by Lori Wick
Not until dating Kevin, whose world was much closer to Bryant Marble than the Ciofanis had ever been, did she realize just how far from home she was. She wasn't a snob. She wasn't even impressed with money. But a lot of people were.
She was very proud of what she had done. She'd left with only two cases of clothes, her passport, birth certificate, and the money she'd earned at Bryant. She had more money than most since she'd lived at home and had few expenses, but it was still money she'd earned.
She felt guilty for not giving Kevin more of a chance, but something stopped her. Jalaina knew she was Sam Bryant's granddaughter, a statement to which Jalaina had said, "Who's Sam Bryant?" Somehow in Arcineh's heart she knew Kevin would be amazed. And some voice inside wondered if that might not make her all the more desirable. True, he'd already told her that he loved her, but there was never a mention of marriage, just love and lovemaking.
172
"I care for you, Kevin:' Arcineh finally said. "And I want you in my life. But unless I know I am in love, truly know, sex is not a part of the plan:'
"You don't know if you love me?"
"No:' Arcineh admitted, even when his tone said he was not happy.
"How can you not know?"
"I could ask you the same question. How can you know in four months?"
Kevin's face held all the frustration he felt. This girl was special--he knew that--but she never let him get as close as he wanted. Not only physically, although he certainly wanted that, but with herself. She always seemed to hold a little something back.
"What do I have to do to prove it?" Kevin finally asked.
"I don't need you to prove anything. That's not what this is about:' Arcineh said the half-truth, knowing that she was waiting to know more about him. "This is a serious thing we're talking about, and I want to be sure. Marriage is a big step:'
"Who said anything about marriage?" Kevin asked quietly.
Arcineh froze. She hadn't meant to say that, but wasn't that the very thing she wondered? If a man said he loved a woman, why was he not talking about marriage?
"I'm sorry:' Arcineh said stiffly, and she stood from her place on the sofa. "I misunderstood you:'
"I'm not ready for marriage right now:' Kevin, backtracking, said quietly, standing as well.
"My mistake Arcineh said, her voice a bit cool.
Kevin didn't know exactly what had gone wrong, but it was a mess. He stared at Arcineh, completely confused by who she was. They usually had such fun. He didn't know why she needed to be so serious about this one issue and have everything settled.
"I wonder if we might need a little time apart:' Kevin ventured, hoping Arcineh would argue.
173
"Or a lot of time Arcineh said, keeping her distance.
Her stance and tone, and the glittering anger in her eyes, made Kevin angry as well. He left without another word. Arcineh, ready to throw something, thought she would kill for some white chocolate. Instead she attacked the ice cream in the freezer and didn't cry until Jalaina came home.
September 11, 2001, rocked Chicago as it did the rest of the world. Arcineh and Jalaina, who had both started off to work, got to one another and then to Nicky's as fast as they could. Nicky drove them to be with Grandma and her sister. There the family crowded around the television to watch in horror and sorrow.
"I have to call home Arcineh said at one point, and Grandma stood with her when she dialed. The phone lines were jammed. Not until Friday was Arcineh able to talk to Violet.
"Vi:' she said quietly, only to sit and listen helplessly when that lady began to cry.
"Tell me you're all right:' Violet finally managed.
"I am. Are you?"
"Yes:'
"And Sam. Is he all right?"
"Yes. He's been stuck in Milan, but he'll be home tonight:' "Okay" Arcineh said, knowing she was going to die from the pain
in her heart. She missed this woman and her grandfather so much. "Please come home Violet suddenly said.
"Quinn?"
"Yes:' Violet answered, her voice dropping a little. "She's still living here:'
Arcineh didn't know what to say. She didn't even want to stay on the line, but Violet was speaking again.
174
"Are you all right? Do you have enough money and a place to live?"
"I'm fine. I have a job and an apartment with a friend:' "Are you married or anything like that?"
"No, nothing like that:'
Things got quiet then. Arcineh didn't know what to say, and Violet just wanted to sob.
"I'd better go:' Arcineh finally said.
"Please be safe Violet begged her.
"I will. You and Sam too:'
After Arcineh hung up, she realized she had a horrible headache. She knew it was from the tears--not just the tears over missing her family, but those shed for the loss and the hurting hearts of 9/11 families everywhere.
Little by little, life went back to normal. Rugby Shades had let people go home to be with families as they felt they needed, but in time, things slowly fell back into place. Production was down as businesses were hit hard, but those people who had jobs with Rugby were able to keep them.
Arcineh enjoyed her work with the files, but now that she had the system and office down pat, she found herself doing her job too fast and having nothing left to do. Shortly before Thanksgiving she began reading the inner office memo board and checking out the jobs available.
In February of 2002, she spotted the first one that intrigued her because it sounded so much like what she'd done for Carlee. The pay was significantly more than she was making in files. She didn't need more money now, but she worried about when Jalaina would marry Will and leave her to carry the apartment on her own salary.
175
Arcineh, still wearing her dowdy clothes, pulled-back hair, and thick black glasses, debated if she should fu herself up or not but decided against it. She let Vanessa know what she wanted to do, and that woman, who had come to appreciate Arcineh's hard work, sent her through the proper channels.
Two days later Arcineh found herself sitting with Patrice Bradshaw. Arcineh had not seen her more than a few times in the eight months she'd worked for Rugby, but she looked just the same: beautiful, very professional, and a little cold. Arcineh missed Carlee in an amazing way just then but did her best not to think about it.
"It's not exactly an assistant to the assistant:' Patrice explained. "We need someone to do small jobs and assist where needed. How are you with a computer? Do you know your way around Word?"
"Yes," Arcineh was glad to be able to say.
"But it's not all computers:' Patrice was swift to add. "The executive conference room is on this floor, and during meetings I would expect you to be in the room, not looking bored, keeping an eye on me for anything I might need, and keeping everyone's water pitcher full."
Put like that, Arcineh thought it sounded dreadful, but the pay was not to be ignored. She also wondered where it might lead. Would a job in the top office of this building lead to something better or look good on a resume?
"I'd be willing to try:' Arcineh heard herself say, knowing that it sounded lame, her scrabbled brain not able to come up with anything else at the moment.
"I have your information here. Files, yes?"
"Yes:'
"I'll be calling you if you get the job."
"Thank you," Arcineh said, sure that it would never happen. She went back to the file room, glad to see Nita around.
"How'd it go?"
"Not great. I'm not sure I'm right for the job, and it doesn't sound like much fun."
176
"Well, at least you tried, and it's almost Friday:' Nita said comfortingly.
The day was winding down, and at last the women walked together from the building. They were about to go their separate ways when Arcineh spotted a good-looking man.
"Who is that?" she asked of Nita, who seemed to know everyone.
Nita's smile was huge
when she said, "Gage Sefton:'
Arcineh looked at the other woman.
"Are you serious?"
"Yep:'
"He's gorgeous:'
"I told you:'
Arcineh stared at him as he walked toward the parking garage. He was tall, slim, and dark, a lethal combination for her.
"Maybe you could see yourself on the fourth floor after all:' Nita teased. Arcineh only laughed and told her she'd see her in the morning.
Arcineh did more than see Nita in the morning. When she arrived, both Vanessa and Nita were waiting for her. Congratulations were in order--Patrice had hired her.
(=SID
"Welcome aboard:' Mallory said the moment they were alone. She was one of Arcineh's new coworkers. "You'll do fine if you remember one thing: It's all about the money:'
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, we all put up with Patrice for the money:'
"That bad?"
"Worse. Gage is hers. You must never forget that. And if you have an idea, she'll tell him it was hers:'
Arcineh nodded. This she could deal with. She wasn't going to
177
compete with Patrice for anything. And no matter how good-looking Gage Sefton was, she wouldn't compete for him either.
Mallory looked as if she was going to say something else, but Patrice came in to see how they were doing. The women had been in the break room, readying coffee for the morning and making sure all was in order. This was, she was told, a morning ritual. They were in the midst of it when Gage entered the room.
"Gage," Patrice said warmly, "meet our new recruit, Arcie." "Hello," Gage greeted Arcineh, who greeted him in return and shook his hand.
Arcineh kept her greeting quiet and looked at him only long enough to be polite. It was long enough. In that instant, she saw that Gage Sefton had the most beautiful gray eyes she'd ever seen.
"How was it?" Jalaina asked the moment the two were home together that night.
"Oh, boy:' Arcineh said, dropping into a kitchen chair. "Everyone is wonderful except Patrice
"Well, can you avoid her?"
"She's in charge of all of us."
"How many?"
"Victoria is at the desk in the lobby. Mallory is what I am, only with more responsibilities, and I haven't figured out what Felicity is, but she's all over the place, fixing this and changing that. I even met some of the executive officers, including the owner."
"What was he like?'
"Younger than I expected and very good-looking."
Jalaina suddenly looked disgruntled.
"What's the matter?"
"He's good-looking, and you have to go looking like an old maid. There's no justice!'
178
"It wouldn't matter. Patrice has claimed him, and you know how I feel about competition:'
Jalaina shrugged in her prosaic way and told her the pizza was almost out of the oven.
A week passed before Arcineh saw Gage again, this time waiting for the freight elevator on the first floor. Arcineh had had to take boxes downstairs, and she'd been told not to go through the downstairs lobby. She had her eyes on the numbers over the door when he came up.
Arcineh glanced and said, "Hello, Mr. Sefton."
"Gage is fine," he wasted no time in saying, working to remember her name. "Darcy, is it?"
"No, it's Arcie, no D."
"Is it short for something?"
"Yes, it is:' Arcineh said, her mouth going silent and her eyes back to the numbers.
Gage stared at her profile. He was surprised but also a little amused that she didn't elaborate. Gage turned just enough to study her without being caught, finding her oddly curious but also familiar.
The elevator arrived, and Arcineh stood back.
"I can wait:' Arcineh said when he didn't move.
"There's no need:' Gage said, his hand going out.
Arcineh went in, pushed the number she needed and stood as far in the corner as she could manage.
"Have we met somewhere else?" Gage asked.
"I don't think so," Arcineh said, careful to look at him only as long as she had to. However, she did wonder if he'd ever been to Bryant or to some social gathering her grandfather had carted her off to. There hadn't been that many, and right now they were all a blur.
179
Thankfully the doors opened onto the floor where she had to return the cart, and she had an excuse to leave.
"Goodbye Arcineh said, not trying to maintain eye contact or anything else. He really was too good-looking. She had to get away before she started to gawk.
February turned into March, and March faded into April. Arcineh found that the job was filled with a lot of grunt work and insignificant little tasks, but it was also different every day. And in the process, Arcineh was learning something about the sunglass trade. Rugby had several different lines--sport, bike, and ski among them--and then the new frames they came out with each year and sold for a pretty penny in the finest department stores all over the world.
And if rumor could be trusted, a new Italian line was being talked about. Arcineh had only overheard some of this and knew better than to ask, but the idea fascinated her. She would have enjoyed seeing pictures of what they had in mind.
The only fly in all of this was Patrice. Some days she was a little kind, but most days she was demanding and cold. If Gage was in the room, she watched the women like a hawk. Arcineh had no plans to do anything with Gage Sefton, but just knowing that Patrice suspected her made her look and act guilty.
For a time she feared she could lose her job, but then Patrice seemed to relax a little. Arcie had never so much as been in Gage's office, and then one day Patrice needed her to find backup documentation and had her work on a stack of files in his empty office.
Arcineh kept to the task at hand, not allowing herself to even glance around. And the office was worth a second look. Once again, she was reminded of Sam Bryant, who enjoyed open spaces. Gage's
180
desk was huge, but so was his office, paneled in dark mahogany, with windows that had a stunning view of the lake.
Reading in files for specific wording, Arcineh worked steadily along on Gage's long sofa until close to the end of the day. With only 30 minutes left to closing, Gage and Patrice came into the room.
"Arcie," Patrice began, "we have a huge favor to ask of you. We have to have that file you're looking for tomorrow. Is there any way you could work late?"
"Sure," Arcineh agreed, mentally planning to call Jalaina. "Great:'
Arcineh watched the two of them go back to talking and even leave the room. Gage then came back on his own.
"Okay, do you have a car we have to see to?" he asked her. "A car?"
"Yes. Security won't want it left in the lot:'
"Are we going somewhere?" Arcineh asked.
"Oh:' He was momentarily nonplussed. "Didn't Patrice tell you? I have an apartment just a few blocks away that we use. We'll go there and work:'
Arcineh had never heard of such a thing, but she had no reason to say no, and not even a car to take care of. Less than 15 minutes later, she found herself in Gage's car. He navigated traffic, pulled into the underground parking of a posh apartment building, and took her to the penthouse. Again Arcineh wanted to look around, but Gage had put the files onto the coffee table, and Arcineh knew she was to go right back to work. She did, at the last minute, remember Jalaina.
"May I use your phone?"
"Of course Gage said, telling her where it was in the kitchen. "I'll just head out and find us some food. What do you like?" "Anything is fine:'
Arcineh made her call, not allowing Jalaina to ask too many questions, and then went back to the files. She read carefully, but she'd been reading all day, and her eyes were growing weary. It was good to have Gage return with food--huge burgers and fries, and
181
chocolate shakes. He tucked into his like a man starving, and Arcineh read and ate at the same time. Not until Gage had fin
ished his food did he speak.
"Are you sure we haven't met?"
"Yes:' Arcineh said as she glanced up just briefly and then went back to the paper.
"How old are you?"
"Twenty-one:" Again just a glance and back to work.
"Are you from Chicago?"
Arcineh set the page down and looked at him. Gage saw the move and smiled.
"I'm interrupting:'
"Just a little:'
"But you work for me Gage said lightly, wanting to tease a smile from this woman, although he didn't know why.
"Be that as it may, I'll probably be the one who will have to explain to Patrice why I couldn't find the file. You won't be in trouble, but I will:'
"Good point:' Gage agreed, and Arcineh almost laughed. She stopped herself by picking up another file. From her periphery, she watched Gage reach for a file as well. They worked along for three hours like this but came up with nothing. They took another break at 8:30. Gage found some Oreos in the kitchen, and even some fresh milk. At close to 9:00, Gage changed chairs, taking a more comfortable position. He was asleep before 10:00. Arcineh was tired, very much so, but since she had no way to get anywhere, she continued to read.
She had no idea what time it was, but Gage was suddenly waking her.
"Arcie," he said softly. "Here, get up:'
Arcineh did as she was told, completely disoriented.
"Come this way" Gage was leading her down a hall. "Here he stopped at a door, reached around the corner, and put on the light. "Climb into bed and get some sleep:'
182
"I'd better go:' a very disoriented Arcineh said.
"It's all right. No one will disturb you here:'
Arcineh felt his hand on her back, and then the door was being shut behind her. Arcineh's brain was so fuzzy she barely knew what to think, but that bed looked amazing. She had the presence of mind to lock the door. From there she undressed, climbed into bed in her underwear, and fell into a dead sleep.
The clock read 6:26 when Arcineh woke up. For a moment she couldn't believe she'd spent the night there, but only for a moment. Not caring if it would land her in trouble or not, Arcineh took a quick shower in the bathroom that adjoined the room and climbed back into her clothes. She hated not having a toothbrush and putting dirty clothes on a clean body, but on the chance she was headed back to the office for the day, she knew she had to be clean.
