'Stretch me out Paul, I want to feel every inch.'
I stood outside the bedroom door, trying to convince myself that maybe I heard wrong, that maybe Chloe was in my apartment with her secret boyfriend whose name was also Paul.
I reached for the handle and shoved the door open. Paul was on top on her with his face tangled in pleasure that vanished the second he looked over his shoulder and saw me standing there.
"Brielle—"
Chloe scrambled for the duvet while Paul grabbed it too, both of them fumbling like idiots.
"It's not what it looks like!" Paul said. The classic line. The liar's anthem.
"From where I am standing, it looks exactly like what it is."
"Calm down, you're doing too much."
I stared at him. "You're in bed with my best friend and I am doing too much?"
"Maybe if you weren't so miserable all the time, he wouldn't have had to look elsewhere," Chloe interjected.
"Wha—"
"She's right. You're never here Brielle. You're always working, always busy, always complaining about bills" Paul said. "And you expect me to be what? Just sit around and be grateful?"
"Are you serious?"
"Yes. You made this relationship impossible. You pushed me away."
"You're unbelievable."
"You always act like I am some burden you have to drag you around."
'I'm sick of this.'
"But you're a burden. You don't work, you don't help. You eat my food, sleep in my bed, wear the clothes I bought for you and somehow still found the audacity to cheat on me in the apartment I pay for!"
Chloe rolled her eyes. "Oh my God Brielle, stop acting like you're the only person with problems. You're always making everything about you. Your dead sister, her kids in the orphanage, God its always something. Maybe if you weren't so obsessed with cleaning her mess, you'd have noticed your boyfriend was miserable."
I slapped her across the face. "Leave my sister out of your mouth."
"She slapped me!" Chloe screamed.
Paul stepped forward. "Brielle, what the hell is wrong with you? You can't just go around hitting people because you're hurt."
"Wait. What?"
Chloe stared at me in outrage. "You crazy bitch! Just because your life is a complete disaster doesn't mean you get to take it out on me!"
"Get out," I said pointing to the door, then turned to Paul. "you too."
"Brielle stop being ridiculous. Where do you want me to go?"
"Try her place."
Chloe looked horrified. "You're not moving in with me."
I almost laughed because now it was clear that this wasn't love. Nor loyalty. Just two selfish people who deserved each other.
"This is my apartment too." Paul yelled.
"The lease is in my name. Furniture are mine. Even the boxers you're wearing right now? Guess what mine."
Paul's face flushed.
I continued: "Get dressed, pick up whatever trash belongs to you and get out of my apartment before i call the cops."
Paul pointed at me. "This is exactly why you are unlovable. You make everything hard."
I stared at him for a long moment not believeing that this was the man i have been in love with since 15, then i walked out into the living room and sat down on the couch.
I heard drawers opening, footsteps moving, muffled voices.
Then the front door slamming hard at their exit.
I tried not to cry, I really did but I won't lie I was a wreck. Tissues were already piling up around me by the time I finally reached out for my phone and dialed the only person left.
"Hey Bri," Naomi sounded distracted. "I'm at work and these kids are trying to climb the walls like tiny demons, if I get bitten again, I'm pressing — Are you crying?"
"Naomi...he's with her."
"What? Who?"
"Paul..he's been sleeping with Chloe."
"I told you that bitch was a snake. I knew it."
"I slapped her"
"Good. Did you stab him?"
"No."
"Annoying, I would have helped you hide the body but still good."
"I just feel stupid. I did everything for him. Naomi and yet i wasn't enough."
"He's an idiot and you were too good for him."
"I have nowhere to go if I lose this apartment."
"How bad is it?"
"Zero."
"I'll come over as soon as I'm off shift. My supervisor is already giving me dirty looks but I will be over the second i clock out and then we'll figure it out, okay?"
"It's fine."
"No, it's not. Maybe i should come now. I've never won employee of the month for a reason."
"No. After work is fine."
"And Bri? If either of them comes back, call me before you call the police. I just want options."
That made me laugh even though it hurt.
"Thank you."
"Always. Hang tight."
–+–
I couldn't wait for Naomi and with the landlord likely on his way to toss my belongings onto the curb, i couldn't risk staying another minute.
So by 5:00 am, I had already packed my entire life into 2 suitcases and dragged it to the only place that offered a way out.
*Crowne Tower*
The night security guard looked up from his desk and eyes widening when he saw me.
"Back early?" He asked.
"Big day."
"You office people are built different."
I pushed my suitcases under the desk and sank into the chair. Eventually exhaustion won and I slept off.
"What're you doing?"
I bolted upright to see Darius Crowne in front of the doorway.
"Mr. Crowne," I gasped wiping my face."I..I'm early."
He didn't acknowledge my excuse. His gaze dropped to the floor, landing on the suitcases.
"You're homeless."
"I'm in between..places."
"I told you I wanted someone who could handle my schedules, not a stray living in my office."
"Sir...It won't happen again..I am not a stray please."
"There's a furnished apartment nearby. It's for guest. You'll stay there."
I blinked. "What?"