2 BEN
BEN
Well, who’d’ve thought it.
Finally, something interesting around here.
Something to ease the panic that’s been in my chest for weeks. Ever since Dad’s little announcement.
I thought this expo would be more entertaining.
Clark Industries owns twenty other international brands under our umbrella, many of which own subsidiary brands under their own umbrellas.
All those many businesses are here at the Clark Industries International Expo to show off, schmooze, seal deals and secure contracts.
And to impress me, should I pass by their booth.
Thought this would be a distraction for me.
Thought I could lift spirits and give the people a laugh. Turn on the ol’ Clark charm.
Yet, it’s been a total bore and a half.
Until now.
Ellie and I rush to help Janie up, which is a remarkably awkward feat with the bulky glass jar costume on. She stands still, gathering herself, eyes closed.
“Janie,” I say again, since my—hmm, acquaintance? Friend?…Employee?—has yet to open her gorgeous gray-green eyes. It’s been ages since I’ve seen her. She looks a bit thin, a bit pale. Definitely tired and unhappy and…did she just groan at having to talk to me? “You know I can see you, right?”
That gets her.
“Be—uh, Mr. Clark. Hi. Hello.”
“You two know each other?” Ellie says next to us.
I laugh, “ Mr. Clark? Is the old codger here?” I pretend to look about for my dad. “C’mon, darling, we’re old friends, yeah? Call me Ben.”
She sighs, “Hey, Benedict.”
“Hey, yourself. Why didn’t I know you were working for Mellman’s? Wait, why the hell are you?” I frown. “And why’ve they got you here, doing this?”
“Hazing?” Janie murmurs.
“It’s tradition, the newest hire has to wear the suit each year,” Ellie chirps. I try to remember what she is…Mellman’s Chief Sales something. I look back at the gorgeous face stuck in a small, ridiculous cutout.
“Does Emerson know you’re—”
“No!” Janie almost shouts back at me, her remarkable face growing animated in the felt hole. “I...I didn’t want any special treatment from you or your brother, or any of Skye’s family either. I didn’t send out the bat signal.”
“Oh, am I Batman in this scenario? Surely.”
“You know Emerson Clark too?!” Ellie squeaks at Janie, interrupting me. I get the feeling she’s a tad peppy for Janie, especially right now. She looks like she needs relief.
Hmm, how can I politely dismiss Ellie from our conversation?
“I’m at least Bruce Wayne,” I add, shooting a wide smile at Janie but she continues to slow blink and breathe deeply, like she needs to gather herself.
Like she’d rather be invisible than have to chat with me.
So, basically the same as every other time I’ve been around her, but without her usual snark.
“Ellie, love, remember that delicious cocktail you introduced me to a few booths back?”
“The Dirty Whirley or the—”
“Yes, that one. Could you run and get us some more? One for the mayonnaise jar, here, as well,” I say, earning myself a snort from Janie and a happy, “Of course,” from her hovering coworker.
“So,” I draw out the word. Janie looks at me but says nothing. “C’mon, Janie, this is a bit weird. You work for us and we don’t know it? Aren’t you besties with the Cantons? Samantha?”
She inhales and exhales. “It was more so with Skye, your sister-in-law’s older sister.
I mean, is, I am. And Sally, the younger…
you know what? It doesn’t matter. Yes is the short answer.
But I didn’t think Mellman’s Mayo was high up on your company flowchart.
And, like I said, I…I didn’t want special treatment. ”
“Even if special treatment means I can insist you’re overqualified for this,” I gesture at the costume. “And demand they have an intern take your place?”
She glares at me and pauses. I raise an eyebrow. Finally, she says, “Yes, even that.”
“Well, jig’s up now. I’m doing it anyway,” I get out my phone.
“No! Please, no. Then it’ll be weird at work if my bosses think we’re, uh, friends and—”
“Janie,” I hold my chest and pretend to be hurt. “You wound so deeply.”
“Ugh, you’re so dramatic.”
Ooo, there’s some spark.
“And you’re immensely overqualified. I know that much. Plus, you’ve already been outed as my friend. Not sure how well you know Ellie, but you can assume your entire company already heard the news of us.”
She sighs, “Great.”
“It is great. Now, you can ditch the silly suit and come try all the free samples with me.”
She huffs, “Benedict, no. I’m,” she gestures around, “ at work. ”
“And I’m,” I gesture to the massive sign with my last name on it, “ your boss. ”
Those huge gray eyes roll, “More like my boss’s boss’s boss’s boss.” I don’t correct her. “Are you ordering me to leave my post?”
“Absolutely, I am.”
“But I’m going to have to tell my co-workers and my boss and get someone to fill in and—”
I laugh, cutting her off. “I sent a message to my P.A. All the wheels went into motion two minutes ago.” Her nostrils flare like she’s actually upset about my offer. “Unless you would really rather stay here and do this than bum around Vegas, getting drunk and eating canapés?”
She stares at me.
My mouth falls open.
Bloody hell, she’s actually considering staying in a mayonnaise costume rather than faffing around with me.
She barely nods, “I’ll go change.”
“Brilliant.”
I can’t help but smile as I watch her waddle away.
Janie…huh, I don’t know her last name. Janie my…Sister-in-Law’s-Longtime-Family-Friend? Yes, that’s right. She has always been a bit of a mystery. We’ve seen each other at weddings and parties over the last few years. I’m sure we’re in group photos together.
She’s always a bit quiet. Uninterested. Witty when she wants to be and smart with numbers if I’m remembering right. She comes off rather cold, actually.
Bloody gorgeous though.
I may not remember her last name or her occupation but no sane, heterosexual man could forget what Janie looks like in a bikini. Score one to my brother, and by extension me and his fellow groomsmen, for having that week-long destination wedding in the Caribbean.
The attraction clearly doesn’t go both ways, but that’s alright. I appreciate things of beauty and puzzles and Janie is both. I just want to figure her out, maybe help her loosen up. Get her smiling, as is my specialty. And hell, I need to loosen up myself, for the first time in recent memory.
My chest tightens at all the memories that resurfaced last week. I shove them down. Dad’s emails and contracts and bold font this and ALL CAPS that have literally sucked the air out of my lungs over and over. The last bit he sent, “Do think of your mother, Benedict.”
If I think on it too long I grow lightheaded, shaky…
“Shit,” I mutter absently when Janie reappears, snapping me back to the present.
Her wavy dark brown hair is in a messy high ponytail that leaves little pieces falling around her face.
Her eyes are massive, her nose is petite but wide at the same time and her smile, well…
I wouldn’t know. She’s in a black one-piece suit thing that’s completely appropriate for work and yet still hugs her long, curvy figure like it might actually not be appropriate for work.
I give her my most charming grin but she just glares back, which makes me smile wide.
This is going to be fun.