Page 16 of Don’t Open Your Eyes

“Oh? Who?”

“He’s from the California office. Looking to relocate to the East Coast, to be closer to family. You probably met him at our corporate retreat last year. Riggs Larson.”

Annabelle made a face. “Really? He’ll be my new boss?” She had taken an instant dislike to Riggs when they’d been paired for one of the ridiculous bonding exercises that were de rigueur at these corporate team-building conferences. She loved the company, but, come on, they were adults there to do a job, not live together. He’d been one of those seemingly nice, polite people who were actually self-serving and pushy. Plus, that name: Riggs. So pretentious. And now she’d be working for him. It almost made her want to rethink her decision.

Madeline’s brows went up. “Not a fan?”

“I didn’t spend much time with him. He sort of rubbed me the wrong way, but I really don’t know him.”

“I don’t know him well, either, but Michael thinks highly of him. He’s run the Client Services division for three years, and their client base has gone up each year. Clients seem to like him too.”

Annabelle wondered what his subordinates thought of him, but she didn’t ask. She’d turned down the job, so she had no right to criticize their choice. But it would be fine; she knew how to get along with others. Besides, at her level, there wasn’t much oversight necessary. She spent all her time either with her clients or doing work for them.

She stood up. “Guess I’ll head back to my office.” She was halfway through the door when she stopped and turned around. “When is he starting?”

“Next week. He’ll shadow me for two weeks, and then take over.”

Annabelle nodded. “Got it.”

When she got back to her office, she noticed that she had two missed calls from Scarlett’s school. Her heart began to race as she listened to the voicemail.

“Mrs. Reynolds. This is Audrey Barlowe. Scarlett’s fine, but there was an incident, and I need you to come to the school. Please call me as soon as you get this message.” She dialed the school’s number from her office phone.

“Front Office.”

“Yes, this is Annabelle Reynolds. May I speak with Vice Principal Barlowe?”

She was put on hold, and a moment later, a woman’s voice spoke.

“Mrs. Reynolds?”

“Yes. What’s going on?”

“Scarlett was caught in the bathroom vaping. We’ve been trying to identify the girls who have been doing this for a month now. She’s been suspended for two days.”

Annabelle gasped. “Scarlett doesn’t vape! This has to be a mistake.” She flashed to her dream, and a chill ran through her.

“It’s no mistake. I saw her myself.”

“I’m on my way.”

“No need. When we didn’t get in touch with you, I called your husband. He’s on his way now.”

“Okay, I’ll talk to Scarlett, and make sure this doesn’t happen again.”

“I’d like to schedule a meeting with you, your husband, and Scarlett, to discuss this. It’s quite serious. She’s only fifteen, and vaping is illegal at that age. Not to mention the health risks.”

Annabelle was getting irritated. “I’m aware of both the law and the health risks, as is my husband, who’s a doctor. We will be addressing this with her. You said a two-day suspension. Am I to assume that she may return to school on Friday?”

“Yes, you may. But I still think—”

“We’ll call the office and schedule an appointment.”

“Good. Until then.”

What a sanctimonious prig! You would think Scarlett had been caught doing cocaine. Yes, vaping was bad, and she was way too young to be doing it. But was it really necessary for the four of them to meet and talk about it? She and James were capable of parenting their child. Annabelle was sure that this was something new; something Scarlett had gone along with, trying to fit in with her new friends. Scarlett was an athlete, concerned about being healthy. This was an aberration—she’d just been going through a rough time.

James was going to have a fit, though. She could just hear his lecture. Guilt sliced through her. She should have taken the time to talk to Scarlett about her estrangement from Zoe. She’d been so distracted trying to decide whether or not to take the promotion that she’d neglected her daughter. She grabbed her purse and briefcase, then swung by Madeline’s office.