Chapter Five #2
Before we reached the lobby, she spoke. “I’m sorry if that was awkward. Marco means well, but he can be kind of...a lot.”
“Not at all. I like seeing you outside of work. Getting to know you better.”
I opened the door for her. As we approached the turnstiles, the blonde-haired receptionist grinned at us. “Hello, Mr. Price. Hi Callie! Enjoy lunch?”
“We did, Sarah,” Callie said. “Thanks!”
“Call me Mr. Price one more time, Sarah—”
“And I’m fired. I know, I know.” Sarah rolled her eyes, and the three of us laughed.
Callie turned to me and said, “Hey, I need to ask Sarah a quick question. I’ll see you up there.”
“Oh, sure, no problem.” Why was I so disappointed that we wouldn’t get to share another elevator ride? Clearly you like spending time alone in confined spaces with her.
Callie meandered toward the desk and began speaking with Sarah.
I watched them interact for a moment before realizing I looked like a total creep.
I walked straight through the turnstile.
The security guard opened it for me so I wouldn’t be subjected to the indignity of using my key card like a mere mortal.
My first stop was The Common. I needed to pay a visit to my trusty assistant before returning to my office for afternoon meetings.
“Good afternoon, my beautiful, brilliant assist—”
“You have a visitor in your office,” Meredith said, not looking up from her computer.
I pouted. “You didn’t let me finish my compliment.”
“Because you have more important things to do than butter me up.”
“Nothing is more important than reminding you how much I truly cherish you and your delightful disposition.”
“Are you finished?”
“I guess,” I grumbled. “Who’s here?”
“It’s a surprise.”
Fantastic.
I rapped my knuckles on her desk and strolled through the glass doors. Security hated when I left them propped open, but I couldn’t stand the stuffiness of locked up spaces. And Meredith was loyal to me, not security, so the doors stayed open.
As I walked down the hall, I couldn’t see anyone sitting in either of the chairs across from my desk. It was a strategic placement; potential visitors couldn’t see me, but I could see them. I could prepare myself with the right greeting.
The minute I entered my office and looked around, I understood why no one was seated in the guest chairs. My little sister, Meghan, was sitting in my chair, feet propped up on my desk, swiveling back and forth.
“Hot lunch date?” She asked by way of greeting.
I flopped into one of the guest chairs as she continued to scroll on her phone.
“Lunch with my intern,” I said, keeping my expression neutral. “You’ll never guess who it is.”
“Who?” she asked, looking up and pausing her swiveling.
I had heard the name “Callie” enough at past family dinners to piece it all together. Meghan wouldn’t like where this was going.
My sister was six years younger than me and a walking contradiction. To everyone else, she was a wild party girl—spending Daddy’s money, getting into trouble, and dating an endless string of men twice her age.
To me, she was still the fierce and loyal little girl who dumped chocolate milk on my girlfriend when I was sixteen. I had found her cheating on me in Dad’s study. Meghan had only been ten-years-old at the time, but she walked right up to Leah and poured the brown drink all over her white dress.
Meghan had a wild streak, but she loved her people. And I loved her.
“Your bestie from freshman year. Callie Winters.”
She grimaced. “Yikes. I was a major cunt to her.”
“Wow. Strong words. What did you do?”
“I’d prefer not to admit to it, if you please.”
“Fair enough. Just prepare yourself. You might be seeing her around the office now.”
Meghan puffed her cheeks and blew out a rush of air. “I should probably try to make nice. I hate that I was so awful to her.”
“At least you didn’t dump chocolate milk on her.” I smiled, then hesitated. “Right?”
“No, I did not pour chocolate milk on her, Emmett. That was one time, and I was ten.”
“But you were so sweet, defending your big brother from the big, bad, cheating slut.” I clutched my hand to my heart, and she laughed. “So, to what do I owe the spontaneous visit?”
“I had lunch with Daddy. He wanted to discuss my latest projects,” she said, putting air quotes around the last word.
While Meg didn’t have a full-time job at Price Industries, she sat on the board as an equity shareholder. Each member of the Price family, myself included, held an equal 13 percent share of the company—meaning that, collectively, the Price family was still majority shareholder.
But, to keep Meghan busy and out of trouble, our father encouraged her to participate in other activities—planning events, joining committees.
She was good at it, too. She had the Price charm and a natural talent for swaying people in her direction. Despite her reputation as a party girl, she knew when to crack down and get something done. The events she planned for the committees or groups she participated in were always impeccable.
“I figured I’d stop to say ‘hi’ on my way out. I have a meeting with the library board in thirty minutes to discuss next month’s fundraiser. You’re still coming, right?”
“Wouldn’t miss it.”
“Good. You need to bring a date.”
I groaned, dragging a hand down my face. At thirty-years-old, dating felt so fucking hard. Not only was it difficult to find women who weren’t total snakes, but I was tired. I worked damn hard, and in my spare time, I just wanted to chill out, binge watch some Netflix, and have a beer.
“It’s Valentine’s Day, Em. You’ll look pathetic if you don’t have a date. Do you need me to find one?”
“I can find my own date,” I said, affronted.
“I know you can, but you don’t want to.” She gave me an understanding smile. “I have a few friends who would love to go. They’re nice people, Em. And if, you know, you need to blow off a little steam with them afterwards, I’m sure they’d be down.”
“Gross,” I said, scrunching my nose.
“Whatever. I’m surprised you don’t have carpal tunnel with the dry spell you’ve been in.”
Let’s not tell her about the doctor’s appointment I had last week.
“Alright, that’s about enough of that creepy bullshit. I absolutely do not want to talk about my sex life with you.”
“Not difficult when there’s nothing to talk about.”
“For Christ’s sake, Meghan.”
She laughed, dropped her feet, and stood. I got up as she rounded the desk and pulled her into a hug.
“Sorry, brother. I just want you to be happy.”
“I don’t need to get laid to be happy.”
She looked up at me skeptically. I just shook my head and released her.
“Can you point me to Callie’s desk? I want to say ‘hi’ before I leave.”