“Hi, Amara,” I answered.
“Hey, Sutton. A messenger just delivered a package for you.”
“Are you sure it’s for me?”
“I’m looking at your name written across the top.”
“Oh. Okay.”
“I’d bring it to you, but I’m helping cover the overflow calls on the executive line. The phones haven’t stopped ringing since that DOJ announcement this morning, so it’s hard to leave my desk.”
“No problem. I was just getting ready to leave anyway. I’ll pick it up on my way out.”
A small box wrapped in plain brown paper sat next to Amara at the reception desk. It made me laugh to myself as I approached because it looked like the same kind of discreet packaging my vibrators were delivered in. Though as soon as I saw the bold, slashy handwriting on the top, I realized it was something way better than a toy.Jagger.
“Secret admirer?” Amara smiled.
“No, uh, I forgot I ordered some supplies.”
Luckily the phone rang and stopped her from asking any other questions, and I was able to scoop up the box and rush off to the elevator with it. I had no clue whatcould be inside, but too many people were in the car to rip it open and find out. I thought about ducking into a corner when I hit the lobby, but while I was looking around for a quiet spot, I noticed the security globe on the ceiling—the same kind as on my floor—and I wasn’t sure I wanted to be watched while I opened whatever was inside. So I pushed through the turnstile and out onto the street, but it was five thirty on a weekday in New York City, and the sidewalks were bustling.
Since it didn’t look like I was going to have a safe place to open the box until I got home, I attempted to ignore it and took the steps down to the subway. Though by the time I’d stared at Jagger’s handwriting for six long stops, I was almost desperate enough to pop into one of the urine-scented bathrooms down here and open it.Almost.Instead, I called Miles as I made my way up the stairs to have him occupy me for the remaining two-block walk to my building.
He answered but told me to hang on while he spoke to someone else.
“Take ten, gorgeous. But don’t go outside and smoke pot this time. Last time, your eyes were only half open. We’re selling lipstick, not Cheech and Chong’s new edibles.” He came back on the line. “What’s going on, cookie? You don’t usually call during the day. I’ve been stalking your location like a fiend, and you haven’t gone anywhere but home and to the office. So I know you didn’t bang—” He halted mid-stream. “Wait. I’m a total idiot. You work together. Have you been banging the bossman at the office?”
I laughed. “Definitely not.”
“Well, you owe me some good gossip now anyway because I just looked out the window, and my model either rolls her own cigarettes or just lit the joint I told her notto smoke.” He sighed, and I heard the blinds rustling. “Aaaaand she’s holding it in, so it’s definitely not tobacco.”
“Oh no. I’m sorry for interrupting.”
“Eh, whatever. We’ll just have to sell the brand manager on hooded eyes being sexy and pretend it was intentional. What’s going on? Did you just call to chit chat?”
“I actually called to tell you about a box.”
“A box? Oryourbox?”
I chuckled. “A box was delivered to the office for me as I was leaving. I’m ninety-nine-percent sure it’s from Jagger.”
“What’s inside?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t opened it yet.”
“Why the hell not?”
“Because I was on my way home, and then the streets were busy, and then the subway was even more packed, and what if it’s something weird?”
“Weird like a dead bird, or weird like a nine-inch vibrator that plays Backstreet Boys music?”
“I’m not sure which one is weirder of those two choices, Miles.”
“Trust me,” he said. “It’s the vibrator. To this day, I can’t hear ‘As Long as You Love Me’ without askingwhyI went home with Wally Wallace. He had a framed poster of Brian Littrell in his bedroom. The name alone should’ve been a hint that he was an odd duck. What kind of person has the same first and last name?”
I should’ve called Miles before I even left the building. He had a way of taking my mind off of anything. I laughed. “Hopefully Jagger has better taste than Wally. What do you think he sent me?”
“I have no idea. How big is the box?”
