“Not exactly,” I yell back. Inside, I brush my teeth at top speed, use the toilet, and throw my messy hair into a bun. There’s no time for makeup—I’ll have to do it at work. Brie’s still standing in the hallway when I emerge. She falls into step beside me as we descend the stairs.
“Where’d you get the easel then?”
“Perry gave it to me.”
“Perry, Devin’s brother, Perry?”
“Yeah.”
“Damn, Cass. What does Devin think about that?”
“He doesn’t know. Or at least, I’m assuming Perry didn’t tell him in the last twelve hours.”
“So what, you have a secret thing with Perry now?”
I turn right, detouring to the kitchen. “No! It’s not like that. Perry and I got to talking about hobbies yesterday while I was waiting for Devin at Blooms & Baubles. I mentioned that I used to paint, and when I got home from dinner, I found an easel and paint set on the porch with my name on it.”
“That’s really sweet.”
“He’s just being friendly… since I’m dating his brother and all.”
“Pret-ty friendly, I’d say.”
I purse my lips at her over my shoulder as I open the fridge.
“Wait, how does he know where you live?” she asks.
Good question. I shuffle through the possibilities. “Devin used Perry’s phone to order an Uber for us the other week. The receipt probably listed my address since we stopped here first.”
“That would explain it.”
I swipe a Red Bull from the fridge and Brie tosses me a granola bar. I stuff them both into my bag.
“Come on. I’ll give you a ride to work.”
“Won’t you be late?”
“Nah. I’m on flex time.”
“You’re a lifesaver. Thanks, Brie.”
We hustle down the street to where her car’s parallel parked and climb in. Her Ford Mustang’s engine roars as she pulls out, and I take the opportunity to plug my phone into her portable charger and turn it on. My office is less than a five-minute drive from our place, and by the time my phone boots up we’re nearly there. Two new messages flash across the screen.
Mom
How did your talk with Devin go?
Devin
Good morning Are we on for my dad’s 4th of July party this weekend?
Right. I’d completely forgotten. “Hey, Brie, how would you feel about switching up our plans for the Fourth? Devin’s dad is having a big party on the lake, and Devin invited us.”
Brie’s tires screech when she stops in front of my office. “Sounds lit. Let’s do it.”
“Great. I’ll text him.”
“What about Marcus?”
“He can come too. Can you pass along the invite?”
“Sure.”
“Thanks.”
Brie grins to herself as I shut the door. With a wave, I take off at a jog toward my building.
David looks up from reception when I bust through the doors. His thick black frames gleam in the light cascading from the lobby’s wall of windows. “You’re late.”
“I know.”
“Everything okay?”
“Ask me later,” I call as I step into the empty elevator. I attempt to steady my breathing, but my heart thunders in my ears. When the doors open, I speed-walk through the gray-carpeted hallways toward my cubicle. Maybe I can make it to my desk without anyone else noticing…
“Cassidy?” Andréa’s voice calls out.
Wincing, I turn slowly.
Andréa’s standing in the doorway to her office, her full lips turned down in a frown. Behind her, Mercedes beams over her shoulder. Between her long, strawberry-blond hair, ivory shift dress, and cream jacket, she looks as beatific as an angel. Too bad deep down she’s more like the devil.
“Where have you been, Cass? You missed our client meeting this morning,” says Andréa.
Crap. So that’s what I forgot. My stomach plummets to the basement. “I’m so sorry, Andréa. My alarm didn’t go off and I accidentally overslept.”
Andréa sighs. “Thank you for your help, Mercedes. I’m all set for now.”
“You’re welcome.” Mercedes’s ruby lips tilt into a smirk as she walks past me. Fury boils in my veins, and I tighten my hold on my purse strap.
Andréa settles her steely gaze on me. “Can I speak to you in my office, please?”
Despite my quavering calves, I force some iron into my spine as I follow Andréa into her office. She closes the door behind me, and the soft click rings through the silence like the clang of a jail cell. Sweat gathers at the base of my neck as she settles into her cushioned office chair, and I brush it away.