Page 4 of Pierced

Which makes me squint at him.

“So yeah. Beth used to do it, but she quit last month. So you’re in charge. Better make it good, Myrtle. I’ve got a special edition of the magazine coming out the first week of December called Inside Le Man and I’m counting on it to launch us into the holiday advertising season. We need to sell two million dollars in ads before January first or none of us will have jobs in the new year.”

I’m just about to open my mouth to protest, tell him where he can shove his Halloween party, when a shadow appears in my doorway.

“Knock, knock!” Eden says. “I had to make the rounds and pass out donuts, so I’m early.” She looks at me, realizes she’s interrupting an argument, and shrugs. “Sorry. Should I come back?”

“I was just leaving,” Pierce says. “Myrtle will fill you in on the Halloween project. Should be right up your alley, Eden. Sugar and sexy. The two things you do best.”

He walks out with a huff. Eden and I both watch him disappear, then she closes the door and says, “What was that all about?”

“He thinks I’m in charge of the Halloween party.”

“Fun!”

“I hate Halloween.”

“Oh. Well, I love it.”

“Of course you do.”

“So I’ll help.”

“Wonderful.”

“Jesus, Myrtle. What’s wrong with you these days? You used to be so… sexy and mysterious. And now you’re always hiding here in your office like a wallflower.”

“I’m not a wallflower!”

Eden recoils because I just sorta yelled that last part.

“Sorry,” I say, pointing to the chair Pierce just vacated. “Sit. Let’s catch up. I miss you, Eden. So much. I wish you were still here.”

She scrunches up her face. “Are you sure you miss me—”

“Of course.”

“—and not your old job as Pierce’s dom?”

I laugh for the third time in ten minutes. And this time it makes me happy. “I told him I was the top!”

“You so are. Did he deny it?”

“Tried. But we know who ran his life. Valerie couldn’t boss him if her life depended on it. And she doesn’t. She’s a meek little mouse when it comes to Pierce. And you know what the worst part is?”

“What?”

“He likes it. He actually beams every time she says, ‘Yes, Mr. Chevalier! Right away, Mr. Chevalier! I’m on it, Mr. Chevalier!’ That’s probably why he moved me to this stupid job.”

“You’re a VP, Myrtle. I don’t think that’s what he was thinking when he gave you a fifty-thousand-dollar raise.”

“I’m so bored, Eden.” I’m whining now. I know it. But I can’t stop. “The world does not need another black-velvet Elvis and if I have to knit Christmas sweaters and scrapbook this stupid Halloween party, I might as well just die of humiliation right now!”

“OK,” Eden says. “We’re getting out of here. Right now. You need a field trip.”

“To where? And to do what? I’m not throwing this stupid Halloween party, Eden.”

“I’ll do everything. Just… get your purse. We’re going shopping.”