“So what if I came in here to take a private selfie of my boobs—”
“What?” Ryan half-yelled.
Jeff and Janice gasped.
“You know, I caught him—my very own partner—messaging the neighbor the other day, sending her all these cute kissy emojis. I just know he’s going to have an affair with her,” Poppy said and then wailed even louder.
What the hell was she doing?
And then she turned to Janice. “And I know it’s because I haven’t been in the mood latterly. It’s the stress, you know. I’m tired when I get home from work, and then I still have to make supper for him and the kids.”
He looked over at Janice; she was nodding at her now.
Poppy continued. “And I just thought that maybe if I sent him a picture, you know, something a little saucy, that maybe I could . . .” She covered her face in embarrassment and her sobs continued.
Damn, she was a good actress.
“I thought that maybe it would reignite the spark and that maybe he would stop flirting with the neighbor.” She stumbled backward now, as if she was too emotional to even stand. And then she looked back up at Janice with a face that looked so pained and troubled. “I’m just trying to save my relationship!”
Janice nodded. “It’s okay, sweetie, we all go through these ups and downs.”
He looked over at Poppy. She was saving him, in the only way possible right now. She looked at him pointedly, as if urging him to play along. This was their only way out.
“Well, you can save your relationship outside of work hours, Miss Granger,” he cleared his throat and said to her. “This is highly inappropriate,” he added.
“She’s only twenty . . . the neighbor. Can you believe it? She’s like a child. She used to babysit our kids when they were little,” Poppy said to Janice. “Our daughter, Skye, she thought she was so pretty and said that when she grew up . . .” Poppy whimpered loudly, “when she grew up, she wanted to look just like her.”
Janice tutted and shook her head. “Disgusting.”
Okay, wait! Now she was taking this a bit far. He tried to shoot her a look, but she looked so wrapped up in this character right now, he could see there was no stopping her.
Jeff nodded now too. “My wife left me for a younger man. I know how it feels. His name was Braxton. I mean, what kind of name is Braxton?”
Janice shook her head and so did Poppy. This was like a group commiseration in the filing room. Broken Hearts Anonymous. Poppy let out another long, loud moan. “I don’t want him to leave me.” She grabbed her chest as if in pain.
This was really taking it too far now.
Janice rushed up to her and draped an arm around her shoulder. “I’m sure he won’t leave you,” she said in a placating tone. “Why don’t you have a seat?” She guided Poppy over to the table, the desk they’d just had mind-blowing sex on.
He cleared his throat again and straightened his tie. “Please will you clear your desk and leave the building, Miss Granger.”
Janice gave him a disapproving look and then shook her head.
How was he the bad guy now?
Poppy jumped up off the table and glared at him. “Fine!” she shouted. “Fine, if that’s how you want it.” She looked at him indignantly and then marched out of the filing room.
They followed her out, but when they walked into the open-plan section, everyone was staring at them. Poppy looked at everyone and then swung around dramatically and glared at Ryan. She had a captive audience now. He was almost scared of her.
“Do you hear that?” she called out angrily. “I’m getting fired. He’s firing me!” She pointed a finger at him. “Fine. But I will see you in court,” she spat and then marched through the desks, clutching her shirt closed with one hand.
Everyone stared. Flicking their eyes between her, and him.
At least this scene is over now, he thought. But it wasn’t. Far from it.
“But you know what?” Poppy stopped walking and turned around again, as if she was a character in a play, taking their place centre stage to deliver the great monologue.
Everyone was totally captivated; they leaned in as if they were passing a bad car crash on the side of the road.
