Refusals Never Felt So Good, Especially When It's To Your Ex

Day 218 of The Andie Chronicles

The Monday morning meeting felt strange today.

GG was in a fluster.

And James was running so late by the time he came bursting into the board room, he was out of breath, sweating and not his usual self.

He always possessed this relaxed, calm demeanour. He's always composed and never appeared to fret over anything rightly worrying him. 

But I feared this concern was due to the fact he had come from a meeting with the lawyers. At least, I assumed as much. He left home before sunrise, and I didn't get a chance to discover why the early departure. 

Then, as the boardroom attendees attempted to enjoy a moment of relief, Douglas arrived, trotting full steam to his spot at the boardroom table and taking his seat with an undignified crashing sound.

Today, some of the assistants joined in on the meeting. I noticed Olivia sitting in the far corner. She was looking at me and then taking notes.

I liked the idea of having her around.

Olivia was someone telling the truth, pointing out the facts rather than blowing smoke up everyone’s proverbial rear ends.

The perfect assistant.

“Let’s all talk about Sydney.”

James was studying his meeting agenda and noted how the topic of Sydney was distinctly absent. Douglas was going rogue in a meeting, but it was nothing new.

“I've decided I'm going to go to this tradeshow. Everyone must see my face. My attendance will be invaluable for someone else to learn by being at my side. And that person will become the face of Highway in the industry.”

I watched him pause, fix his jacket, and straighten his tie. I had never seen Douglas on edge.

It looked like he was uncomfortable with the idea that he had to put in the extra work to mentor one of his team. Or spend a few days in Sydney alone with one of us. 

I kept looking around the room as he delivered this news. I kept asking myself, with great scepticism, why would anyone want to go with him?

But as I watched the other people in the room, my friends, grow attentive to his declaration. They saw this as an opportunity to get ahead. Another thing I could have disagreed with them: Why would you want to use someone who had no idea what they were doing as a stepping stone? 

“No, I'm looking for volunteers. I want to know who is interested. Hands up, who wants to go with me to Sydney?” 

Everyone in the room had a hand raised but me. There was this overwhelming sense to put mine up, the eyeball fixed firmly on the only person not participating in this school-like charade. But I resisted. 

There was no way anyone could even pay me to spend this time with Douglas, let alone talk to people and tell them about this business I had little belief in. 

I didn’t notice Douglas staring at me, too. “Andie? You don't want to go?” 

I shook my head.

“No, I think I should be here doing what I'm good at.”

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You’re reading The Andie Chronicles, the 2023 romance-fiction series from the 1 Lovelock Drive (1LD) universe.

By the way, this all started when Andie turned thirty-five, and her then-boyfriend didn’t call her.

Or the day after that.

Or the day after that, too. 

Everything started to unravel when her BFFs got into bed with her ex, too… ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️

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A little lost on what’s happening at 1 Lovelock Drive?

Well, you see, Andie’s break-up started back in February and so much has happened since then. These stories will help you catch right up! xx