Two
The week has been jammed packed, and now it’s time for our Friday night meeting to make sure we’re on track and nothing needs to be completed over the weekend. As I exit my office, Logan surprises me when I see him waiting with his laptop, notepad and my late afternoon coffee ready to go.
As we enter the boardroom, all chatter stops and everyone scatters to their seats. “Where are we with the architecture spread?”
Tanya and her assistant scramble.
“Did you not bring it?” I ask, annoyed.
“I’m sorry. It must be back at my office,” she says. “I’ll be right back.”
“And we’ll be here, waiting on you.” I sigh with my arms crossed. Logan’s expression catches me off guard. “Is there something wrong, Logan?”
“No, ma’am.” He doesn’t bother correcting himself and goes back to writing notes but I see the way his jaw clenches.
After the meeting, Logan and I head to the photo lab to go over last night’s photo shoot. As our lead photographer clicks through the images on his screen, I give simple yes or no answers until it’s narrowed down to a few options.
Nothing more is said between the photographer and me and when five options are left, he pulls them up on the screen and I point. “That one.”
I stand and exit the room when I see Logan waiting at the door. I pass him and he follows closely behind.
“Do you not like to talk?” he asks.
I’m scrolling through my phone to see what emails I missed and glance up at him, confused. “I’m sorry?”
“In there. You didn’t speak to him. I’ve noticed you never really talk to anyone. You just say yes or no then walk out.”
“I don’t have time for pleasantries. We have a job to do. I finish the task at hand and move on as quickly as possible.” I scroll through my phone some more as I head back to my office.
“Did you like the photos?”
“Yes. They were brilliant. That’s why I chose one.”
“And you didn’t think to tell him that?”
I stop in my tracks. “I told him that by picking one and not saying they needed to be reshot. I’m not here to be an ego boost. I’m here to produce the best publication in as quick of a turnaround as possible. Is that going to be a problem for you?”
He purses his lips and shakes his head. “No, just thought it would have been nice for you to say he did a good job.”
I pause and close my eyes, taking a deep breath. “I would prefer if you kept your comments to yourself. I have a way of running the show around here and it works for us.”
He nods but stays silent.
We enter my office and I notice someone sitting at my desk. “Excuse me,” I blurt out.
When I see who’s there I close my eyes and can’t fight the laugh trying to escape my lips.
“I knew I’d find you here!” Hailey says as she runs to me and throws her arms around my shoulders, hugging me tightly.
“What are you doing here?” I ask.
“Natural Living from downstairs hired me to shoot some stuff for them. Since I had access to the building, I snuck into your office.”
Hailey and I met in college and couldn’t be more polar opposite.
We had the same major, yet I took the business route and she took the creative route.
She floats where the wind takes her. Where I wanted to run a magazine, she wanted to create imagery for them.
Her photos have been featured in multiple national publications, so it’s nice to know we both followed our dreams.
“We’re going out!” she says.
“I can’t. We’re on deadline.” I head to my chair.
Hailey bounces around to behind my desk and grabs my purse. “Oh no, you don’t. It’s Friday night and knowing you, you haven’t been laid since I was here last.”
My eyes go wide as I keep my focus on Hailey, so Logan doesn’t see my reaction. Yes, it’s been a while, but that’s none of his business.
Not giving a damn about my internal freakout to her comment, she makes it worse by turning to Logan to ask, “How long have you worked here?”
“A week,” he responds.
“And has she done anything but work through her lunch break or until late at night?” she asks.
I finally meet his eyes, glaring at him to stay quiet.
He rubs his lips together, not knowing how to respond.
“Your silence says it all.” She points my way.
“You, need a life. You’re a workaholic. It’s Friday night.
You’re coming out and I’m not taking no for an answer.
” She grabs my coat and pushes me out the door.
“Now scoot.” She hands Logan my glasses that she yanked off my face.
“She won’t be needing these. You can close up, right? ”
When I hear Logan’s slight laugh, I grit my teeth. I don’t like my employees seeing any aspect of my personal life, no matter how non-existent it is. We’re here to do a job and that’s all.
“I’ll take care of everything. Don’t you worry,” Logan says.
When his eyes meet mine, I see something I’ve never seen in him before. It’s like he’s daring me, yet I don’t know what for.
My Monday morning has been nothing but having to reprimand people for not doing their job. After spending the weekend with Hailey, it’s hard getting back to having to be this person.
I’ve created this persona at work because I felt it was the only way they’d take me seriously. I hate having to be so crude sometimes, but the minute I let them slip they walk all over me and I have to set the record straight.
After yelling at my third person this afternoon, I approach my desk and notice a package sitting on my chair. Everyone has strict orders to never be in my office without me knowing and seeing this package makes my blood boil.
“Logan,” I shout and he comes running in. “What is this and who set it here?”
“It was delivered a half hour ago. I put it there so you wouldn’t miss it.”
“Who’s it from?”
“I didn’t ask. A courier delivered it.”
I open the box and when I see what’s inside I shut it quickly. “Fine. That’s all.”
Logan leaves and I open the box again only to be shocked by the contents.
A black negligee and beautiful lace mask with an intricate purple design sits before me. A handwritten note says,
Can you be anonymous? Meet me at Club Bridge at nine tonight to find out.
I search for any clue of who sent it, but there’s nothing.
I run my fingers along the lace and feel the softness under my fingertips.
Having Hailey here really made me miss my life, the one I used to have, where I actually dated and hung out with friends.
My chest tightens as I read the words again.
Anonymous.
Is that why there’s a mask?
Curiosity swirls in my mind, but I close the box and try to get some work done.
The day ticks away and I’m the last one at the office—again. The box has been taunting me all day. Knowing what’s in it and the kind of pleasure one would get from wearing such an item is hard to ignore.
Not able to take it anymore, I push back from my seat and pull out the contents.
I hold up the outfit examining it closer. The black lace has slits in the chest area where my breasts would be completely exposed. I pull the negligee open and notice it’s also crotchless.
My breathing becomes hard as I think of the last time I had sex.
It’s been too long. I don’t have time to date, nor do I have time to meet anyone.
Hailey’s right, my life is my work, and I was reminded of how bad that can be this weekend.
I don’t want things to change though. I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished.
I think back to the note.
Anonymous.
Maybe anonymous is something I need right now. Whoever sent this to me would obviously agree or they wouldn’t have done so. I stop and realize exactly what’s going on. This has to be something Hailey set up. She’s the only person who could pull something like this off.
I bite my lip and say fuck it. I head to the walk-in closet in my office, put on the negligee under my outfit, grab the mask and head out before I can change my mind.