Does a protein shake and energy drinkcount?
Sarabeth
Ma’am. Your PCOS will thank you when you eat consistently and bring your stress levels down.
Did you sleep?
I ignore Sarabeth because she won’t like my answer, and I apologize to my friends.
“It’s fine. Just don’t do it again.” Mallory props her phone on the kitchen counter to make her morning cup of hot chocolate. “What caused the freak out?”
The vanilla shake sours on my tongue. “Trevor scheduled a last-minute meeting for this morning.”
A curse leaves her lips. “Do you know what it’s about?”
“Nope. No details, but I stayed up all night preparing.”
“If you had no information, how did you prepare?” Jo, our resident voice of reason, asks.
I drop the pink five-pound binder onto the desk, and all three women jump. Out of the thirty files inside, only five are mine. The rest are Trevor’s. He brings in the big-name clients, and I do the majority of his work.
“I read every file and jammed each word into my brain.”
“Don’t fret.” Throwing off her wine-red comforter, Adri appears. For someone who just woke up, she looks runway ready. “That’s Trevor’s modus operandi.”
“His huh?” I ask.
“Ignore her.” Jo rubs tired eyes. “She’s binge-watching Criminal Minds. Again. Looks like we’ve got a possible FBI agent in the group.”
“Lose the sarcasm, JoJo. When a serial killer comes, you’ll wish I were Detective Morgan.”
“Derek Morgan does nothing for me. Prentiss though? Now we’re talking.”
I check the clock. “Guys, I’m running out of time! Adri, continue your FBI talk.”
Her grin is victorious. “Trevor has probably known about this meeting for weeks and wanted you to panic. Like the time he didn’t invite you to the agency lunch until thirty minutes before. Making you sweat is his favorite pastime, so don’t freak out. It’s probably nothing.”
The logic is solid, but I’m not entirely convinced. “Okay maybe, but what if I’m getting fired?”
Mallory pulls her coils into a bun at the top of her head and lifts her mug. “If you get fired, make sure you kick every man right where it hurts. In the dick.”
I’d laugh if I didn’t know how serious she is.
Jo loses the battle and smiles. “Aren’t you supposed to be a pacifist?”
Laughing, Mallory licks the foamy whipped cream mustache from her upper lip. “I am, but that doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy watching karma get terrible men.”
“Agreed, Cap! It’s never too early for violence,” Adri cheers.
Rolling her eyes, Jo redirects the conversation. “Did you do anything to get fired?”
I wrack my brain, but nothing comes to mind. I’ve done everything asked of me by not only Trevor but everyone here. All assignments are done perfectly. I attend babysitting meetings without complaint. I manage my clients, and his, to the best of my ability, create rock-solid contracts, and negotiate like my life depends on it.
“No,” I admit. “But—”
“What if Trevor is getting fired?” Adri cuts in.
The idea thrills me. Maybe another client dropped him and they want me to witness his termination and escort him from the building.
