I take a deep breath and press the buttons on the copy machine to print the last fifty copies of music festival fliers. One way or another, I’ll get through this—my debt, building a different relationship with my mom, fixing things with Lewis, and even letting go of Tyler, if that’s what it comes down to. I don’t like it—I might cry myself to sleep every night for the next year—but I’ll get through it.
I don’t need someone who doesn’t want to be in my life.
“Frasier, you going to the mixer tonight?”
William, a finance guy a few years older than me, stands in the doorway, tapping the doorframe with his sapphire Blue Casino signet ring of accomplishment.
Blue throws management mixers in the Mont Belle Lounge a couple of times a month. They claim it’s a chance for management staff to loosen their ties and form good working relationships. I think it’s in poor taste, given how crazy everything is right now. If people have time on their hands, they should help me and Hayden out with our crap ton of work. Just sayin’.
“I’m working late.” I read the error message that pops up on the copier and refill the bin with bright yellow paper.
We’re understaffed and unprepared for this music festival, but Blue has thrown it every year for the past fifteen years, so sexual harassment investigation and staffing issues or not, the show will go on.
“Get off early,” William says. “Your work can wait. That’s the reason they have these things…” He steps into the room, crowding me, though he’s a safe six feet away. “So we can mix.”
Ew. Obvious innuendo.
Over the last week or two, people have stopped snickering at me and started, dare I say it, respecting the work I’m doing for Hayden and the hospitality department.
I guess the leers from men are back as well.
“Can’t. Too busy. Enjoy, though.” I grab my stack of fliers, give him a short, tight smile, and move to walk past him.
William grabs my arm. Not hard, but his fingers are wrapped all the way around and graze my breast. I flinch and take a step back. He lets me go, but says, “You can always change your mind. There are a few of us who wouldn’t mind spending time with you. Give us guys a chance.” He plasters on a charming smile that makes me shiver in revulsion.
I have no words. Except no. Not ever. Putting aside the fact that I still have all these feelings for Tyler, William and his ilk are creepy. He’s good-looking, but there’s something about him and the group he works with. They remind me of a pack of rats, scurrying around the casino, their oily confidence sliming the place up.
“Thanks, but I’m swamped.” I send him my best not-interested bitchy smile, because his presence is setting off all kinds of alarms in my head, and walk around him and out the door before he can deliver another cheesy line.
When I turn down the hallway, Tyler is walking toward me, a determined set to his features.
Staying at Zach’s, it’s been easy to avoid Tyler’s calls for the last few days; not so easy to avoid him at work. I don’t know what he wants, but the only way I can resist Tyler in my weakened state is to stay away from him. I’ll have to face him at some point, just not right now.
I spin in the opposite direction and steer myself into Hayden’s office, which is closer to the copy room than my small space.
Hayden looks up from her computer as I shut her door and listen for footsteps to pass. “Mira? You okay?”
I juggle the fliers in my arms. We’ve blasted the festival all over social media and posted it on the Blue Casino marquee, but good old-fashioned fliers are still a mainstay for local businesses.
“I’m fine. Sorry for interrupting. I wanted to make sure these are what you had in mind?” She’s already approved them, or I wouldn’t have printed a gabillion, but I need an excuse for barging in.
Hayden’s brow furrows. “You don’t look fine. Is someone giving you a hard time? That security guard I saw you with? I thought you were interested in him, but if he’s bothering you, tell me.”
“No, he’s fine. He’s a good guy.” And I realize the truth of my words. Tyler has always been a good guy. Even when he’s an ass. For God’s sake, he couldn’t even bail on me properly after sex. He had to make sure I was fed and hydrated.
“You’d let me know if there was anything wrong, right?”
“Of course.”
I work late, looking over vendor lists and making sure I’ve emailed everyone the information they need for their contribution to the festival. By the time I wrap up, our office is a graveyard, with the exception of Hayden, who is also working late. Everyone else has gone to the mixer.
I rap lightly on Hayden’s open door. “I’m taking off.” She sits back, her shoulders sagging. Hayden has been burning the candle at both ends and she looks exhausted. “Not going to the mixer?”
She spreads her hands in front of her computer. “Too much work. You?”
Sometimes I wonder if Hayden avoids our colleagues as much as I do. “I’m beat.”
“Have a great weekend.” She returns to her computer and starts clicking away with her mouse.
