Chapter 8
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My first week flew by. Between meeting some of my new coworkers, attending meetings to get up to speed, and checking in with my new bosses to make sure I’m on track with their assignments, I can’t believe it is already Friday afternoon.
Janice and I get along great. We take the odd break together, and she lights up and talks about her three kids. They are all grown now, but in her mind, they will always be her babies.
I imagine she is what a mother is supposed to be, and she’s also about to be a grandma for the first time.
I’ve already completed two projects that Janice tells me have been taking forever to start because they didn’t have the staff to handle them. Since they were both database–related, I knocked them out pretty fast.
This week, I’ve been thankful for my headphones. I packed them right after I got home from work on Monday. Because as I sat at my desk on my first day and tried to focus, I quickly realized it would be futile.
Every time the door to Lucas or Declan’s office opened, every time I heard one of their smooth voices on the intercom or saw them walk through the office, it took me a while to get back on track. And I have no intention. of messing this job up.
The final result was two completed projects, an impressed Janice, and two happy Hales. I’ve earned this weekend.
I’ve also been asked to run company errands, which suits me just fine. Sitting at my desk all day would have eventually worn me out. Yes, I am sometimes the lackey who grabs coffee or lunch, but getting outside breaks my day up and a provides me with a sense of freedom.
So far, my mother hasn’t called to check on me. That means I’m off her radar and there is nothing she wants this week. This thrills me to no end. I’m looking forward to a weekend at our old family cabin with Lauren and Tina, my closest friends. We’ve known each other for about four years now. They’re my rocks, and I’ve missed them.
A few months ago, Lauren found her dream job in a city a couple of hours away, so aside from late–night phone dates, this is the longest we’ve gone without a good old girlfriend get–together.
That’s what this weekend is for.
Since the cabin is right in the middle of all of us, we are meeting there after work.
Tina lives near me, and I’ll be picking her up on my way out. She owns a deli with her husband. It’s just around the corner from the Hale offices, and I’ve been meaning to suggest it for a lunch order. They make the best sandwiches, and their cranberry feta walnut salad with pear vinaigrette is to die for. I haven’t seen much of her either now that she has baby number two at home. How she does it all blows my mind.
Needless to say, I need this time with my friends. We have a lot of catching up to do, and I’m dying to tell someone about my new job. And my two new bosses.
I check the clock in the corner of my screen. The weekend is just within reach. Twenty minutes to go. I’m typing furiously to complete my last task of the week. After one quick review, I send it to my bosses for final approval, thus completing my third and final project, a rewrite of some of the company’s web pages. I take
9:39 Mon, Sep 22
Chapter 8
my headphones off and begin to pack up when one of the office doors opens.
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Janice has already left for the day, and I’m leaning over to pull my bag out of the bottom desk drawer when the low timbre of a voice sends the butterflies in my stomach fluttering.
“You are one focused employee, Jayne. Lucas and I had a bet on whether you would finish the web project before you left today,” Declan says as he leans against my desk. He picks up an old family photo, one taken at our cabin, and traces his finger along something that grabs his attention.
“And?” Now I’m curious which of them would dare to bet against me.
Declan sets the photo down and leans forward, placing a palm between us on the desk.
“He owes me fifty bucks,” he confides with a sly smile, and I stare at his mouth for a moment too long. As my eyes leave his lips and travel up his face to meet his, I realize he is watching me, and my reaction has amused him.
I open my mouth to say something, anything to distract from my embarrassment. But nothing remotely sensible comes out. “Um, I–uh-”
“What the hell, Jayne?” Lucas hollers from across the office, and it snaps me out of my thoughts. Declan chuckles as I startle in my seat. “How did you get those rewrites in this week? There were twenty–two pages and three resource documents in there, on top of the databases you finished.” He rounds the other side of my desk and towers over me, crossing his arms in mock astonishment.
“Save it, Mr. Hale.” I throw my hands up and feign a wounded heart. “You would bet against little ol‘ me?” I laugh with my bosses, then I pause when I realize Lucas has dropped his pretense. I catch him watching me a little too closely before a wicked smirk spreads across his face.
Taking a step toward me, Lucas leans in, placing one hand on my desk and the other on my chair. “Oh, Jayne.” He draws out my name as if he is enjoying the taste of it on his tongue. Then he lowers to eye level to command my attention. “I won’t underestimate you again, little one.”
It’s the threat of a promise, and I flush at his tone.
“Who’s in the photo?” I look up, and Declan’s head is tilted toward the photo of my dad and me. I’m thankful for the small mercy of a change in topic as I let my eyes rest on the framed picture.
“That’s my dad, our old dog, and me at our cabin a long time ago.” It’s been about fifteen years, but I still remember the day it was taken.
“Such an old photo. Do you still talk to your dad?” Declan asks innocently enough, but I can tell by the look on his face that my smile has dropped at the question, and he regrets asking it.
“My dad passed away five years ago.” I try to keep my voice light.
Out of the corner of my eye, I notice Lucas has shifted. He is now sitting on the corner of my desk, silently absorbing our conversation. His gaze feels heavy, and I suddenly feel awkwardly exposed.
I silently hope that the next question leads us back to safer ground.
9:39 Mon, Sep 22
Chapter 8
Declan tries again. “What about your mother? Is she in your life?”
Well, shit.
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Lucas is sitting stark still now with his eyes on me and his hands in his lap. If it wasn’t for his thumb and middle finger rubbing together in a smooth motion, I’d swear he was a statue.
Declan shoots me a glance, urging me to continue.
“Um, I see her from time to time. I mentioned that she is seeing the gentleman who referred me to you.” I reach across my desk to pick up the small seashell I keep in front of the photo, rubbing it between my fingers as I continue. “She seems–happy.” Through clenched teeth, I almost choke on that last word, but I manage it.
My mother is beyond happy. She is ecstatic, but it has nothing to do with Howard and everything to do with the balance in his bank account, and I hate it. I hate her for it.
I grasp the seashell in my palm a little tighter. This small shell is a reminder of what I could lose. It’s a reminder of the price I must pay, that I am so close to getting what I want and setting myself free.
I attempt to shut the topic down. “We aren’t that close.”
Lucas lets out a breath he seems to have been holding as he stands. “So, employee of the month, what are you up to this weekend?”
The tension around me eases as the two men begin to stand and wrap up our conversation.
“Just some long–overdue girl time with a couple of friends.” I shrug as I check my bag to make sure I have everything I need.
“So drinking wine, gossiping, painting your nails, and naked pillow fights?” Declan tosses a grin at me as he moves to let me pass.
I stand, set the shell back on my desk, grab my jacket, and slide past him. The space between us is tight, and I gently brush my chest against his as I go. For a moment, I imagine he tenses as I pass, but I brush it off. I’m probably just jacked up on all the Hale repartee I can handle for one day.
“You’d be right about three out of four.” I laugh as I begin to make my way to the elevator. When I get to the doors and press the button, I turn to wave good night. Then I decide on a bold end to a rather perfect week.
“Don’t be so quick to rule out the naked pillow fights,” I say with a wink. Then I turn as the elevator doors open to take me away.
Lucas and Declan stand dazed and silent, and I revel in my little moment of triumph at having the last word
of the week.
9:39 Mon, Sep 22
