Fight to the Top

by S. L. Gape

  “So, I don’t get to see her no more?” she said sadly.

  “Baby...” Before Erika had a chance to speak, Georgia was kneeling beside the little girl.

  “Hey, come on. We are gonna see each other again and get to play in the pool another time before we leave. We will make sure we have a little bit more fun. But your mum’s right, it’s late now, we all need to go to bed. I’m completely wrecked because you’ve worn me out,” she said face to face with the little girl. “Is that okay?”

  “Okay, I guess,” she said quietly.

  “You sleep well okay? And dream big, kiddo,” she said, looking down at her.

  “Goodnight, Georgia,” she said, grabbing her mom’s hand.

  ***

  Georgia got changed into some trackie bottoms and a hoodie. It was far from cold, but it had always been one of her favourite things to do, lounging in comfies. She logged on to her computer, suddenly engaging with the relaxing flow of alcohol through her body. Wanting more, she got back up and grabbed her purse and room key. Unsure of whether to ask Erika, Georgia waited outside the woman’s door, debating whether she should stop and ask if she wanted anything. Obviously, Dulcie would be in bed now, which would mean she couldn’t get out. Georgia recalled the comments about her insinuating she was some kind of drunk and decided against it.

  Georgia was pretty sure the bar staff must have thought she was having a party, by what she had bought. She had no intention of drinking them all, but she was a creature of variety.

  Getting comfortable with a glass of red wine and the TV on in the background, she sent a couple of emails back home and continued with some work. It had been a weird couple of weeks, and she had never done so little. Jesus, even when she went on holiday she felt like she did more work than what she was doing now. Either way, things were moving in the right direction now and ultimately, she needed to get on top of stuff again, or she really would end up out the door. Maybe that was Erika’s plan. Maybe she was pretending to be nice in a bid to set her up royally? That was unfair, she thought to herself, but she couldn’t help having her guard up, especially after her arrival. She was dreading going back into the office. Nobody knew what had happened, and that was how the four Directors decided to play it. Just leave them all guessing and then when Erika and Georgia returned they would stand united as the two levelled bosses. She sighed inwardly at the thought of going through that hell all over again.

  Georgia heard a faint knock on her interconnecting door. Moving closer she listened before opening it and was faced with Erika, still in the clothes from dinner that evening.

  “Wow, you didn’t take long,” Erika said, pointing down.

  Here we go again she thought, lifting the glass of wine up, “Well, you’ve already accused me of being a drunk, so why disappoint?” she said with an edge to it.

  Erika shook her head. “No, the clothes. We didn’t even get back an hour ago, and already you are in slacks.”

  “Oh? OH, right sorry,” she said apologetically. “Yeah, it’s pretty much my favourite pastime.

  “Really? That surprises me,” she said. “Um, sorry to interrupt, I have just been getting several emails from you, so figured you were working…and well, I wondered if you needed a hand? Or wanted to focus on something together? I mean, if you don’t want to, I get that,” she said.

  “Why are you surprised that I like my comfies? I have no issue, but I figured you would want some peace and quiet. I’m guessing Dulcie is asleep, so I didn’t want to disturb you. I assumed you would want some…you time?”

  “Nope. She’s sleeping, so I was also going to do some work. Honestly, I don’t know what else to do with myself when Dulcie goes to sleep. So, I predominantly just work, more so these days,” she said.

  Georgia didn’t want to pry, so she pointed in to the room to come in. “Would you like a drink? I have red, white, rose or beer. I guess it’s the least I can do, as you were the designated driver, allowing me to drink,” she said.

  “You’re really going all out on proving you have a drink problem, huh?” she laughed. “I would love some blush,” she said.

  “Come again? Some what?”

  “Blush? The pink one? Unless you don’t wanna open that, I can grab a beer, or the red, whatever.”

  “Bloody hell, are you always this indecisive? Rose for you,” she smirked.

  “Thanks. And no, not normally. Just recently, I guess,” she said curtly. “And, further to earlier comments, I just think you look like someone that would not dare be in clothing like that, let alone be seen in it. I guess you look incredibly put together each time I’ve seen you, not like a mom at all.” She smiled. “And apologies, if any part of that sounds like an insult, it genuinely wasn’t meant to.”

  Georgia laughed, shaking her head at Erika, “Just comes so naturally ehy? Joke. So, you’re calling me a chav?”

  “Excuse me? A what?” she said confused.

  “A chav? Someone that looks like…a scruff? A chav? It’s a British word, clearly. Wearing skanky clothes, fake designer brands and just looks, hmmm how do I put this? Well I guess a bit ‘yucky,’” she laughed.

  “I did not say you looked like a chav, but oh my gosh, I have literally heard a multitude of words that I have never heard in my life just then. The only insult that could have been formed from what I said was that you were too perfectly put together. Not a hair out of place, not a mark on your clothing, even after 15 hours of travelling in white jeans.” She pointed out.

  “Ahhhh, right! Okay, I’ve been told that before, so I’ll take that on the chin, but no, you are completely wrong. If I finish work early, I love getting into comfies. And to be fair, even weekends are spent with mornings in the gym and afternoons in my comfies, working or watching TV,” she said seriously.

  “Well as I said, I stand corrected. Cheers?” Erika said cautiously.

  Chapter Fifty-Two

  “Oh, my God, that was mind blowing. Dontcha think?” Erika asked as they walked back to the car. They had spent the last 3 hours doing a presentation to the investors for the new site. They had gotten so much done the night before, and seemingly worked incredibly well together. Especially after a few bottles of wine, but they had paid for that today.

  “It actually really was. I thought we had screwed it majorly when we started, but we nailed it. We actually just went in and smashed the arse off it,” Georgia said.

  “That we did. Listen, how about I call mom and ask her to take Dulcie for the night? I kind of owe you a big ass drink.”

  “Seriously, we pulled it off together. This wasn’t you or me, this was us, okay? You really don’t need to buy me a beer.”

  “Well, what if I wanna?” she said, immediately regretting the words. She sounded like some desperate kid begging for a friend at recess.

  “Well, how about you don’t buy me a drink, because I haven’t earned you buying me a drink. But we deserve a drink after that. If you are okay with not seeing Dulcie tonight, then yes of course, I’d love to.”

  “Okay, well I’m down with that,” she said excitably, with the adrenaline running through her veins.

  ***

  Georgia checked the time and said goodbye to her sister, ignoring her jibes and equal concern. It was six o’clock, the time they’d arranged to leave. She knocked on the interconnecting door whilst she was looking through the emails on her phone. Erika opened the door.

  “Hey, you good to go?” Erika said to Georgia.

  “Ye…” Georgia stopped as she looked up to Erika. “Wow, you’re going all out.”

  “What do you mean?” Erika said, looking down at herself, feeling diffident.

  “Erika, calm down. You look incredible. I feel suitably underdressed is what I meant. I wasn’t looking to offend, on the contrary, I was just merely looking to compliment.” This woman was stunning and even more so now. Wearing her long black hair down and straightened, heels, ripped jeans which she wore incredibly w
ell and a black chiffon halter neck with a long silver dress necklace and matching earrings. And yet, she was the most insecure person Georgia had ever met.

  Erika didn’t know how to react, because she couldn’t remember the last time she had received a compliment. Well, least not personally as opposed to professionally anyhow. And now she was completely thankful that she’d made a point of arranging to go out for a drink. Erika didn’t go out, since she was either at work or at home with Dulcie. So actually, having a night out where she could try and spend a normal evening with someone out drinking, dancing maybe, and getting just one night off was awesome. She loved her life and her daughter and wouldn’t change it for the world. But after the last couple months and the adrenaline rush filled day they’d shared; she was completely ready for this. “Well thanks, I guess. You look good, too. Come on, let’s head on out,” she said.

  ***

  Erika and Georgia had spent a long time talking about the day’s events. The more drink they consumed, the more excitable they both got about the success of the presentation.

  “You wanna get some food? We could get some bar snacks. I think I may end up in bed crying tomorrow if I don’t eat with all this drink,” Erika said into her glass.

  “Why? Are you okay? We can go home if you like,” Georgia said seriously.

  “Hell no…I’m loving this, I don’t ever do this. I can cuss, openly. I can openly cuss. Fuck, fuck, fuck, balls, dickhead. Okay, that’s not really as much fun as I expected it would be,” she smirked. “But the point is,” she said, pointing to her British colleague. “I’m actually kind of liking just being a normal thirty-eight-year-old woman for a moment.”

  “What do you mean? Do you regret having kids?”

  “Hell no. No, I love my daughter more than anything. But for just one night, I can go out and get drunk with someone my own age, who has no links to me in that life. I can drink away the stress of the job situation, the home situation, of everything. Ya know? Just one night, to be normal and not the woman that lays awake all night wondering about the impact of my troubled marriage, and what it is going to have on my daughter. The potential damage it will do if I leave Houston and move back home. Taking Dulcie away from her family. Sheesh, having to tell them that. Being a divorced woman. Losing my job. What will I do? Can I do anything else? Do I wanna do anything else? So yeah, for tonight I just totally wanna forget it all, and be a normal woman on a girl’s night out,” she said soberly.

  “Wow, I didn’t see that one coming,” she said, concerned. “Look…”

  “Don’t, George. Please don’t. I’m sorry I darkened it. That wasn’t my intention. The point is, that’s exactly what’s going on outside of here…now…anyways. So yeah, just for one little night, I want my stress to be that I’m dancing like an idiot, or that I’m mixing my drinks, or…or whatever, but just none of that stuff, okay?”

  “Okay. But then I say we need shots.” She smiled widely.

  “Oh, I can’t do shots.”

  “Nobody can do shots. Unless their 18 years old. That’s the point. I’ll get some bar snacks too,” she said.

  “Hey, cool accent you got there.”

  Georgia and Erika looked around to see the guy standing next to them, directing the statement to Georgia.

  “Ummm, thanks,”

  “I’m Mark, can I buy you a drink?”

  “Wow, just like that? You guys are fast workers,” Georgia smirked over to him.

  “Life’s too short to not take risks.”

  “This is true.” She looked back to Erika who was grinning at her.

  “So, what can I get you?” he said again.

  “Ummm, actually, I’m okay thanks. I’m here with my friend so thanks, but no thanks.”

  “Come on, I’ll buy you both a drink, it’s no biggie. Lemme buy you a drink? It’s not every day a guy gets to buy a beautiful British woman a drink,” he said, giving his best winning smile.

  “Well, I don’t really think it’s fair to waste your time, because I’m not interested. So, I’m going to respectfully decline your offer,” she said again.

  “Come on, one drink? Get to know me? You may just learn to love me, and we can ride off into the sunset together,” he said, rolling his arm out in the distance for extra effect.

  “Mark, you seem lovely and I’m sure there’s a load of women that are queuing up to meet you and ‘ride off into the sunset with you’. But really, this is never going to happen, you are really not my type.”

  “Well, try something different for once. Variety is the spice of life and all that.” He winked.

  “Listen, if it was a case of I go for blondes and not brunettes, yeah I’d totally give it a go. If not for anything else, because of the fact you’re so committed. Unfortunately, you are too much variety, so much variety that I left that variety back in the nineties,” she said openly.

  “Huh?” he said confused. “Oh, oh! Shit man, you’re gay?” he said, clearly disappointed.

  Erika choked on her drink, causing them both to look around “Apologies, an ice slipped down the back of my throat,” she said, cringing.

  “Ding ding ding, jackpot.” She winked.

  “Damn man, what a waste,” he said, whistling loudly.

  “Well, I’ll maybe have to call a few women and find out about that. I’ve not had any complaints historically though,” she responded sharply.

  “Good comeback. I’m sorry, you are super cute. Hey, can I buy you a drink?” he said, leaning over and looking at Erika.

  “Dude, you just hit on my friend. You really think I need some guy to buy me a drink that is evidently marking me as second best? Come on, man,” Erika said, shaking her head. She really didn’t need this now. She felt good when she came out, and she thought she looked pretty good too. And clearly, she wasn’t worth a second glance. She couldn’t blame him; Georgia was very attractive. She had the cool accent, and the confidence. She could just hear her mom now, telling her that if she feels and acts negative then that will pour out of her and that’s why people will be apprehensive around her. It didn’t matter though, she had no control over the negativity surrounding her now.

  “Story of my life, man. Seriously, I come into a bar with the two hottest women I’ve seen in a while, and I hit on the gay one. This is Soooo not good for my rep,” he said, shaking his head, smiling. “Yo, Frankie, give these two beautiful women whatever they want on me. Y’all have a wonderful evening ladies, it was nice speaking with you,” he said and left them to it.

  “Are you ok?” Georgia said to Erika, noticing a sudden change in her.

  “Yeah fine. So, what shall we have on that douchebag?” she said without looking at her, and trying to change the subject.

  Georgia didn’t want to press Erika. She may have just drank too much, but additionally, it could be the whole gay thing. She ordered them both a couple more drinks and some shots and decided to leave it. She’d dealt with it before; it was a way of life now.

  ***

  They had been in three different bars and had been out drinking for over five hours. They were both wasted, and work would not be productive tomorrow morning by any means. Erika seemed to pick up a little bit more, which relaxed Georgia a bit. Having to work so closely with someone who had an issue with her sexuality would have been difficult for sure, because it bared no relevance on the job she did.

  “So, do you like dancing?”

  “Ummm, I’m not really much into it if I’m being honest. I’m more of an observer.”

  “Oh right,” Erika said quietly.

  “Can I ask you something personal?”

  “Sure, go ahead,” Erika said, looking at her concerned.

  “What’s going on? You got weird and quiet with me earlier around the time I’d said I was gay. You did it when you asked to go out for a drink, and now with the dancing? Do you have an issue with me still? I thought we were over that,” she said.

  Erika shook h
er head “Ya know, I used to be…so,” she leaned her head back and looked up to the ceiling. “I used to be so normal. I was confident, I was happy, outgoing, and now I’ve just become this shell of a person I used to be. Honestly, I dunno what’s happened. I just feel so incredibly insecure and crappy about everything. I’m sorry, you must think I’m bat-shit crazy. I just feel pretty shitty, I guess. I just wanted to get made up tonight, make an effort, feel good about myself for a while. But I couldn’t even do that right,” she said sadly.

  “Okay, new rule. No more feeling sorry for yourself, okay? We’re going to get you through all this stuff and make you see how incredibly hot and amazing you are,” she said. “Come on,” Georgia said, grabbing her hand and pulling her up. “Oops,” she said, falling backwards.

  “What? Where are we going?”

  “To dance. You wanted to dance, so dance we shall,” she said, smiling and feeling sorry for all the shit Erika was going through right now. Whilst Georgia wasn’t over the moon by this situation, in the grand scheme of things she has twelve months of sunshine, a cool house, a cooler car, amazing friends across the road from her and a swimming pool. And she had actually built a bridge with the woman that was causing her some big-time issues. So in reality, things weren’t as bad as originally thought.

  “Yeah, but you don’t like it.”

  “Yeah, because I’m shit at it, and I don’t like being shit at things. But I don’t care, I’m too drunk, so I’m gonna help you have a good night,” she said, walking onto the dance floor and dancing, trying not to think about how out of her comfort zone she actually was.

  Erika looked at her intently as they danced freely and animatedly to Wilson Philips, Hold On. God knows how they ended up in a bar with this kind of music on, but it was a good place. Very lively, and filled with people of a similar age range to them. One corner had guys playing pool and the other was the makeshift dance floor which was where they were currently residing.