by Sienna Grant
Oh my god is she for real? She really does amaze me sometimes.
Well if you wanted a rich, pretentious, overopinionated bureaucrat, then I guess I would have been looking in the right place. But no, there was no one that could’ve handled you, Rue.
When she doesn’t answer right away, I quickly send her another message asking if she wants to meet up after work, then lock my screen and put my phone on my desk.
I have to get this work done and sent over to my boss before the end of the day.
I hear voices coming from Margie’s office. When I peer through the glass, I see the outline of a man in a suit, an outline I know well since I’ve licked every inch of it. As Everett moves toward my door, I notice a bag in his hand.
When I look at the clock and see it’s just after three, I realize I haven’t had lunch.
He stands at my door, his shoulder resting against the frame.
“Aw, my very own delivery guy.” I say with a smile as he brings the food over to my desk.
“What I do for you…” He grins smugly. “I didn’t bother calling just in case the lines of communication got crossed again. Thought it would be better to just come here instead; that way, I could surprise you.”
Leaning across the desk I kiss Everett and thank him.
“Watch it, there may be spy cameras set up in here,” Everett says, chuckling.
Asshole. I glare at him as he takes a seat across from me. “That’s not even funny.”
“Eat your food.” He passes me a chicken sandwich and a cup of coffee, then unwraps his.
“Nothing to do today, Mr. Brooks?” I ask jokingly.
“Needed a break from my own four walls, thought I’d sit in yours instead.” He takes a bite of his sandwich and chews before adding, “Plus the decoration is better here.”
“I hope you mean me.”
“Who else?”
I smile at his compliment and we start to eat the rest of our lunch in a comfortable silence. That is until there’s a knock on my office door.
“Come in.”
Margie teeters in on her heels and puts some paperwork down on my desk, then lingers behind Everett. I thanked her but she looks like she has something on her mind.
Margie grinned. “You should’ve said you wanted lunch. I could have gotten it for you. I don’t mind.”
“No. It was my treat, Margie,” Everett cut in.
“Oh, that’s fine.” Her hand settles on Everett’s shoulder, and I have to work at pushing back the jealousy I’m beginning to feel.
I force a smile at Margie, and she smiles back. “That’ll be all, thank you.”
I stare at my assistant until she stops touching Ev and goes back to her own office.
“She was just being helpful, Rae.”
I roll my eyes because. I guess I knew this, but something had been eating at me about her recently and I couldn’t get my head around it.
“Or was that a hint of the green monster I saw itching to get out?” He takes a sip of coffee before adding, “Jealousy isn’t a good look, Rae, or don’t you read Cosmo?”
Instead of answering, I sink my teeth into my sandwich and watch the bastard gloat.
Thirty-Four
Reagan
“Have you ever trusted someone you probably shouldn’t have?” I ask my mom while she’s preparing dinner.
“Many times. Why, is there something wrong?” She stops what she’s doing and looks at me.
“If I said I’m not sure, would it even make sense? Surely I should be able to judge if someone can’t be trusted.”
Mom takes a pot from the stove and places it on the counter before turning back to me. “Reagan, have you ever heard the term ‘a sheep in wolf’s clothing’?”
“Yeah, I’ve heard of it. But do you think someone can really hide that much of themselves?’
“Yes. I do.” Mom nods and keeps working on dinner.
I watch as she moves around her kitchen with fluidity. Mom is in her element when she cooks. She always baked when we were younger, and still does. Her brownies are the best.
“They’re good at it too. They know exactly what they’re doing,” Mom continues. “Who is this anyway, anyone I know?”
“Oh, just someone at work.” I wave it off as insignificant. I don’t want to say too much since she’s met Margie, and I don’t want my mom to think I’m a bitch. But I swear Margie’s does things just to aggravate me. And it’s becoming more frequent. Was I reading too much into all of this? Was I being paranoid?
I watch as Mom pours the vegetables into a serving dish and holds it out to me. “Take those to the table for me, please?”
I take the dish into the dining room, placing it in the middle of the table.
When I go back into the kitchen, more dishes are waiting to be brought out. I think my mom sometimes forgets it’s only the three of us for dinner. You could feed the homeless on our leftovers. I go to take another dish, but my mom stops me, covering my hand with hers. “Is this person really bothering you, Reagan? I’ve never seen you let someone get to you like this.”
She’s right. I’ve never let anyone get into my head like this, and I don’t understand it at all.
“Yes.” I busy myself with setting the table and hoped that she wouldn’t ask me anything else.
Once the dishes were placed down, we went back to the kitchen and while she poured the gravy from the pot into a boat, mom took it out while I grabbed the plates, then went back for the water jug and glasses.
The front door shuts with a bang. I was so caught up in my own head that it makes me jump. I looked up and see Hayden strutting in. He greets mom with a kiss before taking his seat grabbing a plate. I sit down across from him and mom takes her place at the end. Once grace has been said, we dig in. All my thoughts on Margie are temporarily pushed to the back of my mind while I eat with my family.
Once dinner is over, I help Mom clean up.
Hayden comes rushing into the kitchen and kisses Mom’s cheek. He came late, barely said anything during dinner, and now he’s leaving.
“You know, Hayden, I love these family nights. I love seeing my brother—”
“I have to go. I’m meeting someone. Love you, Mom. Thanks for dinner, your roast will always be the best.” Hayden rushes from the room and is out of the door quicker than lightning.
“He’s over Penny finally,” I say to Mom, smiling.
Once the dishwasher is filled and the kitchen is clean again, I make us coffee and we sit down together.
“So, is there anything you want to tell me, like about a man…?”
I roll my eyes but decide it’s time I tell her. “Everett and I have been seeing each other for a few months now.”
“Okay. What’s he like and when do I meet him?”
So many things run through my mind, but seeing as I’m talking to Mom, I need to choose my words carefully. “He’s good looking and he’s the CEO owner of another pharmaceutical business.” Mom raises her eyebrows and grins. “You’ll meet him soon. I promise.”
“That’ll be nice.” She sits forward and places a hand on my knee. “I know you’re a big boss woman, but to me you’re my baby, and I just want you happy. And so, would your father.”
I feel a lump form in my throat at the mention of my dad. I was the epitome of a daddy’s girl. And in this moment, I realize just how much I actually miss him.
Thirty-Five
Reagan
After tossing and turning most of the night, I give up on trying to get any sleep and get out of bed. I’m not sure what kept me awake and restless for so long, but something was playing on my mind. The only thing I could think of was mine and Mom’s conversation. I quickly shower and then make my way to work. It’s 6:30 by the time I get here, and it suddenly crosses my mind that I didn’t hear from Everett when I got home last night. I was expecting to after he had his meeting with Terry, but then I also thought I’d hear from my b
oss. It was either nothing to do with work or they were conspiring against me. If it did have something to do with the business, though, I thought it would involve me too. Obviously not.
As I’m sorting through my emails and drinking my first cup of coffee, movement outside the office catches my attention. I walk to the door wondering who’s around this early when I see a blonde walking into the office. I pull the door open wide. “Excuse me, can I help you with something?” The woman in the business suit and heels turns around and my mouth drops open on a gasp. “Margie! Oh my god, I didn’t even realize it was you.”
She giggles, but it’s more like a cackle, and it annoys the hell out of me. “Oh, Reagan, that’s fine. Do you like?” she asks, stroking her hand down the iron straight, bleach blonde tresses, and sinks her teeth into her bottom lip.
“Um, yeah, it looks….” I hesitate, I’m looking for the right word, “…nice. Why blonde?”
“Well, you know what they say…” I raise an eyebrow, waiting on her reply. “Blondes have more fun.”
“Really? I’ll let you know when that happens,” I answer, rolling my eyes. I’m doing that way too much lately. I force a grin and go back to my office.
I sit at my desk and find Margie has followed me and is leaning against the door jamb. “I mean, I’ve always wanted to go blonde, but I was too scared.”
I nod as I look up at her. “Well, I guess everyone has to do something out of the ordinary.”
“Do you think it suits me?”
“I suppose.” I sigh at myself. I didn’t want to sound like a bitch, but I couldn’t lie to her either. “If I’m brutally honest, I prefer your natural color.”
“Ugh, but brown is so boring.”
“It doesn’t have to be. You could have gotten some highlights, slowly test out being blonde.” If looks could kill for having an opinion, I’d be in a box six feet under right now. “I thought you were going to Ruby to get it cut. Maybe you just need a new style.”
“Yes. You’re right. With a new cut and it being blonde, it’ll be like a new me.”
“It sure will.” I give up. There’s no point in trying to get her to see sense.
“Shall we get this briefing done?”
“Yes of course, I’m ready.” Her blonde keeps distracting me, but we finally trudge through the briefing and finish up. She leaves my office, and my stomach churns nauseatingly. First the change of clothes, then the hair. What the hell is she doing It seemed strange to me that I could possibly be her inspiration for a complete makeover.
By the time lunchtime comes around, I have a headache from hell. Knowing I wouldn’t be able to concentrate, I pack up and made the decision to work from home.
I stop by Margie’s on my way out. “Margie, I’m heading out for the day. I think I have a migraine coming. I’ll be working from home, so call my cell or email me if you need me.”
“Oh no.” She cocks her head to the side as she studies me. “Yes, you’d be much better at home, I agree. Don’t worry, I’ll hold down the fort here.”
“Thanks.” I close the door and that weird feeling in the pit of my stomach gets worse.
I jump in my car and start the engine. Before I leave, I text Ruby. If anyone can figure out what’s going on with me, it’s her. She’ll be able to put my mind at rest.
Please tell me you have no appointments so I can come over and have a coffee?
She replies instantly: I’m in between appointments, but I do have thirty minutes spare. You okay?
I’m on my way.
I put the car in drive and make my way to Ruby’s salon. The traffic is light, it only takes me ten minutes to get there.
I park behind the salon, lock up the car, and go in search of Ruby. The bell rings above my head when I walk in. Just as I was about to pass the receptionist, she stops me. “Can I help you?”
“I’m just here to see Ruby.” She must be new because I don’t remember seeing her the last time I was in here.
“What’s your name? And I’ll tell her you’re here.”
“I don’t have an appointment; I just need to see Ruby.”
“Ma’am, if you don’t have an appointment, you won’t be able to see Ruby. She has back to back appointments today.”
“I know. But I just spoke to her and she said she’d be able to see me. She’s my best friend,” I tell her, trying to hold my anger back. I really didn’t need this shit. “Just tell her Reagan is here.”
The receptionist, who seems like she has a stick up her ass, rolls her eyes and turns away, sighing.
I fold my arms across my chest and tap my toe on the tiled floor.
“Reagan!”
I look up, see Ruby, and lift my hand in a wave. I give the receptionist a sarcastic grin, then head straight for my friend.
“You look like shit,” she says when I get to her.
“Good to see you too.”
She throws her arms around my neck and hugs me tightly. “Seriously though, are you okay?”
“I have a really bad headache. I’m not sure if it’s a migraine. Do you have anything?”
“Sit down.” She gives me two pills and a bottle of water from the cooler. “Take these—it’s Excedrin. If it is a migraine, these will take care of it.”
I pop the tablets in my mouth and swallow them down with the water. I close my eyes, the cold water helping to refresh me a little.
“You seemed a little tense when you messaged. What’s up?”
“Oh my god, Rue. You won’t believe it. I wouldn’t believe it if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes.
Thirty-Six
Margie
I watch Reagan leave the office and feel a grin form on my face.
I go into the ladies’ restroom and took another look at my hair, fluff up the back with my fingers, and go back to my desk.
Picking up the receiver, I dial the number I’ve come to know from memory. I wait a minute or so for the voice on the other end and smile.
“Hello, Mr. Hicks.”
“Oh, Margie, is everything okay?”
“Yes. I just thought I should let you know that Ms. Quinn has left for the day, so anything you need, I’ll be stepping in to deal with it.”
There’s a short pause before he speaks again. “And can I ask where Reagan is?”
“She just left.”
“But it’s eleven thirty.”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Hicks, she didn’t tell me anything else, just that she needed to leave.”
“Okay, thank you for keeping me informed.” He exhales, and that small grin soon turns into a victorious smile. “I’ll speak with Reagan myself.”
“Of course. I hope you have a good day.”
“You too. I’m here if you need anything at all, but I’m sure you’ll keep everything running smoothly.”
“I’ll make sure of it.” I hang up and swing from side to side in my desk chair, feeling triumphant.
Just then I hear Reagan’s desk phone ringing. If it’s direct to Reagan’s phone, it must be private.
Trying the door to Reagan’s office, I’m surprised to see that it’s unlocked, as Reagan is very strict about her door being locked. She really must not have been feeling well.
Closing the door quietly, I go sit in her chair. I always wondered what everything looked like from here.
The power, the respect just from sitting in this chair, must be amazing.
Luckily for me, the vertical blinds are closed, so no one can see me sitting here. Reagan only shuts them if she’s having a meeting or if she’s out of the office. I power her computer on and see a password is needed for entry.
I turn her screen off again, having absolutely no idea what the password could be. I open the drawer at the side of the desk to see if she keeps anything interesting here. You’d be surprised what an office drawer could tell you about a person. This one, however, tells me nothing. Just a whole lot of pens, pencils, calculator…a per
sonal calendar.
Taking the small black book from the drawer, I quickly flick through pages. I only find business appointments. Boring.
Realizing I’m not going to find what I need, I go back to my own office and sit down. I take my cell from my bag and see a message on the lock screen.
I know we haven’t seen each other for a while, but I’d really like to see you again. What do you think? Let me know. I’ve missed you.
Clicking on the camera option, I hold up my cell, snap a picture of my new hair color, and send it to him. I hope he likes it.
Three dots appear, and I wait patiently for his reply. Wow! Sexy! I love it.
I say: We can meet up later if you want. Meet me in the bar, the one we went to last time, at 7.
I know he’ll come to me. Things are looking up. I smile to myself at the thought, feeling smug.
Now to get to work.
The door opens and a tall shadow hovers over my desk. I looked up and see Everett.
“Mr. Brooks. Can I help you?”
“Wow. You’re blonde.” Everett’s eyes are wide as he looks me over.
“Do you like it?” I tip my head to the side twirling a lock of hair around my finger I want to say I don’t actually care what he thinks, but it seems I do. It seemed like the right thing to ask. I mean we can’t all be perfect like Reagan fucking Quinn.
“I was passing through on the way back to the office and thought I’d pop in and see Ms. Quinn. We have some business to go over.”
I raise an eyebrow at that. “I’m sure you do.” It was his turn to cock an eyebrow this time. “But I’m afraid you’re too late, she just left for the day. Said something about meeting up with someone.”
I shrug because there’s nothing else I can say. I suppose I could have told him the truth, but how do I know it was the truth. I stand up, round the desk, and lay a hand softly on Everett’s chest. “You know, I’m here, I could help you out.”
He takes a step away from me. “Are you sure she was meeting someone?”
