Chapter Sixteen

I am late. I wanted to catch Scarlett before the morning meeting she has with the board but then fucking busy New York City has other plans. It's been one delay or the other since I woke. Everything went wrong, from plumbing to breakfast, subway delay to coffee shop line, making conversation impossible. I don't think I want to have a conversation as well. I texted Scarlett yesterday to ask if we were okay, but then she never replied. So I don't know what that means. And I am fucking late. Maybe I will get to see her at lunch or maybe not. I have tons of paperwork to file anyway to keep me busy and stop me from overthinking yet again. It seems like a constant since I met Scarlett, overthinking. I overthink every friendly gesture, every sigh, every smile, every frown, and her body language. How fast she makes me overthink, is also how fast she makes me lose my head when she's near me. I can't think clearly when she is close, her rosy scent clouds my thinking faculties, and I am gone. I don't know what this all means, that's why I am visiting Daisy next weekend at College. She is the only one I can talk to about this newfound feeling messing my head up. "Hey hey," My eyes go up to the glassed door where the office gossips; Jody, Zoe, and Linda are coming in from. I feel a fresh set of anxiety hit my bones as my eyes dance around to make sure I am not under attack. What is going on? As they approach me with friendly smiles on their face, I feel like they are lions ready to devour me. "W-what's going on?" I ask trying to keep my cool. "Since our bosses are stuck in the meeting. We decided to drop by and like say Hey." Jody starts. I feel my anxiety intensify at the idea that there was a group discussion about me that eventually led them here. "Yeah, we haven't seen you at lunch for a week." Didn't know they noticed when I was present."Uh hmm, work?" My excuse sounds like a question. It's like I am trying to ask them if that is a good enough excuse. I have been having lunch with Scarlett this past week and it has been the best lunch break ever. Although I feel bad that she pays for lunch all the time we eat out. She uses the "I am boss" statement when the bill comes, but then every time I have lunch with her I don't feel like I am having lunch with my boss. Ughh, here I am overthinking again even when I am in the presence of lions. My eyes catch Brody leaning on the wall next to the door. I didn't notice he came in with them. Brody is in the graphics department, and he is never around. He works remotely even though his apartment is down the block. He likes to pretend to be mysterious, always quiet and cool. He pretends to be a vegan but I have caught him eating meat in his office. The only reason people buy his shit is because he is devilishly handsome. He is a total fake. The only reason why he doesn't talk as much is probably because he realizes that people who know he is basic if he starts talking. The fact that Brody is here and in the company of these women is surprising, it's very un-brand for him or should I say the fake him."Your new boss seems to be working you hard unlike Mr Briggs. I knew you were always free because I was always free." Linda says looking at my desk trying to see what is on my notepad. Linda's boss Mr Wright always came to Mr Briggs so they could play the snooker and drink beers. They called their hangout a business meeting. When I first started, Linda had tried to hang out with me when our bosses were in their "business meetings" but she probably realized I was boring and stopped. I close my notepad. "Yeah, it's different but challenging in a good way," I say like I am answering a formal query. I mean what do you call this? "Jesus Christ Audrey, you are so straight. You know can talk ill of your boss, we all do it." Jody rolls her eyes. Straight? I don't know about that. Wait a minute is this what the gathering is all about, to get information on Scarlett? Wasn't that their mission two weeks ago?"You guys leave Audrey alone," Zoe says, taking a seat opposite mine. Zoe leans in a little, "Do you know what the meeting this morning is all about?" She asks, with a hint of excitement in her tone. "No," I say. And I am scared to hear about it. "Gavin filed a sexual harassment complaint on Mrs Abrams with HR and he is going to sue." My eyes widen at the information which is in fact – juicy. "What?" My jaw is on the floor. They seem content with my reaction, which probably means to them that I am receptive to gossip. "I know it's crazy right?" "I actually thought the relationship was mutual." Zoe sighs. "Who knows, maybe Gavin is looking for a pay-out. I heard that they are negotiating in the boardroom." Linda says. "Oh wow., I say. The room falls silent. Is that all they came here to do, give me a quick gossip? "Your boss, she is single right?" Brody finally speaks for the first time since he entered. Oh, this is why he is here. "Is that why you suggested we come here?" Linda turns to him. It wasn't even their decision to come here and they didn't have a group discussion about me. I don't know how to feel about my lack of importance. I guess I should be relieved. "She single?" He asks again ignoring Linda. "I don't know, I guess so." I raise an eyebrow in confusion. "What do you mean you don't know? That's part of your job. Don't you do all her scheduling?" Jody sneers. "Well, I think she is single." Brody stops leaning on the wall and stands up straight with interest in his eyes. "Really?" "Why do you even want to know?" Linda asks with her arms folded.I heard Linda and Brody have hooked up a couple of times. Guess she has fallen for the mysterious, brooding façade. "Because I would like to ask her out," He says confidently as he approaches my desk. Good luck with that. I try not to laugh at his statement. "She is literarily our boss and she acts like she has a stick up her ass. You will get your stupid ass fired." Jody chuckles and Zoe joins her. "I am not going to ask her out at work. I am not stupid. That's why," He turns in my direction. "Audrey here will tell me where she frequents and ..."Linda interrupts him with a scoff. "And why would she do that? She is not going to get her ass fired on your account." "Why do think she will go out with you anyway?" I find myself asking. It is amusing that he even thinks he has a chance with Scarlett. "Because women like her want control, so it doesn't matter if she is out of my league. She wouldn't date someone in her league anyways, so she will settle for me." I can't help but scoff. But is he right though? "Thanks Aud for seeing how ridiculous he is. The funny thing is that he got this idea from one interaction with her." Aud? I don't like that. Zoe laughs. "Didn't she just nod when you said greeted?""I am leaving," Brody announces. "I have gotten the information I needed anyway." Can't blame him, if he stays any longer his brand personality will be tainted. Once Brody closes the door, Jody drums on my desk which gains my attention. "Now that it's us girls, I want tp talk about my engagement party." Oh, kill me now. ~~~Jody went on and on about her party which I got invited for – Why me? – After what felt like years they finally left. The rest of my day was plain boring, paperwork upon paperwork. Even though I tried to keep busy I was still overthinking everything. I am concerned that Scarlett is actually avoiding me because even after the meeting was over, I still didn't see her. When I called she said she was at a meeting with a client, which is weird because she always takes me along. Well, tomorrow is another day.