Sidney Berry had her life planned out: after high school go to culinary school, become a world-renowned chef and marry her childhood sweetheart, Aiden. But after a tragic incident that shakes her world at the end of her senior year, her plans derail...
"But why? Was it the train? You really should ask for an accommodation. They have to provide it to you by law."
"I don't want an accommodation and it wasn't the train. I was hanging out with this guy and there was Henny and brother cups."
"Brother what's? There's a guy? Meet me at my place. I'll send a car."
It was a long car ride to the hipster streets of Williamsburg for Sid. She tried to not be the girl who cried in rideshare vehicles but by the time she pulled up in front of Tomi's condo a few blocks from East River she was definitely that girl. Something that had been damaged for years completely broke on the ride over. Her resolve, maybe? Her driver had even peeked at the rearview mirror and reminded her that tissues were in the middle console. She thanked him and wondered why she couldn't stop the tears from coming so heavily. She was a silent crier, so there were no sobs, but her ribs hurt from all the shoulder quaking and the collar of her soft pink trendy blouse with muted floral print was soaked dark with her tears. And now this blouse would always be the blouse she got fired in. She'd never wear it again which was bullshit. It was one of her favorite blouses.
The doorman greeted her and she shuffled by with an exaggerated hand over the collar of her shirt and kept her eyes averted until she was in the safety of the elevator. Before she knew it she was sprawled out on the sofa, completely ignoring the beautiful view of Manhattan from Tomi's twenty-third-floor apartment. An apartment she had moved into because the one she originally purchased was too big. Yeah. That's what Tomi said--it was too big. So she secretly got out of the lease on the larger apartment, moved to a smaller one, and used the rest of the rent allotment from her parents to grab a studio space a few blocks away where she could work on her passion of designing truly beautiful pieces of furniture on the sly. Tomi was a professional at skirting her parent's expectations. Either way, she was right. This place did feel cozier.
"Here," Tomi said. She collapsed down on the couch next to Sid after handing her a dark drink in a glass.
"What is it?" Sid asked. She took a sip and eyed the singular sprig of mint in the glass.
"A Mint Julep."
"This is straight bourbon."
"Yeah. I took out the Julepy stuff." Tomi waved her hands like the other ingredients were a bother, "They didn't give you a chance to explain?"
Sid furrowed her brow, confused, and then remembered--she got fired.
"No, she was on a warpath. She hates to work and today I was the one who made her have to work." Sid slid deep down in the couch and knocked back half of the drink.
"Why didn't you just tell them that AJ was sick or something? Kids are the perfect alibi."
Sid shook her head and sipped some more before responding.
"Because he actually was sick last week. If he's sick again that quickly ACS will be at my door."
"Well, my offer still stands. Maybe now is the time to take me up on it." Tomi said while clicking on her phone and shooting an eye at Sid.
Tomi had been trying to get Sid to accept a position in one of her family's hotels since graduation. Sidney refused. She didn't like nepotism and was not going to take part in getting a role simply because of who she knew. She wanted to earn it. She had to earn it. That was how her father did it. Paid his own way through culinary school and worked his way up until he was Sous Chef at a five-star restaurant in Midtown and next line for the Executive Chef role once it opened up. She wanted to prove to herself that she could do the same thing. Get a position on her own merit and skill and not because her best friend pitied her then pregnant, and now jobless, friend.
Aiden on the other hand begged and pleaded for Tomi to get him an interview with her Dad. Tomi was not a fan of Aiden but with her best friend's womb full of his offspring she relented and put in a good word for him. He accepted a job as a Night Auditor, and in Aiden's patented workhorse fashion, he worked his way up to Regional Director in the same two years that it took Sid to be promoted from tending to leaky sinks to full-blown bread interventions. Sid's head hurt.
"Let me shake a few trees first."
"Does Aiden know?"
"Nope. You and you only. And Phil."
The leather couch squeaked against Tomi's jeans as she pivoted to fully face Sid. She was all ears for whatever would come of out Sid's mouth next.
"Phil. Tell." Tomi steepled her hands and rested her elbows on her knees.
"He lives in my building. He's a little corner boy or whatever. But he's good looking and I needed to unwind. That's it."
"Are you feeling him?"
"I don't know him. He's nice. A bit of a talker."
"Does he have a gun?"
"What?" Sid coughed on her julep-less drink.
"You said he's a corner boy. Is he packing heat?" Tomi tucked her straight jet black hair behind her ear and leaned in close. Her excitement causing her pale cheeks to redden.
"Stop watching 'Power'."
Tomi's phone rang and she answered. Sid continued to sip and contemplate her life as Tomi spoke into the phone with flawless Japanese. Definitely her Mom. She knew that Tomi only spoke the language to her mother who drilled the importance of staying connected to their heritage. That and the relentless eye-rolling and huffing that was following each statement gave her a hint. With one last huff and eye roll, Tomi jammed her finger against her phone screen and tossed it onto the couch.
"I've got to go to this thing tonight. Influencer shit. Wanna go?" Tomi hated all aspects of her family business. Particularly her role as head of the Marketing and Content strategy team and especially the ones that made her be social.
"Is Matt going to be there?"
"Of course. He's the marketing director."
"I'll pass."
"You should've never fucked him in that Honda Pilot." Tomi yelled before she ducked into her bedroom to get ready.
Sid nodded. Just another thing to add to the messy pile of things she regretted.
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Sid's get the short end of a LOT of sticks huh? What do you think of things going on between her and Phil?
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