Chapter 19 - What are the living costs for Alaska?

Reminder again:

- I have no idea how the corporate world works. Like no knowledge. So I'm going to make shit up and it's gonna work. That's all.

- This chapter is short because the previous two were long and I'm tired

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POV: Nerovsky

After Leo answered all my queries, I basically went home quite dandy because one, I didn't lose my job, two, I got to see Leo one on one which really quenched my thirst for a month and three, I think we're like friends now? I don't know but it was never explicitly mentioned but surely he doesn't normally have meetings with an employee with scotch on the table... right? Regardless, the thoughts of our status weren't enough for me to keep me up at night. I had crashed in bed as soon as I reached home. I guess was still drained from the day before.

I went to back to work the day after (A/N I should mention that the dispute between Beatrice and Nero happened on a Tuesday), being completely refreshed and actually looking forward to what is to come. As soon as I entered the 29th floor and my presence was noticed, I was immediately crowded upon by the multitude of staff, being asked what happened two years ago. Matthew, Mason and Pearl all but suffocated me after literally jumping on me. They continued screaming and shouting at me for ignoring their mass texts they sent from the previous days and how they thought I had died.

When they found out I was completely alright and still had my job, they shifted their interests into knowing all the details. I had refused, stating that I needed to actually work but Matthew just straight up said with a deadpan face, "You're not working today. You're telling me the story and you're getting paid for it."

I couldn't really argue with that.

Mason and Pearl tried joining in on the fun (as well as other workmates of whom I've never talked to), stating that they're my SELF DECLARED best friends and had the right to know. It didn't work so they told me to tell them during the weekly bar night, which they set that day. Matthew wanted to join after finding out about our plans but was brutally shut down by the two, hurt Twiddle dee and Twiddle dum. The word annoying was going through my head the entire day and night on that Thursday. Oh, right I should probably mention what happened to Beatrice. Long story short, she got a shit ton of backlash from the internet and I heard she was getting dropped by her friends left, right and centre. I did feel bad for her, honestly. No one deserves the amount of hate she was receiving. Her last update was some apology video on YouTube. She didn't apologise to me though.

Anyway, the following weeks, my life started becoming normal (well as normal as can be) once again and I started going back into my weekday routine.

Which brought us to exactly two weeks after the Beatrice incident. It was my break, meaning I had about half-an-hour to get something from the coffee shop downstairs. I was on the main floor and walking towards the coffee shop. The chairs had been replaced and the scratches on the marble had been promptly removed. Even the front desk had been replaced with an even fancier version of the previous design. I was whistling idly while thinking of the order I should go for before I heard an unrecognisable voice call my name from behind.

I turned around and came face to face with a somewhat familiar lady. She initially just studied me with a frown, as if to analyse every part of my body. Wait, wasn't she with me from the new employees' orientation thing. Yeah! She was the chick who was simping over Leo and mentioned how they were childhood friends or something. Lily or Leah was her name I think. She kept glaring at me throughout the day...

She appeared to be done studying me and put on a pretty but the FAKEST smile of the century. Like it was as fake as Barbie's hair. She put her left hand out, signalling me to return the handshake. "Hi. I'm Leah Grove. We've met before on day one."

I looked at the hand for a bit before reluctantly returning her handshake. "Uh yeah, I-I'm Nerovsky Poston. I think I re-remember you."

Leah crossed her arms and looked at me some more, her smile disappearing a little. There was an awkward silence between us which as she went back to scrutinising me, causing a nervous smile out of me. I needed an excuse to bolt out of this situation and I needed fast. And she's wasting my break time on top of what. I swear if this is another Beatrice situation again, I'm seriously going to Alaska and working at a post office. She still resumed to say nothing and frankly, I was getting annoyed now so I break the uncomfortable silence instead.

"Um so why did you c-call me? D-Did you need something?"

The (fake) smile on Leah's face came back in full force and she asked her question with high levels of interest.

"Yeah. I was just wondering... you're the Chase boy right?"

I rolled my eyes internally and tersely say, "That would be me."

She clasped her hands together and exclaimed, "Wow! It's like I'm meeting an actual celebrity!"

Lord have mercy on me. I refuted back with a slightly indignant tone, "Ms. Grove, with all due respect, but aren't you childhood friends with one?"

She gave a flippant answer to the question. "Pfft. He doesn't even count. I've seen him during his worst times and my respect for him as human being is an all-time low. Plus, he told me to treat him like I usually do or else he feels awkward. I've made him feel so uncomfortable when I actually acted like the other employees." She was clearly trying to gloat her relationship with the boss to me and I was really confused why. Does she seriously see me as a threat?

"Riiigghhhtt... um if that's all you had to say, I really have to go. I'm currently on break and really need something to eat..."

"Oh no I didn't mean to hold you back! You're going to the café, right? Let's walk there together! I still have one more question to ask you."

Well, I don't see any harm in multitasking. Even if I don't really want to be in her presence. At all. It's easier to just answer her stupid questions.

"So what did you want to ask me?" There was a little curiosity in my voice but the majority of it was jaded. She didn't respond until we enter the café and order.

"How do you know Mufasa from before? You mentioned that you guys met twice before... " Her tone was serious but she still had that stupid smile on her face. At that point, I'd ordered my coffee and sandwich and walked out of the place.

The nickname froze me for a split second before I quickly regained composure and continued walking side by side with her. Mufasa? MUFASA? Why the fuck did she choose that as a pet name? Does Leo even consent to this shit? My respect for him is seriously going to drop if he does. Also Leah. Honey. I can just hear the jealousy dripping out of that question.

"I- uh- why do you want t-to know?" it came out softer than intended. Now I sound overwhelmed. I'm really not.

She shrugged and said, "Just curious you know."

I looked at her a bit suspiciously and hesitantly vocalised, "I don't expect him to remember the first time but the second time we did interact properly. It was at a bar..."

We reached the automated gates and I was about to tap to get to the elevator area but I was stopped when I felt a firm tug on my wrist. I turned to look at Leah to see she had an anxious frown and furrowed eyebrows. That is not a good look on you. "What'd you guys talk about?" Her voice came out worried and if the jealousy wasn't obvious before, it was completely out in the air now. You could see it from a mile away. She was visibly seething and failing to hide it.

"Ms. Grove... I believe that is n-none of your concern." A bit of annoyance slipped by and it was caught on by the hot-headed woman.

She glared (once again) and harshly but quietly hissed, "No it's not my concern but it shouldn't matter if you guys talked about normal things. Unless you guys didn't and you're hiding something."

Oh, you've got to be fucking kidding me. This is gonna end up like two weeks ago all over again. I'm definitely moving to Alaska.

I pried her hand off my wrist and with my eyebrows twitching and my face clearly displaying frustration, I calmly rebutted back, "Leah. I am not disclosing what was discussed between me and Mr. Covell that night at the bar."

"But I-"

"Nero!"

Oh god definitely enjoys my suffering and my pain and my agony. God is a fucking asshole.

The name was bellowed from near the front desk in the same Brit voice that I'd been obsessing over for the past month. Both Leah and I faced towards the source, only to be introduced to the cause of my current demise. Leah glanced back at me with intense hatred and I could only groan in torment.

Leo... as much as I love seeing your face, right now I want to do nothing more but to pummel it into the marble tiles.