“I love them as well. They’re such a classic flower. And this one is a rare species.”
“What a combination of colors.”
I nod. “The splash-petals are yellow, magenta, and light lavender, and the tri-color blooms are a feast for the eyes.”
She leans in. “As a former florist, do you have a favorite flower?”
“It all depends on the season and the mood.”
“That makes sense,” she says. “I like that this is your second career.”
It’s my third, but we don’t talk about the second career. That was a debacle.
“This is my second career as well,” Cressida says.
“Oh. What was your first?”
“I was a stage actress with one notable play under her belt. Showbusiness is cut-throat business, and even more so when you’re so much taller than most leading men.”
I pull my lips down in a frown.
“Women your height have it made.” She motions a finger up and down my body.
No point in telling her my fear of rejection prevented me from pursuing an acting career. “You could’ve been a model,” I say. “You still can.”
She crosses her eyes and pantomimes gagging. “No way. That industry is even more messed up than acting.”
“I hear you.”
She gives off a boss lady vibe, but she’s approachable.
Fingers crossed everybody in the office is as personable.
“Not that it matters, it brings me peace of mind to have a regular paycheck. It’s less pressure on my husband,” she says. “And I love being able to feed my kids.”
I laugh.
Kaz’s office manager has a great sense of humor.
“Let me take you to your office so you can drop the box, and then you’ll meet the team.”
She said office again.
“If you’ll follow me.”
“I’m right behind you.”
She turns around and points in front of her. “This desk is empty, because our receptionist-slash-office admin is running late. Her three-year-old had an existential crisis this morning.”
“Oh, poor thing.”
“No worries. Mommy was crafty in averting a full-blown freakout tantrum.” She laughs.
I do the same.
I trail behind Cressida, my eyes trained on her four-inch nude heels with the red soles. I too am wearing four-inch shoes with red soles, courtesy of my roommate-slash-new-boss-slash-fake-boyfriend-slash-pussy-devourer-extraordinaire, but my strappy nude heels do nothing to give me a little height next to this Amazonian.
The perils of being short.
