Read The Arrogant Architect for Free Online

twist?”
    “Ross has my panties…literally. We fucked.”
    I tilt my head– surely I heard her wrong.“Gross, please tell
me you are lying.”
    “Oh…I’m not, it happened.”
    “Why? Why would you do that?”
    “Come on, he’s cute. Plus, he’s been an über dick to you
lately, so I thought we’d give him a taste of his own medicine.”
    I’m afraid to ask what she is referring to…but I have to.
“What do you mean?”
    “Now you can blackmail him, tell him you know we fucked, and
maybe he’ll start treating you with some respect.”
    “Are you drunk?”
    “No. Think about it, Ever. This could really work; it can
give you the leverage you need.”
    “Mistee, that’s not the kind of leverage I want.”
    “Well, what ideas do you have? Because the way I see it,
you’re about to get demoted to washing dishes.”
    “Do you realize how crazy your idea is? You cannot be
serious.”
    “I fucked our boss; how much more serious do I need to be?”
    “You need to see a doctor and get some help ‘cause I think
you’re losing it. Please, keep your dirty panties on from now on and let me
handle this. I’m not the kind of person who blackmails someone.”
    “Suit yourself. It’s the last time I do you a favor. Oh and
have fun washing dishes.”
    “I didn’t ask you to sleep with him, he’s old and…” I push
away the disgusting image of her and Ross together. “Goodbye, Mistee.” I hang
up, completely baffled by her way of trying to help. But it is Mistee I’m
talking about, and she’s got a few screws loose.
    Throwing the rest of the melted ice cream in the trashcan, I
hear someone outside my door. Looking out the peephole, I don’t see anyone.
Cracking the door open, I look down the hallway in either direction, but no one
is there. I swear I heard someone. As I’m closing the door, I spot something on
the ground that catches my eye. Lying on my doormat is a single white rose and
a tiny gift bag. Looking in the bag, there is a card that reads, Starting
some demo tomorrow, thought you could use these.
    Looking up at me is a pair of earplugs, which probably cost
five hundred dollars or some astronomical amount of money. And the son of a
bitch still hasn’t apologized. Walking downstairs, I look for him to throw
these at and notice he’s returned my bike after holding it hostage for almost a
week. Knowing he likes to linger, I assume he’s still here. But everything is
quiet, silent. Tossing the rose and ear buds into the dumpster, I walk back
inside.
    I’m infuriated with him thinking he can control me and tell
me what to do all the time. Fuck him and everything he is. Slamming my door
shut, I go straight to bed. So over everything from the day. Reaching for my
lamp, a letter from my mom on my nightstand closes with, Always be yourself,
my darling . Turning the light off, I close my eyes and savor the silence,
comforted by her words. That is what I have been doing and what I will continue
to do.
    Sleep evades me as the day churns in my mind, then my phone
chimes but I ignore it, assuming it’s only Mistee again. Plus, I don’t want to
add fuel to my mental fire. Then it chimes again and again.
    What the hell?
    Ripping the covers off me, I see three text messages from a
number I don’t recognize. Right away…I sense it’s King.
    I left you a present at your door, make sure you get it
before you go to bed.
    I figure texting is best, we seem to argue in person.
    How are you? I’ve missed seeing you lately. 
    I saw your gift and it’s already in the trash.
    Why?
    Why do you always ask why?
    Why do you always avoid answering me?
    I don’t.
    Sure you do. Like now, tell me why?
    He’s pressing me, nagging at me to do something that I don’t
want to. Trying to take my control away and I don’t agree with it. Where do I
even start with him? That’s it, I don’t. Good night, King.
    No. Don’t. You did this shit the other day. Why won’t you
open up to me, what happened to you?
    Nothing