“As Jess is famously known to be,” Spencer adds. Pacha laughs in the corner from behind his computer.
We contemplate for a few seconds, until I glance to the corner of the room at an object leaning against my desk. “I have his umbrella?” I say as more of a question than a statement.
“That’s... something.” Cecily taps her finger against her lip.
“How about a playful threat?” I suggest. “The umbrella in exchange for information.”
“I don’t hate it,” Cecily says, suggesting she doesn’t love it either.
I pinch my lips together. At least that way it wouldn’t feel like I’m trying to leverage sex for knowledge.
“If you want to see your umbrella again, you must tell me what time Wyst’s one-to-one is scheduled,” I say as I type it out.
We all nod and shrug in agreement and I press Send. A reply comes back within seconds.
And if I don’t?
Electricity prickles at my fingertips.
You’ll be receiving the duck head handle in a box via post in the next twenty-four hours.
Please, he’s like family to me.
I smirk, loving that he is as lame as I am.
Tell me the time then.I type out the words, punctuating the message with an umbrella and a knife emoji.
I will only upon safe return of the umbrella.
That could take days in the post!
Then you better bring it in person tonight.
A thrill shoots through me. I wasn’t planning on doing anything tonight because we won’t get out of here until around 9p.m.
I show Cecily the text, and she jumps up and down on the spot.
“Can you find out what his big three are while you’re there? I want to do his charts.”
“You aren’t doing his charts. I told you, that’s too invasive for new people.”
“Oh, so youcareabout his feelings now?” She gives me a teasing look as Spencer and Pacha turn their heads.
“No...” I feel my cheeks burn as they all stare at me. “There’s just no way to ask for someone’s exact birth location and time without seeming like you’re invested in them.”
“But what if his sign isn’t compatible with your Scorpio sun?” Cecily asks, deadly serious.
Pacha snorts a laugh. “Then he’ll have to buy some sunscreen.”
“Just go. Stop thinking about everything so bloody hard and just go!” Cecily pulls me up by my armpits from the meeting room chair. We’ve been here for hours, practicing every possible question Spencer could be asked.
Still want that umbrella?
Desperately.
I glance at the time in the corner of the screen.
It’s not too late? Won’t Dominic be mad if I make you wait up?
