Page 96 of Not Safe for Work
He’d caught her NYU lie almost immediately, not because he was trying to find fault in her, but simply because he couldn’t stop paying attention to her. That tiny, irrelevant detail turned into a stupid choice, and instead of being a normal human being, he’d gone and used it to piss her off. He could’ve let it go. He could’ve minded his own damn business. But no, he’d decided to use it as leverage against her. What kind of a twisted person does that? Just thinking about it made him want to kick himself.
And then she’d found outhissecret.That clever little woman,he thought.She’d done what no fashion tabloid and none of the rich, powerful brats he’d roasted over the years had been able to do. She’d unmasked @devilwearscolaba.The voice of Gen Z fashion, as she’d called him. It should’ve made him mad, that she’d threatened to ruin everything he’d worked so hard for—his SoBo good-boy reputation, his contacts in the industry, future funding from the dads of all the socialites he’d mocked—but it just made him want her more.
A desperate thought presented itself. He could reactivate his @devilwearscolaba Instagram account—the one he’d finally pulled the plug on after months of stalling—and DM her there. He knew she followed him.No, just forget about it,he instructed his mind. There was no point in humiliating himself further.
He may not know the full puzzle, but her piece was crystal clear. She wanted nothing to do with him. No contact, no closure. He broke into a sprint for the final stretch before slowing to a halt. He bent over, his chest heaving as he braced his palms on his thighs and fished his phone out. He opened the email again and started typing out a response. He didn’t need to drag this out. He could only imagine how much trouble she must’ve been in with HR for getting involved with her intern. No, he’d done enough damage—the least he could do was bowout now and prevent any further office rumours that might harm Kavya’s career.
Re: Internship Update
N
01/07/25 6:17pm
to Swati
cc: ,
Hi Swati,
After giving it some thought, I’ve decided that I’d like to end my internship early. I’ll come collect the letter soon.
Thanks again for this opportunity.
Neil
