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“You make it sound like he’s the crypt keeper,” she says, laughing. “He is in his forties, and we don’t talk about work. It’s not that deep.”
“Lucky bastard. He’s halfway to retirement.”
Callie sighs at me. A rare moment. “All you think about is work. Do you think that’s why you struggle with men?”
I sigh at her. A nearly present state of being. “I struggle with men because they’re men. But I’m done with all that. Work won’t tell you that you’re a way to kill time. It won’t divorce you. It won’t keel over from a heart attack. Work is the only thing I have going for me right now.”
“But work won’t love you back.”
“Love is overrated. I’m done with it.”
-
Chapter 2
JUNE
Back at work, I long to be tied to a desk in an old movie. Not in a kinky way, but because when someone was busy back then, everyone knew it. Work was literally piled on their desk, so people bothered them less. My work is mostly on my computer, making it invisible, so no one sees an obstacle to their conversation.
Especially not Madi. Though I doubt a pile of work would persuade her to leave me alone.
She clicks her fake nails on my desk, and I swear they are pointier every time I see them. Without looking up from my typing, I groan internally and shove my glasses back up my nose before they slide down again. “Yes, Madi?”
“Wallace wants you to stay late to finish up the proposal for the Banks account.”
“It’s not due until next week. I have plenty of time?—"
“He wants to look over it before you officially turn it in to him, so it needs to be completed before the morning.”
I frown up at her. “Why does he need to look at it before I officially turn it in?”
She smiles sinisterly. “Because we’ve noticed your lack of focus lately, and before he discusses it with the client next week, he wants to look at it and make sure you’ve dotted all the I’s.”
I can hear the translation in my head. “Because I’m sleeping with him and you embarrassed me today, so I whined until I could get you punished.”
“Uh sure, Madi. I’ll just skip the meeting at four?—"
“Oh, but you can’t. It’s an all-hands.”
She’s right. Which means I’m not getting out of here until eight. Or later. “Hell. Whatever. I’ll take care of it.”
Her smile slides from sinister to self-congratulatory. “Such a team player. I’ll be sure to mention your respectful attitude to Wallace. See you at four.” She saunters off, and I’m struck by how much I wish one of her high heels would break while I watch. I’m also struck by a wadded up ball of paper on the back of my head.
I roll my eyes and turn around. “Good date?”
Garrett grins. “Nah. Just thought you needed a distraction from eye daggering Madi’s back.”
“Gee, thanks. So, are you going to tell me about your date?”
“I hate her, but I love her fake nails. They match her personality.”
“The store-bought illusion of sharpness? Agreed. What happened with your lunch?—"
“So, has Trent called yet?”
I narrow my gaze at him. “Why aren’t you telling me about your date? Since when don’t you share?”
Garrett pauses, then joins me right by my desk. With an open floor plan office, it’s hard to get anything resembling privacy, and we don’t even have cubicles. When I’d asked Wallace about it, he said they interrupt the look of the place. But really, it was an excuse to monitor everyone.
