31

CARLY

 

 

It’s Sunday morning. I’m in my bedroom, awake for a good hour, but lying here doing nothing but wallowing.

I took a cab home last night, putting it on my company credit card. I texted Ally from the cab.

“I’m going home. I’ll see you Sunday when I come down to pick up my stuff. It’s obvious to me you were part of that and I’m sorry but you’re in the penalty box for real. This guy is fucking with me LARGE and it’s not funny that you would help him. It’s not even a little bit funny. I just disowned a bestie for fucking me over for years and it still stings. Once bitten, twice shy, sister, so this is your one warning. I am not playing where Aiden Carmichael is concerned.  Do something like this again, and you and me are done.”

I’m steaming mad. It feels good to let it out, though.

That guy on the dancefloor shouted to me over the music, “You can move, baby girl. My husband over there don’t dance, so can I dance with you?”

I turned to look at the very handsome tall and built black guy who had a great smile and amazing kind eyes. I nodded. “I’d like to dance with someone who won’t try to take me home, so you are on!”

And then Aiden was there, yanking the guy off roughly and carrying me out of there like a Neanderthal.

It was humiliating. It was mortifying.  And today, I don’t even want to get up out of bed.

I’m going to do my laundry and stay here and hide out in my room and watch TV. I’m going to pack for NYC for tomorrow night’s flight and I’m maybe going to do some work, make a game plan for exhibits I want to visit, workshops I want to attend.

There’s a knock on my bedroom door. It gives me a jolt.

Oh, he better not be trying to start something else here.

“What?” I shout.

“It’s me.” It’s Ally.

I open the door. I’m dressed in a one-piece green baggy romper, my hair up in a ponytail, my face make-up free. 

She’s in another pair of Tigger pajamas, these ones just cotton, and she has a big bag with all my stuff from downstairs in one hand. In the other hand, she’s got a small lasagna-sized plastic tub with a lid on it.

“I’m really sorry. I come in peace. With cupcakes. Can I come in? My cupcakes are legendary.”

I let her in and shut the door.

“Is he out there?” I ask.

She nods. “He let me in. I read him the riot act about last night. But I don’t think it was necessary. He’s looking full of remorse. Can you forgive me? I was trying to play matchmaker. I have this intuition that never fails me about people. I see you two together.  I see it … and it’s perfect. And I was trying to meddle. I saw him carry you out last night and gotta say, at first, I was loving watching him go all caveman. It was smokin’ hot. But then I got your text and… I’m sorry for my part in that. He texted me just before pancakes yesterday and told me he was into you and asked what we were doing last night, and he suggested that club and said he’d meet us there. He said he’d bring Austin for Meryl, because, as you know, I’m trying to orchestrate a match there, too.” She bites her lip. “I don’t see that as a forever. I see that as fun for Meryl. She has a lot of responsibility at home and I just want her to have a laugh before she has to go back. But you two? I see it, Carly and I’m … please don’t be mad at me.”

“Did Meryl put you in the penalty box, too?” I grumble and open the container of cupcakes. They look amazing. There are six of them and they’re piled high with pink frosting swirls.

She shakes her head and then her eyes light up.

“She went home with him.”

I gasp. “No.”

She nods. “I want to gush about it, but you’re mad at me.”

“Go make me a coffee so I don’t have to go out there and see his face and I’ll let you out of the penalty box. But with a warning.”

She raises her right hand and places it over her heart and looks at me with meaning.

“Coffee,” I order.

She claps her hands and dashes out.

I sit down on my bed and pull a cupcake out.

I take a bite.

Heaven.

She’s back a minute later with a cup of coffee. She puts it on my nightstand.

“Oh my God, this is good.” I say around a mouthful of fluffy cake and perfect frosting.

She smiles. “I know.”

“I’d offer you one,” I say after swallowing, “But I can’t. I need all six of these.”

She waves her hand. “I ate three before I came up.” She puts her hand to her belly. “Guilt therapy. Please stop being mad at me. If you want revenge against him, I’ll help you. If you want me to never mention it again, I won’t. If you---”

“Okay, enough. It’s done. I just want to take today to de-stress. Gonna do my laundry and pack for New York and not even think about anything. Revenge isn’t off the table, but there’s also that old saying about digging two graves instead of one before embarking on revenge…”

“Truth,” she mutters.

I pull my suitcase out of the closet and start rifling through my laundry to sort it. I’m sorting it in here. No way am I leaving my panties and bras in the laundry room in case he goes in there.

“So, tell me about Meryl and Ausin after I left.”

“Well!” She claps her hands. “After Aiden and you left, they came back to the table and they were huddled talking for a long time. I was kind of caught up with Jude.” Her face goes pink. “So, she tells me that they’re going for a coffee and she’ll see me at home.  Jude and I stayed, we slow danced, and I gave him my number. I took a cab home. Got home and saw I missed a text from her. She said she’ll see me today. She isn’t home yet. I messaged while I was frosting those and asked if she was alive. She replied with ‘alive and well’ and put a smiley face. So… yeah. Looking forward to finding out how that went.”

My eyes are big.

Wow, Meryl.

“How much peach schnapps did she drink?”

Ally laughs. “Maybe three. She was drinking water before they left, so I don’t think Alphahole’s brother took advantage of her. She seemed to have all her faculties.”

“Hm.” I’m looking in my closet at my limited wardrobe. You’ve been to these conference things before, right? I’m only there for two days. How should I dress?”

“Business casual is advisable for daytime. You’re going to be doing a lot of walking and a lot of sitting through presentations and panels so be comfortable. But bring business professional with you just in case there’s some impromptu meeting. Bring business fun, too. A cocktail dress leaning toward professional in case you go to any of the banquets. You excited about the trip?”

I shrug. “I would be, but I don’t know much about what I’m in for. I know I’m flying out with Aiden tomorrow night. I got an itinerary Friday morning at the office and it said he, I, and a guy from marketing in New York would all go together. Tuesday, we check out exhibits and go to a couple presentations. There’s a dinner Tuesday night.   Wednesday looks sort of the same. Some keynotes and meet and greets. An open floor thing full of exhibits. Mr. C wants us to have a booth and do some panels next year, so this year is about fact-finding. We fly home Thursday morning. I just hope he holds it together enough to be professional. After last night, I have my doubts. I’m thinking I should talk to him today and make sure things are clear about the trip.”

“At least there’s a third,” Ally says.

I nod in agreement. “Thank God. Though I don’t know how he’s gonna be with me. His name is Kieran and I’ve exchanged a few emails with him and we’ve been cc’d on a few together. I get the impression he doesn’t like that I’m here. I found out he wasn’t doing something he was supposed to be doing with retargeting our Google ads and he’s kind of in the hot seat with Mr. C. Our jobs are similar and me being hired suggests he wasn’t doing enough.”

She rolls her eyes. “CC is growing. That’s all your being hired indicates.  He should be grateful he doesn’t have to do it all alone.”

I shrug and sip my coffee and go back to my sorting. “Where’s all my underwear?”

I’m staring at the empty hamper. I’ve got a few piles on the floor, sorted by color. There’s one pair of undies here. The pair I wore last night. I haven’t done laundry since I got here, and I’ve been here a week.

“Huh?” Ally asks.

“I’ve been here a week. I change my underwear every day, of course, so why are there zero dirty pairs other than what I had on last night?”

Her eyes go wide. “Um… that’s…” She doesn’t finish.

No. He wouldn’t.

I feel my face transform into absolute murder. I stomp out to the living room. Aiden is sitting there on the red sofa, in a black wife beater and basketball shorts, laptop open to his email and he’s got the television on. Some sports commentary.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” I snap.

His eyes hit mine. Blank.

I repeat myself. “Are you, YOU kidding me right now?”

“What are you talking about?” He is emotionless as he replies.

“My laundry. I’m doing my laundry for tomorrow and some of it’s missing. That’s really low, Aiden. And disgusting. You need your head examined.”

Lines appear over the bridge of his nose as he frowns at me.

“Explain yourself.”

I fold my arms across my chest and shift my weight to one foot. “Really? You’re unbelievable.”

“I don’t know what the fuck you’re talkin’ about,” he snaps.

“You’re telling me you didn’t go into my laundry hamper and steal all my underwear? You’re seriously telling me that?”

Wow. Oscar-worthy. He actually looks surprised.

There’s a knock on the door.

We all look that way.

Aiden gets up from the couch and heads to the door, looking frazzled.

He opens it and there’s a tall guy in golf clothes standing with a toddler in his arms.

“Bro, thanks a mill…”

“Unco Aye-ben!” The tot launches himself at Aiden. Aiden catches him and ruffles his hair. The guy in golf clothes passes a blue backpack.

“I’ll be back around eight.”

“Sounds good.”

“You need the car seat?”

“Actually, good idea just in case.”

“Follow me down? I’m running late. Didn’t realize how long it takes to get out the door until my wife can’t get outta bed to help. Never again will I complain about how long it takes her to get out the door with this guy. This bedrest bs is gonna kill me.” He ruffles his son’s blond hair.

The little boy waves at me and Ally.

“Your hair is pink!” he announces. “My baby sister’s room is pink! She’s not bor-en yet.”

“Do you like pink?” Ally asks.

“Yu huh!” The boy nods enthusiastically. “It’s pretty. You pretty too.” The little guy looks at me. “You very pretty even with your not-pink hair.”

I smile at him. What a little sweetie.

Aiden flexes his jaw. “Braeden, that’s Ally and that’s Carly.”

The little guy waves. He’s absolutely adorable. Big brown eyes (kind of like Aiden’s) and blond hair. Chubby cheeks. Chubby knees. He’s dressed in short overalls and a blue t-shirt with blue light-up runners on his feet. It dawns that he’s the baby in a few of the framed photos on the wall. Only, now he’s bigger.

Aiden grabs a set of keys, still hanging onto the little toddler who’s perched on his hip. He drops the backpack on the breakfast bar and heads out. The other guy waves at us. “Dirk. Aiden’s brother-in-law. Sorry to be rude, ladies. Gotta run.” He waves and shuts the door.

The door clicks shut, and I whirl around and look at Ally.

“Do you think he took my underwear?”

“He looked as shocked as we were.”

“But, he’s a rat-bastard.”

She shakes her head side to side, looking contemplative, like she’s weighing it all out.

“Ugh,” I grunt.

“Okay, emergency underwear shopping needed?”

“No. I have another dozen pairs with me. But, still…What the heck?”

***

 

It’s two hours later and I’m on the way to the laundry room across the hall and I hear peals of laughter from the living room.

“Car—ee!” The little guy spots me.

He and Aiden are wrestling on the rug. Spiderman is playing on the big screen TV.

I wave at him and try to keep going to my room.

“I Piderman. What super hero are you, Car-ee?” He’s in the mouth of the hallway now.

“Um, Wonderwoman, I guess.”

“Nope. I fink Back Wi-ow.”

“I’m not familiar with her,” I admit.

“Avengers,” Aiden calls out, not looking at me. ”Braeden likes Marvel. You’re talkin’ DC.”

“Huh?”

“DC Comics. Different universe. Never mind,” he mumbles.

“Car-ee, do you like Piderman?”

“I do,” I tell him.

I head to the kitchen to get some water and see that he’s washed some dishes. They’re sitting there in the drying rack. He washed some dishes and a pot. I blink in surprise.

“We had dinner. Did you had dinner?” Braeden asks.

“No, not yet,” I say. “I’m gonna go out soon and grab something. What did you guys have?”

“Crap cheese and macamoni,” Braeden informs. “Unco Ay-ben maked it. He puts ketchup on it. The crap cheese and macamoni and ketchup were in my nap pack.  Mommy doesn’t make the box one, but Unco Ay-ben knows it’s my favorite. Uncle Auz too. I see Unco Auz lotsa. But Unco Ay-ben lives in New Ork. So, you live here with Unco Ay-ben? Did you get married to him? I’m two and close to free. How many are you?”

Aiden snickers, his eyes are still on the screen.

Braeden is in the kitchen area with me now.

“I’m twenty-three and no. I’m not married. I work with your uncles and I moved here from another city so your grandpa’s company has let me live here for a little while. I’m going to get my own apartment soon.”

He waves his little hand. “My Mommy says it’s good to live with someone. Not to be lonely. We all wowwy bout Unco Ay-ben being lonely. My Mommy has to stay in bed cuzza the baby in her tummy. Her tummy is gi-or-ness.”

I give a hesitant smile.

“Unco Ay-ben, can we have some paw-corn for the movie? We have two more Piderman ones to watch. You should watch them with us Car-ee.”

“Got no popcorn, pal,” Aiden says. “Wanna go to the store and get some junk food? I’ll pause the movie.”

“Car-ee wanna come to the store?” the little guy asks.

“No thanks, sweetie. I’m kind of busy. But, if your Uncle Aiden says it’s okay, I have some cupcakes in my room. They’re really good. I could send one out for you for your movie, then you don’t have to go all the way to the store.”

“It’s alright. We’ll go to the store,” Aiden says, not making eye contact.

“No,” Braeden replies. “I want cupcakes.” He grabs my hand and pulls me toward my bedroom.

“Only if your uncle says it’s okay.”

“Braed’s the boss,” Aiden says.

Braeden looks up at me. “I the boss.”

I giggle and let him lead me into my room.

I grab the tote of cupcakes to show him, and he claps his hands.

“Those look nummy. I gots appo juice boxes and milk juice boxes in the fidge from my nap pack.”

This little boy is absolutely adorable. I let him lead me, me carrying the cupcakes, back to the kitchen.

I get a plate out of the cupboard and put one on it for him.

“Unco Ay-ben, too,” Braeden requests.

“It’s okay, pal. I’m not hungry.”

“But, they look so nummy. You have to twy it.” He puts his hands on his hips and glares at Aiden as if to say he has to try the spinach or broccoli on the plate.

“Alright, you’re the boss.” Aiden’s eyes are on Spiderman and Maryjane in a clinch.

“I the boss,” Braeden announces.

I hand him a plate and he carefully takes it to Aiden and then comes back for his own. I bring him a milk juice box to the coffee table.

“I wanted appo.” he scrunches his face.

“Apple’s good,” I say, “If you really want it, I’ll swap, but milk was meant to go with cupcakes.”

“Weally?”

I nod. “It tastes oh so good that way. It makes the milk almost like a milkshake. And milk is going to make you big and strong.”

“I’m gonna be big with musoes like my uncos. Daddy doesn’t got big musoes. Only little ones. But my uncos got big musoes. Have you seen them?”

I nod. “Uh, yeah. Anyway, enjoy that cupcake and your movie. I gotta---”

“Watch too.”

“Thanks, but I’ve got a couple things to do. Enjoy your movie.”

He makes a little pouty face.

“Pal. Come here,” Aiden says, and Braeden hops up onto the couch on top of him.  Aiden grunts. I think Braeden may have hopped onto Aiden’s man-parts. Yikes.

Aiden lifts the plate with the cupcake and passes it.

“You eat yours, too.”

Aiden takes a big bite at the same time Braeden does.

“Mmm,” Braeden says. “You make good cupcakes, Car-ee.”

“Ally with the pink hair made those.”

“Oh. Can you make cupcakes?”

“Yep. But probably not as good as those.”

“They’re weally good,” Braeden says.

Aiden’s eating his, his eyes on the screen.

Braeden takes a finger and dips it into his icing and smears the icing on Aiden’s nose and then cackles with laughter.

Aiden gives a mock angry face and growls “Now I gotta eat yer nose!”

“Noooo!” Braeden squeals with joy. 

I take that opportunity to dash back to my room and shut the door.

***

It’s about nine o’clock and I’m running on empty. Two cupcakes and one coffee all day long just aren’t gonna cut it.

I decide to go out to find food somewhere local. I’ve got my keys, phone, and shoes, and I see Aiden and Braeden crashed on the couch, a Spiderman movie playing. Aiden is on his back, out. Braeden is sleeping on Aiden’s chest, holding a Winnie the Pooh blanket. Thumb in his mouth.

And… boom. My ovaries explode.

I tiptoe out, closing the door carefully, then locking it.

When I get to the lobby, I spot Seth at the desk. Does this guy have a life outside this place?

He sees me and gets this creepy look on his face.

“Carly.”

“Seth.” I keep going past his desk.

“How’s it going?” he calls out.

“Fine,” I keep walking.

“Covering all weekend. Worked twelve days in a row. One of the guys quit. Waitin’ for my relief. He’s late.”

“Oh. Sorry to hear that. Hope you get some time off soon. Gotta run.” I’m out the door. I want away from him as fast as possible.

He’s out there with me.

“You’re with Aiden Carmichael? That’s too bad.”

I stop in front of the building.

“Why is that?”

“It’s bad because I wanted to ask you out. Guess you’d never go for a guy like me if you’ve got a guy like that, though, right?”

I give him a tight smile. “I’m not so plastic. If I’m with someone, it’s because I like them. But, I’m not available, so it’s kind of moot.”

“And you think that’s a likeable guy? He’s hardly here. He was one of the first to move in after the building was built, but he’s only here every couple months. When he is, it’s a different woman all the time. More than a few have left the place in tears. Two just this week in fact. Heartbreaker. Must be somethin’ special about you if you’ve managed to tie him down. Are you two tied or is it open so you can both see other people?” He eyes me from head to toe again in a very oily way.

“Um, no offence, but none of your business. I gotta go. Have a good night.” I wave and jog across the road and head right. I do not like the vibe of that guy. At all.

Two blocks away, I find a sub shop. I go in and sit and eat a sandwich and take my time finishing. I wait until after eleven o’clock before I head back.

I’m relieved to see a different guy at the security desk.

He gives me a professional nod when I flash my key at him on my way to the elevator.

***

I open the apartment door quietly and the light from the TV is providing a bit of light and Braeden is still on the couch, under his Pooh blanket, but Aiden is pacing in the dark, his phone to his ear.

I close it quietly and twist the lock.

He’s talking. “Okay, fuck. Yeah, it’s fine. I’ll keep him. Keep me posted, okay? She’s only a couple weeks early so it’s gonna be okay, right?”

I’m about to slip by him to my room as he hasn’t even looked at me, but I stop.

“Okay, yeah. Bye.”

He looks at me.

“My sister went into labor.”

“Oh no.”

“She’s been on bed rest. Had a rough pregnancy. But her water broke tonight, so Dirk had to run her to the hospital. They can’t get ahold of their nanny. My brother and father are there. My mother…she… she can’t watch him.”

“Go. I’ll stay with Braeden,” I say immediately.

He looks at me with shock.

“Go. Be with your family. I’ll keep Braeden.”

“You’re sure?”

I nod. “If you want me to.”

“If you could, yeah…”

“Go. I’ll say a prayer that she and the baby are both okay.”

He grabs his keys from the table and heads out the door. He stops at the door. “Thanks, Pea… Thanks, Carly.”

He’s gone.

I lock the door.

Braeden sits up. “Where am I?”

“Hey buddy.”

“Where’s Unco Ay-ben?”

“He’ll be back soon. Close your eyes and go back to sleep, honey. It’s late.”

“Am I having a sleepover?”

“I think so.”

“Otay.” He yawns and closes his eyes. I grab a bigger blanket from the linen shelves in the laundry room, and put one end over him. I curl up on the other end of the couch, putting my phone in front of me and pulling the other end over me.

I guess I fall asleep. I wake up to a text alert at 5:58. It’s from a number not in my phone.

“It’s Aiden. Baby girl is here. Five pounds, two ounces. Healthy. I’ll be home soon to get him and drop him to the hosp. His nanny is meeting us there.”

“Okay. Congrats.”

I close my eyes again.

I wake up to the blanket both Braeden and I are sharing moving.

Aiden is standing there, lifting Braeden into his arms.  “Hey pal.”

“Unco Ay-ben. Is it morning? Where did you went?” Braeden rubs his eyes.

“Guess what?”

“What?”

“Your baby sister was just born. I was at the hospital with Mommy and Daddy.”

“She was?” The little guy’s face is alight with amazement.

“Yep. She’s gorgeous. Tiny and perfect. So much hair. You wanna go see her?”

The little guy nods his head. “I gots to go pee first.”

“Go ahead.” He sets him down on the floor.

I rub my eyes and sit, pulling my feet under me.

He sits for a second.

“Thanks for that,” he says, and his hand briefly lands on my leg.  He squeezes and lets go.

“You’re welcome.”

“I’ll see you at the office. You get enough sleep?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

“Bring your luggage to work. Limo picks us up at the office at 5:15.”

“Okay.”

He gets up. His eyes are on me. Mine are locked with his.

We’re not saying anything.

“What was that last night about your laundry?”

I wince. “All my panties are missing. They’re not there. All the ones I wore, anyway.”

He shakes his head. “I didn’t touch them. I haven’t been in your room at all. Honest to Christ.”

I frown.

“What the fuck?” he mutters.

My eyes are wide and I’m chewing on my lip.

“There was a plumber here fixing the shower,” he says. “When we were both at work.”

Braeden is back.

“Put your shoes on, Braed,” Aiden instructs. “That doesn’t explain my phone, though. Wonder if it’s connected.”

“Your phone?”

“Someone screwed with my cell. It was cloned. I got that text sayin’ you weren’t to be trusted. But it was a fake text and we scanned my phone, finding spyware on it. Now someone’s taken stuff of yours? What the fuck?”

“Bad words Unco Ay-ben.”

“Sorry, pal. Carly, I’ll handle this,” he says. “I’ll talk to you at the office. Thanks again for watching him.”

“No problem. Congrats, Braeden. I bet you’re going to be an amazing big brother!”

“I am. Bye bye Car-ee.” He runs to me and jumps into my lap. I give him a hug.

“Backpack, Braed.”

He then reaches for the backpack on the table, zooms to Aiden, grabbing his hand as they go. I follow and lock the door behind them.

I stand there for a minute just dazed. There was something different about him in the past twenty-four hours. Maybe my brain is just addled by seeing a hot guy be so amazing with a toddler.

Maybe it’s part of him being somewhat contrite about the shit he pulled at the nightclub on Saturday.

I can’t be sure. I can’t totally put my finger on it.

I go grab a shower to get ready for my day. I am freaked out, though. Did the plumber that fixed my shower take my underwear?

Was someone else in the apartment in my stuff? Why would they steal my underwear? Nothing else appears to be missing. Yeah, it could’ve been the plumber. Better that it wasn’t Aiden; that eases my mind a little bit, but yuck. It’s pretty creepy, especially given my clean underwear are all accounted for as far as I know. I brought twenty pairs with me.  Seth the Security Douchebag seems the most likely suspect, having never met the plumber.

I have a flood of panic and jump out of the shower and before even getting dried off, I dash to my lingerie drawer and start moving things around, looking for my grandmother’s tiara. It’s gone.  No. No!

I feel sick to my stomach as I text Aiden, fingers shaking.

“I had a very sentimental and valuable piece of my grandmother’s jewelry in my drawer. I just checked and it’s gone.”

He phones me five minutes later.

“Hello?” I answer. I’m on the verge of tears.

“I have my PI on this.  He’s slipping in today to put surveillance equipment into the apartment. There won’t be any in your room but with us bein’ gone, it’s a chance to see if anyone has been slipping in.”

“Okay,” I whisper.

“You alright? If we can’t find it, I’ll reimburse you.”

I choke on tears.

“Carly?”

Shit. No crying should be one of my rules. Right now, I’m thinking fuck my rules. Fuck everything. I can’t believe that tiara is gone.

“Sorry. I, uh, it was my grandmother’s and she died last year and left us all this jewelry. All this ugly jewelry but it was all real and valuable and my sister pawned all but this one piece. It’s the last piece and… my sister is a drug addict, so I’m already crushed she would do that to fund her habit, but this was the last…” I’m wiping my eyes. Bawling. I can’t stop.

He’s silent.

“Sorry. This isn’t your problem,” I say. “I gotta get downstairs. The cab’ll be here in five minutes.” I sniffle.

“You got pictures of it?” he asks.

“Uh, my Mom... I’m pretty sure she would.”

“Get me pictures. Jude’ll try and find it. In fact, get me pictures of all of it. All the shit your sister hocked. I’ll have him try to track it down.”

“What?”

“Do it, peaches. I’ll see you at work. Bye.” He hangs up.

I’m in shock.

When I get to the lobby, the other guy is there. I’m so glad I don’t have to look at Seth right now or I might accuse. I might also scratch his eyes out.

Ally is already in the cab.

I climb in, ready to fill her in, but then I say, “It smells wonderful in here.”

Ash smiles big over his shoulder at me. “You like it?”

“It’s great.”

“My night driver. He always leaves his food garbage in here.” Ash waves his finger. “I have no sense of smell. But I tell him, no more. My favorite customers don’t like it.”

“Good. I hope he keeps it smelling like this.”

He pulls away from the curb.

I turn to Ally. “What’s the scoop on Meryl?”

She smiles. “They stayed up all night talking. They made out a little but didn’t go all the way. She’s such a good girl.” She rolls her eyes.

I smile. “That’s okay. She had a good time?”

“She did. They’re going out for dinner tonight, but she says it’s not going anywhere. She leaves next week. She refuses to take it all the way with any man until her wedding night. Then again, she’s on a re-read of Fifty Shades.”

“Awe, that’s sweet. A re-read, already?”

“Yep. She’s obsessed. And sweet? Yeah, I guess.” She rolls her eyes. “What’s new with you? How were things in the apartment with Aiden after I left?”

I take a big breath. “Aiden is having surveillance put in the apartment. Not only are my underwear missing but someone took a very sentimental piece of jewelry of my grandmothers. From my lingerie drawer. I’m sick about it.”

Ally gasps. “You’re sure it wasn’t him that took your undies?”

I shrug. “He seemed legitimately shocked.”

“He did,” she agrees.

“There was a plumber that fixed the shower Friday. Maybe it was him. But, I think it  might have been Seth the Security douchebag.”

Ally gasps. And then she thinks on it and starts nodding slowly. “That guy is not right. You’re probably correct.”

We natter about how creepy that was.  And then I tell her about my night of babysitting.

We get to work, and I call my Mom, who I spoke to yesterday afternoon. She’s on her lunch break at work and surprised to hear from me again so soon. I fill her in on the missing jewelry thing, not telling her about my undies, because that’d freak her out in a big way. I just tell her that some stuff is missing from the corporate apartment and my boss wants pictures of it, if she has any.  Mom says she’ll check some old photo albums tonight and let me know.

“Don’t stress out, honey. Your Grams is in your heart. Her jewelry isn’t that important.”

“I know,” I say, but I can’t help but feel so much sadness at the idea of it being gone. Of someone else having it, melting it down or whatever, not knowing any of the stories attached to it.

Aiden is in his office and he’s shouting on the phone.

“I do not fucking think so. Go have another drink. This time take a fucking taxi,” He slams the phone. I glance behind myself. His face is like thunder. He slams his office door and the sound echoes through the whole office.

Yikes. I turn my back and don’t allow myself to do any peeking.

I get an email from him a minute later. It’s a department-wide email.

Today’s mkt’g meeting: Canceled.

And then I hear all his blinds go down, one by one. Loud.

“Wanna come downstairs and work in the atrium with me?” Stacy asks. She’s got a pile of paperwork in her hands. “We can go over some of the stuff from the last Eastmark conference George went to. He told me before he left that if I got a chance to go this year, I should go through his notes. Said he made notes on the best brands and conferences to spend time on. I have this big folder of whatever he collected as well as his notes so maybe you know what to look for this year?”

“You should really be coming to this,” I say.

She shrugs. “Next year, maybe.”

I know what it’s like to be an intern. Expected to know everything and yet being left out of all the important stuff.  She was probably going to get to go, but then they hired me instead.

To Stacy’s credit, she’s been nothing but awesome with me.

I gather my notebook and unplug my laptop and follow her to the elevator. 

She heads to the coffee cart and I get hit with a great feeling. My bonus.  I forgot!

I tell her I’ll be there in a minute and go to the big area of beanbag chairs and put my laptop on the floor and sit down in a big yellow beanbag and swipe my banking app on my smartphone. I check my bank balance and see there is $7,102.48  in my account.

I smile big and decide I’m splurging for some biscotti as well as the Trenta coffee today.

I buy a biscotti for Stacy, too.

We sit down and drink our coffees and go through the pamphlets and notes of George’s from the last Eastmark conference and then Aiden’s suddenly in my space.

“Carly!”  He looks tweaked.

“Hi.”

“Where’ve you been?”

“Uh… here.”

“For two hours?”

I nod and gesture to the piles of paper all spread out on the table.

“If you’re away from your desk more than five minutes, you put a magnet on your wall!”

Oh. I forgot about the magnets.

“Sorry. I forgot.” My face burns red.

I lift my phone and see it’s dead. Oops.

“My father wants you in his office. Now.”

He storms back toward the elevator.

I look at Stacy. She winces. 

“Go. I got this,” she says, gathering up the piles of paperwork from the table. I grab my laptop and my coffee and follow him. I get into the elevator just before it closes. It’s just us, two.

He’s quiet.

“Everything okay?” I ask.

“Yeah,” he grumbles and runs his hand through his hair.

“We were just going over the paperwork from the last Eastmark conference. I was making a plan for things to do and see and I…”

“Whatever,” he cuts me off and the elevator doors open.

Yikes.

I follow him to his father’s office.

I step in. Aiden follows.
“Thanks so much for last night, Carly. Braeden is very taken with you. Sit down.” He gestures to a chair. He doesn’t look tweaked or angry.

“You’re welcome. Congratulations on your new granddaughter, sir.”

He smiles big and then grabs his phone and then he’s passing it to me. I see a picture of Aiden holding a tiny pink blanket-covered bundle. There’s a tiny face with chubby cheeks and loads of black hair. Aiden is smiling.

“That’s Lilly Rose.”

“Awe he’s beautiful. She. She’s beautiful.” I clear my throat and pass it back. Hot guys and babies evidently make my mouth malfunction. “I’m sorry if you were looking for me. I was working in the atrium with Stacy and forgot about the magnet system. My phone died.”

He waves his hand. “No problem. I just need to leave early today so needed to chat quick with you before I go. While you and Aiden are in New York, I’d like you to meet with a vendor who wants us to beta test their social media platform. I’ll send you a brief. Can you do that? During the conference, give him twenty to thirty minutes and listen to his pitch and when you’re back, test it and come to me and tell me about it. His father and I went to college together, so I told him I’d hear it out. He and Aiden don’t get on, otherwise Aiden would do it.”

“No worries.”

Someone not getting along with Aiden? Shocker.

Aiden is standing there against the closed door, arms folded across his chest, a scowl on his face.

“I’ll get you an email. Now, there’s also a small chance I’ll need you both to take a meeting with Babylon Unlimited.  If so, it’ll be a dinner meeting. Aiden will head it up, I just need you to be there. Part of the presence. Are you comfortable with that?”

“Absolutely. I met with clients several times at Chancellor.”

He smiles big. “I like that you’re comfortable with that. That keeps doors open for you. Now, I’ve gotta run for a doctor’s appointment. I’ll make sure you get those emails tonight. Have a good trip both of you. You’re all good? Alice filled you in on all the particulars of your travel arrangements?”

“I’m not sure, but I think so. I’m sure I’m safe in her capable hands. Thank you. Oh, and by the way, I just wanted to thank you for the bonus. Not a lot of companies would hand over an extra month’s salary to brand new employees who haven’t had a chance to prove themselves yet. Giving team members that vote of confidence is very empowering, Sir.”

He smiles. “I’m glad you feel that way. We’re very happy to have you aboard. Keep doing the things you’ve been doing and you’ll go far here.”

Aiden opens the door. Mr. C slaps Aiden’s shoulder and makes his way out of his office. 

“Call me after the appointment, Dad,” Aiden says softly. And something in his voice isn’t right.

“I will.” Mr. C claps his shoulder again and gives it a squeeze, then he leaves.

I follow Aiden to his office.

His mood is unnerving. He looks angry enough to chew through glass. I bravely sit down in his office after shutting the door.

“Did you get pictures of the jewelry?” he asks, rubbing his eyes.

He looks exhausted. I guess he didn’t sleep at all last night.

“My Mom’s looking for pictures. She’s not exactly tech savvy, so getting copies of them will be… uh…” I’m about to crack a joke but he’s glaring, so I don’t. “fun.”

“Jude is in the apartment now, installing cameras. It’s down to four people. My ex. Bella. The plumber. And the security guard.”

My eyes bulge. “That security guard gives me the creeps.”

“Yeah, I know. We’re looking into it. He’s got access to spare keys for all the condos.  He let the plumber in Friday while we were at work.”

“There’s probably a bigger chance of him taking my underwear than either of your exes.”

He rolls his eyes. “Yeah.”

I have a crazy-gross vision of Seth sniffing my panties. Ew. Yuck.

“Okay. I’ll get back to my desk, but can you tell me what hospital your sister is at and her name, so I can send a baby gift?”

He looks strangely at me.

“Is that over the line? Sorry. I love babies. And I wanted to just send something. As well as a little something special for Braeden. He’s absolutely adorable.”

Aiden is staring at me for a long time. “Adele Burke. B-u-r-k-e. Mercy. Room 555.”

“Thanks,” I get up and leave.

I feel his eyes burning into my back for almost the entire rest of the day.

I order a baby basket with a few gifts in it that say “I have the best big brother” as well as a boy’s sun hat that says “#1 big brother” on it. I pay extra for it to be sent same day. And then I take Ally to lunch and we argue over the bill.

I channel my Aunt Susan. I win, and it feels good!

My Mom calls me mid-way through the afternoon and tells me she has several pictures and is going to courier them to me. I tell her to either scan them at work or to take pictures of them with her cell phone and forward them to me ASAP because there’s a PI on it.

The whole idea of Grams’ jewelry being found? I don’t want to hope. If I can get even one piece of it back, I will be stoked.

My mind wanders to Cait, and I wonder what’s happening with her. If I were speaking to Steph, I’d find out if she’s been staying in my old room.  The apartment has to be vacant by midnight tonight. I decide I can’t think about Caitlin right now. I have to do what I said I’d do. Tough love.

 

***

 

I say bye to Ally, telling her I’ve put the last two cupcakes in the freezer to save them for when I get back and she tells me she’ll make fresh ones any time I want.

It’s time to go, so I cart my luggage and my laptop bag to the elevator and head for the lobby. I’m looking forward to sitting through a car ride and flight with him.

Not.