AllFreeNovel
Share Us
7
I slept for most of Sunday. Hell, I didn’t even get in until nine AM. Needless to say, my mother was pissed. Not that she was worried, but I didn’t call. Lesson learned: you’re never too old to not call your parents. The fact I even made it home should be commended. Lucas wanted me to stay and spend the entire day with him, and by my second orgasm of the early morning, he nearly had me convinced. Mother’s text made the final decision. After a short nap, I took her to go find a nice dress to wear for her nuptials this Friday, then we had lunch before going back home where I slept until today. I didn’t even bother to answer my messages from Lucas. His dad actually called my mom and asked if I was feeling okay ’cause Lucas wouldn’t get out of bed. He thought maybe it was the food from brunch or something going around at work.
I arrive at the office with a different walk than usual. Not the I-spent-my-weekend-getting-my-back-broke-like-records walk, but a new outlook on life type of vibe.
“Good morning,” I say to everyone I pass.
“You sure have a lively step this morning, Ms. Greene,” the lobby receptionist says.
“Oh, yes. My mom is in town, and I love when she’s here.”
“Oh, really. I thought it had to do with those deep-purple hickeys on your neck.”
The sudden stripe of horror hits me, and I fast pace to the elevator so I can get to my office and see what I missed. I was careful to put ice on them this morning after my shower and use my water-based concealer to hide the evidence.
“Ms. Greene, Mr. Armstrong—” Tanya begins to speak as I approach her desk.
“Not now, Tanya. I need to get something done really quick.” I flash by her and run into my office, closing and locking the door. I shut the blinds and look at my neck. To help aid in my disguise, I wear a semi-high collared, sleeveless, thin sweater to help hide the passion mark from this weekend. Seeing how this isn’t helping, I switch to a button-down blue shirt and use a silk scarf to help hide the evidence. I take out the emergency concealer usually reserved for surprise presentations after I’ve been up all night binging on TV and begin applying. This solidifies my point that having extra wardrobe in your office is a must. A knock at my door gives me even more reason to panic.
“Yes?” I calmly call out.
“It’s Armstrong. Why is your door locked? Are you okay?”
I don’t have time to do much blending, so I hurry and find my little nautical scarf I use on my hair and fashion a simple accessory before opening the door.
“Yes, Mr. Armstrong?”
He raises one eyebrow as he looks at me. “Going sailing later?” he quizzically and comically implies.
I do a little nervous giggle and offer up a phony excuse. “Oh, this? Pssh, I spilt um, coffee on my shirt and tried to clean it but made it worse. I had to change shirts, which is why the door was closed. Did you need me for something?”
“Uhhh, no. I am calling for a meeting of all heads today after lunch. A few changes are coming you may be interested in. Be in the big conference room sharply at one-fifteen PM.”
I spot Lucas walking in, and he flashes me a smile before heading on to his office. I swear he’s moving in slow motion and this is that fantasy sequence you see in movies.
“You hear me, Greene?” Mr. Armstrong’s deep voice calls to me for understanding.
“Mmhmm, yes, sir. We’ll be there.”
He turns and walks away, and I nearly melt through my shirt. I turn on my desk fan to the highest setting and lean in front of it, trying to will away the perspiration.
“Okay, what the hell is going on, Simone? You are never like this,” Tanya asks when she steps into my office.
“I had a little early morning mishap with my coffee. You know, typical Monday.”
“Nah, this is something else. You had a date this weekend, didn’t you?”
How thin is my veil if she can see right through it? But of course, I’m gonna deny everything.
“No. I wouldn’t have had time. I picked my mom up Saturday, met her new man, and then suddenly I’m planning a party on my rooftop for a wedding and reception. I just have a lot going on.”
“Yeah. That must be it. You are completely frazzled. Anyway, the new reports are in for mailing, but I ran out of brochures.”
“Oh, well, I will go down to the storage closet and grab a new box. Anything else we need?”
“Well, notebooks, pens, markers… Do you want me to go with?”
“No, I got it. I need to walk off my nerves anyway. Can you pull the team together for a meeting after Armstrong’s? May as well get ready for the change.”
