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No. It’s better for Mary to have to stay here. She hasn’t had any nightmares the past few nights and moving might mess with her sense of security.
‘Mr Moore?’
Turning away from the mirror, I begin the climb upstairs. ‘I have a better option.’
25
ALICE
‘Hi, George.’ Walking beside Mary, who’s struggling under the weight of Thomas’s briefcase that she insisted on carrying, I approach the executive assistant’s desk.
He looks up from his keyboard, a wide grin shifting his glasses.
‘Hi, George!’ Mary lets go of the handle with one hand, nearly dislocating the other shoulder, so she can wave. As if George could possibly miss her in her bubble gum pink Dolce & Gabbana children’s faux-fur coat, citron tutu, and black Doc Martens.
Punk princess chic, Emily had called it, looking on proudly at Mary’s self-styled outfit as I met them at Moore’s main entrance, before she then hustled over to Susan in women’s luxury. Something about picking up a new outfit for her date tonight.
I take hold of the briefcase Thomas forgot this morning before Mary really does injure herself.
‘Hello there.’ George gets up from his desk, buttons his suit jacket. ‘And who might this be?’
‘I’m Mary.’ She curtseys.
‘Well now.’ George lifts his eyes to mine, and I have to twist my lips to keep from laughing.
Emily created a monster.
‘Nice to meet you, Mary.’ George bows at the waist ‘I’m George.’
Mary giggles.
‘Moore’s wouldn’t be in business without him,’ I add, still feeling guilty about keeping so much from my friend.
To my relief, George winks at me.
‘I’m gonna give Thomas his briefcase.’ Mary rocks back on her thick-soled boots. ‘He forgot it this morning.’
By the way George’s eyebrows soar, I can tell he has a host of questions, but thankfully he doesn’t ask any of them. ‘Sorry, Mary, but Mr Moore left a little while ago.’
Mary deflates. ‘Oh.’
I feel the same way, a small niggling of doubt since that phone call last night. Thomas never did come to bed to finish what we started on the couch. At least, not before midnight which was the last time I looked at the clock. And like usual he was up before I was to work out.
I’d been hoping to reassure myself that everything was okay. ‘Meeting?’
‘I’m actually not sure.’ He sniffs, his posture stiffening, making it obvious he and Thomas have yet to make up. ‘He didn’t bother to say. Just told me to hold all his appointments.’
Mary shifts back and forth on her feet.
‘Mary, do you have to go to the bathroom?’
She crosses one boot over the other. ‘I gotta tinkle.’
George grins. ‘Why don’t you use the bathroom in Thomas’s office.’ He points to the door behind him. ‘You can leave his briefcase on his desk.’
‘Thanks!’ She takes off like a shot.
I hustle after her, worried about tutu removal. ‘Thanks, George.’
