15
BECCA
"Earth to Becca,Earth to Becca. Come in, Becca."
"Hmmm?" I looked up from my laptop. "Oh, I'm sorry, I was miles away."
"Obviously. Which universe were you in?" Dariah pushed several strands of stray, red hair back from her face. She was the office gossip, but most of the time, she meant well. At least compared to Harvey. She wanted to know everyone's business for her own amusement, not to make a buck or destroy a career.
Unfortunately, her absolute lack of discretion also made her the perfect target for people like Harvey, who only needed to ask a few questions, not even subtle ones, to get her to open up. She was the human equivalent of a fountain.
Office rule number one, don't confide in Dariah. Unless of course youwantedeveryone to know your business by lunchtime. If so, it would circulate faster than an email from management.
"The universe where I get a pay raise?" I suggested lightly. I gave an 'amiright' grimace and a shrug.
She responded with a tilt of her head and a vigorous nod. "Right. I want in on that universe too. Can we get a cappuccino machine in the staff lounge too?"
"And a staff lounge to put it in." We'd one once, apparently, but it was taken by the boss now, and his huge desk. If Dariah was to be believed, he spent a lot of time after hours on that desk with one of the staff. That was none of my business, but I made sure not to touch anything when I stepped foot inside.
And if I did, use hand sanitizer after.
As if she read my mind, Dariah said, "Ed wants to see you in his office." She clicked her tongue as if I might be in trouble in some way.
I frowned. "Did he say why?"
"Nope." Dariah shrugged one shoulder and hefted the ream of paper she held in her arms half a centimeter higher. "Just something about getting your cute little ass in there. His words, not mine."
"Ahhh." Of course he wouldn't say that to my face. It would be a sexual harassment case waiting to happen. If Dariah told the police, it would be her word against his, and he'd win because of who he was. And he knew it.
Office bullshit made me miss freelancing, but the regular money was enticing. Maybe if I could make a name for myself…
"I'll be right there," I said finally. I gulped down the last of my cold coffee and made a face.
Still, it was better than no coffee, right?
I licked my lips and imagined for a moment I was licking Hawk's lips instead. Did he taste as good as I remembered? I needed to try again the next time I saw him, maybe. And the time after that. And the time after that, until I memorised his taste. And the feel of his mouth and his hands, and his…
"That pay raise universe must be amazing." Dariah snapped her fingers in front of my face.
I swatted her hand away and laughed, even though her gesture was annoying.
"Yeah, we all had company Ferraris," I joked.
"This just gets better and better. Anyway, I need to get this into the photocopier before someone starts bitching about it being out of paper. Later."
"Yeah, later."
She shuffled away, saying, "Okay, okay, I'm coming," as an angry voice came from the photocopy room.
I wondered if they were trying to photocopy their ass, or something actually useful.
I logged off my account and closed my laptop. I knew better than to leave it open with people like Harvey hovering around. I once saw him reading a colleague's screen while they went to the bathroom. I knew from then on never to leave mine on and open. Between him, Dariah and a couple of others, I always felt the need to be on guard here. Especially now.
I rose and slipped my feet back into my heels. I preferred to walk around barefoot, but the one time I did that, I stepped on a thumbtack someone dropped.
The pointy end went straight into the arch of my foot. It stuck there while I hopped around in pain. I'd grabbed a wall and balanced against it while I eased the tack out. My eyes watered like crazy, but I managed to pull out the offending sharp object without swearing.
On the outside.
