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He glances between the miserable photo on my badge and my actual face several times. “You change your hair or something?”
I nod, and he removes his hand from the elevator. “Stop in for a new picture when you get the chance,” he mumbles by way of an apology as the doors shut.
It’s not much different upstairs. Eyes narrow and stare as I walk to my cubicle and put my things away. Frances leans over from her cube on the other side of the aisle. “Did you win a TV makeover?” she whispers, her voice filled with excitement.
I shake my head with a small smile. “No, just the fairy godmother kind. No cameras.”
Frances smiles, one solitary dimple flashing. “They did good. You look amazing!”
“Thanks,” I whisper back, switching on my computer. I’m working on written translations today so I don’t have to have headphones on, but I almost want them because it seems like everyone and his brother have walked by before lunch rolls around. Nobody interrupts me and I wouldn’t say they were staring, but the volume of sideways glances is disconcerting. Had that many people noticed me in the first place that they need to see the change?
Dom
Every time I’ve been down on the fourth floor for a meeting, I’ve lingered a few minutes hoping (or dreading) to catch the young woman Cass propositioned so I can have a casual chat and make my daughter’s apologies. It’s a polite fiction because Cass is completely unrepentant. In fact, she’s trying to finagle another trip to the office to carry on. A plan I firmly squashed when she brought it up.
But there’s no sign of Leanne, so it will just have to wait. I don’t want to make it a big deal and therefore give the conversation more weight. I sigh and head back up to my office to do budgets for the next quarter. When those are filed, I can go home to my pouting child.
By Wednesday, there’s still no sighting of my target, and I’m beginning to wonder if I dare let the thing go. The longer the gap, the more awkward the conversation will be. I check the employee records just to see if she’s been out sick and maybe I should check with her manager, but no, she’s been in the office every day. Is she avoiding me? Did Cass say more than she reported back? Shit.
Now I’m going to have to make a real effort. Except that I get distracted by the sultry voice of my dreams. Only this time it’s coming from the parking lot. I turn and behold a vision of a woman. Her face is alight under what I can only describe as fairy hair and she’s dressed in a simple green sweater dress that hugs her curves and draws attention to her thighs. She kisses the man next to her on both cheeks and my heart sinks. But I follow her into the building anyway, shocked when she produces a badge from her coat pocket.
I hang back in the lobby but watch the elevator as she enters proceed to the fourth floor and stop.
I’m slightly embarrassed at how long it takes me to put things together. I have to literally stroll by her cubicle and visually match the fluffy blondish curls under a pair of giant headphones with the nameplate that says Leanne Grimsby. What the hell is she playing at?
5
Leanne
The summons comes via a meeting invitation from Dominic Jamieson for 2:30 pm in a conference room I’ve never heard of before. It’s not in the company address book and I have to ask around to find someone with a map that locates it on the ground floor behind the lobby.
I have no idea what he could possibly want to see me about. And my manager isn’t included, it’s just me. The subject line just saysbe there. How strange.
I’m almost late. I was trying to finish up a recording transcription so I could close the files. I’ll have to do the last bit later, I guess. I hurry down to the lobby and then look for the secret door. Now that I know it’s there, it’s not hard to find. The corridor is stark white without any decoration, and the floors squeak beneath my hesitant feet. I breathe out a sigh of relief when I locate the right spot and find the small conference room is empty. He’s not here yet.
I scan the tiny room with interest, but I’m confused why we aren’t meeting in a regular room. It’s not a busy day for meetings and this room is cold and has no windows. It too is painted white. There’s a cheap conference table in the middle and two simple brown chairs. I take a seat facing the door and brace my elbows on the table. That’s when the lights go out. With no windows, it’s very, very dark.
I freeze for a second, not sure what to do. Should I try to make my way down the corridor or sit here until the lights come back on? Then someone enters the room. My senses go on heightened alert until he speaks.
“Ms. Grimsby. We have quite a lot to talk about,” Lt. Jamieson announces evenly.
“Why are we in the dark?” I ask, starting to get nervous again.
“I prefer it. Expressions can be so misleading. Kind of like clothing, don’t you agree?”
I stay silent. I’m not sure what he’s trying to elicit from me, but he doesn’t seem happy. In the small room with no visual cues, his voice seems to emanate from nowhere and everywhere. “Who are you, Leanne Grimsby?”
“W-w-what do you mean?”
“Where did you come from? Why are you here? Why do you speak French like a vintage erotic film star?
“I do?” I’m surprisingly delighted to hear that, but Lt. Jamieson doesn’t seem happy with my reaction. He growls. A shiver runs down my spine and straight to my pussy. I feel his breath on the back of my neck and I go wet. His arms cage me against the small table. He’s not touching me, but I can sense his enveloping presence. The anticipation is making me breathless and I’m not even sure what I’m waiting for.
“Explain, Leanne,” he barks the order sharply, making me jump.
“Explain what? Everything you just asked that I could possibly answer is on my resume, which I’m sure you have access to. Are you accusing me of something? Because I have no idea what it is, if you are.”
“Who was the man you were kissing in the parking lot?” he bites out.
