9
Vivian
Monday, Monday
“Hey Tyrique!” said Vivian, seeing the Valkyrie employee coming toward her as she entered the lobby. Tyrique was one of the younger members of the Valkyrie team and had sharp cornrows and a wide, friendly smile.
“Hey, Viv!”
Tyrique had lost a lot of money to her, so she thought he deserved extra niceness.
“How’d this weekend go?” he asked.
“Championship mode!” Which was the most hilarious phrase she’d picked up from hanging out with them.
“Up top!”
She held up her hand, and he high-fived as they passed each other.
“See ya!”
It was only after she’d high-fived that she realized that Rowan was with Teddy and Mark by the elevators. She couldn’t tell what his expression meant.
“Hey, Viv,” said Teddy.
“Hi, Teddy,” she said, smiling.
“Championship mode?” repeated Rowan.
“The mode you enter when you have bested the weekend and are the top player,” said Vivian.
She didn’t add that part of the afterglow of the weekend had been sending him off with donuts and the way he’d smiled at her when he’d said Happy Birthday.
Ashley and Christine had instantly agreed that she needed to reset her parameters to Rowan Valkyrie, but Vivian had tried to wave them off.
Rowan was out of her league. Which is also what she had also told herself when she’d put on her newest lingerie purchase in the morning, stared into the mirror, and wished she would be showing it to him later.
“Vivian is currently in championship mode,” said Teddy. “She took all our money.”
“I spent it on girls and alcohol,” said Vivian. “It was great.”
“Well, that’s what they were going to do with it,” said Rowan, laughing. “So at least it went to its intended purpose.”
“Yeah, but I wanted to spend it on buying girls alcohol so that they would like me,” protested Teddy, and Mark laughed.
Vivian sighed and shook her head. “Teddy, no. Never spend money to make someone like you. Only spend money on girls that already like you.”
“Oof,” said Mark. “I feel like my twenties just got bullseyed.”
“Truth hurts,” said Vivian. “Not to say that we all haven’t fallen into that trap occasionally.” Like when she had bought her work crush two dozen donuts.
“Please. Like you have ever needed to spend money to make someone like you,” said Rowan skeptically.
“Believe it or not, I’m not everyone’s cup of tea,” said Vivian tartly.
“What? Not everyone enjoys being accosted by strange women in an elevator?”
“Are you saying you do?” she asked, feeling a slight flush on her cheeks. Why the hell did Teddy and Mark have to be there? There was a ding, and instead of replying, Rowan looked around at his elevator choices.
“Which elevator am I getting in?” he asked.
“What?”
“You seem to be an expert on my elevator habits. I thought I’d inquire.”
“Well, it’s Monday, so I’d put money on one or four,” said Vivian primly.
“Three it is,” Rowan said, heading that direction.
“You’re going to throw my odds off,” she said, trailing after him, unable to stop herself from checking out his ass.
“Good,” he said forcefully.
“Is there a pool?” asked Mark. “How do I get in on the action?”
“You can’t be in it,” said Vivian. “You can influence the outcome.”
“I’m starting to think you have a gambling problem,” said Rowan.
“Not really,” said Vivian, leaning forward to press her button. “I only put money on games I can win.”
Rowan had already pushed her floor, and her hand bumped into his just as she caught his eye, and suddenly she was breathless.
“I didn’t realize I counted as a game,” he said. His pine-scented aftershave wafted the very short distance between them, and she had to physically repress the urge to stroke her fingers across his chin.
“Yes, but you’re Russian Roulette, and no one wins that game, so refer to rule number one,” she said, keeping her tone light. There was no way she could play with a guy like Rowan. He was an all-or-nothing proposition.
“Only bet on games you can win?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.
“I’m Candy Land,” said Vivian. “So, it’s OK to bet on me.”
“Mmm. Sure you’re not Crazy Eights?” The twinkle was back in his eye.
“Maybe Clue,” mused Vivian, refusing to be baited.
“You are a mystery,” he agreed, which might almost have been a compliment.
“Can I be Monopoly?” asked Mark, and Vivian laughed.
“Sure,” said Vivian. “Do not pass go. Give me two hundred dollars.”
“Pretty sure we already did,” said Teddy, which made Rowan chuckle.
“You’re welcome to try to win your money back,” said Vivian. Teddy might have a shot at it. The cards had not been going his way, but he’d seemed like a decent player.
“No thanks,” said Teddy with a grin. “I learned my lesson.”
Vivian shrugged.
The door opened on her floor, and Vivian saw Belinda Erikson, looking gorgeous in a cream and black ensemble that screamed money and sophistication, talking to Howard.
Vivian tried not to let the stratified class culture of her workplace bother her, but Belinda seemed to particularly delight in showing Vivian up.
And Vivian couldn’t quite give up comparing herself to the tall, slender lawyer.
It was probably because Belinda had the hair Vivian had always wanted in high school.
“Well, why not just have Vivian do it,” said Belinda, her voice sounding coolly amused.
“Vivian has enough on her plate. Ah! Rowan! Just who I wanted to see.”
Vivian shuffled off the elevator, feeling under-dressed like she always did around Belinda.
Vivian glanced regretfully down at her pale blue dress and flats.
The A-line skirt and wide belt had seemed retro and fun in the mirror at home, but confronted with Belinda’s streamlined style, it suddenly seemed childish.
But she was also aware of the three very large men who were flanking her like reassuring sheepdogs.
“Hi, Howard,” said Rowan, eyeing Belinda, who smiled at him. Vivian tried to unclench her jaw and not grind her teeth. It wasn’t healthy. “Is there something I can help you with?”
“Want to spend money on a good cause?” Howard asked bluntly.
“Probably not,” said Rowan, and instead of being offended, Howard’s face crinkled into a smile.
“Of course you don’t, but I’m going to talk you into it anyway. I’m on the board of this non-profit that Vivian is involved in. It’s a fantastic organization that raises money for veterans. They do a gala. That means it’s my job to convince all my wealthy friends to buy seats.”
Prior to having Howard minding the table captains, Vivian had watched the ticket sales nervously. But Howard usually had all the tables nailed down by the time early bird ticket sales ended.
“I’m supposed to have my tables sold by now,” continued Howard, “but one of my table captains dropped the ball, and now we’ve got an entire empty table.”
Vivian groaned, instantly knowing which person it had been. “George?”
“Yeah, completely spaced off,” said Howard. “What do you think, Rowan? It’s ten seats. Great dinner.”
“Can I just give you money and not show up?”
“No! The whole point is to have butts in the seats, so we can ask for more money. I usually get a company table. It’s a great opportunity for the younger kids to network and meet people in the community.”
Rowan made a thoughtful noise like he thought that was actually persuasive.
“Viv,” said Howard, turning to her. “How much did we raise for the Victory Mission last year at the gala?”
“Quarter million, I think?” She looked at Rowan and shrugged, feeling embarrassed.
She hated asking veterans for donations unless they were in the Howard category.
On the other hand, Rowan was rich, so maybe it would be OK.
Truthfully, she’d been planning on hitting up most of his staff for volunteer time, not money.
“The Victory Mission works to prevent veteran suicide,” she said. “Which sounds depressing, but the gala is a good time. We have food, dancing. The guys would have fun. It’s usually a lot of military folks.”
“That’s the event you mentioned last week, right?” asked Teddy, and she smiled gratefully at him. “I’m down for a ticket.”
“I don’t like to push it on people,” she said. “Especially vets, but...”
“Way to sell it, Vivian,” said Belinda with a condescending laugh, and Vivian gritted her teeth again.
Having Belinda tell her how to pitch the Victory Mission was beyond belief.
“Vivian does a lot of work, but maybe she’s a little better behind the scenes.
Hi,” she said, stepping forward with an outstretched hand, forcing Vivian to step aside.
“I’m Belinda Erikson.” As always, she said her name like the other person should recognize it.
“Nice to meet you,” Rowan said with a chilly smile and a brief handshake. Belinda’s head tilted like she was about to speak, but Rowan turned back to Howard. “Howard, you’re right. It sounds like a good opportunity for team development. Have Vivian get me the information.”
“Will do,” said Howard, with a wave as the men got back on the elevator.
The elevator doors slid shut, and Howard clapped his hands together in a pleased fashion.
“Whew! It’s great to fill that space without too much trouble.
Vivian, thank you for developing that relationship.
Things have been going much more smoothly with them.
Now,” he checked his watch, “I think I’ve got the partner meeting next.
Then, Viv, we’re going over the Latimer file before lunch? ”
Vivian nodded mutely. The Latimer file was already prepped and ready to go.
“Belinda, I’ll see you at two to review the Fargo case?”
“Yes,” said Belinda, with a tight smile.
Howard bustled away, looking happy with his schedule.
“Yes, thanks so much for developing that relationship,” sneered Belinda. “He seems all warm and fuzzy now.”
Belinda stalked off, and Vivian clamped her mouth shut on every angry retort that sprang to mind.