Bang! Cara slammed her bag on the desk, ruining Matilda's concentration on her work.

"Jeez, we talked about this, Cara. You're supposed to leave your mood swings outside the office." Matilda said harshly. But Cara was impervious to her cold demeanor. She had worked with Matilda for two years now and had figured out what others did not; that Matilda's bark was bigger than her bite.

"Matilda, sympathize with meeeee." The petite woman whined like a child. Her cherubic face was scrunched up like a five year old with an agenda.

"Nobody has time to baby you Cara. You are paid to work. Get to it." Matilda replied. Cara proceeded to shimmy her seat over to Matilda's side.

"But Tildaaa. I'm saaaad." There were actual tears in her eyes though the unnecessary pout was probably fake. Matilda relented with a sigh.

"Ladies room." She said. It was their regular conference area.

The women's toilets were a cramped little area where three stalls were squashed together with barely any room between them and the sinks. There was only enough space for three women to stand in front of the mirror in a line. It was disappointing that in a company that boasted a female empowerment—with almost half the staff as female—that there wasn't enough toilet space to accommodate them.

Sneaking glances into the male toilets had revealed that a much spacious area had been reserved for the gentlemen. When Matilda had asked Andrew, her boss, why it was so, he had admitted that the company had not expected that many women to be present in computer science.

Matilda peeked in the toilet before entering. The place appeared to be empty and Matilda didn't bother checking the stalls. 

Cara will think I'm paranoid. 

"Calvin is such an ass!" Cara began, "He totally forgot our one-year anniversary yesterday."

"It's been a year already?" Time flew so fast.

"Of course it has! And I had this entire meal prepped for him but that idiot got stuck up in work and didn't come home till one in the morning! I fell asleep on the table. Everything was ruined."

"Did he make it up to you?"

"No! He didn't even remember, that bastard." Cara said. Matilda winced uncomfortably. "He actually thought I had mistaken yesterday as his birthday." 

"Shouldn't he be the one decorating the room in flowers? It's usually the other way around isn't it?" Matilda genuinely did not know.

"There's no rule as to who does what." Cara explained.

"Well did you finally remind him it was your anniversary?"

"Of course I did, Matilda! He still didn't care! He told me we should just drop the celebrations because it's too overbearing." Cara was legitimately crying now. Matilda grimaced at the sight and tried to comfort her by patting her shoulder. Cara took it as an invitation for a hug which took Matilda by surprise. After a moment's hesitation, she hugged Cara back.

Then, since she knew Cara and her over excitable nature well, she asked, "Cara just how many anniversaries do you celebrate with Calvin?"

Cara sniffled, "Well, there's the one week anniversary, the one month anniversary, the six month—"

"Cara, Jesus how many are there?"

"Um... seven?"

Matilda pulled her back, "Seven? In a year? Cara are you mad? Of course Calvin forgot! So many anniversaries... I'm getting overwhelmed just thinking about it."

"You are?" Cara asked in a small voice.

"Of course! I can imagine how overbearing it must be for Calvin."

"But... but... they matter to me. Shouldn't Calvin care that I care?"

Matilda thought about it, "Well... yeah."

"I mean he tells me that he loves me. But then he stays out late all night and always ditches me for his friends. I just thought if we had an occasion to celebrate it might be a good excuse to spend time together." Her lower lip whimpered.

"Well... I mean, he's his own person right? It should be okay for him to get time out for himself."

"Oh, I totally get that. But then, it's all the time now. The only time we see each other is at work and even that's not happening these days."

Matilda thought back to the time Cara had announced she and the IT guy were dating. Cara has been so excited but Matilda had seen it then, the absence of their glow and knew that this relationship would go nowhere. It was just as well. Calvin was a very immature and childish. He always called Matilda by "Swinton" as if that made him cool. He had also— in a very petty move— asked Cara out when Matilda had told him she wasn't interested in him.

"Dump him." Matilda said it plainly.

"What?"

"If he doesn't like what you like and if he's not giving you any importance then dump him."

Cara looked at her as if she was insane. "You don't just dump people willy nilly Tillda."

"Why not? He's wasting your time. You deserve better than him."

Cara turned sympathetic all of a sudden, "Oh that's very kind of you Matilda," she squeezed Matilda's arm, "But sadly I'm into men."

"What? No! I'm not gay!"

"Are you sure honey? I mean the suits—"

"It's a fashion choice. It's not my fault gay people dress better. And that's totally not what I'm saying. He's not the one for you Cara."

"Well how would you know?"

"I've seen you guys together. It's totally obvious."

Cara looked at her, eyes so wide they could hold the sun, "It is?"

Matilda hesitated, "I mean... don't you feel it?"

"I feel I love him."

Matilda sighed, "Does he make you happy then?"

"Yes?"

"So happy that you have to cry in the bathroom about it?" Matilda pointed out. She reached behind her to get the paper towels from the dispenser mounted on the wall. Cara gratefully took them and blew her nose.

"Well, maybe I overreacted. I mean you said it yourself that so many anniversaries are overwhelming."

"Now you're just reaching for an excuse."

"No I'm not." Cara said firmly. She had that stubborn look that she always got when she had made up her mind and would refuse to see reason. Matilda knew that arguing further would be useless.

"How about this? Let's just forget all about this anniversary debacle and go out for drinks. We can enjoy ourselves, have a good time and talk about this later, yeah? Just you and me." Matilda offered thinking it would help Cara cheer up.

"Just you, me and Calvin?" Cara piped up.

"No. Girls night. No boys."

"Yes boys!" Cara said, suddenly elated, clapping her hands, "And you invite Bas too."

"Why Sebastian?"

Cara elbowed her arm coyly, "Come on, Tilly! We all know you and Bas are a thing."

"No we're not." Matilda frowned.

"Well you could be, bring him to the pub tonight. There's this new place that's just opened and I've been dying to take Cal."

"Cara, I don't think—"

But Cara wasn't listening, "This might be just the thing me and Cal need. A night out with friends. We haven't hung out in a group for so long, you know." Cara kept on blabbing and Matilda knew there was no stopping her. She continued making plans when Matilda dragged her out of the toilet.

As they came out of the bathroom, Matilda got the distinct feeling she heard the toilet flush. But she dismissed the thought away, thinking she was mistaken.

Cara had put her up with the task of inviting Sebastian. Matilda had tried again and again to dissuade her but Cara was like a bulldozer once she got stuck on one idea. So Matilda had to march all the way to the Marketing department where the boys were having a laugh. The only female there, Savannah, had already gone home; her empty chair occupied by one of the boys.

The small area of the Marketing cubicles was separated by the others by a glass wall. Matilda leaned on the doorway hoping to catch Bas's eye.

"Check out the woman from the Holdster account." One of the men, the tallest of them, was showing an enlarged profile picture of his contact from a client company.

"Dude! Do you see those jugs?" the other, a stocky, short guy, took the phone and gave it to Sebastian. Sebastian's face seemed to agree though he stopped what he was going to say when he saw Matilda.

"Till, what's up?"

"Could you come here for a sec?"

The tall guy choked down a laugh, "Sure he can come. If you ask nicely." Matilda made a face. She hated the guys in marketing. There was nothing you couldn't say that wouldn't be turned into an innuendo.

Sebastian put the guy in a friendly arm lock before following Matilda out into the hall.

"Are you free tonight? Cara wants to go out for drinks and she's invited you."

"Cara?" Sebastian scratched his head, stretching in a way that Matilda found to be too distracting. She looked away and found that the marketing guys were all staring at them.

"You can say no." Please don't. I don't want to be the third wheel who watches Calvin and Cara make out the entire time.

Her thoughts must have shown on her face because he seemed to actually consider the offer.

"I'll be there Till. Just come and get me when you guys leave." He winked and went back, the Marketing guys surrounded him for details. The disappointed way they the reacted when Sebastian told them Matilda's request told her they had been expecting something different.

As Matilda turned to leave, she saw the unmistakable red hair of Sebastian's ex girlfriend, peeking out from behind a cubicle. Her head was only visible to her eyes, eyes that were following her, unblinking. Matilda stared back as she walked away. They kept looking at each other till they couldn't.

Weird.

Cara was elated when she reported that Sebastian would join them. They left the office at eight which was a little early for Matilda, who was used to the somewhat empty streets of Kinghaven late in the night.

Matilda chose to call Sebastian on his line instead of visiting him, to let him know they were leaving.

"Hey Bas, we're leaving in ten minutes. Is that okay with you or do you need longer?"

There was some muffled, choking noise on the other end.

"Bas you okay?"

"Yes." Bas said, sounding weird.

"What's wrong?"

More muffled, choking sound.

"Hey, uh," Sebastian's voice sounded too deep, "Where are you taking me anyways?"

"I don't know. Some bar. Cara said it was a new place."

Some whispering, "So uh, after that we go back to your place?"

"What?"

More muffled sounds which resembled clucking chickens bizzarely enough. Then as if spoken from a distance, she heard Sebastian say, "What are you guys doing at my phone?"

The other end erupted in laughter.

"Sorry, Sebastian." It sounded like the tall guy.

"Sorry Bas, we just wanted to see if you were lying."

"Hey, is this Matilda?" Sebastian's voice came through.

"Yeah. Be ready in ten. We're leaving." Matilda slammed the phone down.

She and Cara were waiting for Sebastian near the glass doors to their office floor when Matilda saw the redhead leave. She was a beautiful woman with flowing long, fiery red hair hanging in loose curls. She wore a deep red suit, as sharp as Matilda's and carried a matching briefcase. She eyed Matilda as she left, stopped and turned back.

"Hey, Win," Cara greeted her, apparently already familiar with the woman.

"Hello, Cara. Who's your friend?" She had an English accent, the posh, proper kind.

"Matilda Merryweather." Matilda eyed the woman suspiciously.

"Oh, so you're Tilly. Sebastian has told me all about you." Her voice was like velvet. Smooth yet a little husky. Matilda noticed that her face was beautifully symmetrical, her teeth impeccably white, straight and her nose just upturned enough to be cute but not haughty.

"You encountered Tom today, right? The tall one from Marketing?" She asked. Matilda nodded. "Next time he bothers you, you tell him I've told you about Monte Carlo. He'll know what it means."

"What does it mean?"

"For me? A very disappointing night."

Matilda laughed. The redhead smirked, winked and left.

"What was her name again?" Matilda asked, vaguely remembering Phil saying he had found this woman hot.

"Gwendolyn. She goes by Win."

"You guys ready?" Sebastian came up behind Matilda.

"Yup!" Cara chirped.

"Not yet," Matilda reminded Cara, "your boyfriend still needs to come." Matilda mentally felt the Marketing department boys laugh at her statement, despite their absence. Great. I can never use that word again.

Cara remained blissfully unfaithful to Calvin, making heart eyes to Sebastian till the man in question finally arrived. Then it was like a switch and suddenly Sebastian did not exist.

"Hey babe." Calvin said and Cara's entire being lit up like a firefly.

"Cal!" She gave him a kiss that made both Sebastian and Matilda uncomfortable.

And then they were off, Matilda and Sebastian trailing behind the overtly saccharine couple leading the way. They were rubbing their noses together when Sebastian leaned over to Matilda and said, "If I ever get like that with any of my girlfriends, feel free to shoot me in the face." Matilda laughed quietly.

The bar Cara took them to was ten minutes away. The sign outside showed "Captain Flint's" lit up in red lighting.

The inside was nautical themed, shaped like a hull with large portholes as windows. Sea themed paintings and pictures artfully lined the walls. A pirate flag hung above the bar. A row of empty rum bottles lined the mirror behind the counter.

Matilda's eyes quickly spotted a raven haired bartender who, even from a distance, was very nice to look at. Cara's eyes were too busy finding a table to notice him. The place was crowded and it was hard to hear anything with the music and the noises of people having a good time.

"There! There's a spot!" Cara grabbed Calvin's hand while Sebastian grabbed Matilda's. She pretended it was not a big deal and that her heart only skipped a beat because she was taken by surprise.

Cara led them to a booth in the back. She and Calvin took one side while Matilda and Sebastian were smooshed in the other. Matilda pretended it was okay to be this close to Sebastian and that her heart beating like a hummingbird had nothing to do with this proximity.

"Cal, could you go get our drinks?" Cara asked him over the humdrum of the bar. Calvin made an annoyed face. Cara's brows furrowed but before she could speak, Sebastian spoke up.

"I'll get em for you, Cara. What would you like?"

He took everyone's order (with Cranberry juice for Matilda). Matilda watched his tall form move effortlessly through the bodies of people. Some women, and even men, turned in his direction as he glided past them.

Matilda sighed. She looked over to Cara and Calvin who were quietly arguing.

"You're my boyfriend," Cara hissed. "You're the one who's supposed to provide for me."

"Provide for you? Cara I'm not your keeper."

"Then where do you see this going Cal? We've been together for a year."

"Why does it have to go anywhere?"

"Why are you dating me if you're not thinking about..."

"What?" Calvin said loosing his cool, "What Cara? Say it!" He practically spat in her face. Cara tried to contain her trembling lip and failed. "You always do this. You cry and you make it look like I'm the jerk. This is all because of you Cara." Calvin huffed and got out of the booth.

"No, Cal. Wait! I'm sorry. You're right." Cara chased after him with a flurry of apologies. Matilda saw him shirk her off when she tried to grab his arm. The motion almost sent her back flying.

Matilda's usual resting bitch face became and an actual bitch face as she saw how pathetically Cara chased Calvin down.

This is what happens when you didn't end up with your soulmate. Matilda's logical side said, You get into relationships with jerks who treat you like trash and then gaslight you into thinking you're the problem.

Well if I knew who Cara's soulmate was, I would help. Matilda argued with her logical side. 

But you're were not going to be a fairy godmother anymore. You were going to leave the others on their own right? So that they all could end up with the wrong person and live unhappily ever after?

Matilda had no response.

She looked to Sebastian for comfort. Sebastian. Her best friend. The best guy she knew. Struggling to get the order that Calvin should have gotten. The sight gave a lurch in her heart. She wanted to go over there and just hug him.

But something caught Matilda's eye, far in the crowd around the bar. A head of golden curls. From deep within her, the logical side she was trying so desperately to keep at bay, said.

You don't know Cara's soulmate, but you know Sebastian's. Don't you want to see him happy? Or do you want him to have a miserable youth till he realizes that he has to settle for you?

They were right there, Sebastian and Kat, just a couple feet apart. They didn't see each other but their glow lit up from their proximity to each other. They were right there and they would miss each other.

In that moment, seeing Cara and Calvin argue onone side, seeing Sebastian and Kat; Matilda made a decision.

I am so going to regret this.