Page 62 of Corporate Escapades

Turning off the living room light, he got up and trudged down the hall to his room. Perhaps a good night’s sleep would make him feel better, but somehow, he doubted it.

The next morning, Paris got up early and went for a run. Vic had made the same decision, though they had turned in opposite directions as they’d exited the building. At some point during their separate runs, the pair had turned off at the same street, and as Paris came around the corner, she and Vic nearly collided.

“Hi,” he called out. “How’s it going?”

“Fine,” she replied as she tried to catch her breath. She’d been running at full speed, trying to burn off the excited energy from the previous night.

“What’d you do last night?” he asked, matching her stride.

“I went on a date with Tom.”

“Oh, super,” he replied. “That explains why you were so out of it when you came home.”

Paris looked at him with confusion. “I wasn’t out of it.”

“Really? Tell me, Paris, where was I last night when you arrived home?”

“You were in bed,” she shot back.

“Nope. I was sitting on the couch. I even called out your name, but you ignored me.”

“Bull,” she said. “I would’ve seen you.”

“Apparently not. You’re too absorbed in your own world once again.”

“At least I’m happy, which is more than I can say for you. You just mope around all the time, and whenever someone doesn’t do as you expect, you bite their head off.”

“Maybe we should finish this run separately,” he declared as he turned away from her in frustration. There it was again. He felt as if his emotions might boil over.

“Jerk,” muttered Paris. She didn’t understand what his problem was. It’s not like they were in a relationship with each other. Her feet pounded the pavement as she retreated. By the time she had arrived back at the apartment, Vic had already showered and left for work. It was comforting to have the place to herself.

“Hurry, Paris. She’ll be here shortly,” said Mya. She’d been on edge ever since her meeting with Cristo. He hadn’t called on her yet, but she knew he would, and when he did, she didn’t know what to expect. The waiting was causing irritability, which was not a normal Mya trait. They still hadn’t discussed the matter at hand. His avoidance was giving her anxiety.

“Are you okay?” asked Paris. “I feel like there’s something you’re holding in. What is it?” she queried as she tapped her foot.

“It’s nothing. There’s nothing to tell,” Mya snapped.

“I know this isn’t you, but I’ll let you talk when you’re ready.” She didn't know what had gotten into the girl, but she was pretty certain that it involved the situation with Cristo. She wished her friend would come clean.

“Great, thanks,” she replied. “I just want everything in place before Molly arrives. I hope the clothes we picked will fit her properly.

Wednesday night, Paris and Mya had gone shopping to pick up some new items for Molly’s wardrobe, along with makeup and a few other things. Paris spent four-hundred of the five-hundred dollars she’d been given on Molly. She then bought herself a couple of new but inexpensive items to add to her business attire. She was okay with holding back if it meant helping out a coworker and having someone else to watch her back.

Molly showed up for their girls' night, grinning wildly. She’d never been to Mya's condo before, and truth be told, she’d never had a makeover. The girls explained to her that, as Dom's personal assistant, she really needed to look professional and that her current clothing, which was much too big for her, made her look uninvested in her job. They convinced her the new clothing was secondhand, which helped ease any sense of charity.

Despite the desire to recruit Molly's eyes and ears within the company, Paris found that the girl actually had a great sense of humor. She fit right in with her and Mya. She could see making their get-togethers a more regular occurrence.

To help keep up the guise of being a makeover night, Paris gave Mya a facial, and Mya gave Paris a manicure while Molly tried on clothes. The clothing all fit well, and it was true, Molly was actually quite beautiful once they put her in properly fitted clothes and cleaned up her hair.

Mya took the time to explain different techniques for styling her hair to look more professional or seductive, depending on her need at any time. Paris dyed Molly’s hair a deeper shade of brown, which made her eyes pop. She also taught her how to apply false lashes and to use her makeup more efficiently.Together with Paris, they discussed the idea of smaller glasses for her tiny face or investing in contacts, so she didn’t have to hide behind her massive rims.

At the end of the makeover session, Paris asked Molly if she could request a favor, to which Molly was more than happy to help. She told them she felt great after the makeover, and wanted to repay them somehow.

“We need you to be our eyes and ears,” said Mya. “Someone is trying to sabotage Vic and Paris. We think it’s most likely to get them out of the company, but we don’t know who’s involved in the situation. Anything you hear or see; you report back to one of us.”

“Sure thing,” said Molly. “I’m glad to help.”

“We appreciate it. Now, go home and get some sleep so you can get up and practice the techniques we taught you before work tomorrow. We want to see you wow everyone when you walk in,” gushed Paris.

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