Page 6 of Pure Abandon

Erik steps into the room and stands next to Malory at the desk. “Great. Well, I did come here on official business. You have a meeting with Alexander Asher first thing Friday morning. I tried to get you on his calendar earlier, but the end of the week is all he had available. He’ll be on the floor for the morning meeting.”

I’ve heard of Edward Asher. Who hasn’t? But I’ve never heard of this Alexander Asher character, and I’m not about to let Erik hear me say that. If I have to meet with him, and he’s an Asher, then he’s clearly a big deal.

“On the floor?”

“His office is in the penthouse,” Erik explains. “The entire building houses the various businesses of the Asher family.” He says the family name in a sarcastic highfalutin manner. “Our little shop only occupies floor twenty-four.”

The Asher building has forty-two floors. I only know this from being in the elevator. If there is an Asher business on every floor, then this is not a typical office building. It’s an empire.

“Does he come to all the meetings?” You would think I would know more about the man now that I’m an Asher employee. Maybe I should have researched this a little bit more.

“Not usually. Since he bought the company, he lets me run things. That said, this project is very important to him, so he’ll be quite involved.”

“It should be interesting,” Malory says in a low-pitched, singsong voice. Looking down at her feet, she flicks the foot of the chair in front of her with her heel.

Erik lets out a grunt from deep inside his throat. “Well, ladies, I’ll leave you to it.” He taps twice on the wall and departs.

I take a seat in my new fancy office chair and recline back. I can get used to having my own office.

As the door closes behind Erik, I swing my seat in a circle and come back to glare at Malory. She always acts like she knows something I don’t. “Have you always been so mysterious?”

Malory takes a seat in front of me and crosses her legs. “Yes, but you were too busy picking out paint colors for the living room to notice.” She smirks, offering another jab at my domesticated life.

I prop my feet on the desk. I’ve always wanted to do this—lean back in my office chair and prop my feet on my desk. At my previous companies, I’ve had a cubicle where the person sitting next to you can hear every move and conversation. But in here, I’m free to do whatever and say whatever I’d like. “So what’s the deal with Heather?”

Malory’s Blackberry vibrates. She looks down and starts typing a response to an email. Without taking her eyes off the screen, she answers my question. “Oh, she’s had a stick up her ass since the day she started. She thinks you’re here to steal her job. She doesn’t like other women, especially attractive women, so you’re up Shit Creek.”

If she doesn’t like attractive, then she must really hate Malory. She is one of the most glamorous creatures I’ve ever met.

“Um, this new mom is no sex kitten. Maybe two years ago, but not now.”

Malory looks up from her Blackberry, her eyes squinting at me as if try to decide if I’m telling the truth. “Kat, are you out of your fucking mind? You know you’re freaking gorgeous. But don’t worry. Once Heather understands you’re happily married, she’ll realize you aren’t the competition.”

Heather must be dabbling in the office dating pool. I can understand. She’s young and pretty, if not for the sourpuss face.

“Speaking of happily married…” Malory continues. “This new project is a quick turnaround, which means late nights.” Her tone turns curious, “Do you think Gabriel is going to give you a hard time?”

I lean my head against the back of the chair and stare up at the ceiling. “I think he only wanted me to stay home instead of returning to work so he felt less guilty about all the hours he spends away from home.” As soon as the words pour out of my mouth, I instantly regret them. The last thing Malory wants to hear is my tales of a suburban housewife. She must think I’m pathetic. Mental note: keep your mouth shut.

“Do you still have sex?”

My body swings forward and my feet land on the floor. “That’s a little intimate.”

“Well…?” She raises a brow, enticing me to indulge.

Just like old times, I take the bait, even though it makes me entirely uncomfortable. “Yes and no. We do, but it’s not the same. I can’t explain it.”

“What did you expect? You’re married and have a kid already. You’re the oldest twenty-eight-year-old I know. That’s why we get along so well.”

I agree. Malory, on the other hand, is the youngest thirty-three-year-old I know.

Malory takes my cell phone off my desk and looks at my home screen. It’s a picture of Gabriel and Jackson looking into the camera with their matching navy blues and wavy dark hair.

“One thing’s for sure. You’re married to one hot guy. Seriously, the man just gets better looking with age. I’d be hitting that every night.”

Malory always makes comments like that about Gabriel. I forgot how much it irritated me.

“So who is this Asher guy I have to meet with?” I say, changing the topic abruptly.