4. Dylan
4
DYLAN
M y first week at work is pretty uneventful, to say the least. I guess I can’t complain. I’d rather blend in the background and coast than deal with constant stress. The one thorn in my side, however, is my boss, Katherine.
I’ve only been here for five days, but she can’t be bothered to remember my name. First, it was Delaney; then, it was Delilah. Yesterday, it was Denise. I guess I should be relieved that I’m flying under the radar enough that she doesn’t need to remember who I am. I blow out a sigh, seeing the holes in my own silver lining.
I never expected it to be easy, but I thought it’d at least be a little more glamorous than this. Most of my days are spent taking notes during meetings, grabbing coffees, and planning out social media posts, only to have them constantly edited and rewritten.
As I’m typing away at this week’s work, my stomach grumbles, and I glance up at my laptop’s clock. 12 o’clock. Lunchtime, thank god. I save my work before shutting my computer and heading down to the office’s cafeteria, one floor down.
As I eye today’s selection of unappetizing food, I spy Scarlett sitting at a table, enthusiastically waving me over. I grab the most edible-looking sandwich and a bag of chips and join her. She has two iced lattes sitting in front of her, and she pushes one of them in my direction as soon as I’m in my seat.
“Here you go. I figured you could use an afternoon pick-me-up.”
I speedily grab it, savoring the first large sip as the caffeine hits my bloodstream. I’m not entirely sure if it’s adjusting to the new time zone or the stress of wanting to impress everyone at work, but I’ve had difficulty sleeping this past week. Of course, the more I can’t sleep, the more coffee I drink. The more coffee I drink, the harder it is for me to sleep. It’s a vicious carousel ride I can’t seem to get off.
“You’re an angel,” I reply in between gulps.
“I know.” She flips her long, loose, jet-black curls over her shoulder.
Scarlett, much like Amelia, is everything that I’m not. She’s a perfectionist, a workaholic, wildly ambitious, and Katherine’s favorite employee. She’s been with the company for three years and has already received three promotions, which is pretty much unheard of at Thrive Creative. Most of us just get ignored.
To be fair, Scarlett’s earned it all. She’s always trying to be the best she can possibly be at her job, and she’s not afraid to do what it takes to get there. That’s how she’s landed some of our biggest clients. I think she took pity on me when she saw me eating lunch by myself on my first day, so she invited me to join her. Now we meet up at the same table every single day at noon on the dot.
She also happens to be incredibly naturally beautiful. Everything about her screams old money, including the sandy cashmere sweater, matching cream silk midi skirt, and Louboutin pumps she’s wearing today. I know that I’ll never look like an old Hollywood starlet like her, but being around her gives me a glimmer of hope, as if some of the beauty will rub off on me.
“How are things coming? Has the she-devil backed off at all?” she asks.
I huff out a small laugh under my breath. Scarlett may be the teacher’s pet, but she’s very aware of the treachery that is Katherine.
“For the time being. But she still hasn’t managed to get my name right. As I was leaving yesterday, she called me Denise.”
She rolls her eyes and rests a hand lightly on my arm. I feel that same pang of pity that I felt when she first came up to me. The last thing I need is for people to feel bad for me right now. I know how to handle myself. I’ve had to take care of myself for half of my life, and this is no different. I try to shake it off, reminding myself that Scarlett is one of the only things keeping me sane at the moment.
“I’m sorry. She’ll learn eventually. Just give her some time. Soon enough, you’ll be on her good side, I promise. It took me at least a year for her just to make eye contact with me,” she consoles.
“I appreciate you trying to make me feel better, but you and I both know that’s not true whatsoever. You’ve been her favorite since the minute you got here. I’ve heard rumblings from everyone else in the office about you, but thank you.”
I take a few bites of my sandwich before pushing it away, suddenly aware of my lack of appetite. I hate letting people’s perceptions of me affect how I feel, yet I find my mood slowly souring and my control slipping.
“Well, I still think she’s the closest thing to Satan that walks on Earth if that makes you feel any better.”
With that joke, the heaviness creeping its way into my heart dissolves, and I bring my hand up to cover my giggles. “It does. Thank you.”
“Of course. So I was talking to Layla before you got here, and rumor has it that there was a very hot visitor walking into the office earlier. I think Katherine has a meeting planned with him today. You should try to get in on that one,” Scarlett says in between bites of her salad.
“The last thing I need to be thinking about is some hot stranger. I’m just here to get good at my job and hope that I don’t get my head chewed off on a daily basis. No distractions.”
“If anyone is chewing your head off, you better let me know. Because they have to go through me first. Secondly, everyone could use a little eye candy. It doesn’t mean you have to act on it. Nothing makes a meeting a little more manageable than something pretty to look at.” Her eyes have a devilish glimmer to them.
Although Scarlett and I became close friends quickly, I haven’t mentioned anything about Parker. After the plane and club incidents, I thought it best not to discuss it with anyone in hopes that it’d help me forget about it. The only information I’ve divulged thus far was my relationship status, and I plan on keeping it that way for a while.
“Well, if he’s as good-looking as Layla says, I’ll be sure to show him a picture of you, which will inevitably lead to him asking me for your phone number.”
She takes the last swallow of her latte. “I appreciate it, but I’m on a man sabbatical. It’s a scary world out there these days. You can’t trust anyone.”
I snort. “You’re telling me.”
After eating a couple more bites of my sandwich, I toss my trash and head back to my desk. As I turn the corner, I spot Katherine standing next to it, flipping through a file. She must hear me as I approach because, without looking in my direction, she makes her demands.
“Daphne, we have a meeting in the conference room in five. I expect you to be there. Don’t be late. This is a big one we can’t afford to lose.”
I have to physically bite my tongue and dig my nails into my fists to avoid rolling my eyes so far back in my head that they get stuck. The different alias prevails. I’d say, at this point, I should just get my name legally changed, but no matter what I choose, she’s never going to remember.
She either knew Scarlett and I were talking about her at lunch because she has superhuman hearing, or she enjoys making my life miserable. I’d bet good money that it’s a little bit of both. Something about her seems a little…witchy. She storms off, her sky-high heels clacking against the tile as she walks.
I grab my phone and shoot off a text to Scarlett.
Me: You can now call me Daphne. Being forced to go into this meeting. Will keep an eye out for this mysterious stranger and report back
As I’m collecting my notebook and pen, my phone vibrates in my hand.
Scarlett: Good luck in there. I’m sure your notes will be so good that Katherine won’t have any choice but to replace me as the favorite. Send a pic of said hottie pls & thx
I grimace at the idea and make my way to the meeting, thinking about the bubble bath I’m going to take as soon as I get home. All I’m focused on is the book I’m in the middle of calling my name until I hit the doorway of the conference room. I come to an abrupt halt as I study the two well-dressed gentlemen sitting alone at the long rectangular conference table, speaking quietly among themselves.
I turn on my heels, ready to flee from the scene and run straight into Katherine’s bony chest. I bounce back, doing my best to keep my composure.
“Excuse me? Where do you think you’re going?”
Quick , come up with an excuse that’ll get me out of this meeting.
“I forgot that I have to send content to a client for approval. It won’t take long.”
I try to skirt my way around her, but she juts her arm out, blocking me from moving any further.
“You can worry about that later. I need you here now. Unless you don’t want to be here, that is. In that case, I can find someone else who can do a much better job.”
I back away from her hand, flattening my oversized blazer to hide my shock. Well, shit. That’s not the reaction I was expecting. There’s really no winning with this one. I’m damned if I do, damned if I don’t.
“No, that won’t be necessary.”
I swallow the knot in my throat and walk back into the conference room, Katherine following close behind. This time, when I walk into the room, I say a silent prayer that Parker won’t say anything when he sees me.
He glances in our direction, and we lock eyes, his bulging wide. My throat constricts and I choke on an uncomfortable cough while I take my seat at the other end of the table. I lay my notebook on the table and stare at it so hard I’m convinced I’m going to burn a hole through it.
“Thank you for meeting with us. You must be Mr. Townsend.”
Parker recovers from his shock and flashes his million-dollar smile Katherine’s way while he shakes her hand .
“And you must be Katherine. It’s great to meet you. This is my associate, Blake. I believe you two may have met before.”
Katherine returns the affectionate expression, as if being in the vicinity of two attractive gentlemen has transformed her into an actual human being rather than a blood-sucking monster.
“Yes, hello there again, Blake. It’s so nice to see you.”
Is this some kind of twilight zone? Am I being Punk’d? My eyes rake the room for the hidden cameras that have to be concealed somewhere.
“It’s very nice to see you again, Katherine.”
Katherine sharply inclines her chin in my direction. “This is Dylan. She’s just here to take notes for me, so feel free to pretend she’s not even here.”
Now I know I’m being pranked. Not only is this the third time I’m running into Parker, but Katherine got my name right for once.
I can feel Blake’s eyes physically study me from my waist up, stopping momentarily at my chest before meeting my eyes. He throws a grin my way, and I have to admit, he is attractive. Though, I can’t say I’m typically drawn to guys who make it blatantly obvious that they’re staring at my boobs before they say hello.
“Thank you for being here, Dylan. It’s much appreciated.” The sincerity of Blake’s greeting surprises me.
I lift my head, give him a weak smile in return, and glance back at Parker. A muscle in his jaw quivers as he grinds his teeth, and he’s physically turned away from me, staring deep into Katherine’s soul–or lack thereof–to avoid looking at me. I have to admit that this complete one-eighty in his attitude throws me through a loop. Just two days ago, he wanted to meet up for coffee, and now he’s doing everything he can to act as if I don’t exist.
“Let’s get started, shall we? We don’t want to take up too much of your time,” Parker says as he clasps his hands together and places them on the desk.
Lord, give me the strength to make it out of this meeting alive.