Page 34 of Hunted By Them

“I will never let her and my mother be in the same room. My mom seems to think I’m incompetent and shouldn’t go anywhere alone.” I surprised myself by not sounding embarrassed.

“No, definitely don’t, that sounds like a bad combo,” Mary chuckled, washing her hands.

“Listen, Mary, keep your head up. You’re doing a great job. It’s not about you. It’s her own insecurities. She also really likes to hear herself talk. And if pink makes you feel beautiful in this anthill, wear pink. Hell, wear fuchsia. Blind her.”

Mary laughed for real this time, a wet hiccup. “You’re going to get me fired.”

“If she fires you over a color, I’ll lead a march through HR. Hell, I’ll lead one down the road and tell every company we pass how lucky they would be to hire you. In fact, if you decide to leave, I’ll write you a recommendation, and mine…it will be glowing.” I straightened her blouse collar. “Breathe, drink some water, and then pretend her voice is a radio station you can turn down.”

“Thank you,” she whispered. “I’m glad you’re back, Sage. You make this place bearable.”

“Me too.” But I only meant it so I could be here for this exact moment with her. This was not my first bathroom, lunchroom, or parking lot consolation session, and it wouldn’t be my last.

When I returned to my desk, a vase of flowers sat smack in the middle. Tall, long-stem roses. Red, expensive, and I knew exactly who they were from. A tiny, white apology card was perched in the greenery, and I glared at it before tugging it free.

Saw the news. Couldn’t sleep knowing you were lost in that forest all alone. Thank God you’re safe. Dinner? C

I groaned. I could hear his voice in the punctuation. Earnest as ever, self-satisfied, the same kind of manipulative tone that had once seemed harmless. Connor always did love being the good guy in the public eye.

Tossing the card into the garbage, I picked up the vase and marched to Mary’s desk. She hadn’t returned from the bathroom, which was perfect. I set them in front of her computer and walked away. If anyone in this place needed flowers to brighten their day, it was Mary.

Back at my desk, the air felt stale. My inbox contained a dozen new demands. Margaret pinged me on chat to ask if the Baker’s doc was usable. That made me roll my eyes. A meeting reminder flashed. I stared at the screen until the letters lost their edges.

Sighing, I put the final touches on the Baker file and emailed it to her. All I got back was a single word.

Thanks.

Annoyed, I clicked out of everything, opened an incognito tab, ordered food from my favorite Thai place without thinking, and started shutting down.

I told myself I’d circle back in an hour. I told myself I’d file something from home. I told myself lies that sounded responsible, but in reality…screw it. Screw this job, Margaret, and Todd. Screw being used to further someone else’s career. It was time that I started looking for a new job, one that made me happy.

I slipped my bag over my shoulder, grabbed my keys, and walked past Margaret’s glass box. The elevator arrived, and with each floor down, I felt a little lighter. Outside, the sun had climbed high enough to feel like a warm bath, and I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

In the car, I pulled up the takeout confirmation and sailed out of the parking lot singing to the song on the radio.

The city moved around me like it always had, but I didn’t feel like I belonged. I was a ghost here now.

What a change a week made.

Reaching the Thai restaurant, I pulled through the drive-thru and picked up my food. It smelled incredible. I pictured a hot shower, curling up on the couch to watch a movie and eat my food, forgetting about everything else for a minute.

When I let myself into the apartment, I took a moment and tried to imagine myself happy in here again. Setting my bag down on the console table, I knew I already had the answer.

Not happening.

This had been my safe place once. Now it felt like a shell someone had vacated and left for me to inhabit.

I toed off my shoes and wandered to the window. The street below glittered ordinary. My phone buzzed, breaking my statue pose. I groaned as soon as I picked it up and saw the messages.

Mom: How are you? Did you make a doctor appt? You better have. I have a friend, and her son is a therapist. Maybe I could get you an appointment with him. He’s only like two hours away. Love you.

Connor: Dinner tonight? I’ll pick you up at seven. We should talk.

Margaret: Call me. Urgent.

I quickly fired back a text to each of them before shutting the phone off and putting it face down. The silence that followed was heavy.

Thunder rolled through my memory. Not the sound, but the sensation. A promise that was more than a noise. My skin prickled, and my mouth went dry. I closed my eyes, and for a second, I smelled wet pine and smoke. I felt the heat of fingers around my throat. I slipped my hand into my blouse and traced the lines that spelled MINE and sighed.