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I muster up the gusto and walk out to her at her desk. “Um, sorry about earlier,” I say a bit sheepishly.
Lily looks up at me in wonder for a moment and then it’s as if a light bulb went on in her head. “Oh! you don’t have to apologize. I’m the one that indirectly spilled it on you.” She looks at the brown spot on my shirt and feigns a pouty frown, sticking her bottom lip out.
I chuckle at her actions and ask, “What are you getting into today?”
She picks up a paper and starts reading from it the myriad of things she plans to tackle today. Going from finishing the remaining contracts to getting knee deep into the file room, trying to organize that behemoth.
She definitely has her work cut out for her and enough to keep her busy for a while. I nod my head and can see the innocence in her eyes as she smiles big-heartedly. Ducking my tail under my legs, I walk sheepishly back into my office, feeling guilty for what I’m about to do.
I close my door part of the way and take my seat behind my desk. Stroking a few keys, I remotely turn the boss ware camera that I had the IT department install on her computer. Instantly, I can see her trail in and out of folders, placing data in, but never removing anything.
I watch her keystrokes as she enters the data from the contracts into the system without error. She doesn’t even open the older files and archives to snoop around a little. I run my hands through my hair wondering what I should do.
Feeling guilt and shame with regard to my actions, I realize that it seems David is correct in his defense of Lily. She hasn’t done anything weird or wrong at this point. She’s not guilty.
But I am.
Sixteen
Lily
Munching a salad and chicken leftover from last night’s dinner, I regret not going to lunch with the guys. The salad is wilted and the chicken is like rubber.
I bet I can bounce it off of this desk right now.
While I try to choke down at least some of the leftover meal, I think of the last time me and the guys had fun together.
With the threesome being my first time as well, I thought it had a certain appeal to both guys too. But for the last day, I’ve seen the interaction between the two take a complete nose dive. They avoid each other and barely talk to one another.
So much for being best friends.
That’s wrong of me to think. They must be doing something right to have had this friendship as long as they have carried it on.
After I have stomached as much as I could of my lunch, I run the remainder to the kitchen and place it back into the garbage can, cleaning the container for home. I’m startled when I leave the tiny alcove to see a person barely peeking around a corner as if they’re watching me.
Shaking my head, I quickly head back to my desk. Wondering if Jeff is spying on me, I shudder when I think that this creep somehow has taken a serious interest in me.
As I walk around it, I see James looking all serious and business like in his office. The greenery behind him on the shelves makes for a nice photo and I smile at that thought. Only, he didn’t smile back this time.
Come to think of it, he’s been way too serious around me today. He’s been looking at me with resolve, like he’s suspicious of me in some way or another. Sitting down, I try to refocus myself on the task at hand.
When I begin to log in, I see an icon that I’ve not noticed before. Studying the image, I see that it is a dual person icon, which means someone is also logging into my computer. Not able to shake the feeling of somehow being a person of interest on James’s list of suspects, I wonder what I could’ve done to have the honor.
Certainly nothing that I can think of.
On the one hand, I can’t help but feel the sting of this after what we have shared. After stewing for a moment and tapping my foot on the floor beneath me, I decide that on the other hand, that piece is fun and this is business.
He could just be a micromanager.
And we all know what a micromanager can do to the morale of his or her employee base. If it continues, then maybe I’ll muster the nerve to ask James about it. Better to talk it out than start having others be suspicious of you as well.
Toward the end of the day, I see that Jeff is coming up to my desk again. This is what? The third time today?
He stops just at the edge and waits for me to look up. When I don’t, he clears his throat and says, “Hi there, Ms. Dodson.”
What can I do? Being rude has never looked good on anyone. “Hello, Jeff.” I look up to see his mouth watering like a crazed wolf.
He plays with his hat that is in his hands and says, “Just wanted you to know how beautiful you look today.”
