It’s. Not. There.
What the heck? Where can it be? I keep my car very clean and yet I find myself shuffling through nothing trying to find the laptop bag. It’s nowhere.
Did I have it when I was with Jimmy on Friday night? Yes. I distinctly recall bringing my laptop bag to my car. I didn’t bring it in the house over the weekend because if I did, I knew I’d be tempted to open it and find work to do. Since it had been cooler outside, I didn’t worry about leaving it in the car.
Someone must have stolen it. I shut the door and then check the handle. No sign of forced entry. I didn’t leave my carunlockedlike some sort of idiot, did I?
I must have. It’s the only explanation. Someone stole my laptop along with the information I’m giving Alvin on how we’d market him, and events we would hold to bring people in.
I exhale deeply as I remember my flash drive. Everything is backed up there. Thank God. I can borrow another laptop and I’ll deal with reporting my stolen one later. It’s been gone for the entire weekend. The chances of it being returned to me are slim anyway.
In my sprint to my office I give a small half-smile to anyone I come across. I can’t stop and chat with anyone. When I arrive at my office, Janet is already there.
“I’ve been waiting for you. Are you ready? Alvin will be here in about forty-five minutes.”
“I’m well aware of when he’ll be here.” I set my purse down.
“Excuse me?” Janet crosses her arms and stares at me.
“Sorry. It’s been a crazy morning.” I open my drawer where I keep my flash drive. It’s not sitting where I normally put it. I shuffle my hands around in the drawer making plenty of noise.
“What’s the matter, Reese? Please tell me you’re ready. Securing Alvin Hamilton’s collection was your idea and you put your job on the line for this.”
I don’t recall putting myjobon the line. Sure, Janet and I don’t see eye to eye all the time but I like to think we have a decent working relationship. The way she talks incessantly about her children like we’re best friends, even though we’re not. And now she’s threatening my job?
“We’ll get him, Janet. I just need to find my presentation. My laptop was stolen and—“
“Your laptop was what?”
“Stolen.” I’m still frantically rummaging through the drawer. I slam the drawer shut when it hits me.
Like an amateur, I placed the flash drive in the pocket of my laptop bag. Yes, I’m the idiot who kept the backup with the original. I hadn’t even thought to upload it to the cloud until right this moment.
“There’s not a presentation, Janet.” I throw my hands up in defeat. “I have nothing to show Mr. Hamilton.”
“What?” Her nostrils flare to a size I’ve never seen before. “Daisy, get in here!” Janet calls out from the doorway.
The young intern, Daisy Dowden, comes flying into the room. “Yes, Ms. Berger?” I’ve never seen someone suck up as much as this young girl does. A senior in high school next year, she’s interning at the gallery for the summer before heading off to college. She helps out around the gallery with whatever we need. For someone with little-to-no experience, she’s pretty green, but there are times Idoappreciate her help.
“Alvin Hamilton is supposed to be here at nine. It appears Reese dropped the ball here and isn’t ready for him. Do you have your materials ready?”
“I sure do.”
What’s happening here? What is Janet talking about? “Materials? Why would Daisy have something prepared?I’mthe one meeting with him.”
Janet nods her head toward Daisy who in turn leaves my office. Janet shuts the door behind her. “Sit down, Reese.”
I slowly sit in my chair, my heart pounding. What’s going on? This whole situation is just really weird.
“Lately, I feel you’ve been distracted.”
“Distracted? How? Maybe this past week, but prior to that I’ve been completely here.” The tree damaging my house tossed everything into disarray. Working with Alvin Hamilton has been on the top of my list for a long time, and I have devoted so much of my time to it.
“You’re so focused on Alvin that you haven’t paid much attention to any of our other artists. That can’t be happening.”
I open my mouth to argue. That’s not the case at all. I’m in my office every day making phone calls and updating artists on the status of their showcases. Not to mention I thought shewantedme to focus on Alvin. Janet’s tapping of her nails on my desk tells me I shouldn’t say anything.
“I don’t want to have to do this, Reese, but you need to figure something out with Mr. Hamilton. You have about forty minutes now to put something together and it better be stellar.”
