Chapter 26
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
ELENA
We all gathered in Vivian’s lounge area with comfy couches located beside her massive gym. Her fiancé, Arrow, had renovated his home to suit her needs. I could see the love and joy oozing from her. All the girls here tonight exuded that bliss. All except me.
“Look at these fresh spring rolls. Viv taught me how to make them.” Kiera placed a platter down on the coffee table. “There’s shrimp and chicken teriyaki.” She had gorgeous brown hair, a little darker than mine.
We all dove in, filling our plates with spring rolls and dipping sauce.
I shouldn’t compare myself to these girls who had become my friends. But it was hard not to yearn for the same. Would I ever meet a man who put me as his top priority?
My thoughts wandered to Orion. He showed interest in me and we had fantastic chemistry. But he had baggage.
We all do.
He had one foot in the past and one in the present. Would a man like him drop everything to be with me? In romance books that always happened, and it sounded wonderful. But this was reality.
I didn’t want to ruin the evening with the girls with my negative mood, so I pushed him aside.
“So when is your Kindness Fund charity?” I asked Vivian. She and her fiancé had expanded Whiz Kidz to incorporate a dental office that performed affordable dental work for the community. They had a lot of doctors on staff.
Vivian held up her finger as she chewed on a spring roll. “It’s in two weeks. If you have time, I’d love for you to cover it before I schedule other media outlets.”
I grinned, thinking about Channel 7 News and how Chantel wouldn’t like that one bit.
Sitting beside me with her pretty auburn curls, Michelle kicked my foot. “Why are you smiling?”
Kiera jabbed a finger at me from across the table. “I know what that is.”
I furrowed my eyebrows and laughed at her facial expression. She looked like she knew a big secret that I was unaware of.
“What?” I asked with a laugh.
Natalie shook her head. “It’s your turn, Elena.”
I bit into my spring roll, still unsure of the chatter amongst the girls. They were staring at me.
“It’s your turn.” Audri placed her dish on the table and narrowed her eyes. “Is that why you’ve been avoiding us?”
“You’re all acting strange. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
We’d become friends after I wrote about them in Musepaper. My readers loved these girls. They kept asking for updates on Audri’s jewelry collection, Natalie’s new dress collection, Kiera’s notecards, Vivian’s dental office and her sister’s plushie business. Michelle’s travel blog had grown with my readers, loving all the excursion sites she promoted.
I had few female friends growing up. They didn’t like me. Elliot was the only one who understood me, but he was a guy. So these girls were my first genuine female friends who didn’t make me feel unworthy, even though they were all more successful than me.
“Who’s your boyfriend? Is he in the media?” Michelle asked.
“I think there’s something going on with you and Orion,” Vivian said casually.
How did she know?
“Orion?” Amusement gleamed in Audri’s eyes. “We don’t know much about him.”
“How long have you been seeing him?” Kiera inquired.
“He’s quite the catch, but is he a good kisser?” Natalie arched an elegant eyebrow.
“When did this happen?” Michelle kicked my foot again.
I put my plate on the coffee table, held up two hands, and laughed at the curious faces gawking at me. “How did talking about your dental event turn into the third degree on my love life?”
“See that?” Kiera wagged her finger. “See how she twists things around with her use of words?”
Audri narrowed her eyes. “Journalists are dangerous.”
Everyone laughed, knowing she was just teasing. But there was truth to that. I could and would use my words wisely. However, among family and friends, I only wanted to offer the truth.
“Wait, before I forget!” Audri slapped a hand to her forehead and looked at me. “The girls and I chatted about this at the last gathering, the one you couldn’t make.” She got up from the couch and retrieved a tray of leather bands from a table. “I’m having a Make Your Own Bracelet event at Natalie’s flagship store. Please come! The proceeds will be donated to a local charity and Vivian’s Kindness Fund to help low-income families achieve a healthy smile.”
Vivian held up a finger. “Part of that will go into a scholarship fund for students who want to study dentistry but can’t afford it.”
I was in awe of these inspiring women making an enormous difference in the world. They had money and power and used them well.
“I love that. I’ll definitely do a write-up on Musepaper.”
“Thanks!” Audri beamed. “So tell us about Orion.”
They all whipped their attention to me, making me laugh. “It’s complicated.”
Michelle smiled. “It’s always complicated.”
“Your reply just confirmed one thing: SSG!” Kiera high-fived all the girls.
“What’s that?”
Audri’s lips curled into a mischievous pout. “Super Spy Girls. Is there something you’d like to know about Orion? Does he want to be with you? Does he love you? How can you find out?” She gestured to all the women grinning at me like they’d been waiting for this opportunity. “We can assist. With our combined brainpower, nothing is unattainable.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “You sound like a female vigilante group.”
“Exactly.” Audri punched a fist into the air. “We’re like the Bond Girls.”
“But better,” Vivian added.
“I’m starting a SSG fashion collection. Something chic, cool, and fun.” Natalie wiggled her eyebrows. “There’s going to be a lingerie line too.”
“Oh!” Michelle clasped her hands together. “Send me pics when you have them. I’ll blog the hell out of it. If you have postcards or a flyer, give some to me. I’ll have Royce place them in all of his excursion offices.”
“When I have the samples ready, I’d like all of you to model an outfit for me.” Natalie beamed.
Everyone cheered, and somehow all the issues I’d been dealing with fell away. At the moment I felt so inspired that anything was possible.
“We kissed,” I blurted out.
The room went quiet.
“And?” Kiera asked.
“How was it?” Michelle grabbed another spring roll.
“Amazing.” I bit my bottom lip. “But he has baggage.”
“They all do, honey.” Audri placed a hand on my shoulder.
“No. This is different.” I sighed. “I think he’s still hung up on his ex.”
Vivian furrowed her eyebrows. “What do you mean?”
“He’s wearing a necklace with a gold band that probably belonged to her. Maybe he was married before. I don’t know.”
“Interesting.” Audri twisted her lips, thinking.
Natalie nodded slowly. “Have you asked him about it?”
“Not yet,” I said, sorting through the tray of leather bands. “But I plan to.”
Kiera lifted a hand in the air. “I’ve got it. This could be your SSG mission. Make him, or rather, inspire him to remove the necklace. When that happens, it means he’s releasing the past to be with you .”
“That’s perfect!” Audri agreed.
“But how do I do that? I mean, I don’t want to force him. But I also can’t be with a man whose heart is still occupied by someone else.”
“We understand, babe.” Michelle offered a warm smile. “Women can be generous, but not for this.” She narrowed her eyes. “With love we have to be selfish. We can only be with a man who’s willing to give his entire heart to us because we give our entire heart to him.”
“Too bad we know so little about him or his ex,” Vivian said. “I don’t think the boys do either.”
“Start seducing Orion with little things.” Kiera yanked at her wide-neck knit top, revealing a silky bra strap on her shoulder. “Sexy lingerie always works.”
Laughing, I blurted out the truth before I could stop it. “I can’t afford it.”
What is wrong with me?
The girls looked at me, and heat bloomed on my face.
“Natalie, my love,” Audri said. “What do you think about preparing a self-care package for our friend?”
“Absolutely!” Natalie raked a gaze over me. “I’ve got the perfect styles for you. When he sees you in these—” she purred and moved her shoulders seductively “—he might lose his breath and collapse into a heap on the floor. You’ll probably need a defibrillator to bring him back to life.”
“Oh, I’ve got that covered.” Kiera lifted a hand. “I’ll steal one from Forrest’s clinic.”
“Why don’t you just ask him?” Audri wondered.
“Because he’ll ask me why. Then I’ll have to explain that we’re trying to make his boy pass out for a Super Spy Girl mission. He’d be too interested and wouldn’t leave me alone.” Kiera stared at us with a serious expression. “This needs to remain as a girls-only meeting, okay?” She winked at us. “I’ll ask the office to buy a new defibrillator to replace the old one. Forrest is too busy to notice what’s missing in his supply closet.”
“You’re getting a gigantic bag of luxury beauty products from Iceland.” Michelle patted her cheeks. “The lava masks are the best.”
I’d always wanted to try them. Tears welled in my eyes, but I forced them to stay put.
“I have this new mouthwash that creates a tingle in your mouth...and on his cock. It’s the best,” Vivian said.
All the girls hounded her with questions why she hadn’t told them.
“I had to test it out first! It’s been proven successful, and everything’s been approved. Mint Sensations will be on the market within the next six months. All of you will get a case for free.” Vivian narrowed her eyes at me. “But I’ll give you the only bottle I have left at home.”
The tears came slowly but eventually turned into a full-on cry. I loved these girls so much.
“I demand a full report.” Kiera grinned and gave me a tissue.
“Give it to Kiera. It might expire by the time I get to use it.” I beamed. “And she can report her findings to us.”
“Gimme gimme!” She gestured with her fingers.
Everyone laughed, and I’d never blushed as much as I did tonight. But it was good embarrassment amongst friends. I was the only one in this room with financial debt and an unstable career, and yet they didn’t make me feel less than them.
“Your SSG mission needs a name. What do you want to call it?” Audri asked.
My mind whirled with ideas as the girls threw out some silly names that made me tear up even more.
Michelle placed a box of tissues on my lap. “We’re here for you.”
I took a tissue and dabbed my eyes. “Thank you.” I looked at the girls. “And thank you for not asking me to explain.”
Though I loved my friends. I wasn’t ready to share my financial problems.
“We got you,” Kiera said. “ Moonraker , Never Say Never Again , Dr. No , and The Spy Who Loved Me are some James Bond movie titles to inspire your SSG mission. Do you like any of them?
One title stood out to me. “How about The Thief Who Loved Me?”
“There’s a lovely ring to that.” Michelle’s eyes gleamed. “Wanna tell us why you chose that?”
I didn’t want to disclose anything personal, so I improvised. “Since he’s stealing my heart, he’s considered a thief.”
Kiera laughed. “I love it!”
“Please keep us posted,” Vivian added.
“Want to make a bracelet for him?” Audri asked, gesturing to the tray.
“Yes, please. What should I start with for a masculine bracelet?”
“Here’s a version I made for Remi.” Audri gave me a leather bracelet that was about half an inch wide with some gunmetal accents.
We spent the next hour making bracelets, and I was happy to set the SSG mission aside. When it was time for me to go home, I had a beautiful bracelet for Orion. I’d chosen dark leather with a cord running through the middle with some topaz beads and a matte gunmetal clasp. It was masculine, stylish, and sturdy.
I placed it on my nightstand, unsure when I’d give it to him.
What was he doing now?
We’d chatted on the phone for the past few nights as well as texted several times a day. Based on the number of texts I’d gotten from him, it appeared like he had a lot of free time. But I knew he was busy. Perhaps he made time for me? Maybe, maybe not.
We also discussed the investigation, and I gave him my perspective on places I’d visited. It made me feel accomplished that I could offer something useful to him. Somehow this research felt different from other stories I’d researched. Maybe it was because I didn’t want to disappoint Orion. The Condor seemed like an important person in his life, a family member who had been murdered. Personal matters often blinded a person from seeing things objectively, and I offered that point of view for him.
After showering, I got into bed and turned on my computer and opened the email from Cathy Lindbergh, the Human Resources Manager of Channel 7 News. Something sharp twisted in my gut.
Dear Elena,
Effective immediately, your position has been eliminated. We discovered drugs in your desk and inside your locker at the office gym. Having drugs on the premises violates company policy.
The letter described how they could bring criminal charges against me, but given my contribution to the news station, they saved me the stress. So they fired me instead. I wouldn’t be able to collect unemployment because I was fired for misconduct.
A massive wave of anxiety pummeled me as my list of unpaid bills and responsibilities grew. How would I repair my house now? When would I emerge from this financial sinkhole that was dragging me deeper into debt? Why was this happening to me? It seemed like no matter how much I tried to overcome obstacles, more were tossed my way. I could only take so much.
Anger and exhaustion spiked as my financial burden formed into a monster. The only well-paying job I had now was working for Orion until my contract ended. My part-time gigs at FoodHub and Let’s Ketchup helped with some expenses, but I needed more income. Would I be working multiple jobs for the rest of my life? The tension in my body snapped, and I sagged into my bed, surrendering to life. Tears broke free, sliding down my face.
Breathe.
It’s just a phase.
After the tears released the mounting stress from my body, I took a few moments to gather myself. I wasn’t going to surrender to these bullies. I didn’t do drugs. I was framed. But by whom? Chantel? Why? They didn’t even give me a chance to defend myself. The company wanted me out. I had to get to the bottom of this.
I could get a lawyer to fight this accusation. But I didn’t have the money. It was odd how things played out. After the girls’ night out, I had already decided to look for a new job. I had come home tonight preparing to draft my resignation letter. I needed to do something that could provide the capital for me to take Musepaper to the next level.
But I didn’t have to resign now. The letter asked me to call security to set up a time to retrieve my belongings.
No thanks. I didn’t want to bring home anything from that place.
Leaning back into the pillow, I stared up at the ceiling. I was going to chat with Orion, but now I just wanted to be left alone. My health insurance would end soon. I needed this contract job with Orion. If an unexpected bill came up, I could ask him for another advance. He would be okay with that, right?
I should start looking for a new job soon, but I didn’t have the energy or the motivation to.
Expecting meto be a saint when I was being wronged and vilified was just too much.
Be strong. Conserve your energy and fight back.
Don’t surrender.
My inner voice was trying really hard to motivate me. I just had to let the self-doubt phase run its course. Bills flashed through my mind followed by horrific images of rain flooding my house, which made me tremble.
I wishedOrion were with me, having dandelion tea and talking about random things. He made me feel safe. Like he was the eye of the storm—the force that kept me protected from the chaos of the world.
What was he doing? I stared at my phone. Should I text him? He was in Europe, so he was probably sleeping.
Thoughts swirled in my head, and I stepped away from them. Unlike someone who was terminally ill or trapped in a war zone, my financial dilemma was something that could be resolved over time. Little by little, I could chip away at it. That was all I could do. Sitting around moping wasn’t going to erase my debt. I needed to recalculate my budget again.
Feeling restless, I got out of bed, dragged an ottoman over to the window, and sat down, shoving the curtains aside. The dark night greeted me as I lookedout at the clear sky. A sense of peace blanketed me like a soft throw. Insecurity was raw tonight, and I did what I’d always done in the past: look elsewhere for motivation. I escaped to a different world that made me feel better, even if it was temporary.
Wasn’t that why I’d chosen to be a writer? To be elsewhere. To deliver news and truth.
“Must be nice to gaze at everyone, huh?” I asked the seven stars blinking in the night sky as though they could hear me. I was certain there were more stars hidden from my view.
If I lived outside the city, I could see more stars. The night sky was magical. It always made me wonder what lay beyond the visible.
“Since you see everything from up there, what should I do?” I asked the stars. “What’s waiting for me around the corner?”
I imagined the stars beaming at each other, probably giggling at my ridiculous imagination.
An image popped into my head, making me smirk. “Am I in Orion’s orbit? Or way out of his league?”
I was probably some unknown space object that didn’t belong anywhere. How sad was that?
I didn’t know why, but more silly thoughts appeared in my head. “Are you friends with the moon? If so, why is it so moody?”
Everyone knew a woman’s mood was often associated with the moon.
“You don’t know? Seriously?” I asked, shifting on my ottoman. “Well, let me tell you. The moon is always moody because it’s going through phases!” I beamed at it and knew I was going crazy for having a conversation with the sky.
But the sarcasm and silliness distracted me enough from the horrible news I’d received. I missed those days where I used to blog about silly things.
I knew someone out there was experiencing something worse than me. War and famine were constant issues somewhere in the world. The long list of missing children grew every day. Homelessness was a major issue in most cities. Some single mother or father was trying their best to take care of their children while working multiple jobs. I saw and reported on these stories daily. At least I had a roof over my head, money for necessities, and family and close friends who loved and supported me.
You’re okay, Elena.
Feeling better, I slid back into bed and released a long sigh. Tomorrow was another day. The moon was transitioning into another phase, and I had a job to do that required my rest. I had a couple of places to investigate and needed to look into Sam’s comment about my father. If he thought I’d let it slide, he was wrong.
And whoever had framed me would soon find out they’d underestimated me. Staying down wasn’t my nature.