Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 109562 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 548(@200wpm)___ 438(@250wpm)___ 365(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109562 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 548(@200wpm)___ 438(@250wpm)___ 365(@300wpm)
I’m almost out of breath on her behalf after that rapid-fire speech, but her enthusiasm is contagious. “That sounds good.”
“Two specials, please,” she says when the waiter arrives. “And two virgin mojitos.” Winking at me, she adds, “We deserve them.” Then calling after the waiter, “Oh, and we only have forty-five minutes.”
“Wow,” I say. “You’re so energetic. I’m envious.”
She takes a bread roll and bites into it. “I’ve always been hyperactive. It drives Richard nuts.” Laughing, she adds, “Most other people too. It’s a good thing I work alone.”
My curiosity is piqued. “What do you do for a living?”
“I’m a digital artist.” She takes a glossy business card from her bag and pushes it over the table. “I have a studio at home, but my agent thinks I should rent a bigger place where I can exhibit.” She wiggles her shoulders. “No thanks. I have no ambition to run a public showroom. I’m happy for her to exhibit my work at galleries. What about you?”
“Nothing as interesting as you. I’m an accountant, or rather, I hope to be one. I’m still on probation at the firm where I work.”
She sighs. “Sadly, I’m a zero when it comes to numbers. I can’t even do the calculations for halving a recipe right. It’s a good thing Richard is the cook in our house.”
My smile comes naturally. “So is Saverio.”
“Now, that guy is protective of you. I’ve never seen a more attentive man. I mean, who swaps cushions with his girlfriend because his is thicker?” She waves a finger at me. “You better hold on to that one.”
I’m uncomfortable about letting her buy into our lie. If I felt bad before, now I feel worse.
“What does he do, by the way?” she asks.
“Saverio?” I think quickly, remembering what I read online and what Livy said. “Software development.”
The waiter arrives with our order. He sets everything on the table and leaves after we decline dessert and coffee.
I drag my drink closer and take a sip.
“Richard is a lawyer. He specializes in criminal law.” Tersia adds jokingly, “If you’re ever in a pickle, you know who to call.”
I nearly choke on the mojito.
“Have you done any baby shopping?” she asks.
“I haven’t had time.”
“We should go one weekend when you’re not busy. Richard plays golf every Saturday. He says most deals are made on the green, but he’s just addicted to winning.” She cuts her sandwich in half. “It’s all about the power. Many successful men are like that.” Flashing me with a grin, she continues, “I’m sure you relate.” She takes a big bite of her sandwich and says with a full mouth, “It’s good, right?”
“Delicious,” I admit.
We chat a little more about her art and the gender reveal party her mother is planning. When it’s time to get the check, she insists on paying, saying that the next one is on me.
Since I don’t stay after hours any longer, I haven’t seen Zack for a while. Knowing how much he likes cinnamon rolls, I buy half a dozen at the counter before leaving.
As Saverio is covering my and my mom’s living expenses, I have money to spare for the first time in my life. Still having some left from the advance Ms. Price gave me, which I was going to use to pay for lunch, I decide to spend it on something frivolous, a luxury that’s not a necessity, just because I can. The bookstore next door has a poster in the window advertising a new bestseller horror novel. I get a copy and put it with the rolls and a note on the desk in the lobby where Zack will find them tonight.
When I get upstairs, a stack of filing waits in my in-tray. Sadly, Jasmine’s prediction was wrong. Ms. Price never forgave me for taking time off. In retrospect, she’s probably punishing me for lying in my job application. She still sends me to the archive room to file or retrieve documents.
I put my bag in my desk drawer and sit to finish capturing the account data.
Jasmine looks up from her screen. Motioning at the mountain of paper on my desk, she says, “Price said that’s urgent.” She pulls a face. “You really pissed her off good. What did you do this time?”
I blow out a sigh.
“Yep.” Jasmine starts typing again. “I’m glad I’m not you.”
The quicker I do this, the quicker I can get back to the numbers.
“Good luck,” Jasmine calls after me as I leave with the papers in my arms.
The filing clerks no longer look up when I enter the vault. My presence became a constant here. I get to work, quickly arranging the invoices and receipts in alphabetical and date order in divider files. When I’m done, I load everything on the trolley and push it toward the shelves with the boxes between K and L.