I never confront anyone.
I step onto the escalator and rotate, watching Akia attend to his patrons. When I leave floor one and bring floor two into view, the strange man is still not present. In fact, there is a mom reading her daughter a story at the very table he favors. This interaction, this normal, wonderful interaction, steadies me and draws down my hyperactive anger and energy. This person, me—I am this person—who loves books, and enjoys the moments others enjoy books,iswho I am. I am not angry. I am not confrontational. I never wished to be those things. Nor do I now.
I rotate and step off the escalator, and while caffeine may well be the wrong thing for me right now, I walk past the help desk and straight to the back room, to the break area. I’ve just poured a cup of coffee when I hear, “What happened?”
I pant out a breath and turn to face Jack. “After my disaster of a presentation, Akia made a play for my job coordinating the auditorium.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“I mean, I don’t know for sure, but that’s how it seems to me. He seems to be Neil’s pet.”
“Yeah, well, that’s Akia. What did Kara say?”
“There’s a meeting with Neil at four today to talk to decide whether or not me or Akia will be holding the job. And I have to be at the attorney’s with my father at four. She’s trying to move the meeting.”
“And if she can’t?”
“She swears she’s got this under control. I don’t think she does, but then again, I’ve proven I don’t, either, so maybe her going alone is best.”
“You doing nothing is not the answer.” He studies me a moment. “Fight for yourself, Mia. What are you going to do to fix this?”
“I don’t know,” I admit.
“Wrong answer. You earned this job. What are you going to do to fix this?” he pushes.
“I’ll go see Neil,” I state bravely.
“Good answer. Take control, Mia.”
“And if he still gives the job and my pay to Akia?”
“Go over his head.”
My brows furrow. “To who?”
“I’ll see if I can figure out who that would be.”
“You will?”
“Yes,” he says firmly. “I will. What are friends for?” he asks. “We help each other.” He winks. “Drink coffee. It makes you a better person. Bring me a cup. The desk is busy.”
I nod and he disappears into the hallway.
Indeed,I think,what are friends for?
The answer is, helping you, and not with a knife in your hand and at someone else’s throat.
I have to solve this problem before Adam does it for me.
Before “The End” is another life, not another chapter in a book.
Chapter Sixty-Three
It’s midmorning, actually nearly lunchtime, when Kara calls my desk phone. “No go on the meeting change,” she announces.
This is not unexpected, and I’m ready for what comes next. Motivated to save my job, I follow up on the plan Jack and I discussed earlier. “Should I stop by Neil’s office before the meeting?”
“He’s off-site at meetings,” she replies. “He won’t be back until right before our meeting time, but I’ll ask him for a formal interview for you tomorrow morning.”
