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By the time she entered the office, she was no closer to figuring out how she’d behave when she saw him at work today.
“Did you have a good weekend, Mags?” Barb asked.
“It was uneventful,” she lied. “How was yours?”
“Saw a play for my mom’s birthday. Strolled the Sixteenth Street Mall and had too many drinks at a rooftop bar in LoDo.”
“With your mother?”
“Woman can put away the vodka.”
“You should introduce her to Gloria.”
Who, evidently having heard voices, breezed out of her office. Today she had on a turquoise pantsuit with a multi-coloured blouse topped with a contrasting scarf that should have clashed but didn’t. The drink in her cup was a shade of purple not found in nature.
“You’re here early, Mother.”
“We’re meeting with the Arctic Fox people today. Did you forget?”
The company designed cold-weather gear for the least habitable places on earth and they were planning to open their first US store in the trendy Larimer Square area. World Wide Now was competing with several other companies to land the opening. They were having an informal sit-down with some of the higher-ups to get a better feel for their ideas. “Anything I can do to help?”
“Make sure the tyrant shows up. They want to meet him.”
“I’m putting my foot down. Unless David is out of line, no more calling him names behind his back. He heard us the other day, and it’s unfair. Agreed?”
It appeared Gloria tried to frown, but apart from the pursed lips, it was hard to tell. “You got more injections in your face,” Maggie said.
“You should both go with me. Dr Smythe knows all the tricks to keeping us looking young. Maybe we could get a group discount.”
Barb choked on her coffee. “Not for me, thanks.”
“Let’s get back to my point,” Maggie said. “I’m serious. There will be no more bad-mouthing the boss. We have to set the example around here.”
“I think you need a cup of coffee, dear. See if Barb will let you use some of her nice creamer,” Gloria said as she grabbed her drink and walked off, jewellery jangling.
Maggie sighed. “It’s going to be a long day.”
“Sorry about calling David names. Embarrassing that he overheard.”
“You know, he might not be as bad as I thought.”
“Skip the coffee,” Barb said. “I’ll call an ambulance. Obviously you’re not feeling well.”
Shaking her head, Maggie went to her office to finalise details for Friday afternoon’s open house and to send David a reminder about their upcoming visitors. She could have asked Barb to touch base with him, but Maggie wanted to handle it herself.
David showed up for the Arctic Fox meet and greet and impressed the VP of Marketing. After the meeting, the two of them moved to the far end of the conference room while Maggie and her mother chatted with two members of the creative team.
A few minutes later, David and the female VP excused themselves, saying they were going out to lunch. She frowned, and David inclined his head, letting her know he’d noticed her displeasure. What the hell was wrong with her? He could eat meals with whomever he wanted.
She didn’t see him the rest of the day, and that evening she traced the single welt his whip had left behind. A thousand emotions splintered inside her. She masturbated in the shower, resting her forehead on the tiles as she thought of him.
Since he hadn’t contacted her today, she knew it was up to her to approach him again.
* * * *
Maggie had another fitful night and got to the office late.
Her mother was wringing her hands near the reception desk, and Barb had a hand on Gloria’s shoulder. “What’s going on?”
“I screwed up,” Gloria said. Her shoulders started to shake.
“Whatever it is, we can fix it. We always have,” Maggie said, trying to keep calm and not disturb the rest of the staff.
“That’s what I’ve been telling her,” Barb added.
“Let’s go in my office.” Where they could close the door. “Is David in yet?” she asked Barb.
“He’s at an offsite meeting. I think he’ll be in around eleven.”
