HIM
The day’s meetings drag and by 5 o’clock I want to jump out of my own office window. We finish discussing our partnership with Dupont to match their most popular pain colors with our new product and move onto the results of the focus group on the marketing material.
“Daniel, when you get the report, I want you to hand deliver it to me. It goes straight from you to me, got it?” I stare my marketing executive down.
“Well, don’t you think you’re being a little paranoid? It looks like they’ve already gotten all the information they need, they’re probably not spying any more, just in case they get found out,” referring to the one we all know only as ‘J.’
I pivot on my heel to face the window. The sky is filled with grey clouds and looks heavy and tired, mirroring my mood.
“How long have you worked here, Daniel?”
“About five years now, Mr. Ashley.”
“Do you like it here?”
“Yes, of course. Very much so.”
“Where did you work before?”
“This was actually my first job in Manhattan. I was pretty inexperienced when you hired me, but you liked my story about my parents owning a corner store in Connecticut. I used to work there for pocket money.”
“Yes, of course, I remember now. I guess they love that store of theirs.”
“Yes, sir, they’ve had it most of their lives, they wouldn’t do anything else for the world. They get there early in the morning and leave every night after dark. They know every nook and cranny of that place. Sometimes I think they love it more than they love us kids.”
I turn back to him. He looks confused at my line of questioning. I don’t blame him. People who haven’t lost everything tend not to understand the doggedness of people who’ve stood bare handed with nothing but the air in their lungs to call their own.
“Well, this is my corner store.” I gesture to the four glass windows around us. “This building and this business. In one month we are launching a smoke detector that is going to revolutionize fire detection, and save tens of thousands of lives a year all around the world. And because of one person’s vendetta, that could all come crashing to the ground. So, no, I do not think I’m being a little paranoid. You can go. I’ll see you in half an hour with that report on my desk.”
“Yes, sir,” he says, then hesitates.
“Is there something else?”
“I’m sorry, sir. I didn’t mean to imply… I just. I hope you find him, Mr. Ashley.”
“You and me both, Daniel. Thank you.” I go back to my desk as he leaves.
I sit down on my desk chair, leaning back, surveying my workstation and the floor in front of me. Since I received the parcel from J I’ve tightened the security of my office floor, the brain of the company where the ideas form and new products are born.
My sanctuary.
It makes me almost physically sick to think that this space has been tainted, infiltrated by an enemy.
I close my eyes and breathe deep, controlling the heat and loathing rising up in me.
Who is he? And what does he fucking want with me, with my company?
Stop it. Stop dwelling, stop worrying, it’s not going to do any good. You can’t solve anything if you’re too busy burying your head in the hatred. Calm down and work it out, I tell myself.
Except that the voice isn’t mine.
It’s hers.
Somehow, she’s become the voice of calm for me.
I need to see her.
No. You can’t. Now it’s my voice.
“Fuck you,” I tell myself.
I jump to my feet and slide my phone into my pocket, grabbing my hoodie as I rush out the door.
HER
“Dude. I. Am. Out.” I sigh, exhausted, resting my head on my desk.
Harriet’s chair creaks as she turns around to face me. “That last solitaire game got the better of you, did it?”
I hear Harold snort from his office.
“Excuse me, I’ll have you know… it was Bubble Witch Saga and I’ve run out of lives,” I raise my voice for Harold’s sake. “Anyway, it’s my cue that it’s time to split. I’ll see you at home.” I get up and shove my phone into my handbag, waiting for my computer to shut down.
“Just give me a minute to finish this file and I’ll come with you.”
“No!” I throw both hands out in front of me, like a traffic cop trying to stop three lanes of cars during peak hour.
The shock on her face makes me laugh.
“Sorry.” I bite my tongue, trying to push down the giggles as she continues to look confused, her eyelids working overtime as she blinks, waiting for my explanation. “I just need to be by myself for ONE minute. I am so grateful for your help and relentless, continuous surveillance, but I really need to… you know, not be breathing the same air as you. Just for a little while.”
Harriet’s confusion changes to concern.
“And before you say anything, you’ve been watching me like a hawk at work for the last three days, and even you have to admit, I’m fine!”
She opens her mouth just as the gruff male voice speaks up from the office next door.
“Oh, just let her go, Harriet. Go! Jade! Before she can catch up with you! But be back at Harriet’s apartment in two hours!”
I grin and grab my bag, I run over to press a quick kiss to Harriet’s cheek before she can even react and skip out of the office, yelling a “I owe you, Harold!” as I pass his open door and make for the exit.
I push on the heavy door with both hands and take a deep breath of the cooling air.
Freedom!