When She Said No Novels & Stories

“If you really want to go? Go. Have fun.” She looks away from the mirror, her unreadable gaze pinning mine. “You don’t want me to go?” “Well, I just thought that—” “Kingston,” she cuts me off. “Yes or no? That’s all I want to hear.” I know I’m going to regret it but I don't want to lie to her either so I slowly shake my head. “No.” She doesn’t speak, she simply turns away and grabs her phone. From my experience with women, I assume she is texting Noah about it, but she only types a few words in and places the phone down again, screen down.

She continued, ignoring my obvious distress “From your Patrons or from you. Any misdemeanor will be appropriately punished.” She paused peering at me with that severe look as if to make sure I had imprinted her vile words in my head. “From today henceforth the word no is not in your vocabulary. You are not allowed to use it unless it is to answer a question about yourself for which the answer is negative. Understood?” She asked at the end of her long, soul-destroying rant. I slowly nodded. “I… Understand.” “Good.” She looked back to the papers on her desk, subsequently ignoring me and I took that as my cue to leave.

Was this Natalie's doing? "Because I want you to stay away from him” I repeat, getting irritated by her attitude and hoping she would just agree. But what comes out of her mouth surprises me. “No." She says, her arms folded by her sides. I don't like it when someone tells me no. I clench and unclench my fists, hoping to keep my anger at bay before I speak to her. “No? Did you just tell me no?" I ask her, giving ger the last chance to change what she said and agree with me.

She asked. I shake on my head, “No, I’m good..” “Are you sure?” “Yes. Thank you” And she was gone.

She was looking timid to understand what I said and I did not hesitate to repeat my words to let her keep it in her mind as a solid line on the rock. “I said, you are not going to work there, not even there, you are not going to work anywhere. You heard me this time cause I’m not repeating it.” “No!” She answered. “No?” I raised my eyebrow to challenge her to repeat her denial, I cannot believe she said no to me. “Yes, No. I will not stop working there. That’s the only place I can work. I need money.” She roared, her body tensed.

I wasn't sure she was going to make a decision immediately, but before I could cough up any more words she gave me an answer. “Fine.” She nodded. “I'll never show my face here again.” Good.

she said softly and I looked away as she was right. Maybe I have worked myself a bit too much. “Come on, it's just one day of difference, you can go back to your stock up life on Monday,” she added with a chuckle. I smiled and shook my head, but didn't look up from where I stared. After a while, she spoke up again. “Oh, you’re thinking about it,” she said, pointing at me. “That’s progress.” “I didn’t say yes,” I immediately countered. “You didn’t say no either,” she shot back and I looked away for a second, exhaling softly.

‎“No.” ‎‎There was a short silence then she called out...‎“Ma'am…” ‎‎“I said no.” ‎‎“I just need to take the measurements.” ‎‎“Then measure someone else.” ‎‎She sighed nervously...‎“I can't do that.” ‎‎“That's not my problem.” ‎‎“Please.” ‎‎“No.” ‎‎“Ma'am, please understand…” ‎‎“I understand perfectly.” ‎‎I crossed my arms even tighter...‎“You're scared of losing your job. I get it. But that doesn't mean I'm going to make this easy for either of you.”

Her hand shoots to her mouth. “That’s right.” I catch the eye of the long-haired girl, who’s eavesdropping blatantly at the next table. “I said ‘No.’ ” “You said ‘No’?” She looks so incredulous that I feel a pang of indignation. “Yes!” I glare at her defiantly. “I said ‘No.’ We weren’t right for each other after all, so I made the decision to end it. Even though he really wanted to marry me and have kids and a dog and everything …”

She wanted answers, but she didn’t want to ask the one person who might have them. I waited. I let the silence stretch between us, giving her space to process. Five seconds passed. Ten. Fifteen. Still, she didn’t reach for the phone. Instead, she let out a slow, careful breath, her shoulders sagging just slightly as though she were releasing some of the tension that had built up in her chest. She turned her head slightly, looking away from me, her expression distant, almost as though she were trying to shut me out. “No.” The word was soft, barely more than a whisper, but it landed like a stone in the quiet room. It was final, and it was clear.