Page 67 of The Monster and the Masochist

You have no fucking idea, baby.

You have no. Fucking. Idea.

Alyssa met me in the lobby like she did every morning, but before she could start her usual recount of my daily schedule, I cut her off.

“I need you to get movers to Fairview funerals by three pm today, at the latest,” I said, and she faltered slightly.

“Uhm… okay… usually you need more notice than that. Do you know how many boxes there are going to be?”

“No. I doubt she’ll even be fully packed yet. See if whoever you can get has a packing service that can help her out.”

“Uh, that might be a little challenging on such short notice.”

I shot her a look, raising an eyebrow.

“Are you telling me that you can’t do what I’m asking?”

She shook her head.

“N-no! No! There are rush services. I’m sure I can make it happen. It’s just… I mean, it’ll probably be very expensive. Are you sure you need this done today? Even a week’s notice will significantly reduce the price–”

“Alyssa, I don’t give a fuck how much it costs. My fiancée is not staying in that sad excuse for a home a moment longer. She’s moving in with me today. I don’t care if you need to move heaven and hell to make it happen; it’s going to happen.”

Alyssa’s eyes were the size of saucers, and I frowned, wondering why she was looking at me like that.

“Did you say… your fiancée?”

Fake fiancée, I mentally corrected her, but externally, I nodded.

“Yes. We’re getting married next week.”

“Oh my gosh!” Alyssa gushed, bouncing up and down with a surprising level of excitement. “Ms. Walker! This is so exciting! I’m so happy for you! Congratulations! You deserve someone to come home to after working so hard here every day. I really never thought I’d see the day… but wow. You’re engaged!?”

I stared at Alyssa, completely baffled as to why her eyes were suddenly filling with tears.

“Yes. I’m engaged, and thanks for the congratulations… I guess. Just please make sure she’s moved in before I get home from work. Like I said, money isn’t an issue. I don’t need to approve anything. Just get it done.”

“Yes! Of course! Omigoshhhh, a wedding! How exciting!”

“Mhmm. Yes, it’s all very exciting,” I agreed dryly as I pulled out my phone to quickly check my email.

I cringed at the little red notification icon that told me I had over a hundred new emails in my inbox since I’d checked the night before.

We were almost at my office when Alyssa suddenly seemed to snap out of her wedding announcement-induced frenzy, and she lightly grabbed my arm.

“Sorry, I was about to tell you before all the news about your engagement, but Nolan is in there waiting for you.”

“What?” I snapped, glancing down at my little flustered assistant.

“Y-yes. He wouldn’t listen to me again when I told him he needed to schedule a meeting. He said he needed to talk to you about a new case you two are working on together. Something about a Reverend Sterling?”

My gut soured, and I sighed.

Nope.

Not dealing with that today. I didn’t need to see Nolan in person to work this case with him. He could email me like everyone the fuck else.

Abruptly, I turned on my heel and marched back toward the elevators.