Thursday - 1 Day Before Chloe Effed Up
Beca can't believe that Residual Heat has agreed to pay her a yearly 6-figure salary, guaranteed for 2 years. She also will get a huge signing bonus (she didn't know that was even a real thing), and she and Chloe can stay in a house that the studio owned for the duration of her 2-year contract. Although, with the money she's making, they'll be able to buy their own house with the first year.
Mr. Dixon and his firm really came through for her. She would be getting a really nice chunk of her signing bonus, which will pay for Chloe's engagement ring. Things were really coming together for her.
She would be more excited if it weren't for the fact that she and Chloe had a blowout yesterday morning.
Flashback to Wednesday Morning
Beca slowly eased herself off the bed trying not to disturb Chloe. She had arrived at Chloe's at 2:00 this morning. She thought that would be a good time to show up because Chloe would be asleep and would just cuddle up with Beca and go back to sleep if Beca happened to wake her up. Now she was trying to get out of there before Chloe woke up so she wouldn't have to face any questions she knew Chloe would ask.
Unfortunately, Chloe did wake up. "Where do you think you're going?" Chloe asked as Beca was just getting to the door.
"I have a really early meeting at the studio. Sorry I woke you. I'll call you later. Love you. Bye," Beca said quickly.
"Oh no you don't, Rebecca Anne Mitchell," Chloe said quietly.
Beca knew she was in trouble by the way Chloe full named her. "I'm sorry, Chlo, but I really need to go. I'm trying to get a permanent job with Residual Heat and need to show them I'm a team player," Beca said. "We'll talk later. I promise."
She walked over to give her girlfriend a quick kiss. Chloe had other ideas; she grabbed Beca and kissed her hard, with as much passion as she could. Beca pulled away and said, "I can't right now. I really have to go." Beca knew that was a bad move.
"So, work is more important than me? Than us?," Chloe said. "If you walk out that door, don't bother coming back!"
Beca looked at Chloe. Beca was angry now; she did not like ultimatums. She also knew that she was going to have to handle this delicately.
"Chloe. I love you. I have to leave. I don't believe you meant what you just said, so I'm going to go now and we'll talk later when we've had a chance to calm down." Beca said trying to reassure Chloe, as well as herself, that everything would be fine.
Beca left. Chloe threw herself on her bed and cried. The way things had bee between the lately, she wasn't sure that Beca was really going to come back.
Back to the Thursday
Beca hadn't spoken to Chloe since she left her yesterday morning. She had met with her lawyer and also with the jeweler to make sure everything was moving along. She knew she would have to talk to her before tomorrow, but wasn't sure what to say. She called Stacie.
"Beca?", Stacie said answering. "Where are you? Aubrey is having a fit. Chloe is beside herself thinking that you left her and you weren't coming back this time. What the hell?"
"Sorry, Stace. I just don't know what to say to her without telling her everything I'm doing. I'll send her a text and try to explain that things will be clearer tomorrow. I know she'll have a lot of questions, but she'll just have to wait.' Beca said. She was tired. Tired of all the meetings and negotiations. Tired of avoiding Chloe and not really talking to her. She was just tired.
"Becs. You know we're here for you, right? Maybe you can tell her about the contract with Residual Heat. Explain to her how you had to get a lawyer and you've been in negotiations. That won't spoil the main surprise." Stacie suggested.
Beca listened and thought maybe Stacie was right. It would help get Chloe off her back and things back to semi-normal.
"I'll think about it, Stacie. I do have some work I need to get done in the studio tonight, so I may just Chloe a quick text and hope that eases her worries. You're not going to believe what my lawyer negotiated for me in my contract," Beca said. She told Stacie about everything. The signing bonus, the salary, and the house.
"Holy Shit, Beca,!" Stacie said excitedly. "They must want you bad!"
"Well, I am the shit!" Beca said.
Stacie laughed and said, "Yes, you are!"
"So how plans for "Operation Bechloe Engagement Surprise" coming?", Beca asked
"Everything is all set. All we have to do now is wait until tomorrow night and this will all have been worth it," Stacie said.
"That's good to hear," Beca said. She was quiet for a moment and the told Stacie, "I still kind of want to tell Chloe everything at once tomorrow night, but I'll think about what you said about telling her about my contract. Maybe tonight. Thanks for everything, Stace. You're the best! I'll talk to you later," Beca said and hung up.
Stacie laid her phone on her desk. Chloe had better appreciate all this. Beca is working her butt off to give them a good life. I wish I could find someone to do something like this for me.
Beca thought, "I'm really going to have to figure out a way to thank Stacie. Aubrey is usually with Chloe so Stacie has been my voice of reason. She is always ready to help talk me down when I call."
Beca went to the studio and immediately started working. She was so engrossed in her work that she forgot to text or call Chloe. She didn't leave the studio until almost 3:00 am. She headed to her room and fell into bed practically asleep before her body hit the bed.
