Page 74 of I Hope This Finds You Well

She nods once. “Been there.”

As she sets her bag onto her desk, I add, “But thanks for asking.”

And I really mean it. I guess it can be a little nice sometimes when she doesn’t mind her own business. Sometimes. A little.

When she doesn’t ask any more questions, I feel a minuscule beat of relief. I doubt Rhonda would hold back if she’d heard a rumor about me, but then again, she was feeling that wine pretty good on Friday. Maybe she doesn’t remember. I watch as she preens Joey’s leaves, lips downturned.

Armin trudges in next, hair mussed and eyes red. He nods my way before heading to the lunchroom.

Then Caitlin comes in, her cinnamon perfume wafting across the room as she heads to the fridge to stash her bland-looking chicken salad. I hold my breath and stare down at the little blinking light on my hard drive, following the sound of her routine as she reemerges to head to her desk, taking off her jacket and sliding into her chair. Every tiny motion stacks up against me. What does she know?

Caitlin gets up and walks to Rhonda’s desk. “Thanks for the party Friday night.”

Rhonda swivels her chair around. “Of course, dear! I’m glad you had fun.”

“It was a blast.” Caitlin’s voice sounds slightly hoarse. I glimpse at her over the cube wall; her demeanor is stiff. Suddenly, her gaze crawls to me. I try not to look tense as I nod a greeting.

She passes behind my desk next, stopping in her tracks to look at me. Her mouth twists. “Oh, Jolene.”

My life stops. All the blood in my arteries freezes.

“Thanks for decorating on Friday.”

What the hell? I search her face for any clue, anything to tell me what she knows, but her expression is imperceptible.

“No problem.” I smile for half a second, while her eyes shift and lock deeper into me, like she’s trying to read something behind them. I try to keep still even as my heart pounds in my ears, my fingers tightening around my mouse. Then she simply turns and heads back to her desk.

I release a breath. Caitlin’s not the type to be coy about using any ammo she has against me. But I can’t understand it. Did Kyle not tell her? I didn’t get the impression he’d take pity on me.

Just as Caitlin’s sitting down, an email comes in for her.

From: Gregory Hall

To: Caitlin Joffrey

Subject: Re: meeting re: new ideas and info

Caitlin,

I appreciate that you are eager to workshop new ideas about the office, but there’s not much time in my schedule available for this week. Not to worry, there will be other chances to discuss another day, I’m sure.

Regards,

Gregory

I check Caitlin’s sent folder. She’d emailed Gregory on aSaturdayto request another meeting with him, saying she had “new information” to discuss about her project.

My eyes flash to the top of Caitlin’s head, visible above her screen. I hear the distinctive double tap of her opening the email.

And that’s when it occurs to me: she didn’t light her diffuser today.

What does she know?

As soon as the lunch hour is up, an email from Cliff arrives.

Jolene,

Hope the rest of the weekend went well. My apologies for having to do this, but a bit of an HR emergency has arisen, so I’m going to have to ask you to complete our next session at your desk. Because this is my doing, it won’t count against you, and I’ll be available to answer any questions. I’ve attached the booklet and worksheet.