The Uninvited Houseguest

The air conditioner hummed overhead, blowing out a steady stream of cold air.

Madison's tears started falling instantly. She looked utterly wounded.

"Isla, how could you do this to me? I've been with you ever since I joined the company. You're the closest person to me here—I've always thought of you as my big sister."

Listening to her syrupy, phony voice made my stomach turn.

"Big sister? If I remember correctly, you've been with this company for all of two weeks. Two weeks of knowing each other, and that's your excuse to crash at my place for free?"

Madison blinked her innocent little eyes, but her mouth kept running.

"I did the math, okay? Your place doesn't cost you any rent—just a little bit for utilities. I'll give you 2 bucks a day. I eat lunch at the office, so I'd use less than one dollars' worth of water and electricity a day. You'd actually come out ahead."

Listening to her lay it out so matter-of-factly, I leaned back in my chair.

"But I don't want your money. You can take that 2 bucks and find yourself a place that includes room and board."

Madison's face went pale. She staggered and nearly fell over. A few coworkers rushed over to steady her.

I thought she'd finally give up. Instead, she just changed tactics.

…

By lunchtime, the break room was buzzing with gossip about me.

"That's way too harsh. Madison just got dumped and needs a place to stay—what's the big deal? It's not like she wasn't offering to pay. Where's the compassion?"

"Isla's probably been single so long she's lost her mind. No way she understands what heartbreak feels like."

I walked past them calmly, coffee cup in hand. They averted their eyes for a second, then went right back to trash-talking.

I knew exactly who was behind it, but there was no point in explaining. The knife wasn't in their backs, so they didn't feel the pain.

No sooner had I gotten back to my desk than someone came running over to tell me the department manager wanted to see me. She had that nosy, I-can't-wait-to-watch look on her face.

Madison was sitting in the manager, Mr. Gabelman's office, red-eyed. Keeping her company was Hannah Wagner, another intern who'd started at the same time as her, dabbing at Madison's tears nonstop. When I walked in, Hannah shot me a vicious glare.

Madison, putting on a show of defending me while actually fanning the flames, spoke up, "Mr. Gabelman, this isn't Isla's fault. It's just that my coworkers saw how desperate I am—no place to go—and they thought since Isla has that empty apartment..."

She trailed off, but her eyes kept flicking toward me.

Mr. Gabelman, determined to appear fair and impartial, pointed at me. "You—explain yourself."

I stood there, my voice flat. "Madison wants to stay at my place. I said no. She claims my apartment doesn't cost rent, and 2 bucks a day would more than cover food and utilities. I'm her work mentor—nothing more. I have no obligation to take care of her personal life."

Mr. Gabelman's face darkened immediately.

"Madison is a new hire. She's one of our future key talents. What's the harm in cutting her some slack? You're not even married—wouldn't having someone around be good for you?"

I almost laughed at how blatantly one-sided he was. Not being married wasn't a crime—and it sure wasn't an invitation for someone to barge into my life.

I pulled out my phone, pulled up a map of the area, and showed it to Mr. Gabelman.

"Since she's such a key talent, we definitely shouldn't slack off on her. My place is a bit of a commute from the office. How about this—you, Mr. Gabelman, can rent her a place nearby. It'd make her commute easier and really show off your generosity and dedication to nurturing new talent."

Mr. Gabelman froze. His face turned a deep, mottled red. He pointed a finger at me, his expression dripping with disappointment.

"Isla, as an employee of this company, maintaining team unity is a basic rule you're expected to follow."