“So go fix it and get back here to work. I’ll go put on a pot of coffee,” he offers. “It’ll be waiting when you get back.”
“Thanks, Jack.”
He pats my arm. “I got your back. You got mine.”
With his comforting words and support, I hurry out of the office, eager to just find out what the heck is going on. Once I’m on the escalator, I’m lost in my own head, unaware of all the happenings in the library that once brought me joy. I certainly don’t even look for the man on floor two. I’m replaying the call with Kara, then the exchanges with Adam, even the gift boxes at my door. I’m in the zoo of floor one as the front doors open and a horde of people piles in through the entrances. I’m at Kara’s door before they even have time to consume the librarians and inundate them with questions.
Her door is open and I poke my head inside. Kara is on her phone but motions me forward. She ends her call rather abruptly and rounds the desk, meeting me in the middle of the room and giving me a once-over. “Look at you,” she approves. “You look ready to take on the world.”
There’s an uneasy vibe to her that, in turn, makes me uneasy. “Why do I feel that’s a necessary place to be right now?”
“There is nothing here we can’t handle.”
I’m queasy. “What does that mean?”
“It means that Neil wants to place Akia in the role of auditorium coordinator. I told him absolutely not. You’re my girl.”
I swear the floor sways. “Because of the presentation?”
“He overreacts to the smallest of things.”
“That’s a yes. And he’s the boss. And Akia—I mean he—and I—and—”
Her hands come down on my shoulders. “You fought me when I wanted you to take this job, but it’s yours, and you don’t want to let it go. I know that. You need the money. I know that, too, and you deserve the raise the job offered you. I’m having a meeting with Neil today. I’m going to put my foot down. If you’d like to attend, I invite you to do so.”
“He’s known Akia for years. And he likes Akia. Do you know Akia had the nerve to comfort me after seeing Neil talk down to me?”
“Akia is, well, Akia. He’s not a guy I’d recommend you trust. Do you want to attend the meeting?”
“I can do that?”
“Of course you can. This is about you as much as it is me.”
“What time is it?”
“Four.”
My heart sinks. “My father has a major patent going out to auction. I was going to ask to go to the attorney’s office with him today at, of course, four. Can we do the meeting sooner? Or tomorrow?”
“First, and most importantly, congrats to your father, Mia. I know thatLion’s Densituation was a real mess. I cried for you, and your family, when I saw it happen on live TV. As for moving the meeting, I doubt it. But I will try. And I’m your biggest advocate. I’ll handle this if I need to handle it on my own. I’ll let you know in the next hour. No matter what, go support your father.”
“I’m worried, Kara. I do need this money. And I’ve worked hard. The presentation was a mess, but the work behind it was solid.”
“I know that.”
“Then why is he doing this? Because I made him look bad?”
“Perception is not always reality.”
“He thinks I made him look bad,” I repeat, pressing for confirmation.
“It doesn’t matter what he thinks. As you said, your work, and mine, is solid. We got this. Neil is a moron, and I may or may not deny saying that depending on how much he pisses me off. Heck, I may say it to his face. More soon.”
I nod slowly and back away.
I’m shell-shocked when I exit her office. Akia stabbed me in the back. That’s exactly what happened, and I’m surprised at how easily anger materializes and burns like hot coals in my belly. Take control, Adam has commanded me, and right now I hope I don’t see Akia, because I might do just that, and I’m not sure how that might look. Or maybe I do hope I see Akia. Maybe confronting him is exactly what Imust do. Marching down the hallway, feeling intent simmering in my limbs, I round the corner to the main zoo, and there’s a line of patrons formed in front of the information desk. Akia is unattainable behind said desk, the main contact for all those who wait for assistance. The wind in my sails dies, the thunder stolen from my brave moment where I might just have confronted him.
Or so I tell myself.
