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“Collin Case’s office,” Syl practically sang through the phone.
“It’s Bea for Collin.” Suffice it to say, the tone of my voice didn’t match her own enthusiasm.
“I’m so sorry, Bea, but he’s in a meeting right now.”
“I do not care. You need to get him on the phone with me right now. It’s urgent. We have to clean up a mess that you made today.”
“What?!”Syl was completely mortified.
“Didn’t Collin mention the terms of our relationship to you?” I asked her.
“Terms of your relationship? I’m sorry, I don’t know what you mean.”
“Get him on the phone.”
“Yes. Um, ri-right away,” she stammered. I could tell she was about to cry. I heard the click of the phone, and ambient music began to play. She had the audacity to put me on hold. Before I could hang up and ring her again, Collin was on the line, frantic.
“Babe, what’s going on? Syl said it was an emergency and she was crying.”
“She should be crying.Imight be crying soon.”
“What happened?”
“Your new assistant told Len Arthur about us this morning. I just had him in my office reading me the riot act about my indecency and poor judgment, and now HR will be reaching out to me to discuss my uncertain future with this agency.”
“Shit. I’m sorry, Bea. It’s one hundred percent my fault. Don’t blame Syl. I must have forgotten to tell her,” he admitted, an imbecilicmove on his part. I wanted to shout at him as well, but that wouldn’t behoove me, particularly if I’d be getting sacked by the end of the day. Rhonda’s request had just come through with a proposed time to meet within the hour. This was a disaster. My résumé had not been updated nor my network sufficiently fluffed for maintenance. I was in no position to be seeking both new employment and a new boyfriend, so I remained calm with Collin. A show of temper could only be deployed in a relationship at moments when the other party would find it endearing and cute, believing their partner is a spitfire or a spark plug or a pistol or some other terrible turn of phrase reserved exclusively for women who openly share their opinions.
“Well.” I turned on a crack in my voice so Collin would feel appropriately contrite but no one in the office would see any tears. “I’m not really sure what to do now.” Collin loved when I pretended to need his help, but this time I feared I really did.
“Okay, babe, don’t worry about it. I’ll take care of it.”
“You will?” I asked him, pitiful on purpose.
“I’ll call Len right now and clear things up. Everything’s going to be okay, Bea. I love you.”
Another immediate illustration of Collin’s appeal, despite his affinity for Top-Siders. One phone call from him to my boss about the issue and the whole thing would disappear. It was a reassuring feeling, but also unsettling. I didn’t like to rely on others for my own well-being, but in this instance, it couldn’t be helped. I had failed in talking Len off the ledge myself, so Collin would take care of it because Collin cared about me. I was delighted and embarrassed.
Moments later, Rhonda from HR rescinded the email invitation to meet. Len came by my office once again, explaining that he had misunderstood the situation and all was well, they were proud to haveme as a part of the agency. What an emotional roller coaster of an hour. It was maddening, and despite Collin’s admission of guilt, it really was all Syl’s fault, so something would have to be done about her.
Collin wouldn’t have it in him to punish her, but I would.
•••
I ARRANGED TOhave lunch with Collin the next day, meeting at his office first, an attempt to make my personal attack on Syl as organic as possible. It was also my first appearance at the Case Company openly as Collin’s girlfriend, so in addition to terrorizing a potential new foe, I made sure to look my absolute best for all the members of the peanut gallery. My ensemble leaned pleasure over business. I left my blazer at work so I could show off in a formfitting blue sheath, minus a bra. It wasn’t crass due to the dress being tight across my chest, limiting any untoward motion, but an air-conditioned office would prove my point. I felt all eyes on me as I entered the Case Company, heading straight for Collin’s office, just as I had hoped.
But there wasn’t even a moment to revel in the attention because I could not look away from Miss Sylvia Austin. I had wrongly envisioned Syl as a mousy little thing. Fresh out of college. Pretending to be an adult in Ann Taylor LOFT, black-rimmed glasses and a poorly constructed lob from a newb at the Aveda Institute. So imagine my surprise when I saw a grown woman behind the desk in possession of beautiful, enormous breasts, albeit displayed tastefully, along with cheekbones sharp enough to stab and these pillowy pink lips that brought only one thing to the imagination. She was tan and blonde and fit. In a word, exquisite. Yikes.
“You must be Bea!” Syl exclaimed, getting up from her chair, sporting a violet dress with a modest hemline that still highlighted her legs. Her calves were lean and toned. She obviously worked out.Syl started to hug me like an absolute freak show, but I was able to artfully dodge her advances, holding out my hand for her to shake instead. She did so, and I noticed it was medium-firm compared to mine. Her first and only sign of physical inferiority.
“Syl. Nice to meet you,” I said. She covered my hand with her other hand while we shook them, a method far too intimate for strangers, but I could tell that was just the kind of person she was. Warm and engaging. How irritating. I noticed immediately that she had an engagement ring on her finger. It was a mere chip of a diamond, but it definitely signified her betrothal. That took the edge off a bit.
“I made a reservation for you two at Hillstone. I know it’s one of Collin’s favorites.”
“You know everybody’s favorites now, don’t you?” I cooed.
Syl broke eye contact with me, hanging her head in embarrassment. She looked like a small child with such submissive body language. It was unnerving. I thought she was a bit older than me, but I couldn’t tell by how much. Razor-sharp cheekbones or not, her skin suggested she spent significant time in the sun, so her age was difficult to decipher. At any rate, I wouldn’t comfort her about her mistakes. Not my job.
“I really am so sorry about that, Bea,” Syl said, finally looking back up at me, with far too much sorrow in her eyes. “I had no idea it was going to cause a problem. I just didn’t know it was a secret. I hear that Collin took care of things with your boss, but is there anything I can do to make it up to you? I’d really like us to be on good terms. Again, I’m so,sosorry.”
