Clack!
“Ah!” I jumped back, startled.
“You… okay?”
Heart racing, I glanced around. A man in a cubicle right beside me froze, hand over his stapler, eyes round as he glanced at me.
“Oh… ha!” I breathed out a shaky chuckle. “Just a stapler.”
The worker flashed his eyes at me, then went back to his stapling.
Clack!
I glanced down and realized I held Peter’s arm in a death grip. I released it and shoved my hands in my pockets, then shot him a sheepish grin. “Sorry.”
“It’s fine.” He licked his lips. “You seem a little… on edge though. You sure you’re okay? I don’t mean to pry, but lately you’ve been a little—”
I waved a hand and cut him off. “I’m great—never better.” Or, you know, the opposite of that, but I just wanted to get this over with as quickly as possible.
His uncertain gaze lingered on me a moment longer, then he turned, and we all followed the receptionist on through the maze of cubicles. I glanced to my right through my hair.
Big offices with glass walls and doors lined the side of the building that looked down onto the street. With their big windows, those were the coveted offices for the top performers. A few men and women sat behind their desks there or took meetings with clients.
I’d almost been one of them. When Emerson had told me I’d be promoted to partner, he’d also promised me the office in the center, right next to his, where a mustached man now sat.
I vaguely remembered the guy from my time at the firm—he’d been a new hire when I left. I smirked, bitterness tightening my jaw. Left was a kind term—when I’d been fired on the spot was more accurate.
The worker bees occupied the center cubicles, and the up-and-comings had smaller, darker offices along the sides of the floor, with windows that looked onto the closely neighboring buildings. The receptionist took a sharp left and headed toward the back of the building.
The conference rooms were back there and looked onto the small garden where I used to take breaks and chat with Zale when I first started. By the time I’d left, I didn’t take breaks anymore and worked through every lunch. I had to prioritize my work if I wanted to get ahead.
The blond led the way past a row of offices—including my old one. I slowed and glanced in, curious despite my best efforts to keep my face hidden. The desk was in the same spot, but the chair behind it was empty. I was moving to catch up with Peter, Daisy, and the receptionist when I glanced up and my mouth went dry. Zale, eyes down on a file in his hands, walked straight toward us.
Instinctively, I backed up, looking around for a place to hide. I doubted he’d let me go without a thorough explanation of what I was doing there. My mind raced and, maybe out of habit, I yanked open the glass door of my old office and dove inside.
It was as dark as ever. There was a single window, but the building next door was only about a foot away and kept the room always in shadow. I backed further away from the glass wall, trying to disappear into the shadows, and watched Zale pass by. He looked up, tucked the file under his arm, and paused to chat with a coworker.
He’d always been on me to spend more time building relationships and to let loose. Then again, he hadn’t been the one on track to make partner. He nodded goodbye, then moved past and disappeared among the cubicles.
I approached the glass wall. I rose on my toes and leaned right and left, scanning the milling office workers, trying to verify the coast was clear to go after Peter.
A footstep sounded behind me, and I froze.
I whirled and found the closet door open, light spilling out. I’d forgotten about the closet—it’s where I used to keep all my filing cabinets.
My stomach lurched when Eve stepped out, brown file in hand. Her eyes widened slightly. “I didn’t realize I had an appointment—can I help you or—” Her jaw dropped, and her expression darkened as recognition flitted across her face. “What are you doing here?”
25
EVE
Eve hugged the file close to her chest and edged behind the desk. “I’m calling security.”
Okay. That was too far. I rolled my eyes, too annoyed to be afraid anymore. I tapped the visitor badge on my chest that the receptionist had given Peter and me (and even Daisy, actually). “I’m here on police business, relax.” I stuck a hip out. “I’m not here to claw your eyes out.” I shot her a saucy look. “Though I think it’d be within my rights to do so.”
Eve paled.
I wasn’t actually going to do anything to her. For one, I didn’t have any magic and she could probably crush me with a single spell. But I had to admit it was satisfying to get a reaction out of her.
I sniffed and looked around, slowly pacing. “Wow. Didn’t waste any time swooping in and taking over my life, did you?” I let out a humorless chuckle, the irony really sinking in as I spoke.
“My job, my fiancé—you even took my office.” I gritted my teeth so hard, my jaw hurt. “Hope you’re happy.” I mean, I didn’t but I hoped she was picking up on the bucket of sarcasm I was throwing over every word.
Eve stood with the desk between us, face flushed, chest heaving. As I looked at her, a flood of memories and thoughts, most of them unwelcome ones I’d done my best to shove down over the years, washed over me. My hands trembled as adrenaline pumped through me.
I knew I should leave, especially since she seemed one wrong breath away from calling security on me, which would, after all, be the most humiliating outcome.
