“Good. You’re back. Is Jamie there yet?”
“She’s right here, Ms. Coleman. Should I send her in?”
“Please do.”
Jamie pushed Natasha’s hand out of the way, leaning across her desk and practically shouting into the intercom. “Hi, Etta! I love you!” Sometimes a girl had to have some fun around the office – especially if former coworkers were lurking about.
There was a pause on the other end. “Hello, Jamie. Please, join us.”
Jamie stood back. “Us?”
Natasha shrugged.
Bag hooked over her shoulder, Jamie straightened out her coat.Don’t know why I feel like I have to look super nice for her.Because it made Etta feel special? Because it madeherfeel special?Let’s be real, it’s because she has a guest.Jamie always felt the responsibility of being presentable to her business associates.
“See you,” Natasha said, checking messages she missed while on lunch.
Jamie was already halfway to Etta’s office when she heard that.I remember when I used to walk through here wondering what I was going to have to lick next.“See you.”
She opened the door, stepping through with a smile on her face. After all, she was going to see her gorgeous girlfriend, who always made her smile – assuming everything was fine.
Thingswere not fine.
Things were very not fine.
Jamie felt it the moment the door closed behind her. By then, she saw not only Etta getting up from behind her desk, but the feminine form rising from the seat in front of her as well. Tall. Thin. Legs that went on forever as they sprouted from her cute little dress and ended in sexy heels. Dark hair was pulled back into an elaborate twist that followed the turn of this woman’s head, her prominent, beautiful jaw slicing through the air before her lips parted into one of the most dazzling smiles Jamie had ever seen.
It made her sick.
“Jamie,” Etta said, buttoning the bottom of her jacket, “I’d like you to meet my new partner, Adele Thompson.”
“Charmed.” Adele extended her hand, fingernails tipped in white, just like the whole wardrobe Jamie had seen on this woman so far. “We’ve met before. At Monique’s party.”
Etta glanced between them, Jamie tentatively approaching. “Is that so?” Etta said. “I had no idea you attended Monique’s party.”
“I was invited at the last minute.”
Adele couldn’t see her face, but Jamie recognized that look ofShe would.Who else would hire her ex-girlfriend to be her new business partner? Etta would. She had. Now, Jamie was trapped between them, seeing a past flare-up that she scarcely knew of.
“You’re her ex-girlfriend.”
Adele’s smile flickered. Etta squared her shoulders. “I suppose so,” she said with a sigh. “So, shehastold you about me. Hope it’s nice things. Being the ex and all.” She looked over her shoulder, to Etta, acting as if she had nothing to do with this. “Still, it’s a pleasure meeting you, Jamie.” Adeleheld out her hand again. “Etta never stops talking about you.”
Jamie slowly extended her hand as well. When their fingers clasped, she felt something – a spark of friendly rivalry, of“let’s let bygones be bygones”– course through her. This used to be Etta’s girlfriend. This was the woman she proposed to. Now…NowJamie was the one Etta was with. Not Adele. Jamie had to shake those thoughts.
“Nice to finally meet the woman she’s spoken so highly of.”Am I smarmy? I bet I sound smarmy.Jamie needed to check it. She didn’t need Etta mad at her. Nor did she need this woman – her girlfriend’s new business partner – flummoxed with her. Jamie had a poor enough relationship with the last business partner. But… the jealousy…
“Well, this could’ve gone a lot worse.” Etta sat back down. Adele returned to her seat and lowered gracefully, one leg curving over the other as she leaned back and rested her hands on her abdomen. Jamie took the hint to sit in the other chair, next to Adele, the both of them looking at Etta.She’s looking at us. The past and the present.Jamie stared at Adele from the corner of her eye. She was so poised, so beautiful that Jamie couldn’t possibly look good next to her.
“Adele has offered to merge her business with mine. She’s also one of the most charming social butterflies on this planet, as I’m sure you’ve noticed.”
“Yes, I am here to make up for poor Etta’s shortcomings.” Adele stifled a laugh with her hand. “Schmoozing is not her strong suit. It’ll be a challenge getting her to go out to dinners.”
“Hopefully not too many,” Jamie said. “I would like her home sometimes.”
“Oh, I’ll make sure she’s not kept from home.”
Etta shifted in her seat. She probably didn’t spend a lot of time in her office uncomfortable. Yet… what did she expect, inviting her girlfriend in to meet the ex?It would be one thing if they weren’t a serious couple back then. I could handle that a lot better.But no, Adele was oncesomeone Etta referred to as the love of her life. Someone she loved so much that her ultimate rejection left her unable to have healthy relationships with women for years.She’s the reason Etta started going through women like tissues. She was the reason Etta gave up finding a real girlfriend and instead hired them for contracts.I’m the first woman she’s truly been with since her. And I am a mess compared to her.Jamie didn’t have a hope of competing with a woman like Adele, especially if a beauty contest sprung up somewhere.I joke, but I wouldn’t be surprised in a world like this.The next party Jamie went to would probably turn into a national affair, complete with bathing suits and a talent show.
