by Sienna Grant
It won’t be long now. Everything is going according to plan—slow and disturbing.
All I need to do now is take from her what she loves most.
Forty-Four
Reagan
Monday soon rolls around again. Leaving Everett’s place after being there the whole weekend, I stop at Starbucks on my way to work and order a large Americano. I’m more relaxed than I was Friday, but as I walk through the doors of Hicks Life Solutions, my anxiety rears its ugly head. Something has me nervous but I’m not sure what.
Margie better come into work today. I don’t know what she was trying to pull Saturday morning when we went for a run. What the fuck was she even doing in the park at that time? She doesn’t have a dog or kids, and she wasn’t dressed for a run either. Once I’m in my office, I take a sip of the heavenly brew and close my eyes as it goes down. I hear the chatter of my employees as they come in and go to their desks. Taking a breath, I turn on my computer. I’ve had this feeling in the pit of my stomach since Friday and I’m scared that I’ll open my email and see something else has gone wrong.
“Pull yourself together, Reagan. Margie wasn’t here Friday. You dumbass.”
Shaking it off, I put my coffee down and switch on my monitor. Looking through the glass separating the offices, I unlock the door from my side and walk into Margie’s office. I look around me and sit down at her desk. I’m not sure what I think I’ll find but I pull on the knob of the desk drawer and find it locked. Her desk is neat and tidy. When I realize I’m not going to find anything, I go back to my own office.
By the time I sit back down my computer is loaded and ready to go. I click on my email and, thankfully, I don’t have anyone telling me we owe anything. Or maybe a lawsuit is being filed against us, which is good.
A sigh of relief escapes my lungs and I sit back and drink my coffee.
I hear her voice before I see her. I don’t move from my chair, instead I watch from my office as she waltzes into hers and drops down into her chair.
Picking up the desk phone, I call her office. She sneers, but her voice is light and cheery. “Good morning, Reagan, how are you today?”
“When you’re settled, can I see you in my office, please?”
“Of course.”
I hang up, only for her phone to ring again. Margie picks it up and soon the call is being transferred to me.
“Reagan,” Terry Hicks greets me as I put the receiver to my ear. “I see Margie is in today. What’s the status of the Sphinx account?”
“I’m seeing the CEO tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow? Reagan, this needs to be dealt with immediately.”
“I know that, but tomorrow is the only day he can meet with me. I can’t make him see me right away…”
“He should. We’re a big, established company.”
“Yes, and so are they.”
“Fine. Just keep me in the loop.” I don’t win many arguments where Terry is concerned, but I feel like I’ve just won that one.
“Always,” I say, upbeat, and smile to myself.
Without a goodbye yet again, he hangs up and I sigh, putting the phone down and call Margie in.
She struts inside and sits.
“I assume you’re okay after our little collision on Saturday morning.”
“Oh, I’m fine.” A small smirk pulls at her lips before she leans forward. “I have to say, though, I can see why you keep Mr. Brooks around, that man is fit.” Staring at her, I have to find a way to stay professional, but I’m finding it hard. “I mean, he’s sexy as sin in a suit, but in those shorts, wow.”
“That’s enough about Mr. Brooks. Let’s get down to Hicks business, shall we?”
She nods, picking up her notebook and pen, and sits back.
“The Sphinx account. What do you know about it closing so suddenly? Did you have any correspondence from them on Thursday?”
Her mouth drops open, forming an O as she looks me directly in the eyes, shaking her head.
“So does that mean you don’t know anything?”
“I have no idea. When did they close it?”
“That’s the thing—they didn’t. Someone here did. At least that’s what they said. I have a meeting with them tomorrow to figure this all out. When I went home Thursday, I told you I was available on the phone and through email. It’s not often I’m sick or even have to go home. You’re my trusted assistant, Margie. I put you in charge.”
“Ms. Quinn, I swear I…I didn’t know anything.”
I stare at her. She meets my determined look. “Well, accounts are looking into it for me. If there was a system crash or something, they’ll find out.”
“I hope they do. That contract was worth a quarter of a million dollars.” Her eyes are wide as she fills me in on the contract that I nabbed myself. I can feel my anger rising, so I change the subject.
“Also, I had a call from Terry Hicks, a rather irate call. Apparently, he had no idea why I went home. Can you enlighten me?” Folding my arms across my chest I wait.
Her head shakes from side to side again. “No. I told him you weren’t well and that maybe you should go home. Maybe he didn’t hear me?”
“Maybe. Okay then, on to the next item on the agenda…”
Once we’ve gone through the jobs for the day, we run through my schedule for the day and conclude our meeting. She heads back to her office and I watch as she sets up her desk for the day. Everything has to be in its place and tidy before she does anything. With a small shake of my head and a frown lining my forehead, I get back to my emails.
Forty-Five
Reagan
Searching through my closet this morning, I make sure to dress to impress. I pull out my navy Armani skirt suit and pair it with a white silk shirt and navy Louboutins.
Everett can barely keep his hands off me, and every time he comes by, I have to bat him away. The man is insatiable. I really need to focus this morning and not have him in my head. He makes me coffee and gives me a kiss before leaving my place telling me to knock ’em dead.
That’s the idea.
I twist my hair up onto my head, as it always made me look more formal and professional. If I’m not seeing clients, I usually just pull it back into a ponytail.
I look at myself in the window of Sphinx and Sons and suck in a calming breath before pushing through the door, holding my head high and heading for the reception desk.
“Can I help you?” the receptionist asks pleasantly, smiling as she greets me.
“I’m Reagan Quinn, CEO of Hicks Life Solutions. I’m here to see Mr. Walker.”
“Ah yes, Ms. Quinn. He’s expecting you. Take a seat for me and I’ll let him know you’re here.”
“Thank you.” I smile politely and take a seat nearest the door. Placing my purse on my lap, I pulled out my cell and make sure it’s on silent. A text from Ruby is sitting on my lockscreen, but I’ll get to it later. Just as I dropped it back in my purse, the door to Walker’s office opens and he comes out to greet me. Robert Walker is a tall, handsome man in his late forties, with a polite and easy nature.
“Reagan. Come on in.”
We shake hands before I stand and follow him into his office.
“Please take a seat.”
I sit and place my purse on the floor next to me.
“Can I get you anything to drink, coffee maybe?”
“No, I’m great, thank you.”
He takes his seat and steeples his fingers together. “I’ll cut to the chase, Reagan. When something like this happens, I don’t generally see clients myself, but since we’ve had such a good rapport, I thought maybe I should deal with it face to face.”
“Thank you for that,” I say with a smile. I don’t want to come across as desperate, but there’s a lot riding on this. “Honestly, I wouldn’t usually do this myself either, but I had to.”
“I understand. So, the reason for the account closing is because of the order of
the shipment. We think it’s a human error; not technical. We had two hundred pills delivered not two million. A lot of lives have been put at risk, there’s a lot of lives that depend on this drug. I’m sorry but until we can get to the bottom of the issue, I can’t see us moving forward.”
“If I can get to the bottom of this accident, would we be able to pick up where we left off?”
“I’m not sure we can take that risk, Reagan.”
I chew on the inside of my lip to stave off my anger and my nerves. “Robert, I understand your reticence, but I worked so hard to get this account.” And there goes my image. So much for no desperation.
“I’ll let you in on a secret—I didn’t give Hicks Life Solutions the account because of their reputation, it was you who impressed me. You’re a hard worker, Reagan, and I like that. I have some reservations about Terry Hicks.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.” A smirk tugs at my lips. I consider what he’s just told me, but I’m not sure how I can pull this back. “How about you give me a couple of days to get to the bottom of it. I didn’t even know that it happened until I came back from a sick day. Not that I’m making any excuses, I completely accept the blame. I have IT looking into the computer system for me.” I suck in deep a breath and hope he’s swayed by my softer side.
“Honestly, Reagan, if it was just you, I’d say yes, but I’m not sure. Let me think about it and I’ll give you a call. I’ll give you your two days for your own investigations and then we’ll speak, how does that sound to you?”
“I…I understand.” I nod, feeling nothing but guilt. This is my fault. I shouldn’t have gone home. It wouldn’t have happened. “Well, thank you for seeing me, Robert, I appreciate it.” I stand and reach out my hand to him. Robert takes it in his and I give him a firm shake with a small smile.
“It’s a lot of money on the line, but I’ll go over everything and see if we can salvage something here.”
“Thank you again.”
He walks around his desk and opens the door for me. I say goodbye to him and his assistant and walk out the way I walked in, with my head held high.
By the time I reach the office, I am furious.
I storm through my office door and slam it shut. I drop down into my chair, slam my purse onto my desk, and drum my fingers on the arm of my chair. My knee is bouncing with negative energy and I actually want to hit something. A timid rap sounds on the door. I looked up and see Margie. With the curl of my finger, I coax her in.
“Is everything okay, Ms. Quinn?”
“Is everything okay?” My eyes widened and I spit her words back at her. “No, Margie, everything is not okay. I may have just lost a $250,000 dollar account. All because either my system crashed, or someone isn’t doing their job. In fact, why don’t you do your job and go and find out what’s going on! Get onto IT; I want answers.” My hand slams the desk with a loud thud.
“If it’s the system, how the hell does it change the number of drugs to be ordered. Someone had to physically change the order!” I roar. I heard the tone of my own voice and even I would be scared. “Please don’t come back until you have some answers for me. In fact, schedule a meeting with all department managers for later today. I don’t give a shit what they have scheduled, they’re not leaving until I’ve seen them.”
She leaves my office and closes the door behind her. I’m so fucking angry, my hands are shaking. I need coffee. No, I need something to calm me, not speed up my heart rate. I watch Margie closely through the window. She picks up the phone and talks to someone. I’m assuming she’s doing as I ask. Rather than let her tell the sales team, I go out myself.
I stand in front of the room and get their attention by clapping my hands.
“Something happened last Friday, and I need to see every single one of you. I’m arranging a staff meeting for five o’clock. If you don’t like it, you know where the door is. It’s urgent, and I expect everyone there.”
They’re obviously staying quiet because they don’t want to bet on their jobs.
I go back to my office and shove the door shut behind me.
Taking my cell from my purse, I remember I had a text this morning. Instead of replying, I head back out.
I lock the office door. Margie jumps up out of her seat and stands. “Hold my calls, Margie, I’m going out. It’ll probably be two hours or more depending on traffic. If Mr. Hicks calls, I’ve got my cell, ask him to call me on that.”
I don’t wait for an answer. Instead I storm out and jump in my car to see my best friend.
Forty-Six
Reagan
Pushing through the door of the salon, the miserable bitch receptionist goes to stop me but I’m seriously not in the mood for her today. Lifting my hand in a ‘don’t fucking go there’ gesture, I walk right past her and into the back of the shop.
“Wooo, look at you, sexy bitch,” Ruby calls out, a smile plastered on her lips. I slam my purse down on the counter and fold my arms across my chest. “Whoa. Whose ass do I need to kick?”
“I have no idea.” I sulk. “Something happened last week when I was off sick. I lost an account. A big account. And I have no idea how.”
“How much are we talking?”
“Quarter of a million…” I say like it’s ten dollars. My voice is way calmer than how I actually feel.
“What? How?” Ruby’s voice rises to a screech.
“Like I said, I have no idea. Something’s going on at work and I don’t know what, but I need to figure it out.”
Ruby studies me closely and rubs my arm, soothing me. “Sit down.”
“I can’t, I’m too angry.” My hands fall to my hips and I pace the small room. “Then when I get back from meeting with the CEO of the company, I have Margie asking if I’m okay. Okay? What the fuck? She could see how angry I was.”
“Reag, you’re gonna have to start from the beginning, because I’m lost, hon.”
With a heavy sigh, I tell her about having to go home sick. I tell her about what Everett said to me and about Terry. I tell her about the park on Saturday and about what I said to her yesterday morning. My head is spinning. I feel like if I don’t get a hold on my temper, I’m going to end up with another migraine. It’s like everything has the name Margie added to the end of it. Everything points to her.
Ruby sets her hands on my shoulders, holding me firm. “Reagan, I love you, you know that, right?” I nod, because obviously I know that. “So, you know I’d never lie to you?” Again, I nod. “I don’t trust her…Margie. There’s something about her that keeps nagging at me and I have no idea what it is.” She sighs. “I didn’t know how to tell you because you seemed to like her. I was hoping it was just first impressions, but I don’t think it is. When we went to see Halestorm, she was constantly watching you. I didn’t like it. I’m not a jealous person—you’ve known me for years, and you know I’m happy when you get other friends, the more the merrier—but it was a little creepy.” She schools her expression before continuing. “You know what I’m like, Reag, I can’t just sit by and watch. You know when you get a feeling that you’ve met someone before? That’s what I have and right now I can’t shake it. I keep wracking my brain, trying to remember, but it’s not working.”
“Fuck!” I try to keep my voice down because the salon is quiet; I don’t want Ruby to look bad.
“Think about it, Reagan, things have started going wrong since you hired her. You were so happy in your job and your boss never had a bad word to say about you.”
Covering my face with my hands, I tightly close my eyes with the slightest bit of hope that I can wish all this away, but I know I can’t.
“She must have really pulled a number on you, my friend, for you to trust her the way you have. I’ve never seen anyone get that close to you, other than me.” She’s right, I usually don’t let people in this fast
“This is all my fault, Ruby.” I sigh again. I take my cell out and see a missed call from
Margie and Everett, but nothing from Terry. I’d forgotten that it was still silent from the meeting. Turning my cell around, I show her my screen.
“Is she checking up on you?”
“Who knows.” I shrug, frowning, and stand up, dragging my purse up onto my shoulder. “I better get going. Back to the grind, I go.”
I almost get to the door when the tone of her voice changes. “Changing the subject completely…” I turn around to see a smirk pull at her mouth as she sets a hand on her cocked hip. “How’s it going with you and Everett?”
I can’t help the knowing grin that plasters itself across my lips. “Very well, thank you.” I don’t give her anything else. My eyebrows bounce up and down and I leave.
Lifting my hand up to Cruella as I pass, I leave the salon feeling a little calmer than when I got here, but no less anxious.
Waltzing back into the office, I almost make it past Margie without being noticed.
“Ms. Quinn. Mr. Hicks has called twice.”
“Great. I’ll call him back from the office phone.”
Sitting down and putting my password in for my computer to come back on, I get myself settled first before I make the dreaded call.
The line connects and I hear his gravelly voice. “Reagan, tell me what’s going on with Sphinx.”
I was hoping to delay this a while longer, but no such luck. “He’s having think everything over and letting me do my investigation. He and I will speak in a couple of days.”
“I’m only going to say this once: if we don’t get that account back, you’ll be finding yourself in the unemployment line.”
“Me? But…how?” I decide not to argue, for one it’s not professional, and two, I am Chief Executive and everything gets run through me first. “Yes, sir,” I agree, and the line goes dead.
