Free Beautiful and Broken by Sara Hubbard

sweetly.
    "Actually, it went really well. It seems I have a new celebrity client to entertain, so if you don't mind, I've got lots of work to do."
    Her eyebrows raise at the mention of a celebrity client. Her mouth opens as if she's lost her brain and the ability to speak. Good. I can't believe how satisfied I feel in this moment. I've effectively silenced Sophie McClaren; I'm not sure when I'll ever be able to say this again, so I revel in the moment like it might be the last.  
    Moments later, she thinks of a comeback. Too late. Almost.
    "So I guess you got more than a tooth in your skull at that party, then."
    "I guess so."
    "How did you even manage to get an invite to a party like that, anyway?"
    "What's that supposed to mean?” I tap, tap, tap on my keyboard, refusing to make eye contact with her. I'm already enraged and an office brawl would not help my current situation.  
    "Well, I mean, it's not as if…" She pauses. "It’s not as if you’re…you know?”
    “No. I don’t.”
    “Socially relevant.”
    Huh! I turn my head to glare at her.  
    “No offence…"
    No offence. There it is again. I stop typing and curl my fingers. I can feel my face heating. My pulse is throbbing in my neck. I'm sure I'm going to dive for her, but I calmly lay my hands on my desk and count to three. She's trying to provoke me. She’s jealous. And I won't let her win. She’s the girl everyone loves and fawns all over. Gorgeous. The fact that I might have gained attention from a celebrity client kills her, and I have to focus on that.
    I concentrate on my work, ignoring her. After a few moments she turns back in her seat to face her computer. We continue working side by side like this for this afternoon, neither of us saying a single syllable to each other.  
    I call Dina soon after doing my homework and researching the properties. My call goes to voicemail and hours later, I still haven't heard back from her. Sophie is giving me the stink eye and it's making me warm and fuzzy. Everyone in the office seems to glance at me a half dozen times or more over the day, but no one comes over.  
    Dina calls me back just before I leave for the day. She tells me she wants five viewings the following afternoon. I tell her I'll try, but I'll have to clear it with the agent of the homeowners.  
    Her response: "Make it happen," before hanging up. I stare at the phone like I've been slapped. I'm not sure I can remember the last time someone hung up on me. Why does she need to be rude?  
    Sophie smiles as I set down the phone. “You won’t last a day with the likes of them.”  
    I ignore her. She might be right. But I will never admit it. Instead, I stay late and do everything I can to make sure I have the five viewings that Dina requested. I still don't know who the client is that I'm meeting. I call Amy to ask her about it and she's as clueless as I am, but she wants details after the viewings, which I will gladly share. I'm so curious I can't stand it.  

    ***

    I'm to meet the client at the Red Line Coffee House the following day. It's this little cafe on the main floor of the Dover Hotel— the same hotel I did the walk of shame at after sleeping with Sawyer. Sigh. Being here makes me uncomfortable and I massage the back of my neck as I feel a flush of heat in my face.
    I check my watch and it's twelve forty five. I’m fifteen minutes early and I'm dressed to impress, wearing my best outfit: a black pencil skirt and white silk blouse with a fitted red blazer and matching pumps that Jason bought me for Christmas last year. Looking down at them as I sit at the table near the counter, I can't help but feel nostalgic.  
    Why can’t I stop missing him?
    "This seat taken?" says a familiar, deep voice.  
    I begin to smile as I look up, but my smile quickly fades. Then my temper fires. Sawyer slides into the seat opposite me. His smile is timid, like he’s not sure if I’m happy to see him or not. Newsflash: I’m not. He wears brand