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“That’s the perfect excuse,” Callie chuckles, then nods at my son. “Pardon me,he’sthe perfect excuse.”
“You suck.”
“Takes one to know one,” she sticks her tongue out at me, and so does Elliot, even though he has no idea what we’re talking about.
“Young man, put that tongue back in your mouth or else I’m gonna bite it off,” I grumble and swoop in for a flurry of loving kisses all over his pink cheeks. His skin is so soft and warm, so delicate and precious, I’m utterly addicted. I drop a kiss on Callie’s cheek, too, while I’m at it, then rush right back downstairs. “Thanks a lot, Sis. I’ll see you both later.”
“Run, girl, run!” I hear her calling out.
I jump back into my car and pray to all the gods that there isn’t enough traffic to get me running even more late. Of course, the universe is ever the gift that keeps on giving, and I have an absolute crap-storm to drive through as I make my way across downtown. Every minute that slides by in a sea of red taillights and frustrated honks is another minute I spend in a torturous limbo where my worst-case scenarios fester. In the back of my head, I’m already imagining myself getting fired five times over.
“Dammit,” I say as I check the dashboard display. The clock is telling me I’ll be at least half an hour late. It’s more than I’ve ever been late before, so I do need to be proactive about this. HeartMatch is a good gig and they only have a few things they’re truly strict about—timeliness is one of them. I call Vincent while I’m still a few blocks away from Mission Bay. “Hey, Vince…”
“Becky! Where are you? Are you okay?” his voice comes through the speakerphone.
“Yeah, I just… I didn’t hear the alarm.”
“You’ve got to train your kid to wake you up sooner,” he chuckles.
“Just letting you know I’m on my way, in case anybody asks.”
“Oh, someone already asked.”
My blood runs cold. I break into an icy sweat, hands gripping the steering wheel while I stare ahead at the road. “Who?”
“Piper. The boss’s PA? She wants to talk to you,” Vincent says.
“Okay…”
Oh, God. Why would Piper want to talk to me? We don’t hang out much, and I know her to be quite stuffy and uppity, particularly when she’s in a bad mood. Pair that with who her immediate superior is, add a flavor of Becky running egregiously late during a time when I’m actually needed at the company… and there you have it. How to get fired in just a few steps.
* * *
By the time I finally get to the office, I’m drenched in fear and salty sweat drops seeping through my work clothes. This linen shirt will take a while to dry, provided the day doesn’t end in tears on top of all this. If I get fired, I will throw a fit, I swear…
I check my face in the elevator mirror and make sure I look as presentable as possible, ignoring the frantic thuds of my own heart. I’ve got a little man to feed and a good life to build still. Failure is the one thing I simply cannot afford. Once the elevator doors slide open, I see Piper waiting in our corner of the bullpen, hands crossed over her chest while Vincent is on his computer, nervously side-eyeing her.
“Crap…” I mutter and take a deep breath.
The only way is forward, so I might as well move and face the music. As soon as I reach them, however, Piper gives me a sour growl. “You’re so late.”
“I’m sorry; issues with my alarm clock, plus traffic. It’s been a hectic mo—”
“Yeah, I don’t really care right now. Todd wants to see you,” she cuts me off.
Vincent’s head snaps around. “That’s why you’re here?”
“What he said,” I nod at him without taking my eyes off Piper.
She looks sharp in her navy-blue pencil skirt and tight white shirt, all brought together by a wide snakeskin belt that just works for her, though I wouldn’t see anyone else pull it off like this. Her hair is pulled back into a tight bun, not a lock out of place, and whatever foundation she’s using, it was engineered to make her skin look perfect.
“Todd, our chief executive officer and co-founder, would like to have a word with you, Rebecca,” Piper says in a flat but loaded tone.
“Can I ask what this is about?” I manage.
“Not my purview. Come on. He doesn’t like to be kept waiting.”
And I’m already in hot water, so what other choice have I got but to follow Piper out of the bullpen and up to the executive level of our building? My stomach is tiny and tight, an angry little walnut throbbing with fear as we enter Todd’s office. The moment I set foot in this seemingly sacred space of his, I am immediately hit by the subtle hints of musk and sandalwood.
