Mark came into the bedroom as Becki rooted through the drawers, trying to find her portfolio.
"What are you doing?" Mark asked.
"Looking for my portfolio, I could have sworn it was in here..."
"Why do you need that?"
Becki closed the drawer and pulled open the cupboard above it. "Rex said I should call in and show it to his boss."
Mark scoffed, "Come on babe, this is pointless. How many interviews did you go through after uni? All that rejection? Why would you want to go through that again? You have an easy job that pays the bills, why rock the boat?"
"Because that's not what I want to do with my life. Why can't you just support me?" She pulled out a glossy A3 art case from the back of the cupboard and lovingly brushed the dust from the cover.
"I'm just being realistic Becks, it's a lot of effort to just be rejected again."
Becki frowned, "Well Rex thinks I've got a chance. He thinks I should do it."
"So some random bloke on the street thinks you should do something and off you go? Doesn't my opinion matter?" Mark fumed.
"He's not some random bloke, Rex and I were in uni together."
"I see how it is, one of your conquests or a future one you want to impress?" He sneered. "I think you should just stay in your job with Stacey. What's the point in getting your hopes up for no reason?"
She frowned, "Rex thinks I'd get the job, it's worth a try surely? After all the work I put in?"
"Well go on then, hand your portfolio in and fuck Rex while you're at it if the jobs so important to you."
Becki stared at him open mouthed.
"Get out. I don't want you here anymore. You can come and collect your stuff when I'm not here."
Mark stopped, "You can't kick me out."
"Yes I can, it's over, I'm done. Now fuck off."
Mark laughed, "I give you two days before you're on the phone begging me to come back." He grabbed his jacket and his car keys and slammed the door behind him as he left.
The following day Becki phoned Stacey saying she had a Doctors appointment and would be late in, before picking up her portfolio and heading for the address Rex had given her.
"Hey, you came!" Beamed Rex, kissing her on both cheeks as he had in the street.
"Nothing to lose have I?" Becki smiled nervously as she followed him through the spacious office. She glanced around longingly at the designers workspaces, trying not to feel jealous about them already living the life she desperately wanted.
"So, you didn't actually tell me the name of your boss?" Becki whispered as she watched Rex reach for the door handle to a small room off of the main work space. Rex paused, "It's Mr Harrington, but most people call me Rex." Becki chuckled nervously thinking he was joking, until he opened the door to an empty room. She frowned, unsure what was happening as he gestured for her to go in and sit down, while he took his seat on the other side of the desk.
"Wait, YOU own the company!" Becki's mouth dropped open in shock. Rex blushed awkwardly. "Why didn't you say anything?"
Then she stopped herself. He didn't say anything because she didn't ask and Rex doesn't like to seem boastful.
"I'm pleased for you, well done." She smiled, a little disappointed in herself for not achieving what he had. Rex shuffled some papers around on his desk.
"I was working for myself, you know, freelance stuff. Marketing designs and websites, whatever I could get. Then I landed a bigger job and had to bring some people in to get it finished in time. Some of the guys I bought in had mad illustration skills, so we decided to pitch our own graphic novel to a publisher."
Becki sat there quietly, unsure what to say.
"So, Miss Reeves, I believe you have your portfolio to show me?" He smiled. Becki went to pass her portfolio over but stopped herself. She shook the mess of thoughts from her head. "Hold up. So you asked me to come in because there's a job going, or because you just wanted to show me how well you'd done?"
Rex's face fell in confusion, "What? No, Beck why would you think I'd do that? I genuinely want you to work here."
Becki let him take the folder from her and straightened her top nervously as he flicked through it.
"It's even better than I remember... If you want to work in this industry Beck, just say the word and there's a job for you here."
"You're not winding me up?" Becki asked quietly. Rex frowned, "Of course not."
Becki sat quietly for a minute.
"I'll have to work my notice at the bookshop..." Becki said, looking down at her lap. Rex tipped her chin up with his fingers so she was looking at him. "I can wait. I'd be stupid not to take you on. You've got my number, soeak to your boss and let me know when you can come and join us here." Rex smiled and passed her portfolio back to her.
*****
Four Weeks Later
They sat side by side at the desk for hours, drafting out the first issue, so close their shoulders were almost constantly touching. Something was missing though. Becki watched the sun begin to set behind the river, her frustration with Rex growing by the second.
"Fuck," she cursed as Rex started listed what he thought was wrong for the fifth time. "Stop it will you! This isn't getting us anywhere!" Becki rubbed her face with her ink stained hands, as someone knocked quietly on the door.
"That'll be dinner." Said Rex, stating the obvious as he went to collect the pizza delivery. He dumped the box on the desk in front of her, the rich cheesy smell coming from the box made her feel instantly better. Rex came back from his office with two beers, passing one to Becki before sitting down next to her. He moved his chair over a little, aware of the tension between them and wanting to avoid a fight. Neither of them realised how hungry they were as they quickly finished off the pizza in silence. This job should have been a piece of cake, combining their skills should make for an incredible combination, but in reality they just seemed to be getting on each others nerves.
