Caroline’s sister, Sydney, hurried over. “Can we talk, real quick?”
“What’s goin’ on?” Greystone asked.
Sydney glanced around. “Do you have an office or somewhere we can talk in private?”
CAROLINE
Caroline was havinga great time at her birthday dinner. She’d finished eating a full plate of the best Italian food before relocating to a different spot at the table to catch up with her close friend, Jennifer Leigh.
Jennifer Leigh, who went by JL, wore her brown hair in a cute bob, her skirts short, and her fingernails long. Though they’d been friends for years, the two were very different. Caroline wasn’t one to brag, but JL was a self-admitted narcissist who loved talking about herself and how perfect her life was.
“How’s the exciting world of government contracts?” Caroline asked.
JL owned a successful janitorial services business that cleaned a lot of the government office buildings in DC.
“Fab,” JL replied. “I’m rolling in the bucks, babe. Say the word and I’ll hire you. I’ve actually got an open manager position that you’d be perfect for.”
“I’m good where I am.”
For years, Caroline had told her friends and family she was a government analyst. After repeating that enough times, they’d grown bored and had stopped asking.
“Seriously, Car, you should consider it,” JL said. “I know you don’t talk about your low-level job because it’s embarrassing. You deserve better than being some assistant. At least let meinterview you. If you get it great, but if not, we’ll still be friends.”
Caroline forced herselfnotto roll her eyes. “No thanks.”
JL set her hand, palm-down, on the table. “Notice anything new?”
Caroline stared at her friend’s perfectly sculpted fingernails, then at her own. “I definitely need a manicure. I haven’t had a spa day in forever.”
“Nope, not it.” JL wiggled her ring finger on her right hand showing off an opal solitaire set in gold.
Caroline peered at the shiny, pastel-colored ring. “That’s pretty.”
Then, JL pointed to her matching earrings.
“Look at you, all opally and everything,” Caroline said.
“My new boyfriend gave them to me on our three-month anniversary.” She beamed. “He’s the best. He’s from Dubai. He’s world-traveled and very exotic. I can’t wait for you to meet him!”
“What’s his name?”
“Erik. Erik Johnston.”
“He’s from Dubai?”
“Well, he was living in Dubai, but he mentioned something about being from the UK.”
“Oh, I love British accents, don’t you?”
“He doesn’t have one.”
Caroline furrowed her brow. This conversation was becoming too much work for her. JL had a new boyfriend and she’d leave it at that.
As soon as Caroline drained her water goblet, their assigned waiter hurried over to refill it. “Can I get you anything else before we bring in your birthday cake?” he asked.
Caroline cracked a smile. “There’s cake?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
