Page 12 of Love Off the Rocks
I decide to steer clear. “I’m going to grab a seat over there.” I motion vaguely in the other direction. “Looks like there’s a seat next to Nancy.”
Sam’s face lights up. I watch as he heads over and bends to whisper something into her ear. Her eyes widen as she stares at me before narrowing back to the glare from a moment ago. What’d I ever do to her? The last thing I need is the assistant to the boss hating me. I wonder what he said.
Thanks a lot, Sam.
Most people have already congregated in small groups or pairs and are talking quietly amongst themselves. I don’t have a lot of friends at the company who would save me a seat.
That’s not true, I don’t have any work friends at all.
I don’t do a lot of socializing outside of work. Happy hours aren’t really my thing, and I think it’s the only way co-workers get to know one another anymore. That and hanging out in the break room. Another thing that’s not really, well, my thing. Besides, if I spend all my time in the break room, I’ll never get this promotion.
Chaz is sitting on a small couch with an empty seat next to him. I take it and squeeze as far as I can against the side—away from Chaz—as possible. I hate when couches dip in the middle, forcing each occupant to lean in toward one another. The last thing I want is any part of me touching Chaz. A position I quickly try to reverse as soon as I see Brittni enter the room. I can’t have her sitting here. I haven’t talked to her since she defiled me with that shit in a bottle she called tonic. And I don’t intend to change that now.
I spread my knees as nonchalantly as possible to take up more space on the couch as she approaches—willing Chaz with my mind and my thighs to scoot as well.
It doesn’t work.
“Hey, roomie,” she says as she wiggles her ass into the inch of space between Chaz and me, somehow creating a space for herself.
I sniff cautiously. She doesn’t smell like the tonic. Then I sniff again to be sure. It’s more like a spice or an herb.
Patchouli?
Sage?
“What’d I miss?” she asks.
“Nothing, we haven’t started yet,” I tell her.
“Oh, good. Any chance I get to see my man in action, I take it.”
“Mm-hmm.” I keep to non-committal responses, hoping she’ll stop talking.
It doesn’t work.
“He was just promoted, and now he’s running this entire show. I’ll be taking his old job when we get back to New York.” She continues talking, her voice not a whisper, but not at full volume either. “I don’t know if he plans to announce it today or not. Not that it matters when he does. We can’t be too obvious about it or everyone will think I’m getting the promotion because of our feelings for one another.”
My ears perk to attention at that. “Promotion?” I ask, despite myself.
“Yes, to marketing and acquisitions manager.”
“For the East Coast?” I clarify since that’s the promotion I’m going for in our office.
“No, for the whole thing. That’s why we’re here, you know. To officially announce the merger, lay a bunch of people off, and become one big happy family.”
“What?” My voice is louder than I intend it to be. No way am I letting her steal it out from under me just because she’s under the boss. Did she say layoffs? What if I don’t get the promotion and I lose my job? One big happy family, my ass.
Heads turn in my direction, and I shrink back into the couch cushion. I don’t like attention on myself. And I especially don’t like it when I cause it.
“You didn’t know?” Brittni asks, her voice at a normal octave.
“No,” I whisper.
“They really keep you West Coasters in the dark about everything, don’t they?”
I nod in response.
“I’m lucky. My guy tells me everything,” she gushes.
