“She’s right,” Eden said. “We’re pretty good.”
“We’ll see about that.”
“Don’t worry, Cari. You can be on my team.” Randi smiled.
“If you want to win,” Eden said, “you might want to be on my team.” She laughed when Randi gave her a menacing look then laughed with her.
They finished their drinks then walked back to their cars. Cari lingered next to Randi’s car and Eden got the impression she was waiting for her to leave.
“I’ll see you in the morning,” Eden said.
“Thanks for setting this up,” Randi said.
“Yeah, thank you.” Cari nodded. “I feel better about it now that I know the layout.”
Eden got in her car and watched Randi and Cari talking before Cari walked away. As Eden left the parking lot she looked in her rearview mirror once more and saw Randi’s car coming up behind her.
Eden thought back to their interactions at the bookstore. She’d noticed Randi giving Cari encouraging looks in an effort, she assumed, to diffuse her anxiety about the upcoming event. But then while they were having drinks it became obvious to Eden that Cari was interested in Randi for more than just friendship. She was concerned for Randi and how this could affect their working relationship with Cari.
Eden sighed and pulled up her contacts on the screen in her car. She punched in Randi’s number and listened to the phone ringing through her speakers.
“Well hey, it’s been so long.” Randi's amused voice echoed through the car.
“Cari wants you,” Eden blurted.
“What? Wants me?”
“Yes, be careful.” She looked in her rearview mirror but Randi was several cars back so she couldn’t see her expression.
“Hmm, wasn’t it just Sunday when you thought I might have brought someone home with me? You were okay with that. Why wouldn’t this be okay?”
Eden exhaled loudly. “You know why. She’s your client.”
“Why are you so upset about this?” Randi asked. “It’s not like it’s going to happen.”
Eden exhaled a somewhat relieved breath. Randi was just messing with her, or was she? She obviously hadn’t picked up on the things Eden saw while at the bookstore and the bar.
“The way Cari was looking at you and touching you, I’m not so sure. Besides, we just started working together. It’s been great. Don’t blow it now.”
“Me? What makes you think I’m going to blow it?” Randi asked defensively.
“Well,I’mnot sleeping with her.”
“Neither am I!” Randi exclaimed. After a pause she said, “Maybe we’d better stop talking about this.”
Eden chided herself for making that comment. She had tried to get Randi to come work with her for years and now that she was finally across the hall Eden didn’t want anything to mess this up.
“I’m sorry,” Eden said. “You’re not going to blow it. I’m just looking out for you, babe.”
“I know you are.” Randi exhaled. “You called me babe, so you must be worried. Don’t be.”
Eden only called Randi “babe” when she wanted her attention. “Let me ask you something and I want you to answer honestly,” she said. “Do you like working at HLR? With me?”
“Of course I do!”
“You know how much it means to me, but if you don’t like it…” Eden paused. “It’s okay. I want you to be happy.”
“Eden, I do like working at HLR,” Randi said. “I’m learning so much and you know how I love picking up new ideas and strategies. It’s a bonus that you’re right across the hall. Don’t worry about Cari.”
