Page 6 of When Glitter Meets Gold

At ten thirty, I watch as Drew approaches the water cooler to top up a flask. He does this most mornings right before he goes for a run. And after he requested to follow me on Instagram after myliking spree, I have a fresh urge to continue to listen to Amber’s advice and strike up a conversation with him. Baby steps.

“Hey.” A raspy voice startles me from my daydream. I turn to see Kandi Lovetti leaning against my desk. She looks like she wants to tell me something but pauses to blink down at my ivory tweed two piece and shimmering bronze heels. “You’re always so dressed up,” she exclaims, and before I can roll my eyes, she continues, “I have a friend like that, she dresses up at work because she only goes to the office and the grocery store. Stays in her house all the time like some depressed teenager who got stood up by her prom date, bless her. But I guess work is all she’s got.” Her cheeks round as she grins, the smile not reaching her eyes.

There’s office politics, then there’s Public Relations extraordinaire, Kandi Lovetti. A twenty-six-year-old career go-getter who doesn’t care who she steps on to get to where she wants. People called her the office mean girl so frequently she eventually caught on, and when she did, she wore the title with pride.

We’ve never had any specific run-ins, which is very much her style. She prefers a slower type of poison. Like the way she delivers ‘compliments’ to my outfits for example, selecting terms likeinteresting choiceandoh, you tried something new,andyou’re always so dressed up.They aren’t compliments. They’re statements. Ones that only serve the purpose of making me question myself.

“I’m a little busy right now, did you want something?” I ask, ignoring her obvious dig, and setting my eyes on my monitor.

“I did, but if you’re busy…oh what the heck, I’ll ask anyway.” She waves a hand. “I just have so many tasks today and I thought you might want to help.” I see her flicking her auburn hair over her shoulder in my periphery.

“I have no idea why you think that’s something I’d be open to,” I say.

She presses her lips together. “I only ask because there’s this new position coming up, which I’m sure you’re aware of. And, helping out your teammates would make you look like a more attractive candidate.”

And then I realize she isn’t looking for help. This is her way of telling me we’re competing for the same promotion.Thatwas the reason she bought everyone twelve-dollar smoothies on Friday.Sheis trying to look like the more attractive candidate.

“But you’re busy, so don’t even worry about it.” She smirks, grinding the heel of her boot into the floor as her eyes wander across the room to Drew who’s still at the cooler. “Anyway, that really is a cute outfit, I’m sure that friend of mine had the same one last year,” she says as she pushes from the desk and slinks through the open-space work area.

This is the window Amber was talking about, and it’s growing smaller every moment. Not only is Kandi in competition with my job, now she wants to battle for Drew too.

A part of me wants to admit defeat with the Drew situation and focus on my job, because the truth is, she’s probably more his type than I’ll ever be.

I sigh as I watch her flick her hair and sway her hips, herposture purely predatory as she continues on her way to seek out Drew.

Then, her entire body plummets to the floor.

Splats like a cream pie connecting with a face.

My neck extends like an ostrich as I stare wide eyed at Amber who winks at me before nodding like a crazy person at Drew. She mouthsGO!before turning to Kandi and exclaiming, “Oh no, you slipped. Need help?” All while proceeding to offer zero help.

“I didn’t slip, you tripped me.” Kandi grits out, pulling a curtain of hair from her face as she climbs to her feet.

I look back at Amber, who’s grinning remorselessly and flashing me a double thumbs up.

By now, Drew is on the move, and since I’ll never hear the end of it if I allow Amber’s roadblock to go to waste, I smooth down my skirt, and scurry after Drew as fast as I can in a mini skirt and five-inch heels. I follow him to the elevators, slipping through the doors as they begin to close.

“Where to?” Drew gives me one of those wide grins.

“Lobby,” I say. “I’m just…heading out for coffee, thought it would be nice to get some fresh air.” The lie comes out with ease.

Drew raises his water bottle to his mouth and chugs, and I swear his throat bobs in slow motion as he gulps down the liquid. I can’t help but admire the muscles in his forearms as they contract throughout the gesture. “Next time bring your sneakers, we’ll grab fresh air together. You run, right?”

My mind casts back to Friday when I told him I wasn’t into CrossFit, and how he got that look of disappointment in his eye.

I push a tendril of hair behind my ear, thinking that if it was so easy to lie about getting fresh air and coffee, thenmaybe... “Yes. I mean, I’m out of practice, but I’d like to get better.” The second lie comes out with even more ease.

“Well sure, let’s get you moving again.” His face lights up as he presses a button and the doors begin to close. “What kind of distance are we talking? Ten, fifteen miles?”

Before I can roar out an obnoxioushell no, Walter’s voice calls from outside of the elevators. “Hold the doors!”

Walter, Raj, Francis, andKandiare striding toward us. Perfect.

As instructed, Drew holds the elevator as everyone piles in.

“I’m coming too!” Amber yells, footsteps thumping against the tiles as she squeezes in, gasping for breath as the doors close behind her.

“I thought we could all get coffee out today, since it’s so mild,” Kandi says, narrowing her eyes at me. “My treat of course.”

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