Chapter Five

The week began on a Monday morning, the alarm rang and I reached over to the nightstand to silence the sound that made me quiver. A harsh reminder that weekend it’s over. I laid still for a moment, listening to the ambient hum of the city outside my window. It’s 6:30am, and I still have two and a half hours before I need to be at work. 

  

If Monday is anyone’s favorite, they’re either dating their boss or they’re abnormal.  

I sat up, stretched and drew back the curtains. Sunlight streamed into my room. My hair was wild mess and dark circles sat pretty under my eyes as I looked at myself in the mirror.

I reached into my wardrobe and pulled out dark jeans, a grey cardigan and a pair of white sneakers. I scrolled through my phone checking for notifications or any missed calls, but didn’t see any. I went to the kitchen and made some toast with a coffee. 

I slid into one of the kitchen chairs, enjoying my breakfast when I glanced at my phone and realized I was running late.

“Oh my God, this can’t be happening” 

 I scrambled into the bathroom, brushed my teeth and showered. 

By 8am, I was dressed. I pulled my dark hair into a low ponytail and applied some powder and a lip balm. I grabbed my laptop bag, checked for my keys and locked the door of my one bedroom apartment. 

The bus came by 8:20am. I found my usual seat near the back, put in my earbuds and listened to a podcast about CSS grid layouts. The ride took twenty minutes. 

I got off at the fifth street and walked two blocks to a fifteen floor glass building of a tech company called Bright Digital where I work as a web developer. 

As soon as I stepped out of the elevator, I headed to my desk. My colleagues hadn’t arrived yet, I murmured “Always punctual". As I reviewed requests from yesterday.

I had been punctual for three years and everyone knew it. 

For two hours I worked, trying to finish up some task I’d taken home. I fixed a bug in the payment gateway, wrote three new unit tests and started a code review. 

Just a regular girl, working hard to earn a living.

At 11a.m, my boss’s assistant sent a slack message: Kate, can you come to the conference room?

I didn’t think much of it, probably a sprint planning meeting, I told myself. I grabbed my notebook and made my way to the conference room. 

The conference room was bright, with a tall glass door and a long polished table surrounded by sleek black chairs. Inside sat my boss, Doug. As I walked in, his assistant made her way out. 

“Close the door please” Doug said. 

I did, and a little chill ran up her spine, “you’re fine” I told myself.  I sat down across from Doug, and for a moment, he just looked at me—sad. 

“Kate this isn’t easy to say” Doug began.

I swallowed gently. 

“What is it this time?” I whispered inwardly.

“We’re letting you go,” Doug said,  his face softened with sympathy. 

“What?” I burst out, my eyes widened. 

“Budget cuts. We couldn’t deliver on other contracts on time” he paused. “The board decided to restructure the engineering team, your position has been eliminated.” 

“But I just—“, I stopped. What was the point? I had seen it happen to others, I knew it was only a matter of time. Honestly I didn’t think it would happen this soon. 

The reasons were always the same, restructuring, alignment. But for the delayed contracts, I knew the real reason. 

“We’ll give you two weeks of severance” he continued, sliding a manila envelope across the table. “Your benefits run through the end of next month and the HR will send you the benefits” he added. 

I stared at the envelope, but didn't open it. “It’s been three years of consistency and hard work Mr Doug” I said, my voice tight.  “I worked weekends and late nights,” I swallowed hard.

“I know Kate. But it’s the number. It’s the board’s decision” he said. 

“The numbers? The board’s decision?” My brows furrowed deeply. “I gave this company my best.”

I walked out of the conference room, packed my succulents and cleared my desk. I didn’t say goodbye. 

Was I supposed to say goodbye after getting fired?. 

                             ****

The sun was bright, and people hurried past with coffee cups and laptops. I took the bus in a daze, sitting close to the window with my earbuds in, listening to my favorite podcast. 

I gazed out the window, replaying the moment Doug fired me. The word fired felt heavy, like a stone in my chest. I had never been fired before. I always showed up. 

“This can’t be happening,” I whispered, trying so hard to be strong. 

I got to my stop and walked up the three flights of stairs to my apartment. I reached into my bag for my keys, my fingers brushing against the lip balm and my purse, but I couldn’t find them. I patted my cardigan pocket, then my jeans pockets. Nothing. 

“Kate be calm”, I told myself. Probably fell out somewhere or I forgot them at the office. Then I remembered the spare key I hid under the loose brick in the hallway. 

I knelt down, my knees popping, and lifted the brick. I slipped the key into the lock and turned it, but something felt off. The door opened about two inches and stopped—the security chain was on from the inside. 

A sudden chill washed over me. Someone was in my apartment.  My first thought was to call 911 and my second thought came fast, driven by a more primal instinct. 

I threw my weight against the door, the chain pulled taut, and the wood creaked. A sharp crash sounded from inside—glass breaking —followed by slow, heavy footsteps. 

“Kate? Kate, wait, hold on,” Derek said.

 The chain slid free, and the door swung open. 

Derek stood in my living room, barefoot, wearing a pair of jeans and a henley I recognized because I’d bought it for him last Christmas. His hair was a bit longer and he was holding a glass of my wine. A bottle of  Pinot Noir, the one I’d been saving for a good day, sat open on my coffee table. 

“What the fuck,” I said, my voice flat and cold.  

Derek set the glass down with a trembling hand. His eyes were wide, the same hazel eyes that once made me feel like the only person in the world. They looked guilty now. 

“Kate, I can explain,” he said, his voice soft, running his hands through his hair. 

“Explain what?” I stepped inside, leaving the door open behind me. “ You can explain why you’re in my apartment, with my wine in your hands, using my spare key that you should have dropped when you left my life.”

“I know, I know. I should have given it back. I just... I needed to see you” he said. 

“ The only option was to break into my apartment?” I shot back. 

Derek could feel the anger radiating off me. I wasn’t having it anymore.

“I didn’t break in. I used the spare key. “ I didn't know you’d be home early. I was just going to leave a letter, or sit and wait for you.”

“Okay, clown,” I said, trying to process the absurdity of it all. 

“Look, I know I messed up. I know it’s unforgivable.” He swallowed hard. “I have changed, I want you, Kate.”

My chest tightened as I remembered how I wasted three years of my life, cooking for him and clearing his debts. It was hard to admit there were good times, but walking into his apartment and seeing another girl in his bed was a nightmare I couldn’t shake. 

“You should go,” I said, my voice was steady, which surprised me. 

“Please, hear me out. Just ten minutes.” His voice cracked. 

Memories flashed back as I stared at someone I once loved. But this time, I had already made up my mind and there was no going back. 

“You cheated on me,” I said. 

“I know,” he said, his tone gentle tone, his eyes meeting mine. 

“You think you can just show up any day without a text or a call?” My voice was harsh. 

“I didn’t know what to do. You weren’t picking up or reply to my texts.” He shook his head. “Let me make it right this time.” 

I set my laptop bag down on the dining table and walked into the kitchen. I poured myself a glass of water. 

“You don’t get to do this. You don’t get to show up at my house unannounced and expect me to forgive you,” I said, setting the glass down hard on the kitchen table. 

“I love you Kate.” Derek’s face fell. He stared down at me. 

“Go tell that to your lover. It’s been three days” I yelled. 

He kept his mouth shut— probably because he knew that whatever he said at that moment would only make things worse. 

“I know I hurt you. I didn’t mean to.”

“It’s a lot. I got fired today,” I said, sitting down on the dining chair as tears streamed down my cheeks. 

This time, I broke down, weeping like a baby.

The words lingered in the air. Derek blinked “What?”

“My boss handed me an envelope and told me that my position has been terminated”. I sniffed. “So I’ve had a terrible morning and I don’t want any additional stress.”

Derek sat close to me and wiped the tears running down my cheek. 

“You’re good at your job, Kate. Look at me—thousands of companies need you” he said. 

There was silence between us for a while. Our eyes met, and there was tension in the kitchen. I couldn’t resist his eyes. Those eyes were charming. 

He placed his hands on my cheek and kissed me passionately. “I’ve missed you,” he said.  

Those hands— I could still remember the way they felt, touching me. 

Those words melted into my soul. At this point, he had found my soft spot, and I couldn’t resist him. 

My hand curled into his shirt, pulling him closer, deepening the kiss. It was hunger—every ache I’d felt sleeping alone. 

“No this can’t be happening” I thought. I think I’m over reacting.

 I managed to stop half way before it became uncontrollable. 

“Are you hungry?” Derek asked, running his hand through his hair. He could feel the tension in the room. 

“Don’t have an appetite” I said softly. 

“You should eat something,” he said. 

“Okay, I’ll have some pizza,” I said. 

“Okay, let me order,” He pulled out his phone and ordered from our favorite restaurant. “Pepperoni with extra cheese and mushrooms.”

“Done,” he said. 

“Okay, you shouldn’t be here,” I said, trying not to look at him. 

“Oh— yes I”ll find my way out soon,” He paused.  “I”ll stay a while to make sure you’re okay.”

“I can handle myself, thank you” I stood up from the chair and made my way to the living room. “You can stay for a while,” I added.

“Are you sure about that? Or do you want—“ He followed me. 

“Or what?” I asked, raising my eyebrows. 

“Just kidding,” he said softly. 

At this point, I couldn’t resist him. His perfect, muscular body and those eyes had me dripping. I kissed him passionately. 

I want every inch of him, my body screamed.

“Let’s go to the room,” I whispered. 

“Okay,” he said, guiding me toward the bedroom. 

The bedroom was dim. He undressed me slowly, savoring every moment. I traced the lines of his shoulders, running my hands through his chest. 

I didn’t want this moment to stop, I felt every inch of it. We came together, our bodies saying what words couldn’t. It echoed I love you and I want you. 

“When people talk about going back to their ex, I never believed it. But here I am” I thought, grinning innocently. 

Ten minutes later, the doorbell rang. 

“That’ll be the pizza,” I said.

“I’ll get it,” Derek said, putting on his jeans. 

I was still having mixed feelings. I just lost my job, and now I’d just had sex with my ex. It was awkward. But I needed it, and I enjoyed every part of it. It wasn’t the end of the world. 

I don’t want to make the same mistakes this time. 

“Pizza’s here.”

“Finally, because I’m starving,” I said. 

“Thought you didn’t have an appetite?” he asked.

“You must be mistaken,” I said, laughing out loud. 

“Let’s dig in,” he said, taking a slice and shoving it into his mouth. 

“So what happens now?” I asked, licking my thumb. 

Derek reached over and wiped a smear of cheese from the corner of my mouth. “Now we finish the pizza, I’ll go make you some tea” he said “And then we  start over— slowly.”

“Okay, we’ll take baby steps,” I said, trying to guide my heart. 

A few minutes later, the doorbell rang. 

“Are you expecting someone?” he asked. 

“No,” I replied. 

“I’ll get it,” I  said. 

I left the bedroom.