THE AIR CONDITIONING unit is turning a hot summer day into deep winter, but the chill is balmier than the glares surrounding me.
I fold my hands on the desk to keep them from trembling. No one moves.
Speaks.
Breathes.
It’s unnerving.
I’m surrounded by corpses. Or I might as well be.
Ice-polar welcome. Ritualistic shunning.
A mundane task has turned into mutiny.
I understand. I’m usually the one doling out the hate, the negativity, the anger. Being a thorn in Pax’s side was an honor. I was one of them.
But times have changed.
It’s tough being on the other side of the table.
“I would,” I swallow hard, “love some feedback.” Chin down. Hands squeezed tight. “If you have any.”
Silence meets my nervous plea.
Okay. So you’re just going to ignore me?
I play with the thought of overturning the table. Anything to liven this meeting up. But the managers would probably have a field day reporting me to Pax for breaking company property.
Deep breaths. All I can control is myself.
I focus on the sunlight drifting through the floor-to-ceiling windows. The smooth mahogany desk that’s cool against my fingertips. The calming green paint on the walls.
A colorful slide introduces the company’s new initiative. I worked hard on that presentation. My promotion came with perks. A pay raise. A new car. This is my first assignment and I have to prove to Pax that I deserve those things.
“That’s not going to work,” Jon Kimoko growls at me.
I look at him. Force a smile. Think good things, Harriet. “Thank you for your feedback, Jon.”
His answering glare tells me I can take my gratitude and shove it.
With effort, my tone remains even. “I’ve made the creative hub a success in my store and I’m confident that we can replicate that with everyone-”
“We’re not running a theatre,” Jon argues, cutting me off.
I bite down on my bottom lip. Try to remember that I’m in a position of leadership now and cursing him out would be wildly unprofessional.
“We sell cookies for crying out loud. Why do we have to host local bands and stand-up comics on top of everything else?” His eyes sharpen right along with his scornful tone. “The work we put in is more than enough. Not to mention, the idea is tacky.”
The other managers nod in tight-lipped agreement.
Sweat pops out on my forehead. The salty beads gather above my lip and slide down my neck. It slips beneath the fabric of my checkered blazer.
“I’m determined to work with you on these events. Any problems you might have won’t be a burden to you only. We’ll solve it together.” I offer what I hope is an encouraging smile. “I know what it’s like to juggle a family and a business. I know how stressful it can be to try something new. I own a franchise, same as you guys.” My eyes dip from one end of the table to the other. “I’m going to give this initiative my all and work just like I did for my own franchise.”
Jon makes a sound deep in his throat that’s part-huff and part growl. This meeting’s a bust.
I decide to cut my losses and end things early. “That’s it for today. I’ll be in touch with you again individually and as a group to work on events, casting and the like. We’ll…”
A whirlwind of activity blows into my face.
Chairs squeak.
Footsteps thud.
A door creaks open.
The managers leave like high school kids on the last day of summer school.
“… be in touch,” I mumble to the suddenly empty room.
With a deep sigh, I sink into the chair and drop my head on the table. “That did not go well.”
A knock on the door surprises me. I jolt up, glancing expectantly at the entrance in the hopes that one of the managers decided to join my team.
I’m off by a mile.
The person who walks in is a stylish woman with silver hair and turquoise glasses.
My heart jumps. “Nadia.”
She’s not a friendly face so much as she is a face that isn’t out to skin me alive. I’m grateful to see her.
“Pax wanted you to drop by her office when the meeting was finished.” I fist my hands. Cough into them. Try to look as pitiful as possible.
“Maybe we can reschedule? I’m not feeling well.”
“No problem. I’ll ask one of the managers to tell her how the meeting went.” She turns on her sensible black pumps.
I nearly jump over the desk to get to her. Scrambling until we’re side- by-side, I wrap an arm around the elegant woman. “Nadia, there’s no need for that. I’ll stop by the boss’s office.”
“After you.” She gestures to the door.
“I know where it is.” With a nervous chuckle, I hook a thumb over my finger. “This way, right?”
“It’s that way.” Nadia points in the opposite direction. I squirm in embarrassment. “Right.”
The elevator takes us to a large, airy lobby. Fresh flowers fill delicate gold vases. Bright, abstract paintings bring color to egg-shell walls.
Nadia leads me down the corridor and knocks on a thick door. “Pax, Mrs. Bradley has arrived.”
“I’ll take it from here.” I smile at Nadia.
She returns my nod with one of her own and trots away.
I open Pax’s door, getting a flashback to the last time I visited her office and caught her in a private moment with her husband. That was the catalyst
that made me insist on seeing Doc. If a man like Calvin Fox, a notorious womanizer, could be changed, I knew I needed to get my hands on that information.
Pax smiles brightly at me and trots around her desk. She’s wearing a long-sleeved white blouse, three buttons undone at the top. Skinny jeans taper down to sleek blue heels.
“Nice outfit.” I accept the hug she gives me.
“Same.” Her eyes slide down my blazer and pencil skirt. “You’re still rocking your tan.”
“You too.” I laugh. Out of all the women who went on the trip, Pax was the only one who religiously slathered her light brown skin in sunscreen. And she still looks like a lobster.
“I was just talking to Hazel.” Pax sits in the sofa and folds one leg over the other. “She wants us to hang out again.”
“I’d love that.” It was so refreshing to be in the company of wives who were adored, pampered and prioritized by their husbands. It gave me a taste of what my life would be like too. If Jerrison would ever get his act together.
“On to business.” Pax drops her casual tone and peers intently at me. “I hear the managers are taking the new initiative hard.”
“It’s a tough sell. They have a lot on their plate with the day-to-day upkeep.”
“Do you have an idea of how you’re going to get through to them?” Pax leans forward.
“I was thinking that I could handle the arrangement of the first few events.”
She bobs her head. “That’s good. Especially with your connections.” “My connections?”
“You made the creative hub work with local artists because of your tenacity and vision.” Pax gestures with slender, manicured hands. “But the managers have to catch that fire first. And a few amateur nights won’t cut it. Showing how big this initiative could go would impress them and galvanize other artists for future events.”
My hand slides up to my throat. “You’re not suggesting what I think you’re suggesting, are you?”
“A big-shot sports agent must have connections in other industries too.” I squeeze my eyes shut. “I’m not asking my husband for a favor.”
“It’s not a favor, Harriet. It’s business.”
“Doc told me not to talk to him,” I explain nervously. Pax’s eyes widen. “Doc said that?”
“Technically, he said we should go back to dating.”
“Oh.” She breaks out into a smile. “That’s different. You’re not asking your husband out or moving back in with him.”
“I can’t do it.” I moan.
“Fine. I’m sure hosting local bands and unknown artists will show the managers what you’re capable of.” A dramatic sigh fills the room. “It would have been so much better if you could get actual celebrities to the events, but I totally understand if that’s not possible.”
She’s so obvious.
But she’s also got a point. “Alright. I’ll call Jerrison.” “Yeah?”
“There’s a possibility he won’t even help.” She shrugs. “Can’t hurt to try.”
With trembling fingers, I pull out my phone and call Jerrison right then and there. I doubt I’ll have the courage to do that once I leave this room.
The phone rings.
Once.
Twice.
I twine my fingers together, hoping that he won’t answer. But on the third ring, my husband’s voice fills my ears. “Harriet?”
“Jerrison…” I glance up at Pax.
She waves her hand and mouths, “You can do it.”
I wince. Suck in a breath. Blurt out the words that burn me. “Can we meet? I need a favor.”