Page 57 of Handsome Devil
I gave her a more-than-generous severance, had her sign the paperwork, and had Rolf escort her out the front door and put her in a car service. Quickly. While neither Devi or Lizzie were around to see it happen. Only Sari—Siri? Sara?—the receptionist was there, seated at her desk with her mouth hanging slightly open as she watched Claire being walked out the door. Claire clutched her banker’s box of personal possessions, the framed photos of her kids poking out the top, and waved a quiet, tearful goodbye.
When we were left alone and the receptionist’s eyes met mine, her mouth snapped shut.
I walked back into my office—it wasn’tmygoddamn office,Christ—and shut the door.
I wondered how long it would take before Devi came in here to rip my head off.
While I would’ve enjoyed that, frankly, I decided to try to head it off at the pass.BecauseI would’ve enjoyed it.
The direction that email conversation took this afternoon? Not good.
I mean, it was fun, at first. But then her claws came out. And I realized that the words firing back and forth between us, while amusing, would look pretty damning in a screen capture accompanying an exposé on my treatment of female employees, no matter who was getting out of line—we both were—and I put a stop to it.
Now, I composed a brief email explaining that I’d had to let Claire go—from my work email to Devi’s, no personal, off-the-record shit this time—and I kept it professional. No mention of face slaps, dick pics or sex tapes.
I sent the same very professional email to Lizzie.
Then I composed an additional email to Devi, with a brief list of some files I wanted her to find for me in Claire’s vacated filing-cabinet-labyrinth of an office.As the senior agent here, you would be most suited to the task.
Then at the bottom, I added,Lizzie’s already left for the day. So it would be clear why I was asking her for this, and not the new manager.
I fired off that email, and not two seconds later, my best friend walked into the agency. Without warning. Which was so one-hundred-percent Shane Madrigal, I almost should’ve expected it.
I heard him coming when the receptionist started squeaking behind her desk, trying to get his name as he sauntered by. He winked at me when our eyes met through the window.
“What’s up, brotha?” He let himself right in, the receptionist on his tail.
“It’s alright, Sari,” I told her, taking a stab at her name and realizing I’d gotten it wrong, for sure, at the look on her face. Yet she didn’t correct me. “No need to call the police. He’s not as crazy as he looks.”
He was, probably, but no need to scare the woman.
She looked relieved and quickly closed the door behind him.
I scanned his leather jacket, his unruly dark hair, the shadows in his eyes he tried to hide with a charming smile. He looked like he was up to something, for sure. But Shane kinda always looked that way.
“What brings you by,” I said flatly.
“Oh, you know, just checking out this modeling agency you bought. You’re gonna go bragging about shit like that, you can’t expect me not to come around, scope it out.” He looked around at the gray walls like he was wondering where all the naked ladies were.
While I wondered when I was actually going to see my cousin.
Lex hadn’t yet shown his face since I’d arrived in town—too busy with some shady task or another for that motorcycle club of his—but clearly, he was actively updating my best friend on my whereabouts.
Good to know he was alive and kicking, at least.
“How did you find me?” I inquired, just to see what Shane would say.
“Now, that makes it sound like you didn’t want to be found.” He dropped onto the couch.
“I’m working. I know this is a foreign concept to you…”
He smirked. “Come on. Don’t you ever have any fun? Knock off, we’ll go for drinks. There’s this sweet cocktail bar, just opened up downtown. Gorgeous waitresses. Classy, just like you like it.”
“Sounds great,” I said, unmoved. “But I still have work to do.”
He shook his head and kind of grunted. “Why? Don’t you have enough money? Can’t you afford to live a little?”
“Honestly? Not really.”
