The revolving door spins me into cool marble and quieter air. I cross the lobby, each step louder in the hush of marble stone and corporate calm.
Ding.The elevator opens. I step in. The doors close. By the time it lurches to a stop on the twentieth floor, my pulse has leveled, but only just.
I pause, take another breath.You got this, Rhodes. Fuck that guy!
The lobby inside Big Stream is sleek glass and chrome. My shoes clap against the tile, echoing loudly.
Tammy, assistant extraordinaire, intercepts me like she’s been posted there since dawn, armed with an agenda and God bless her, coffee.
She shoves the cup into my hand. “Morning, sunshine.”
This fireball is the heartbeat of my operation. Mid-forties, five feet of fury when needed, and always two steps ahead of me. Her curls are pulled tight, her suit is pressed, and her orange bow glows like a flare. Iconic.
Taking a sip of coffee, I eye her. She’s staring. “What?”
“Water cooler says you had quite the night.”
I sigh.“Fucking great! Everybody knows?”
“You could’ve texted me,” she says.
“I know.”
“I would’ve liked to be included in the vandalism.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Jackson’s been screaming about his car all morning. Sunscreen art. Very anatomical. Apparently it etched itself into the paint.”
My stomach sinks. Tammy notices the look on my face, that of part guilt, part panic, part should I be lawyering up?
“Relax. I had Imogene wipe the cameras.”
I blink. “You what?”
“Boss, you know I keep the felonies contained. You’re welcome, by the way. But next time you go full feral and don’t invite me—your balls? Earrings.” She points to her lobes, where a pair of glittering tiny pink flamingos dangle.
“You think I’m kidding,” she adds.
“I do not.”I absolutely do not.
“Good.”
“Please give your amazing white hacker wife a kiss for saving my ass.”
“Oh, I’ll give her more than that.” She winks. “Now. Thatcher. Ten minutes.” Tammy turns to leave.
“Oh, Tammy.”
She pauses, twists back.
“I need a new phone,” I add. “Screen’s cracked.”
She deadpans. “You want me to replace the whole phone, or just fix the screen? Asking for my sanity.”
“Whatever gets it done, Tams.”
“Mkay, testy today.”
