When James got back from work he was surprised to see Lyse at the computer and looking very serious with whatever was on the screen.
"Wow, they gave you homework already?"
"I'm not going to be working at that company." Lyse answered shortly.
"Why? What happened honey?" James asked as he went to her side with a sympathetic look.
"Levi Van Doren has to be the most misogynistic prick that I have ever come across! I mean, who brings hookers to their office to service them early in the morning?"
James slapped a hand over his mouth while his eyes looked like they were about to jump out of his face.
"Exactly!" Lyse said then added, "And he insulted my style of dressing, I guess he wants me to start dressing like his army of blonde bimbo secretaries or maybe i should just wear a tiny skirt and a see through blouse.."
James dropped his hand and glared at Lyse before asking in an accusatory tone, "do I even need to ask you what you wore?"
"Does that matter? What kind of man comments on a lady's outfit? That is so crass."
Without saying another word James went to their shared wardrobe then came back holding a hanger with clothes and a pair of heels in his fingers along with an annoyed expression.
"You did not wear these like I asked did you?" He accused.
"Heels are for events not when I am going to have to run around doing his royal majesty's bidding." Lyse whined and pouted at James disappointed face.
"I can't work in that sort of environment and I don't care what they are offering to pay me." She added and turned to squarely face the computer screen.
She was used to wearing sneakers and baggy, ripped jeans and Tshirts. She was a creative who loved the freedom to express herself as she liked, the thought of being tied to conservative ideals made her want to throw up.
It was because of all that that she had chosen to pursue a career in fashion, she could have been elsewhere doing whatever it was that serious people supposedly did but she liked the freedom to just be and not being put in a box.
She had already spent too much of her life being told to do this or do that or not do too much and being told she that was not doing enough, fashion gave her an outlet to create and be free.
"I think you are over thinking this, just wear the grown up clothes."
Lyse narrowed her eyes at James then pointed out, "What if he is just a lecherous man and he wants me to dress differently so that he can try to sleep with me."
"Is that such a bad thing? He is such a hunk." James winked and fanned himself while Lyse facepalmed.
"I already have too much on my plate, i don't need any drama with someone like him."
James turned serious, all trace of the flirtation erased and he asked tentatively, "So has anyone reached out to you? I mean about that night?"
"No, and I hope it remains that way."
"But you are married."
Lyse turned to him, frustration written all over her face, "We don't know that for sure: if no one has not reached out then that has to be because they don't have any reason to. I don't have a marriage certificate, I am not married!"
She spoke with a confidence that she did not feel, what if she had actually gotten married and to some lunatic?
"Fine fine." James shrugged then added, "I still think you should take that job."
"Don't worry James, I will get a job soon enough. I still have some saved up money so you don't have to worry about my part of the rent."
James let out a loud exasperated sigh and looked at his stubborn best friend.
"this is not about the rent, I just don't want you to be disappointed."
"I promise I will be fine okay?" She assured him.
After he left the room Lyse slumped back in her chair and stared blankly at the screen, when James had told her that no one in fashion was willing to employ her she had not fully realized how bad it was until she spent the entire afternoon trying to speak to the people she knew in fashion who had begged her to come to them.
It had been simply put; hitting stone wall after stone wall, it was a conspiracy against her. She had been told outright that they could not let her come on their teams and the calls ended abruptly with a warning not to call them.
It was proving extremely hard to get a job and she had tried everyone she could think of, even the unsavory options.
After she had received indecent propositions a couple of times, she was ready to take a job as a waitress at least until things fell in place.
Suddenly her phone rang, disrupting her train of thoughts. She carelessly looked at the screen of her phone then sat up as alarm spread over her face and her heart thumped loudly in fear.