Chapter 213 - Consolation

Trick

"I didn't fire him, he left on his own. What are you asking me to do now?'' Michael asks me with furrowed brows. His voice is cold. I have known Michael for a long time. He has been married to Adina for over fifteen years. He has been a good friend, he accepted me when I didn't have anyone. Adina took me in, when I left home. She was the only one that believed I could be so much more than I was and that is why I will always be grateful to her and her husband but right now, the way he is looking at me is not one that I like.

He is upset with me and he doesn't even have to say it.

This is all my fault. I wanted Jack to quit and now that he has, I am asking him to take him back.

"I don't want him to leave your company. I wish you would give him a second chance."

He shakes his head, probably in disbelief "Does he want a second chance?''

I haven't asked him or even told him anything about this but I wanted to see if there was a shot first.

"Yes, he does. He made a mistake and it was all my fault. I was being childish and petty and I messed things up for him.''

"Life doesn't work this way. You can't just behave any way you want just because you want to.'' he scowls at me. I watch his wife as she reaches for his hand and gives it a squeeze. Adina is the only one that is able to calm him down and right now he is angry. All because of me.

"I know that.''

"You should have thought about this before you forced him to quit his job. How would it look on his resume?''

he points out and I feel bad about it. I was being selfish.

"I am sorry, I didn't think about it.''

"Well, that is the problem with you. You don't think before you act. You just do things and you expect everyone else to fix things for you.''

he says and I can feel my cheeks burning.

"I am trying to make things right; I just need you to help me. It has just been two days. if you could just disregard his letter, then he could go back to the office as if nothing happened.''

"It happened, I can't just act like it didn't, and what happens the next time you are jealous of someone else? Maybe you should just keep the man in a cage, that way he would be with you at all times."

He is being a jerk but I deserve it. Nothing he has said tonight is wrong. My phone vibrates on the table and I reach for it, because I know it is him. Jack spent the day with Lance because he didn't want to be alone and I had to work. With everything that has happened, I feel even worse. He isn't even talking about getting a new job. I know it has just been two days, but I expected him to even talk about finding something else. The fact that he hasn't, just makes me even think I broke him.

Jack: Where are you?

I read his message and look up at the two of them. Michael is still glaring at me, he is not over it and I don't blame him "I have to go,'' I tell them with a faint smile.

Adina lets go of her husband and stands up "I will walk you out,'' she tells me as she comes over to me.

I head in the direction of the front door "Let him come by on Monday, and I need this to be the last time,'' He stops me and I turn to look at him.

I nod my head "Yes, I will.''

We say our goodbyes and I find myself back in the car with Adina next to me "you know he means well,'' she tells me, trying to defend her man.

I don't blame Mike; this is all my fault and everything he said is true.

I have been a monster and I need to make things right.

"He's not wrong,'' I tell her as I enter the car.

I give Adina a wave and give her a sad smile. I look at the text message from Jack and send him a quick reply. I get home and he is waiting for me in the living room. The tv is on and blaring loudly but he jumps up immediately he sees me.

"You're home,'' he says as he walks over to me and pulls me into a hug. I wrap my arms around him and I inhale his scent. He has showered and already changed into his pajamas.

He pulls away from me and looks into my eyes "Why are you crying?'' he asks me and wipes a tear that is rolling down my cheek. I shake my head and look away from him. I didn't even notice my tears.

"Wanna tell me what happened?''

"Michael told me that he would let you come back to work on Monday," I tell him because I don't want to talk about how shitty I feel right now. I messed everything up and talking to Michael today just made me feel even worse than I already did.

"What?'' he creases his brows in confusion.

"I asked him to give you your job back. I want you to go back to work."

He looks at me with a serious expression "You should have asked me first."

"I know, but it is done now. He said he will let you back in on Monday."

He shakes his head and I feel like a weight has been lifted off me "I don't want to go back."

"What? Why?'' I ask him in surprise.

"You should have asked me; I don't want to go back." He walks away from me and I watch him as he walks up the stairs and away from me. I don't know what is happening but it feels like I have done something to mess things up again.

I don't think I can do anything right at this point.