Page 96 of Resting Grump Face
I am not a crazy person… at least I don’t think I am. It’s just that sometimes, despite all odds, despite all the terrible things that happen in this cruel world of ours, you meet someone who makes you question everything you thought to be true.
They are the plot twist you didn’t see coming, the unexpected punchline in some kind of cosmic joke, the thing you didn’t know you needed until you couldn’t do without it anymore.
Of course, none of this is to say that I don’t still like my vengeful streak. I do. And, luckily, I found someone who does as well.
“So, you both quit your jobs to start your own…” Olivia looks at me with questioning eyes.
“We’ve been over this. Keep up. It's an NGO focused on harnessing the skills of seniors and partnering them with the energy of the younger generation to collaboratively develop practical projects that benefit both groups at a local level.”
“You know damn well that isn’t the part I was talking about.”
“Aaand we also use it as a front to run secret missions that… serve the needs of the people.”
Olivia nods. “Yes, that’s the part I am not quite clear on.”
“I am not sure what’s so hard to understand,” I say, and shrug my shoulders. “We deal in justice and revenge. Revenge and justice. It was Ryker’s idea. He was looking for something to do that he doesn’t hate, where he can be useful, and I needed something to channel my righteousness in a more productive way, according to him, that is. So that’s what we do.” I shrug again. “You know how they say revenge is a dish best served cold? Well, what they don’t tell you is how much work goes into preparing a cold cuisine. There are so many things you need to consider. For example, three years ago, a senator voted to allow for a fracking site to be installed right next to a big school. Now they don’t have clean water on tap anymore. You know how much work it is to rig a Senator’s water supply to only dispense mud?”
“Haven’t you guys only been up and running a couple of weeks?”
“We hit the ground running… or in this case, digging. We got lots of ideas.”
“Next we’re going to shut down an illegal alpaca farm. The owner is not going to see the cage coming that we’re going to put him in,” Robyn says while opening the door and interrupting our conversation.
“Robyn! Did you bug my office again? I told you to stop doing that.”
“Relax! I didn’t. I stole Guy’s hearing aid.” She brushes her hair over one ear, revealing the small device. “It’s amazing what these things can do nowadays. Anyway, you two can’t stay. I got a date coming over. Don’t want him to think I’m not the boss around here, so scram.”
Olivia laughs and gets out of the chair she is sitting in. “Yes, ma’am. We’ll be out of your hair in no time.”
“I appreciate that.” Robyn pushes the door open all the way and impatiently waits for us to leave.
“Am I being thrown out of my own office?” I ask as Olivia grabs my arm and pulls me up.
“You work too much anyway.” She carefully shoves me out the door. “Let’s go enjoy happy hour down at the docks while our men are out doing whatever it is our men do.”
Robyn is about to chime in on the topic, but before she can, I drape her scarf over her mouth and shake my head. “I’d prefer not to imagine whatever picture you are about to conjure up.”
“Very well,” she mumbles under the fabric and waits for the elevator door to close. “Have a good evening at the docks.”
We pass Paul down at reception who bids us good night, and then we head straight for a cab that takes us to our favorite bar, where we order a round of beers and plenty of fried food.
“So how is Ryker doing with the change so far?” Olivia eventually brings the conversation back around.
“Good!” I say. “He seems much lighter with all the responsibilities lifted. I mean he still has responsibilities running our NGO, and he does still worry about Bruce, but that’s to be expected, I suppose.”
“Did Roman accept the job?”
“No, Roman declined. Said running conglomerates is for schmucks. Bruce and Barb are in charge of things. They are working on turning the whole thing into worker-run businesses, which seems to be going great.”
“And how about your new offices?”
“They’re good. Right where we need them to be. I mean, it’s a little weird to get out of bed in the morning, go up two floors and start working, but not in a bad way. Plus, guess who gets laid on their lunch break all the time?”
“Is it Robyn?” Olivia asks and neither of us can hold back the laughter.
She might be right about that. Half the time, I don’t have a clue where Robyn is or what she is actually doing.
It takes another three glasses of wine, two guys hitting on us, and a shot of something called Kiss and Tellquila before our men finally join us. All four of us have a nice night out and time to catch up.
