Page 24 of Christmas Crisis
Punching the red button on her phone screen, she slumped back against the booth before reaching for her margarita glass, slurping the last dregs aggressively. “Pretty sure I’m gonna need flan and a tres leches cake, maybe churros too.”
At least her sense of humor remained intact. “Do you want to tell me who that was?”
“My supervisor, Walt. Technically, my boss’s boss. Head of our division. He got my email but said he already knew because one of my coworkers recognized me from the earlier pics.”
“Why didn’t he contact you then?”
“Didn’t say. I assume he was taking a wait-and-see approach.” She straightened. “He’s old-school. Not the type of man to spend time online. Or even go to the movies. I doubt he knows who Stone is. But now that my statement is up and he’s clear that this might cause gossip online for a few days, he’s worried about the company.”
“I’m not sure why he cares. I know you emailed them in the name of transparency, but it’s not like this will affect your work.”
“It’s a fairly conservative business. I think he’s being cautious because he doesn’t want any undue attention. Our clients are, for the most part, serious, circumspect people. Legacy companies and politicians. He mentioned that an entertainment journalist already contacted the general line—and to paint a picture, he said ‘entertainment journalist’ the way most people would say ‘explosive diarrhea.’ He’s worried someone will try to take my picture coming and going from the office, and he doesn’t want the company connected to any media circus. As much as the business is about PR and marketing, its goal is always to stay in the background.”
“Alright, I get what you’re saying. But it’s not like you asked for any of this. Assuming people believe your statement, it’s all a big misunderstanding.”
She frowned. “True. And he’s not threatening to fire me or anything. He just doesn’t want a bunch of eyes on them. Like I said, it’s a realput your head down and get your work donekind of office. That was one reason I wanted to work there.”
As much as I understood that, respected it even, I hated that Stone and his dumbfuckery had brought trouble for her at work. Especially since she was still worried about finding her footing there. “Did Walt say what he wants you to do?”
“He told me to work remotely for the month. December is a dead time anyway. Fewer meetings. I can still get my work done, but if I’m not in the office, there’s no reason for photogs to hover.”
It seemed like overkill to me, especially since celebrity stories always came and went quickly. From the look on Miranda’s face, she agreed. “You okay?” I asked.
“I guess I have to be, but it still sucks. It’s not a remote work office, and I’m sure plenty of my coworkers would love the option of being at home. I know Walt’s doing what he deems necessary, but it feels like I’m getting special treatment. Not a great look for the new kid.”
“You don’t think your coworkers will understand?”
“It’s not that. Remember when we talked about how I haven’t gotten to know them? It’s cool that my birthday made it onto the office calendar and all, but I’ve been keeping my distance, doing this whole subterfuge with Stone. I doubt anyone there has my back yet.”
With everything happening, I’d almost forgotten that she’d been hiding her relationship with Stone for over a year. And all the implications of that.
Reaching across the table to take her hand, I ran my thumb across her knuckles. “I have your back. And we can get all the desserts if it will make you feel better.”
“Thanks, Leo-Bear. It does make me feel—”
Plop!
We both looked up as someone smooshed a massive violet sombrero on Miranda’s head and placed a pastry with a candle in it on the table in front of her. I pulled out my phone to record as every server in the restaurant magically appeared to sing “Feliz Cumpleaños.”
The employees’ faces displayed a range of emotions, from overtly enthusiastic to seething. I grinned at the young guy mouthing the words and felt a pang of sympathy for the woman in back, the only one who could carry a tune. The rest of the team simply leaned into their grumpy bulldog vocals. I’d let our server know about Miranda’s birthday before our margaritas came out, and this ritual was even more delightfully tacky than I’d hoped for.
Miranda obviously thought so too. She laughed, and I thought I saw tears in her eyes, though it was hard to know for sure with the sombrero covering the top half of her face.
After they finished and whisked the sombrero away, we sat alone again at the table.
“I loved that,” Miranda said. She closed her eyes and blew out the candle. Opening them again, she studied me across the table. “Leo?”
“Hmm?”
“I bet there will be plenty of pictures of us to satisfy the wolves after today. That sombrero was really a gift from the universe. Not to mentioneverythingat the arcade.”
Our kiss. She meant our kiss. “You’re probably right.”
“It’s going to blow over. I can feel it. And I’m pretty sure I could get through the rest of this on my own if I had to.”
“Of course you could,” I replied. “But I’d never let you do that.”
“I know. That’s what I’m saying. Icouldhandle it myself. Especially after the good start we got this afternoon… But I don’t want to. It helps me so much being near you.”
