by Sienna Grant
Fifty-Nine
Reagan
Sinking to the floor, my knees hit the rug with a thud and I fall forward. I sob into my hands until they’re wet with my tears again. Everett has no idea how much I need him to stay, or how much I wanted to tell him, but I couldn’t. The right words wouldn’t fall from my mouth. Everything my heart was telling me to do, my head was saying the opposite. It’s like having an angel and a devil sitting on each shoulder, bickering between themselves.
Margie has to be doing all of this for a reason, I just need to find out why. Scrubbing my palms over my skirt and getting rid of the moisture that’s covering them, I pull myself up and sit with my back against the couch, pulling my knees up against my chest. Wrapping my arms around them, I rest my chin on top. I try to think back at what I could’ve done to her to make her act this way. I’ve done nothing but be nice to her. The biggest thing of all—I trusted her. Surely that can’t be made into something bad. No, this goes further back, it has to. But to where?
Dragging myself up, I get my cell and call Hayden. I have to tell him Margie’s not the person he thinks she is. If anything happens to my brother, I’ll cut a bitch. He’s gone through enough.
When he doesn’t answer, I hang up. I can’t tell him over text. I’ll have to try later on. Ruby is next on the list. She’ll help me. She’s like a bloodhound when it comes to digging up information. I’ll clean myself up, then call her.
But like she has a crystal ball and knows that I need her, my cell rings in my hand. I sniff back my emotions and attempt to hold everything in as I swipe across my screen and lift my cell to my ear sitting down.
“Hey bitch, wassup?” I hear her voice and as much as I want to smile and be upbeat, my voice breaks.
“Depends. You okay?”
“Yeah. Make sure you’re at home tonight, because I’m coming over. I have some good shit to tell you.”
“I have shit to tell you too.”
“Okay, I’ll bring wine.”
I smile at Ruby’s good sense, and once I’ve hung up, I turn my cell off again. Throwing it back onto the couch, I drop my forehead to my knees.
I’m not sure how long I’ve been sitting there, but I do know my ass is numb. I move onto my knees and plant my hands on the couch to act as my crutch and help myself up. I need to get out of these clothes and take a shower. I want to wash the events of the day away. In a crazy way I was hoping that everything that had happened today was just a figment of my overactive imagination and maybe my mind had played a trick on me, and none of this had really happened.
No such luck though.
Margie’s smug grin and Everett’s broken expression when I sent him away earlier keep popping back into my head, and then I feel like shit all over again.
I need Ruby.
I drag my lazy ass up and go to the bedroom, stripping off as I go, leaving a trail of clothes behind me. I don’t fucking care about the mess. Other than Ruby, no one will see it.
It wasn’t long after I got out of the shower that Ruby arrived. Opening the front door, she holds up a grocery store bag of wine.
“Two?”
“One for reserves. I wasn’t sure how much you’d need this when I tell you what I’ve found out.
“You know I love you, right?”
My best friend looks closely at me and frowns. “You look like shit. Come on, babe. Let’s grab a glass and you can tell me why you look like you’ve been dragged through a bush.”
While she goes into the kitchen, I go into the living room and drop down on the floor in front of the couch.
“Red or white?” Ruby shouts from the kitchen.
“Red.”
Armed with two glasses and a bottle of cabernet, she uncorks it and sits next to me on the floor, putting the bottle and glasses down on the coffee table.
Wrapping my fingers around the neck of the bottle, I pour some into both of our glasses. It makes a glugging noise as it leaves the mouth of the bottle. I’m mesmerized and can’t tear my eyes away. At this point she’s lucky I’m even using a glass.
“Okay. First, what has happened since I saw you last and now.”
“I found out my assistant is seeing my brother and I then caught the same assistant in a very compromising position with my boyfriend. Oh, and I’ve been suspended too.”
“You fucking what?” Ruby explodes.
“My life is probably over.”
“Let’s deal with one thing at a time. What happened with Everett?”
“I have no fucking idea. One minute we’re pretty much all in love—”
“Wait,” Ruby interrupts me. “In love? Seriously?”
“It doesn’t matter,” I sigh. “Anyway, he was so sweet to me. Then I have no idea what happened. I went to his office to surprise him and Margie was already there. He had her pinned to the wall, Ruby.” I turn and look at her so I can see her face. “Why would he do that?”
“Are you sure you didn’t misconstrue it for something else? I know what you’re like.”
“Does it really matter. He’s a rich playboy. I’m sure he’d have gotten bored with me eventually.”
“And I’m sure that’s what you’re telling yourself over and over. Because it can’t be anything else right? Reag, you have to look at the bigger picture, read between the lines. I highly doubt he would cheat on you; especially not with someone who’s so obsessed with another woman that she has to change her whole appearance to look like her.” She takes my hands in hers. “Leave that fucking messed up bitch out of this scenario for a minute and let’s just focus on you and Everett. Did you ask him to explain?”
“He tried.”
“Oh, Reagan.” Her shoulders slump as she sighs at me. “I love you to death, but you’re such hard work at times. I really just want to shake you.”
I roll my eyes. Lifting my wine to my lips, I tip back the glass and drink half of the contents. I need this today. “Just keep the wine coming.”
She refills my glass, “So, other than what happened with Everett, why have you been suspended?”
I have to have another gulp of wine for this. “Losing accounts and, this is the kicker, bullying. I’m a bully. Did you know that?”
“Fuck. What the actual fuck? Where did he get something like that from?”
“Well, I could give you three guesses, but I think you’re only going to need one. I have no proof though.” Pouring more wine into my glass, I put the bottle down with more force than needed and take a sip, the strong tangy liquid rushing down my throat. “If I’m right, I think Margie is the one who sabotaged that account, but there I go again, accusing her, bullying her.”
Was I really that self-absorbed to not even see what she was up to? Or was I just clueless to her gains? Just how stupid was I?
Fuck my life!
“Alright, that’s it.” I raise my eyebrows at my best friend, and in the next second, she’s taking my glass from me and putting it down. “You need to stop this fucking pity party right now. You’re better than this, Reagan.”
“What’s the point?” I say, defeated. “Everett doesn’t want me anymore.”
“No. You pushed him away. Like you always do with people.” She takes me by the shoulders. “I know your dad dying wrecked you, but you’ve come so far. You let Everett in. You were doing so well…”
“Yeah, and then someone pushed themselves into my life, someone I didn’t know from Adam, and screwed my fucking life up!”
“I’m not so sure.”
That gets my attention, and my eyebrows pull together in a frown. “What do you mean?”
“I’m not sure she came from nowhere. I have to do some more digging, but I think we know her from way back…”
“What the fuck? Where?”
“I don’t want to say too much until I know for sure. I’ve watched you for the last few weeks, and you’re not acting like my best friend. I’m not sure where she went, but I want her back
. I want the woman who wouldn’t take shit from anyone. The most ruthless woman in the business.”
“Pfft. Ruthless? I don’t think that’s the right word. She managed to strip me of everything, Ruby. And no one believes me.” As I shake my head, I can feel a tear roll slowly down my cheek. “I don’t know what to do anymore.”
Brushing away my tears, she holds my head in place, her eyes changing from soft to determined. “Then goddammit, you take it back. Do you hear me, Raegan Quinn? You are better than her, stronger than her.”
Pinching the stem of the glass between my finger and thumb, I pull it closer to me before cupping the globe in my hand and taking a swig.
“Why don’t we start with what we do know, then move on to what we need to prove. What do you know about her?” Ruby sits up a little straighter, picks up her glass, and sips at her wine while she waits on me.
“She has an impeccable record… mostly top grades and her references are amazing. She was more than qualified for the job when I took her on.” I pull myself up to match Ruby and take another gulp of my wine, which is starting to take effect. Red wine always goes right to my head, and at the rate I’ve been knocking this back, I know it won’t take long. Suddenly, my mind clears. “That bitch was playing me, wasn’t she?”
“Seems like it.”
“So, tell me what you think you know,” I tell Ruby with a renewed determination. I wait on the answer that will solve all this.
Sixty
Reagan
The next morning, I roll out of bed as cautious as I can, cradling the side of my head. My hair looks like a lion’s mane as I catch a glance in the bathroom mirror. After relieving my bladder, I go into the kitchen and make myself some coffee, the good stuff. I look on the counter for my cell phone, thinking that was the last place I saw it, and suddenly remember the details of yesterday’s events, why my brain feels like it’s currently being used as an extra instrument in a rock band, and why I have no Everett to grab me coffee on the way back from his run.
I turn on the coffee maker; the cheap shit will have to do. Placing my cup beneath the spout, I click on the strongest strength. Once it’s poured, I stir some sweetener into it and take a sip of the steaming liquid. I grab a bottle of water from the fridge and pop some Aspirin.
I need to find my phone, so I start my search in the couch, only to find it wedged between the cushions. I pluck it out and power it on. I put it back on the breakfast bar and wait for it to load. The clock on the wall catches my eye and I see it’s almost ten. I don’t even sleep in this long on a weekend, let alone during the week. But then I usually have work to get to.
My cell pings with message after message as it comes alive. Coffee in my hand, I pick up the phone and find I have a couple messages from Hayden and even more from Everett.
I probably shouldn’t ignore the ones from Hayden—and I won’t, I’ll read them later and go see him—but for now I focus on the ones sent from Everett.
I’m sorry. I didn’t even get to tell you what I came to say. Maybe when you’ve had time to think, we can talk.
Just so you know, I’m totally innocent in all this. I need you to know that that’s probably not the right thing to say but I’m desperate here.
I know you’re ignoring me and probably hate me right now, but I could never do to you what you thought I did.
Rae, please. Please talk to me. Just call me. For fuck’s sakes, Reagan. I…I… Forget it.
His messages stopped just a little after ten o’clock. By that time, I was way more than tipsy. Ruby and I drank both bottles of wine, had pizza, and slept in my bed. She held me as I gave in and cried. Again. She made me promise to speak to Everett and hear him out. She only had a couple of clients this morning, so she was taking the rest of the day off after to play detective. I always told her she should have studied journalism, not hairdressing.
I click in the text field of Everett’s message and type out a reply: I don’t hate you. I’d turned my cell off after you left. I needed some space to think. I don’t know what to think anymore. I’m not sure who to trust.
Swallowing the rest of my coffee, I take my cell with me into the bedroom and put some clothes on. I find my blue ripped jeans and pair them with an off the shoulder white tee, then slip on my white Converse hi-tops before spraying myself with deodorant and brushing the knots out of my hair. Twisting it around my hand, I place it in a bun and secure it with a hair tie. I don’t bother with makeup. I am in no way put together all the time. And if a time in my life ever called for casual clothes this is it.
This is the real Reagan Quinn.
As I slide my cell into my back pocket, it vibrates with a message. Pulling it back out, I see a reply from Ev: I’m glad you don’t hate me. Rae, you can trust me, I promise. Can we meet later?
Locking my screen, I slip the phone back into my pocket without answering him. I’m not sure if I’m ready to see him yet. I grab my purse from the kitchen and leave the apartment to do what needs to be done.
I pull up at Mom’s house, nervous but determined to talk to her and explain everything that’s happening with Hayden. I take a calming breath before pushing my key into the lock and opening the front door.
“Mom, it’s me,” I call out.
Mom greets me as I turn the corner. “Reagan. This is a nice surprise.” She’s all smiles until she looks over my appearance. Then she frowns. “Sweetheart, are you okay? You look pale and tired.”
“Can we sit down, please?”
“Of course. You sit and I’ll grab us some coffee.”
Mom leaves me and I go into the dining room. I drag a chair from under the table and sit down. My knee bounces with nervousness. I have no idea how this is going to go, but I’m sure everything will be fine. Once she sees I’m just trying to look out for my brother, Mom can then help me broach the topic with him
I’m dragged from my thoughts when Mom comes in with two cups of coffee and places one down in front of me. Once she’s sitting, she smiles at me and covers my hand with hers.
“Tell me what’s wrong.”
“I’ve got a day off work and thought I’d come see you after I had to leave…” I breathe deeply, shutting my eyes “…so suddenly the other night.”
“Oh, come on, Reagan, I know you better than that. You’re very much like your father. You can’t hide your emotions because they show on your face.”
A small smile tugs at my mouth at the mention of dad. She’s right though.
“Come on. Out with it.”
I take a sip of coffee and sit up a little straighter. “Okay. Bear with me, because this is something that’s going to be a little surprising to you and I just need to get all of it out. It’s about Margie.”
“Go on…”
“A lot of things have been going on recently, and it all started when I hired her as my assistant. Now, before you say I’m wrong, or mistaken, just hear me out. Things have been happening at work. She was so nice at the start, I helped her, as you know. I took her shopping. She created breaks for me through my work day, which is something I’ve never had, but then it all started going downhill. My main account, my biggest one that I worked so hard for, got closed for reasons I don’t need to go into; but it was big, mom. No, it was huge. Accounts started disappearing. She flirted with the guy I was seeing. She would pop up in places you wouldn’t expect, like in the park early in the morning. She’d watch me all the time. She changed her clothes, her whole appearance, to look more like me. Then she dyed her hair blonde. Why would anyone want to do that? The more I put it all together, the creepier it is.”
Mom sighs and looks at me. “Reagan, don’t you think you’re overreacting a little bit? I mean, don’t get me wrong, when Hayden introduced her, I didn’t realize it was the same person who came shopping with us at first, but that’s her prerogative to change and have a whole new makeover. Especially if it makes her feel better about herself.”
“No, I’m not ov
erreacting. What the hell mom. Don’t you think it’s all a bit too coincidental that she suddenly looks like me. The guy I’ve been seeing or was seeing because I’m not even sure of anything right now, is the owner of an opposing firm. Everett and I have an agreement to not screw the other over where business is concerned. But we’ve gotten closer and we were actually taking it to the next level and pushing for more of a relationship. At least that was the plan before all this.”
“Do I get to meet this Everett, or at least see a photo?”
“Yeah, let me find one. Hang on.” I grab my phone and open my phone up to the photo gallery. I scroll through the camera roll and find one from the charity ball. I click on it, enlarge it, and slide my cell over to Mom.
She picks up the phone to see the picture more clearly. “Well, he’s a looker. Smart, professional, your father would be proud.”
My dad has to stay out of this for now, or I’ll start crying, so I ignore that comment. “Mom, can you focus on the problem at hand.” I pause for a second before going on once mom’s attention is back. “Anyway. I went to Everett’s office and found Margie there. He swears he’s innocent. They were against the wall and her lips were on his.”
The frown on her face tells me she’s not happy. It takes her a minute before she finds the words she wants to say. “And this is the guy you want a relationship with?”
“Nothing is going on between us until I can find out what’s happening. On top of all of this, I’ve been suspended.”
“From work? But why?”
I take another sip of coffee, fortifying myself for this next revelation. “He said for sabotage of an account and for bullying. Mr. Hicks wants to do investigations. Mom, I’ve never bullied anyone in my life. And especially not at work. Why would I sabotage my own job? It’s my life. I’ve given my life to that firm.” Tears threaten to fall but I push them back. I cried a river last night, I won’t cry anymore, I refuse to.
“And who do you think is accusing you of bullying?” She frowns as she takes a sip of coffee.
