Ink and Intrigue: The Billionaire's Tale

"Is this a fucking joke?" Victoria yelled, slamming her laptop shut. Another rejection email. One of thirty jobs she had applied to over the weekend.

"What is?" Andy asked, rushing down the stairs. She knew that tone.

"Fifteenth rejection. This week," Victoria muttered, heading to the kitchen to pour a glass of wine. One her tired arse had been saving, actually.

"Oh. What about the other what..?... ten?" Andy joined her, grabbing a glass too, their rent was due and they needed money.

"Fifteen," Victoria corrected, handing Andy a glass and taking a long sip.

"Thank you." Andy's voice was soft, polite as always. Victoria used to joke that if Andy ever got hit by a car, she'd apologize for being in the way.

"I don't think I'll get any of them either. Employers don't even send rejection emails anymore, a bitch just has to fucking guess."

"You're being a pessimist, Tory," Andy said while watching her flop onto the couch, their couch, the one they cried on, spilled food on, shared stories on since leaving Cedarhurst five years ago.

Andy joined her. "Get off me," she said, laughing through the heaviness.

"Not until you say you'll get a job."

"I won't. Let's be realistic, An." She sighed. Rent was due in two weeks, and Andy's paycheck barely covered groceries. Since Victoria lost her job last month well... after what happened.

'A month ago, Connell's Writing Firm....'

"I can handle Ethan Moore's biography," Victoria had said, pleading. It was the big break she needed to get out there and be noticed.

Connell shut the office door behind her. "Why do you want the job so badly?"

"For exposure. It's a big break, I-"

He cut her off with a look. Not listening.

"You'll get it.... if you prove yourself worthy," he said, moving toward her, gaze full of lust.

"What the fuck?" she shouted as he reached for her chest.

"Prove it. Have sex with me, baby doll." He spat out as he groped her.

Her blood ran cold. Is this why he hired me? She had been the only woman in the firm. She thought it was because she was good. But to him, she was just something pretty to fuck.

"You're a talentless whore," he yelled after she pushed him. "You'll never make it big."

He slapped her, holding her hands down. She gasped. He pulled up her skirt.

Think, Victoria, think.

His laces were untied. She kicked him hard. He stumbled. She ran. Threw a stool. Heard him crash behind her.

She didn't look back.

'Present day....'

"You will get a job. You're the best writer I know," Andy said gently.

"How many writers do you know?" Victoria said laughing at her bestfriend's silly attempt to cheer her up.

"Just one but she's the best," Andy grinned. Just then, a knock.

"Gray!" Andy squealed as she opened the door to her boyfriend. Correction- soulmate. Seven years strong, highschool sweethearts too.

"My beautiful wife," he whispered, picking her up and kissing her like a man that just returned from war victorous. Flowers dropped at his feet.

"Hi, Gray," Victoria said, picking them up with a smirk. Same old mushiness. She was used to it by now.

"She's struggling with job stuff," Andy explained, settling onto Gray's lap on the couch.

"Can I help?" he asked, brushing Andy's hair aside.

"She's being a realist," Andy added.

"A defeated one," Victoria muttered.

"Did you apply for the Ethan Moore biography?"

"I'm not under any firm, Gray. They won't even look at me."

"Did you try though?"

"No. I didn't think...."

"Well, I applied for you," Andy confessed. "Behind your back." She meant well and always had this issue of prying and minding her loved ones business for them.

Victoria blinked. "Of course you did." This wasn't the first time Andy had "intervened." She once broke up with a guy for Victoria while she slept.

"I believe in you," Andy said, smiling.

"That's why I love you," Gray added, clearly in awe.

"Ugh, shut up," Victoria groaned. But her heart softened. Maybe Andy was her guardian angel in disguise.

"At least check," Andy nudged. "Your personal email."

Victoria sighed, pulling her laptop closer. victoriabutnosecret@gmail.com that old joke she never bothered to change.

Andy held her hand.

Her breath caught.

"You got the job?!" Gray exclaimed.

"I GOT THE JOB?!" Victoria screamed.

Dear Victoria Thompson,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been selected for the biography writing position for Mr. Ethan Moore. Your impressive skills, creativity, and humor stood out among the many applicants...

Please come to formally meet Mr. Moore tomorrow at 2pm sharp.

Congratulations and welcome aboard!

"Let's celebrate," Gray grinned.

"Drinks on me!" he added. Of course they were, the girls are broke he silently thought.

The girls screamed, hugging tightly.

Finally it got better. All because Andy didn't mind her business.

Maybe meddling, when done with love, wasn't such a bad thing after all.