Chapter 2
By the time I got home, I was soaked to the bone.
James was sitting on the couch, his laptop resting on his knees.
He didn't even bother to look up.
"I told you to bring an umbrella this morning," he said.
No towel, no hot water, not even a single word of comfort.
I stood in the entryway, water dripping from my hair and pooling on the floor.
"I saw you gave Emily a 98 and me a 58," I said.
"Why did she get the highest score and I got the lowest?"
James set his laptop down on the coffee table and leaned back into the couch.
"Because that's fair," he replied.
"Fair?" I asked.
James continued, "People at work already know about us.
"They'd probably bump up your score just because of me.
"If I gave you a high score too, your promotion wouldn't mean anything.
"So I had to be the one to mark you down the most."
I looked at him, a bitter smile tugging at my lips.
"James, six years. I've never once used our relationship to get ahead," I said.
"Every single project, I handled everything myself. Even this promotion, I applied based on my own results. You know it better than anyone."
He took a sip of water, set the glass down, and the bottom tapped softly against the table.
"You still haven't learned this. At work, if people think you're getting by on connections, that's how people will see you, and that's what you'll become," James said.
"I gave Emily the highest score because during her presentation, she spoke without notes, was full of energy, and carried herself with poise and grace. She really deserved it."
"So you're admitting you gave her a 98 not because of her skills, but just because of her attitude?" I pressed.
James stood up and looked down at me, his presence almost overwhelming.
"Sarah, can you stop looking for someone else to blame every time things don't go your way?" he said coldly.
"Face it, you lost. That's all there is to it."
I tilted my head back, fighting to keep the tears in, but my eyes stung with the effort.
"If I lost because I wasn't as good as her, I'd honestly wish her well. But I lost because of you!" My voice shook as I spoke.
"You're my boyfriend of six years! No one knows how hard I've worked better than you! But it was your score, your 58, that dropped me from first place to fifth and cost me the promotion!"
James tilted his head and let out a frustrated sigh, his impatience clear.
He said, "That's the difference between you and her. If Emily had lost today, she'd just smile and wish you luck, always optimistic, never pointing fingers.
"But you? You're always here, sulking and acting like the world owes you something."
I let out a bitter laugh, and the tears finally fell.
"James, I've been hurting for six years," I said, my voice trembling.
"But what really breaks me is that I never even got to have a normal relationship!
"For six years, I went Dutch on everything, sent back every gift, never even took your car to work, and put all my project results out in the open for everyone to judge.
"I lived like this just to prove I'm not the kind of gold-digger you despise!"
James didn't say a word.
He stood there, hands in his pockets, looking at me.
I slowly crouched down, my hands resting on the floor, water from my hair dripping down and mixing with my tears.
"Six years," I whispered.
"I tried so hard. Why did I end up with nothing? Why did it have to be you, of all people?"
I hugged my knees and sobbed, my whole body shaking.
James's phone rang.
He picked up, and his voice instantly turned soft and patient.
"Emily? Yes.
"I'll send you a template for the project analysis, just take a look. It's no trouble."
"Mr. Grant, am I just being stupid?" Emily's voice came through the phone.
"No, you're not stupid. I'll walk you through it," James replied.
A pack of tissues landed at my feet with a soft thud.
"If you have to cry, keep it quiet. She's busy working on her proposal," James said, his voice cold.
"You can mope over your little failure if you want, but at least let the people who are trying to get ahead have some peace."