Morticia:Isn't it for kids?
Penny:Yes, but you'll survive. They don't bite. Besides, you have to help me decorate.
Penny:They have a tiny house they want to turn into a mini haunted house. They have teenagers, so I was thinking we should make it extra creepy.
Lilith:Fine. We'll be there.
Morticia:Someone has to make it suitably haunted.
I looked up to see Bronwyn tapping her shoe on the polished concrete floor.
"Garrett's out, but I'll take a message for him," I said sweetly.
"I saw you went on a breakfast date," she sneered. "Though I suppose I shouldn't really call it that. Garrett clearly doesn't like you if he took you to that grungy café."
"One, don't insult Grey Dove Bistro. That is my ride or die. Two, it wasn't a date, it was a working breakfast.Iaskedhim. He didn't refuse."
"You're trying to manipulate him," Bronwyn spat. "And steal him from me."
"Steal him from you! How many dates have you gone on with him?" I shot back.
Bronwyn pursed her lips. "We have had several late nights in the office."
"Clothes on or off?"
"Don't be disgusting!" she shrieked. "You were always like that in school: weird, friendless, overweight. Don't kid yourself that you're the type of girl a man like Garrett wants. He wants someone like me. Once I help him win Thalian Biotech, he's going to see that we are perfect for each other."
"I doubt he wants a conniving bitch," I hissed. "You're a backstabbing gold digger. You were the one who spread all those slut-shaming rumors about me in high school."
"I don't know what you're talking about," Bronwyn sniffed.
"If you try to sink your claws into Garrett, I'll tell him all about how you treated people in high school," I threatened.
"Me? You're the conniving one. I know you're up to something," Bronwyn said, eyes narrowing. "And I'm going to find out. If I can't have Garrett, you can't either." She turned on her heel and flounced out of the office.
I leaned back against the couch and reached for my coffee, trying to calm down. All the anger that I’d thought I left behind when I went to college was back and bitter in my throat. I took a swig of coffee then immediately choked on it.
Coughing, I muttered, "Shit, the article. What if she finds out? She'll ruin everything!"
I felt the familiar pit in my stomach about the article. I really shouldn’t write it. I was lying to myself and thinking I could write a positive article, and maybe it wouldn't be that bad. Maybe my mother might go for it if I made it funny enough. Who didn’t like funny articles about kids? My mother, that's who. I sagged.
My phone buzzed. Speak of the devil.
Trisha:Any updates?
Penny:Working on it. Been spending time with them.
Trisha:Any juicy tidbits, just between us girls?
I gritted my teeth.
Penny:Oh lots. Not that I can share them with you yet!
I would parade around town in a garbage sack before I told my mother a single detail of Garrett's personal family tragedy. That was something he had told me in confidence. No way was I going to betray that.
Trisha:I've told the higher-ups about the article. They're very interested. If it pans out, we're willing to offer you a permanent position, with a career progression path.
Penny:Awesome! I'll get back on it!
