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“You’re the master of disguise. So whatever you say.” Maggie finally looked into the mirror. She hardly recognized herself. Her new brown hair fell against her collar bones. “I kinda like it.”
“That’s a relief. I wouldn’t be able to stand your whining if you didn’t,” Alexis joked. Sorta.
Maggie stuck out her tongue.
Alexis heard her computer chime, alerting her to an incoming email addressed to [email protected]. Alexis knew she would get the proper documents before they boarded the plane. Now she hoped she would get the interview at REBAR. She read the new email:
Dear Ms. Marlow,
Your résumé is impressive, and we would like to discuss employment opportunities with you. If you are still at Monaco Residences, would you be available for an interview?
Kindly,
Alberto Segundo
“Yes!” Alexis exclaimed. She quickly responded, pretending she was already in Santo Domingo. She wrote that she could meet the day after next. Segundo replied with the time and address. She sent off a text to Charles and Zoe informing them of her interview. She also knew not to mention Zoe Danfield during the interview. No one knew who all the players were in this fraud.
* * *
For Zoe the rest of the day was uneventful, and she was relieved. At the end of the day when she stepped outside her office, Kyle was shuffling papers and tidying up his desk.
“Got plans for this evening?” Zoe asked casually.
“Yes, and I would invite you, but you have to let me see your precious new thing.” He snapped his fingers at her tote.
“Let me see your hands,” Zoe joked.
“Oh goodness. I’ve washed them at least a dozen times today.” Kyle rolled his eyes. “Hand it over.”
Zoe had anticipated being stalked by Kyle until she showed him her new purchase, and had already locked the tablet in her desk drawer along with the burner phone. “Tsk. If you insist.” She handed the soft calf-leather bag over to him.
Kyle rubbed his hand over the embossed logo and sniffed the bag. “Delicious. I can’t wait until I have a job like yours and can buy something this fabulous.”
“If you must know, it was a gift.” Zoe made a good salary, but a two-thousand-dollar purse was not in her budget.
“Oh, do tell.” Kyle rolled his chair closer to Zoe.
Some bosses would not approve of Kyle’s overly friendly demeanor, but he was good at his job, and he was a decent human being. Besides, there was very little in Zoe’s life that would be of interest to anyone else. Except for Donald Walsh. And probably Malcolm Fielder.
“My friend Izzie. The one I visited this past weekend. She said it was an accumulation of birthday presents she owed me.”
“Who knew that was a thing?” Kyle kept stroking the bag.
“I’m not sure it is, but I’ll pretend it is.” Zoe chuckled. More lies. “Okay. Hand it over.”
“Are you coming for cocktails?” Kyle asked. “At Parker and Quinn.” Kyle was referring to the retro-style bar with a prohibition vibe, complete with a speakeasy entrance.
“Sure.” Zoe had nowhere else to go. “Give me a minute.” She went back to her desk, unlocked the drawer and sent Sasha a quick text:
Going to Parker and Quinn.
Sasha promptly sent her response: Roger that.
Zoe slipped the tablet in its case and placed it and the burner phone in the D & G bag. She draped her folded scarf over them. She hooked the bag onto her arm and confidently strolled out of her office. As long as she was back home by nine, she might as well enjoy a cocktail with her assistant and his friends.
As they exited the building, Zoe spotted Sasha at the corner near the crosswalk. Zoe was still waiting for Charles to figure out who the mystery woman was.
Once at the bar, Zoe was happy to have the time to relax and enjoy a cocktail with upbeat people. The entire REBAR situation had been weighing heavily on her. Now, with the Sisters’ involvement, Zoe was reassured that the perpetrators would be stopped. But how? She had no idea, but after what she’d experienced over the past few days, she had no doubt the Sisters would accomplish something. Zoe sat back and enjoyed the banter and jokes traded among Kyle and his friends. She promised herself she would be more social once this nightmare was over.
