He nods sagely. "Sure. What caused this terrible accident? Texts to your friends about how hot you think I am?"
"No. I didn't want you to see my plans about your demise."
He laughs. "You know, unless you keep your phone unlocked, I can't see a thing."
"I told you it was an accident. It slipped, and I accidentally stepped on it."
"With force."
"I...thought it was a spider."
He raises an eyebrow. "Poor spider."
My face burns hotter. "Who knows what scary pets you keep?"
He gasps. "You would kill Buttons?" Then he grins. "Buttons, you know, because giant phone-like spiders have so many eyes."
"Well, I..." I search for something to say, but I can't find anything.
"Go for an early lunch, Lola. Be back on time. After all, just because I can no longer reach you, no phone is not an excuse for tardiness."
I scoop up my smashed phone and make a beeline for the elevator. "Who knows, maybe it will still work?"
The elevator closes on me, and I slump against the wall, closing my eyes, my heart beating a thousand times a second.
I stop by Ruby's desk.
She is on the phone, so I write her a note.
I will be at Café Tennant for lunch.
I will meet you there, she writes back.
The café is about a block from the office, and I slide into one of the tables in the back and gaze sadly at my phone.
I try to turn it on, since heaps of people seem to smash theirs up and they work. But honestly, I'm not even sure if it comes on... it is so smashed that I don't think it does anything.
I have got an expensive, not very good paperweight and not a phone, and I guess most phones that work post-smashing don't meet a violent heel.
Tears prick at my eyes, and if I could undo and rewind time, I wouldn't smash it. Of course, I wouldn't. My entire life is on the phone.
Maybe it is in the cloud, I don't know, but the fact is I can't access any of it. Not the photos or contacts or even Alex.
And even though I've got a raise, that hasn't actually kicked in yet. I know that bills and other things need to be paid before I can get a phone.
I guess I could get something secondhand or a dumb phone or a burner, but I don't know enough about all that to avoid spending money on something that won't work or?—
Ruby dumps her bag on the table. "What the fuck happened to your phone, Lola?"
I groan. "Enzo saw me reach for it and demanded it. He said he would confiscate it and so...I...may have smashed it."
She bursts out laughing. "Lola, it is slightly unreasonable to take your phone, but we're also not meant to use them at work."
"I wanted to check something for work." I know how lame it sounds.
She leans in as her coffee arrives, along with a sandwich we often share. "Why not just let him have it? Enzo is the big boss..."
I'm not hungry. Instead, I sip my water as my stomach is in utter turmoil.
