50 Shades of Pink

by KT Grant

  He ran his fingers through my hair. “How bad was it?”

  “Horrible. Colette is going to let me have it the next time I see her.”

  “Was this the person you met at the auction Duarte took you to?”

  I burrowed my face deeper into his shirt. “Yeah, she’s my mark.”

  He snorted and jostled me. “That’s a strange way to describe it.”

  “Colette and this woman have some sort of history together. For some reason, Colette chose me to get close to the subject with an excuse that Virago wants to do an article on the woman.” I wiped the dampness way from the corners of my eyes. “I don’t know what to believe. I don’t think I want to be her assistant anymore. The whole situation felt tawdry.”

  “Tawdry?” Jayden perched on his elbow, staring down at me in amusement.

  “Don’t you dare make fun of me.” I wagged a finger in front of his face.

  “I wouldn’t dare. It’s your special day.” He kissed my forehead and sat up. I rolled on my back, staring at the ceiling.

  “Stop moping. It’s probably not as bad as you’re making it out to be. There are a few more hours of daylight left. I’m taking you out to dinner and then you’ll come with me to the park so I can shoot some nature shots for my class,” he declared, and grabbed my ringing cell.

  I dropped my arm over my face. Colette had called every hour. I had yet to answer. “Let me guess who it is.”

  “It’s your mom calling to wish you a happy birthday.” He sat my phone near my head.

  I wasn’t even in the mood to talk to my mom. Even thousands of miles away, she would hear the depressed tone in my voice and know something was wrong. She had excellent mom radar when it came to her only child having a sucky day.

  “You better talk to her or she’ll end up calling me.” He clapped and rubbed his hands together. “Meet me in the living room in fifteen minutes.”

  Whistling, he left my bedroom. I growled under my breath because he was always so chipper. Nothing affected him, unlike me whose world was about to come crashing down.

  For now I would try to forget what had become a rotten day of epic proportions and let Jayden cheer me up. Tomorrow would come soon enough. I’d face the music then.

  Climbing out of bed, I called Mom back and acted as if everything was right in the world.

  ***

  Perched back on my elbows on the blanket, I lifted my face up to the setting sun. I had taken off my flip-flops and had hiked my skirt up my thighs, trying to get some color. September had been quite the Indian summer. I would miss the warm days that were coming to an end.

  The clicking from Jayden’s camera joined the sounds of birds chirping and kids playing near the playground across the vast quad where we had scoped out a spot in Central Park. After a delicious and filling dinner of Turkish food, I had a full stomach and a much better attitude.

  Opening one eye, I caught him taking a picture of me.

  “Pose for me,” he cajoled.

  I stuck out my tongue and gave him the finger.

  He chuckled and clicked away on his camera until he joined me on the grass. “Feeling better now?”

  “Much.” I smiled at him in thanks.

  My cell rang inside my purse and I grimaced. Colette had called twice during dinner.

  “You should answer it. Duarte is the type of person who doesn’t like to be ignored,” he said and put his camera back in his bag.

  “She’s going to fire me when she finds out I bombed.” I finally revealed the details about my botched interview with Victoria over dinner, leaving out her accusations about Colette and my part in the scheme.

  “She’s not going to fire you. She can’t expect you to hit a home run on your first assignment.” He nudged my foot with his. “You had a verbal agreement and nothing in writing.”

  “But she’s in charge and has a lot of clout. She has the power to ruin me.” My voice rose to a high pitch; the idea of unemployment rattling me.

  “Calm down. You’re overreacting and — it looks like we have company,” he spoke in a much softer tone.

  “What are you talking about? We’re surrounded.…” I did a double take, noticing Victoria standing a few feet away, wearing a sport tank top, running shorts and sneakers.

  “Do you know the hot chick watching us?” he asked from the corner of his mouth.

  I swallowed back a yelp when he waved at her. I tried pulling his hand down but she had joined us.

  She took her earphones out of her ears. “Hello, Miss Pinke.”

  “Miss Pinke?” Jayden helped me rise.

  “Um, this is Victoria Nox. Remember I told you about her over dinner?” I poked him in the side with my elbow.

  He looked back and forth between me and Victoria. He didn’t know she tried coming on to me, only how she was aloof and somewhat of a bitch. But in her current state, showing more skin than the last two times we’d met, and sweat glistening on her face with her hair tied back in a mess on top of her head, she looked more approachable…softer even.

  He held out his hand. “Hi, I’m Jayden, Lindsay’s best friend and roommate.”

  She shook his hand. “Nice to meet you, Jayden. I hope I’m not interrupting.”

  “Not at all.” He bumped my shoulder with his. “We’re just enjoying the weather. I can’t believe September is almost over.”

  “I decided to take advantage of the summer-like weather too. I have an indoor track in my building, but wanted to jog outside. I do so at the end of the day,” she offered, her gaze on mine.

  I shifted from right to left, not comfortable with the small talk. She probably did it more for Jayden’s benefit. I felt self-conscious in my tank dress and my hastily braided hair and my lack of makeup. My eyes were probably still red and swollen from my crying binge earlier.

  I bent down to grab my flip-flops, giving me something to do other than pretend to make nice with the woman who had scrambled my emotions. “Jayden and I were just heading home.”

  “Before you go, let’s talk for a few minutes. There’s something I want to discuss with you.” She stepped closer to me.

  I slipped on my flip-flops. “Are you asking, Miss Nox or ordering?” I didn’t care if I was rude.

  Her lips twitched. “I have a bad habit of ordering people around. Please call me Victoria.”

  Jayden moved a few feet away and took his camera out of his case and cleaned the lens. “I don’t mind waiting around while you talk. I can take some shots of the sunset.”

  “We can sit on the bench over there.” Victoria pointed to the wooden bench near the edge of the sidewalk.

  “Okay. I have a few minutes to spare,” I said with very little warmth, and walked to the bench without waiting for her to join me. I sat near the far end of the bench, giving her enough space to sit and not touch me.

  “You and Jayden are very close.” She didn’t phrase it as a question.

  “We are. I met him the first day of college and we’ve been friends ever since. But you should know that already because you had me investigated.”

  She didn’t react other than to lean back further in her seat. “I have to be careful with any new people who enter my life on both a professional and private level. I refuse to be taken advantage of and must treat those who need something from me as adversaries.”

  “Why? Is it because I work with Col—”

  “Don’t.” She swiped her top lip with the tip of her tongue. “Mention her name. Please.”

  “You don’t say please very often, do you?” I asked.

  She snorted through her nose. “What happened to the shy little mouse who visited me this morning?”

  “Shy little mouse? Fu-fuck off,” I moved to jump off the bench, refusing to be insulted.

  She latched onto my wrist, “I’m sorry.”

  I didn’t struggle with her. Jayden glanced my way and waved. I did the same back. He then resumed taking pictures.

  “What do you want from me, Vi-Victoria?”
I asked, hating how I stumbled over her name.

  She kept my wrist, but with enough slack that I could break away. Her fingers compressed, creating a moist suction on my skin.

  “You’re right I don’t say ‘please’ and ‘sorry’ often. I’m used to getting what I want when I want it. I can’t remember the last time a person said no to me.” She frowned. “But you did.”

  “When you mean refuse, do you mean by how I reacted this morning during what was supposed to be a professional interview? The way you treated me was insulting and rude. I don’t care if you’re some big shot in charge of a multi-million dollar company or have some crappy past with my boss.” I pulled away my arm as my temper rose.

  “I run a billion dollar company,” she said.

  “That’s all you’re going to say?” I shook my head. This lady was something else.

  “I also have a bad habit of pointing out facts and correcting other people’s mistakes.” She wiped her palms on her legs, stopping to curl her hands around her knees. “I’d like to fix one of them and invite you to do the interview with me again if you’re still interested.”

  “Why? If you’re going to take advantage of me.…”

  “I don’t plan on taking advantage. I won’t be like her.” Her voice held a slight tremor.

  My frustration and anger at the entire situation vanished. The healthy glow on Victoria’s face from her run was gone and her eyes flashed regret. My curiosity got the better of me. I might be kicking myself later, but I wanted to solve the mystery of Victoria Nox and her former relationship with Colette.

  “If I agree to another interview, it will be in public,” I said.

  Satisfaction filled her eyes, replacing the burden. “Fine. How about dinner tomorrow night? Will seven o’clock work for you?”

  “You’re paying for dinner?” I wanted some type of bonus. Free food would do.

  She nodded and a small smile appeared. “It’s the least I could do. We’ll also celebrate your birthday.” She unzipped her waistpack and produced a pen and a card. She scribbled something on the card and then handed it to me.

  “I have a standing reservation at Le Repas. Have you heard of it? It’s the best French restaurant in the city.”

  A twinge shot down my front and landed in my stomach. Le Repas was one of the most popular restaurants in Manhattan and impossible to get into. All the celebrities ate there.

  “I’ve never been there.” I played it cool with a shrug.

  Her smile widened. “I’m glad I’ll be your first.”

  Be my first? What a strange thing to say. “Don’t you mean you’re glad it will be my first time there?”

  The streetlamp next to us came on at the same time Jayden joined us.

  “I’m getting bitten by mosquitos. It’s time for us to go, Lindsay, unless you want to continue your conversation indoors?” he asked.

  “We’ll talk more tomorrow.” Victoria stood.

  I did the same. “Le Repas at seven o’clock.” I reminded her, and held out my hand for her to shake.

  She took my hand and squeezed. “Until tomorrow.” She flashed Jayden a polite smile, said goodnight and walked away.

  I watched her until she was out of sight.

  “Seeing as I didn’t hear you scream or slap her, your conversation went well?” he asked as we made our way out of the park.

  “The interview is back on. She’s taking me to Le Repas for dinner tomorrow.” I swung my arms back and forth, still woozy from my encounter.

  He whistled. “Nice. I guess it’s her way of making it up to you for her rudeness. It would also be like a date, right?”

  “It’s a professional business dinner, that’s all.” The idea there could be a possibility of anything romantic between Victoria and me was laughable. I was so far out of her league it wasn’t even funny. Also my affiliation with Colette was a big obstacle.

  Speaking of Colette, my phone rang for what had to be the thirtieth time that day. I couldn’t avoid her anymore, but at least I had something positive to report.

  “Colette’s calling me,” I said to Jayden, letting him walk ahead while I answered the call.

  “Lindsay! I’ve been trying to get in touch with you all day. Where the fuck have you been and why the fuck didn’t you come back to the office after your interview? I want a full report. Now.”

  I held the phone away from my ear as she screeched. “I wasn’t feeling well after I met with Victoria. I went home to rest instead of—”

  “What did you and Victoria talk about?” she asked in stiff voice.

  This is where I had to be careful. I wasn’t good at lying, but I didn’t want her screaming at me. “The meeting at her office was short. We rescheduled our interview for dinner tomorrow night. Maybe a more relaxed setting will help her open up to me.”

  Colette made a humming sound and then there was a muffled knock or clap. “Excellent. You’ll see me tomorrow first thing in the morning. I’ll go over your notes and advise you on how to handle yourself during dinner with Victoria.”

  She didn’t wait for my response. She ended the call with a swift good-bye while I had a sudden vision of Victoria holding my hand up to her mouth and kissing it.

  The visual stayed with me as I tossed and turned for most of the night, unable to shut down my mind as I obsessed about my upcoming dinner with Victoria and all the ways it could go wrong.

  Chapter Seven

  My day seemed destined to fall apart right from the start. I woke up to a downpour from a storm that arrived overnight. This was the type of day that made a person want to stay in bed all day. But since I’d done that yesterday, hiding from the world because of the botched interview, I had to face reality.

  I was cranky and in a foul mood from lack of sleep. Even with Jayden driving us to the office again didn’t help my mood. I really didn’t want to face Colette and the idea she had some sort of sketchy ulterior motive when she picked me to interview Victoria. But I’d been given a reprieve. She would be out of the office all day. She had some important investor meetings scheduled she must have forgotten about when she had demanded I meet with her.

  My cancelled talk with Colette didn’t calm my nerves. Sooner than later I would have to talk with her about Victoria. If the entire universe wasn’t against me, my dinner with Victoria would go according to plan.

  But plans were meant to be broken. I learned that thirty minutes after I sat down at seven o’clock. There was a reservation in Victoria’s name for two at the designated time. I was the first one to arrive. I was escorted to a table in a corner, which was good for us to talk without being overheard or irritated by loud conversation from the other diners.

  I waited, sipping a glass of some bottled water I never heard of, trying not to jiggle my leg too hard. Every few minutes I checked my cell for the time. As it grew later, Victoria had yet to make an appearance. I became antsy and exposed, as if everyone was watching the pitiful woman sitting alone at hoity toity restaurant where she didn’t belong.

  At the forty-five minute mark, my frustration changed to resentment and then outrage. Knowing it was useless, but needing to do something, I called Victoria’s office. All I got was an answering service. I continued to fume.

  Eight o’clock arrived and still no Victoria.

  The hostess, who sat me earlier, approached my table. “Miss Nox just called and has to cancel. But she wants you to stay and order anything you like for dinner.”

  My appetite had taken a major dive because of my churning stomach. I’d never live this down. I would have to go to Colette empty-handed. Victoria Nox had played me, making me look stupid.

  I hid my anger over being manipulated and would take Victoria’s pity offer of a free dinner. I ordered the most expensive bottle of wine, along with three courses that would put a dent in anyone’s back account. I ate alone in a restaurant for the first time in my life, cursing Victoria and kicking myself for trusting her.

  ***

  My mood was pi
ss poor all week, accentuating when Colette returned back from her meetings and requested my presence in her office on Friday afternoon.

  “I expected an update after your dinner with Victoria. A phone call or email would have sufficed since I was stuck in meetings for the past three days.” She sat on the edge of her desk, twisting her silver bracelet around her wrist and staring at me with a sneer. “I take it you failed to get the interview again?”

  I flinched, hating the word ‘fail.’ I tried my best but she wouldn’t believe it. I expected to leave her office without the assistant position and quite possibly be fired.

  “She cancelled dinner.” I stared down at my lap in shame.

  “What was the reason?”

  “I don’t know. She called the restaurant and the hostess told—”

  “You didn’t find out why she stood you up? Unbelievable.”

  I swallowed back the acid-tasting bile in my throat. “I’m sorry I’ve disappointed you. She made me believe she was fine with the interview, but I guess I was wrong.” I focused on Colette, unable to escape her disappointment and contempt. I had lost her respect, and much more, all because I couldn’t accomplish the one objective she gave me.

  “This proves you’re not cut out as my assistant or even as a future reporter for Virago or any other publications. I thought you were something special, a talent I could mold and shine.” Her lips twisted into a grimace. “I’m usually not wrong when it comes to people, but I was with you. You’re ordinary and basic, still so inexperienced.”

  She was right. I was inexperienced. As for ordinary and basic, that was pretty much a given. The mirror didn’t lie, and based on my career path, I wasn’t destined for greatness, especially after this massive screw up on my part.

  “Are you going to fi-fire me?” My bottom lip trembled as the idea of unemployment struck home.

  Disappointment floated in Colette’s gaze, making me even more miserable than I already was.