Chapter 14

14

Easton

Why hasn't she messaged me back? I knew something was definitely wrong, since she left me on read yesterday, but I just figured she was busy. Exhausted after reading over all those reports. Paul could be a bit much. So, if I didn't hear from her by the time I left today, I'd call her.

My heart dropped when an email notification popped up on the computer and I cringe. The subject read Cutbacks on Resources. Does this mean she made her decision? I didn't want to open the email, because deep down, I was scared it would be my project. No matter what, I would not let it affect my relationship with Isla. The trials were going good so there should be no reason to cut funding.

Here we go. I clicked on the email to see it was only to me.

Easton,

After careful consideration by an independent consultant, they feel that your project isn't producing enough results to continue funding the project. For right now, we are suspending the project indefinitely. You will get a new project assigned to you after the holidays,

Thank you,

Paul

Anger threads my stomach and I slammed down my fist on the desk. FUCK! Why indefinitely? I thought it was only supposed to be for a couple of months? So, instead of keeping my project, he was having a big Christmas party? Something was wrong here.

Since my inception here, I had never left early, but today seemed like the perfect day to change that. I grabbed my coat and went straight to the elevator.

"Hey!" Luca said, running up to me. "Drinks tonight. On me."

Today had been really shitty. Why the fuck not. "Okay."

"Meet me at Loki's down the street."

I could use a drink. How was I ever going to talk Paul into letting me continue the project? He just brushed it over like it was nothing. How did he expect me to just let it go? Forever?

The car ride over was annoying. Everyone was in such a hurry to get wherever their destination was and here I was just going to grab a drink with a guy from work. I pulled up to Loki's and there were many cars in the parking lot. Was this normal?

I walked inside and find Luca sitting at the bar, but then the neon sign blinks catching my attention. It said, Ladies Night. First drink free . Of course it was. I rolled my eyes and wanted to run away as far from this place as I could, but Luca would kill me and never let me live it down so I sat my ass down and try to enjoy it.

"Tough break today, huh?"

The bartender sat two shots in front of us.

"I don't wanna talk about it. Let's just drink."

Alcohol had never been my thing, but with the announcement, the betrayal I felt for losing the chance to use my skills to help people like grandma, it seemed fitting to get so drunk I couldn't remember. I was a failure. Why would Isla even want to be with someone like me? My dream was crushed.

"Who the hell was that consultant, anyway? What gave her the right to come in and cut your project? You spent so much damn time on it and then just like that it's gone," Luca said, taking his shot and asking for two more.

"Let's not talk about her, okay. Anything else."

His eyebrows raised. "Wait, you know her? You do, don't you?"

"It's not a big deal, okay. Leave it alone."

He patted my shoulder. "Wow, that makes it even worse. Looks like I'll be buying you drinks for a while, bud."

I closed my eyes and took the second shot. Eventually I would forget about this. Right?

Isla

The announcement should have come out today. I kept pulling up our message chain to see if maybe I missed a notification, but nothing. It was eight o'clock now, and he would be home from work.

Me: Sorry, been busy. You didn't do anything wrong. Rolando's sounds great.

There. I opened up the communication and now it was up to him. Maybe he was pissed at me right now. He might just need some space to take in that he just lost the biggest project of his career. It wasn't just about work for him. It had a significant tie to his life and past.

I needed to keep my mind off this for at least one night. So I went to my contact list and pulled up my friend Ava.

Me: Want to grab a drink tonight?

I went to my closet to try to find something nice enough to wear to a bar.

Ava: Sounds great. I'll come pick you up in fifteen.

I slipped on the black dress and some heels. This would be fine. All I needed was to take my mind off of Easton. At least for a couple of hours and Ava was good at showing me a good time. She was much more lively than I was, and still went to bars looking for her perfect match.

A night with her was just what I needed right now.