"Mark and Young Law, please hold. Mark and Young Law, please hold. Mark and Young La—"

"Ashley!"

The booming voice makes me tense. I don't think I did anything wrong, but you really never know with my boss.

Gathering my courage, I get up from my desk and walk back to his office. He watches me from the door as I try not to show I'm shaking.

"Where is Mrs. Goodman's file? Her court date is in a couple weeks and her file needs to be reviewed."

"I'll get it for you now Mr. Young!"

Scurrying in my small heels, I make my way to the file room when I feel my phone buzz in my blazer.

"Hello?" I groan as I push through to the file room with my phone against my ear.

"Hey, what's up?" Lisa's voice rings through my ear.

"I'm neck deep in files, what are you up to?"

She starts talking about her day, she works part time at a coffee shop and part time at a bar. She's part way through a story about a rude customer when I find the file I need. I feel bad when I realize I'm not really listening to her.

"Hey, Lisa, I love you, but I need to focus. Is there something you needed?"

"Oh, yes actually! So there's some band playing here at the bar tonight, us waitresses get free tickets. I guess this band is becoming a big deal or something. Maybe you want to come? Could be fun, and you definitely deserve a break."

"I don't know... I have to see Jett tonight and you know how he is. I don't know if I'm up for it."

"Please? Jett is all the more reason, the bar will be open, good music. Perfect way to take your mind off of him! It's on me, please!"

I sigh, I do have tonight to myself. I meet Jett around six thirty tonight and then I'm free. Why not? A night out could be fun.

"Alright, can you pick me up, or are we taking an Uber?"

"Well I plan on drinking, you better be drinking, so I think we need an Uber! The concert is at eight, ok? You remember the place?"

"Yeah, I'll meet you there."

"You sure you're ok? I know seeing Jett is always hard, I can try to get off early and go with you!"

Lisa and I have been best friends since middle school, she was there for me through my entire relationship with Jett. We were together for two years, we've been broken up for almost five. He keeps hoping we'll get back together but I was never happy with him and I know I never would be. I only see him because I have to, we share responsibilities, I admire him sharing the responsibility but I wish I didn't have to see him.

"No, it's ok, it wouldn't stop him anyway. It'll be ok, I can handle it. Tonight will help."

She was there while when I broke up with Jett. We had just graduated high school and he wanted to move in together and get married. To me it was too much, we had enough on our plates and I knew I couldn't spend my life with him, so I left. He spent three weeks begging me to come back, saying we could work it out. Lisa let me stay with her, seeing as my parents had kicked me out. Lisa is the best friend any one could ask for, and I'm glad I have her.

"If you're sure, I just don't want him getting in your head again. I'd never seen you as miserable as you were those two years. He needs to take a hint."

She's right, we both know it, but he'll never figure it out. He still thinks we belong together. He thinks because I haven't dated anyone since him, that I still want him. I'm just too busy. He's just obsessed.

"I'll be ok, I promise. I'll see you tonight, ok? I have to go, I love you!"

"I love you too. I'll see you later!"

As we hang up, I let out a sigh. She's right, I need a break. I'm exhausted, I'm every sense. Tonight should help, I just need to not let Jett get to me.

A laugh escapes me as I hurry out of the file room. I make it sound so easy, Jett has always known how to get under my skin. He had two years to learn how to push my buttons.

Mr. Young is sitting at his desk, impatiently typing on his keyboard, when I walk in. I push Jett and tonight from my mind. It's three o'clock, I have two hours before I leave, I just need to grin and bear it.

"That took you a while, something wrong with the file?" He snatches it out of my hand.

"No, but I need to call Lorelei to come in, the files are a mess. I can reorganize them on Monday if she can't come in."

He nods and waves his hand, quickly dismissing me. Mr. Young is not the most welcoming person, especially compared to Mr. Mark. I won't lie, when only Mr. Young is at the office, I dread coming to work. He reminds me of Jett sometimes, he always thinks he's right.

Sitting back at my desk, I continue to put calls on hold and redirect them to our operators. Watching the clock is my main concern, I know what's coming.

My fingers hurt by the time calls stop coming in and I focus on emails. I ignore my phone buzzing on the desk next to me, knowing exactly what's happening.

It's four thirty, Jett is texting me. He'll keep texting me until I respond, which will probably be when I get off work, and even then he might not stop.

Scheduling consultations and meetings all the way through next month, I try to focus on names and numbers and case files. The constant buzzing is giving me a massive headache.

"Just thirty more minutes," I mumble to myself.

I watch as other office members and the other lawyers start packing up to leave for the weekend.

Mr. Young comes strutting out of his office, nose down as he watches his phone.

"Finish that on Monday, go home Ashley."

He's out the door before I form a response. I finish the email I'm on and sign out of the computer. Flinging my purse over my shoulder I start reading all the endless text messages.

"Hey, how's work?"

"Still coming over later?"

"I ordered pizza, maybe you could stay for dinner?"

"We should do something this weekend, catch up!"

"Everything ok?"

"Text me when you're on the way."

"I got you something! I think you'll like it!"

"Ashley?"

"Answer me Ashley!"

With a heavy sigh I make my way to the elevator, typing as I go, "I'm on my way, I'll be there around 6, I can't stay. I don't want any gifts Jett."

My car is on the far end of the parking lot. It takes almost 15 minutes, and the entire time I hear my phone going off nonstop.

Just a little longer, I just have to get through ten minutes with him and I'm done for the weekend. Ten minutes and then I get to have a fun night with just me and Lisa.

God I need a night of fun.