Page 31 of Gluttony

“Oh, okay. Um, thanks.” Standing, I squeeze my way out from behind my desk and follow Phoebe all the way back to the entrance. Before I even make it there, I see the big-ass bouquet of red roses on her desk. For a brief second, my belly gets a whole fuckload of butterflies flapping around like we’re inA Midsummer Night’s Dreamthinking about Saturday night and Orion’s unmistakable need for me.

Logic slaps me in the face when I remember that my boss wouldn’t send me flowers at work. Or at all, to be honest.

When I reach the front desk, I look around the space, half expecting the camera crew of some gotcha reality show to jump out from behind the potted plants. Just thinking about it has my face and neck burning with embarrassment.

As I pluck the card out from the petals, I side-eye the bouquet like it’s a snake ready to bite my head off.

“Had a great time Saturday. Hope we can do it again and maybe this time we won’t be interrupted. Looking forward to making our plans work out sooner rather than later.” Yours, Miller.

It takes my brain a second too long to remember that Miller is Mickey, and when it does, I get the uncontrollable urge to hurl the vase against the wall, which is ridiculous. Everything about his note is confusing. The positive words with underlining threats or disappointments are doing my head in and I’m struggling to remember why Mickey and I are even still a thing. Other than pulling cons together, nothing feels right anymore.

“What’s this?” The deep voice in my ear is immediately followed by the card being plucked from my fingers. I start to protest but when I turn around and see Hadley reading thescribble, I decide there are a hundred other hills I’d prefer to die upon.

“It’s nothing—” I start but am interrupted by a low growl that, instead of scaring me, starts a direct line to my clit. This can’t be good.

“Looks to me like you went on a date with a proper cunt.” Then he hands me back the note and leans in close enough that I can feel his breath on the column of my neck. “I can get rid of him for you. Just say the word.” His words are followed by a low chuckle from him and a gasp from me.

“That’s…no. It’s fine. He was just being nice.” I don’t even believe what I’m saying but that’s not the point.

“Whatever you say, Little Rabbit.” Hadley grins, showing off his perfect rows of white teeth and it’s more feral than polite. That smile says more about what he wants to do to Mickey than anything he’d want to do to me. Still, the invitation is there, it’s clear, and it’s fucking with my head. “Phoebe, get rid of them.”

My anger comes out of nowhere and I’m not even sure why I feel so attacked. “What the fuck?”

Dammit, Bowie.

It feels like the entire staff just stops whatever they were doing and is now one hundred percent invested in our public show.

Hadley and I are having a weird showdown where I try to play a game he’s mastered his entire life. I’m going to lose and he knows it, but for some reason, he’s standing there, humoring me.

When his only reaction to my outburst is a raised brow and smirk on his plump lips, I continue my ridiculous outrage.

“Those are mine, Hadley. You can’t just throw them away.”

“Phoebe, do you mind explaining to our new recruit here why we have to get rid of the flowers?” The whole time he addresses our receptionist, his fire-fueled gaze is on me. It’s intense and it’s daring me to attack again.

“Yes, Sir. Bowie, we have a few members of our staff who are allergic. To protect them, there’s a regulation in the employee handbook specifying that no flowers are permitted on the premises.”

Of course there is.

“Thank you, Phoebe.” He winks at our receptionist then, without a single word my way, walks back to the CEO offices.

I’m well aware of my jaw hanging open as I watch Hadley strut away, wishing I could disintegrate him with my eyes, Superman-style.

“I’m sorry. I know he seems hardcore but it’s been company policy ever since Amanda Starr, from marketing, almost cost us a record deal with Overhype because they got grossed out by her puffy eyes and constant sneezing.” Phoebe shrugs like it is what it is and, to be honest, I don’t actually care about the roses…it’s the principle of it all.

I never get fucking flowers. Never. This is the first time I’ve ever received a bouquet and it’s getting outed like a bad apple.

The rest of my day went along without major incidents. Did I see Orion? No, I did not. At one point I even wondered if he was actively ignoring me. He wasn’t. Apparently, the whole team is on deadline, which explains why I have a much longer list of chores than usual.

As I tidy up my desk, I look down at my list and notice one item not crossed out. It’s not urgent and could wait until tomorrow but…

Mickey said I needed to be proactive and this could be my only opportunity.

Drumming my nails on the desk, my pros and cons have a ping-pong championship game in my head.

It’s too risky.

It’s what a good employee would do.

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