“I can never take a break.”
“The world won’t end.”
“It might.”
The door opened.
There she was. Taller now in those ridiculous heels, Lexi tottered in like a helpless baby foal.
Absolutely kidnapping bait. A liability.
She crossed her arms. The buttons on her blouse strained and the shirt fabric gaped.
Stop staring at her chest. What the hell is wrong with you?
I met her eyes. Brown. Defiant.
“Narc,” Lexi whispered.
My eyes widened.
“You wanted to see her?” Brittany Dawn asked expectantly.
“I—”
Lexi’s curly red hair was sticking straight out of her head, like a cartoon character’s.
“Can’t you see?” Lexi said, spreading her arms dramatically and talking a mile a minute. “Mr. Richmond called me in hereto chew me out. Finally thought of a good comeback from this morning?” She raised an eyebrow. “Yeah, that happens to me too. You can’t think of the really good zingers until you’re in the shower. Come on, lay it on me. Chop-chop!” She snapped her fingers.
“I have to go dig up a discontinued brand of cigars from the eighties along with finding an exact match of the custom wool fabric for that hole you put in your suit, not to mention have your riding boots resoled, which really, Anthym, that one’s a little too easy.”
Anthym gasped. “Don’t talk about Mr. Richmond in the shower.”
“What did you want to discuss?” Brittany Dawn asked pointedly.
I blinked and realized I had made a grievous error. I just needed Lexi fired; I didn’t need to do it myself.
It’s because you haven’t slept in days. You can’t make important decisions on such little sleep.
I picked up the mug of black tea and tried not to stare at the buttons that were threatening to pop on Lexi’s blouse and let her breasts spill out.
I took a large swallow of the scalding-hot water.
“You two are harshing his snarly, self-important, condescending vibes. It’s the gestapo up in here. A man can’t even cuss out his own assistant in peace. Shoo!” Lexi waved away the two older women. “Can’t you see you’re smothering him? Some people,” she said to me, cupping a hand to the side of her mouth.
“Can we please fire her?” Anthym shrieked.
“But then who will sort our dear leader’s underwear?” Lexi asked magnanimously.
“You’re not supposed to be touching his underwear.” Brittany Dawn was appalled.
“I was folding them Marie Kondo style, to bring joy to Mr. Richmond’s life,” Lexi said primly.
“Oh my god, you left the note,” I said before I could stop myself.
The office was dead quiet.
I snapped my mouth shut.
