sorry if my still wearing a ring that meant
something to me when we were happy has made you think that I can forgive all of
that. I need to go, I have things to do.’
    ‘You’re not working?’ he asked as he looked down
at my jeans.
    ‘No, like you I’m now jobless too. I just quit, so
I can get away and clear my head.’
    ‘You quit?!’ he exclaimed. ‘Captain Crank let you
out alive?’ I nearly laughed, nearly , but no way was I falling for that
charm act again.
    ‘Yes, and he’s offered the position of Junior
Partner to me if I change my mind and return.’
    ‘El, that’s amazing, I’m so proud of you.’ He
stepped forward with his arms out, as if to hug me and I shoved him back.
    ‘You don’t