Page 45 of Chaos Theory

FORTY-TWO

I sink into a window seat, glad the train carriage is half-empty.

I’ve been blinking back tears since I packed my bag at the hotel and jumped in a taxi to the train station.

But now as I sit down, the implications of everything I’ve just experienced come crashing down on me like luggage from a packed overhead rack.

My throat is tight; tears sting my eyes.

I look out the window at Athlone station, willing the train to start moving, but it stubbornly refuses to go.

I can hardly process the new reality of my situation.

Just two hours earlier, I was on track to a bright future, Josh by my side, destination unknown but promising. Now the whole thing is derailed.

Ron Tron didn’t know my name. Ron Tron didn’t even know that Kobi was working at Go Ireland. So that means Josh was…lying to me this whole time. To me and everyone else at Go Ireland.

I think back to that first email JP got – the one announcing Kobi’s imminent arrival.

Josh sent it on Ron’s behalf . What was it Josh said, only this morning?

Ron barely does email. Josh said Ron wasn’t a day-to-day guy, too busy with the big picture.

He said he’d keep the Phelan’s excursion from reaching Ron’s ears.

But why was Josh so eager for Kobi to work at Go Ireland?

Was it something to do with Kobi’s meltdown at PHI?

Whatever the reason, Josh was clearly very invested in fast-tracking Kobi’s rehabilitation.

So invested he was willing to say or do whatever it took to make it look official.

He’s been using me all along . God, it’s embarrassing how na?ve I’ve been.

He must have thought me a willing fool, so eager to please.

I cover my face with my hands and cringe.

I’m the one who’s always asking questions.

I should have questioned why Josh always wanted to meet up outside the office.

It was more discreet, I realise now. Further away from the scrutiny of JP and human resources.

And Josh dangling the prospect of a job at RoboTron in front of me like a toy mouse before a house cat.

I flash back to last night with a groan. I deliberately conk my head against the train window. God, I liked him. And I thought he liked me.

But it was all lies.