Chapter 13: I Want To Be Friends

“I...” she paused and blinked a few times, confused. She wanted to ask him a lot of questions, but it wasn’t the time. “I want us to be friends.” She gently pried his hand away from her face and set it down between them. He sighed and picked his hand up to rub it over his face. “Fine,” he muttered. “For now.” His eyes seared into hers. She decided to take him at his word and not pry further. “Please tell me you won’t comment about this, William.” He gulped and nodded. “I won’t comment unless you want me to, but call me if you want me to come inside.” She nodded quickly before sliding out of the car. - - - - - “Hey,” Sarah called out after she slipped into the car once again. She handed a bag of chips to William and shoved a packet of candy into the small compartment between them. He turned to her and furrowed his brows together. “Hey,” he mumbled. “Can I ask how it went?” “I didn’t.” Sarah squeezed her eyes shut. “You didn’t what?” William asked quickly. “Sarah?” “I didn’t go inside. I couldn’t go through an interview.” She gasped and turned her head away. “Hey… hey… you did the right thing,” William said. “Don’t feel guilty about not applying for a company that will stunt your career right from the start.” Sarah nodded and shuddered. “I really thought the professor wouldn’t be this much of a jerk. They didn’t tell me the name of the company.” She gulped. William was silent for a long time before he spoke. “Justin Smith is one of your students, is he not? The Smith Corp is known to be full of ravenous people who will do everything to get to the top. Moreover, they expect the female employees to… pay in kind,” he said frankly. “I know. Justin is not any better. He acts all high and mighty, but he really thinks he can do whatever he wants.” She remembered their conversation and squeezed her eyes shut. William’s hand squeezed the steering wheel, but he held back his anger. “If you want, I can analyze the pros and cons of attending the interview for you. From the perspective of a senior in the industry." “Please do,” Sarah said quickly, knowing she needed the backing right then. William spoke about the financial situation at the Smith Corp and how they were treating their employees like trash. A lot of employees had been laid off in the later part of the year and rumor had it that ten percent of the remaining labor force would be fired in the next few years. If Sarah started working there, she would be fired quickly, and that would remain a black mark on her resume for the rest of her career. “That was probably what they wanted, considering you quit and upset them.” “You knew about that?” Sarah asked. William shrugged. “We might have had an argument… but we are friends, right?” His tone was light, but Sarah noticed the tension. “Right,” Sarah answered. “And I need to tell Amanda what happened. She threatened to cut me off if I don’t attend the interview.” William tapped on the steering wheel as Sarah dialed her friend’s number. “Okay.” Sarah nibbled on the inside of her cheek. “Don’t freak out, but—” Amanda let out a snort. “You’re asking for a spanking. What did you do?” Amanda questioned. “It’s about what I didn’t do,” Sarah whispered. She glanced at William and found him slightly amused at the exchange. “Don’t tell me…” “I couldn’t go through with the interview.” “Why?” Amanda cried out. “I told you—” “It was Smith Corp. The professor sent me to Smith Corp.” Amanda was quiet for a while. “I don’t understand.” Sarah sighed. “I will explain to you later, but it wouldn’t have boded well for me. This interview was meant to do me harm.” That was all Sarah could say. “And how would you know that?” Amanda asked. She didn’t think Sarah was lying, though. “Okay, so you remember how I told you I got a cab?” Sarah asked and stared at her hand. It suddenly fascinated her, taking her head away from the confession that was about to come. “Well… I kind of lied.” She closed her eyes. The reaction was so much worse. Amanda hung up and Sarah’s phone buzzed again seconds later, this time with an incoming video call notification. It seemed she had reached the end of Amanda’s patience. Sarah accepted the call and watched the perturbed look on Amanda’s face. “Turn the phone towards the driver’s seat,” Amanda commanded. Sarah gulped and turned the phone. “Wow. What is President Colton doing there?” Amanda asked sarcastically. “I don’t know if this is a good thing or a bad thing.” “Yeah, Sarah Mitch… explain now,” William commented, folding his arms over his chest. He looked interested in what Sarah’s friend knew about her. “I needed a ride and I don’t have anyone to ask when the cab companies refuse to take me!” she said. “So you called him?” Amanda questioned. “No, I called Luca.” “Luca? Who is Luca?” “Let me finish!” Sarah was frustrated. “Mr. Colton answered Luca’s phone. Luca is his assistant and I thought he would have some way to get me a car. When he picked up the phone, I didn’t have time to ask for Luca…” She changed the story a little so that William wouldn’t look bad; she didn’t know why she wanted William to look like a good guy in front of her friend. “Seriously, you gave me an ultimatum. I had to get here!” Amanda stared at them for a long time before nodding. “Wow. I am stunned.” She was silent again. “You had the president of a prominent company driving you around like he is your chauffeur. I can’t say if I am impressed or offended by your resources.” “You should be impressed,” William said lightly. He leaned forward and hung up the call. “Why did you do that?” Sarah yelped. “She is going to be so mad.” “I am going to be mad if I don’t pull out of this parking spot,” he commented. “She is right, you know? I have work, but I am driving you around.” That shut Sarah up. She remained silent until she slid out of the car in front of her apartment.