BRONWYN:Huh? What does that mean?
JACKIE:Too much to explain over text. We still on for lunch today?
TANIKA:Yep. At Ruby Chow’s?
This month was Mya’s turn to pick their lunch location, and the woman absolutely loved anything with a noodle she could slurp or a dumpling she could devour.
TANIKA:You know it. Mya is salivating for the tea. And I don’t mean the jasmine green at Ruby’s.
BRONWYN:Although the tea there is full of antioxidants! They source it straight from Hong Kong.
JACKIE:You would know that. I’ll see you all at lunch.
TANIKA:Cool! Love you, boss chicks!
BRONWYN:Love you too!
JACKIE:Love you both.
Jackie closed her group chat and went back to her email. Still nothing from Guzman. She was about to close her laptop when she heard the ding of a new message.
FROM:[email protected]
SUBJECT:Just wondering?
You good? How’s my man PeeWee?
Antonio Steele,
Lead Agent, AMW
Jackie stared at the brief email for a while, debating if she should even answer. She tapped her stylus on her hand as she thought about what to say. She decided to match Antonio’s energy.
FROM:[email protected]
RE:Just wondering?
Yeah. Why wouldn’t I be?
PS: PeeWee is on the mend. Thanks for asking.
Sincerely,
Jacqueline A. Miles, Esq.
Senior Agent, Elite Management
The lack of warmth in her responses was typical Jackie. Yet, it made her ache inside.He didn’t deserve that, did he?She tried to shake the feeling off. She ran a hand over the nape of her neck, then tapped the diamond pendant at the base of her throat.
It’s fine, she told herself.We’re just keeping it above board.
So…why did it hurt so damn much?
WHENJACKIE WALKED INTORUBYCHOW,SHE DIDN’T SEE HERgirls. That was odd. They’d usually be seated at a table by now. It wasn’t until the alert on her phone went off, reminding her to leave for lunch, that Jackie realized she was early. Early was not Jackie’s style. Her brain must have been on autopilot after messaging Antonio, needing to get out of the office as fast as possible.
