Page 34 of Open for Negotiation
Chapter 7
Scarlett
There is something in the air when I walk into the office for work on Friday morning.
I don’t know if it’s just because I am running late, or if it’s because I accidentally stuck my hand in fucking chewed-up gum on the bus, but there’s fuckery in the air. I can feel it.
Cassidy, my cube neighbor, must sense something too because she pokes her head out when I walk by.
“Be warned, this Friday feels very much like a Monday. Honestly, I’d just go home now if you can. I’ve already had three phone calls with unhappy clients and a strongly worded email from someone who feels they were sent a spam email from us, even though we don’t even send unsolicited emails. Basically, all I’m saying is that if you have some kind of alcohol hidden over there that I can put in my coffee, I’d be forever in your debt.”
“Did you even breathe when you were saying all of that? I don’t even think there was any pauses or anything.” I smile and continue on to my desk, and just as I thought she would, she whirls in behind me, still in her chair.
“It’s just been a long morning already, and I’m glad to be out of here for two days.”
I shed my bag, hanging it on the hook on the far cube wall, then take a seat in front of my computer monitors, firing them up so I can log in.
“There must be something in the air today, because I can feel something off around here. It just feels like something is going to go wrong, like the other shoe is about to drop.” My eyes never leave the screen while my fingers fly over the keys. I could log into the system with my eyes closed if asked and launch all of my programs without missing a beat.
“Well,” she scoots closer to me and lowers her voice, “you didn’t hear it from me, but I heard that Mr. Duke got here early this morning and could be heard shouting at someone on the phone on his way through.” She holds up her hands in a surrender pose. “Now, don’t quote me on that, but it’s just what I heard.”
That would explain why he didn’t text me this morning like he always does.
Waking up to a text from him has been something I’ve grown used to over the weeks that we’ve been closer. Whether it’s a stupid joke or an interesting fact… or simply telling me good morning… Maxwell Duke has been the first person I’ve heard from every day.
But not today.
That was clue number one that I should be on high alert.
“Does anyone know why or who he was talking to?” I finally spin around in my chair to face her head-on.
“I mean, if I had to guess, it would be Miranda. She knows exactly how to press those buttons to make him lose his cool here in the office when he normally wouldn’t.” Cassidy shrugs and tosses her curly brown hair over her shoulder. “I’m just glad she’s gone now and we don’t have to deal with her every day anymore.”
“That’s putting it mildly,” I add in, turning back toward my monitors.
“Have you noticed how… smiley… Mr. Duke has looked lately? At least, outside of this morning, obviously.”
“What do you mean?”
I bite my lip to keep from smiling myself.
“I don’t know, he just seems much more jovial than normal. Like someone finally took the stick out of his ass, or something.” She giggles. “Maybe he’s getting laid again.”
I clear my throat. “He deserves it after the shit Miranda has put him through. Good for him, if he is.”
“I agree. That man is too fine to be spending his evenings with only his hand for company.”
I snort laugh at that, covering my mouth in embarrassment.
“What?” She rolls her eyes. “It’s true.”
***
Later in the day, the sound of us receiving an instant message, all at once, sounds through the office. That can only mean one thing…. Trouble is coming.
The clicking of her Jimmy Choos on the marble floor of the reception area gives her away before any of us even lay eyes on her.
“Maxwell Duke!” Her shrill voice booms through the main floor and we all pop our heads out of our cubicles like the meerkats you see in National Geographic.
