Her eyes widen when she sees me. “Oh my God! I didn’t realize Aspen Hughes was reallyyou!” she says in a loud voice. The way she moves her head around to make note of people’s reactions makes her delivery theatrical. “I thought it was someone else with the same name.” She laughs. “Are you seriously back in Grant’s orbit? Where’s your pride? Just what does it take to keep you away?”
“Hello, Sadie,” I say with a neutral smile. Getting into a sarcastic argument with a potential business partner would definitely be against the policy. Even if it weren’t, it would give Grant the perfect excuse to fire me. I’ll be damned if I lose this job over Sadie.
“I’m honestly shocked. I thought you’d be busy in some other industry that suited you better.” Her tone is positively snide.
My hands tighten into fists. If she calls me a whore, I’m going to sue for sexual harassment and verbal abuse.
“But I guess you take what you can get, right?” Sadie lifts a shoulder.
“If you keep talking, you’re going to be late for your appointment.”She’s a guest. She’s a guest…
“Grant must’ve felt sorry for you.” Her gaze rakes over me. “Not even a vagrant would wear what you’re wearing.”
Gasps go up around the office. I see a few associates staring at Sadie like she’s grown an anus on her forehead.
Her eyes go extra bright. I know that look—she gets that gleam every time she’s about to do something to cause me trouble.
She swings around hard. Her hand catches the strap of my purse on my desk and knocks my bag on the floor. The worn faux-vinyl of the strap breaks, and the contents of my purse scatter all over the floor, including a couple of tampons.
“Oh, oops!” She puts a hand over her mouth. “Sorry.”
“It was an accident.”
“Of course. Totally my fault. But maybe next time, buy a better purse? That strap came apart like a wet paper straw.”
“Sadie.” Grant’s voice rings out like the crack of a gunshot.
She turns around and spreads her arms. “Grant, babe!”
I wonder for a second if she’s going to run to him in her heels. It’d be hilarious if she fell down like Yvette did. On the other hand, since Grant is the one who had Sadie make this appointment, he might move himself to catch her.
The thought is depressing, although I’m not sure why. They deserve each other, given what horrible human beings they are.
I get up and begin picking my belongings up off the floor. Sadie takes a small step back, her heel landing among my things. Just an inch to the left and her stiletto would’ve pinned my hand to the floor. Instead, it cracks my compact.
Grant stalks toward us. “Get the fuck out.”
Sadie glances down at me. “You heard him.”
“Not her,you!” Grant points at Sadie.
She puts a hand over her chest. “Me?”
What?Why did he have her make an appointment, then?
“Yes, you! Out!” he says.
“But you haven’t heard my proposal!” she whines.
“And I never will. I work with people who can handle themselves professionally.”
“But—”
“Besides, I forgot about that voice of yours.” His gaze on Sadie’s red face, he says, “Aspen, make sure to block Sadie’s number and email address.”
“Sure,” I say.
“You can’t make me leave without hearing me out first!” Sadie’s voice is shriller than a badly played violin.
