Page 53 of Exchange of Heart

‘Oh, you’d love that, wouldn’t you? That’s the last time I’m bringing you along to something important. I’ll make sure you never leave that cubicle again.’ He pointed to the pitiful space Nora worked in.

I walked back to her desk with a spring in my step. As much as I loved his confidence, I would shit all over his bluff.

That evening, I rotted on the couch for an hour before the front door rattled. ‘Has anyone called about the umbrella?’ I moaned.

Nora had barely stepped inside before unsuccessfully hiding her pleasure at my pain now that the pain relief from the day had worn off. No man should have to deal with uterus problems. Every ounce of anger and frustration flowed through my fingers, my pencil moving across the page of my notebook in a flurry.

‘Nope.’ She placed my briefcase by the door and walked straight to the kitchen.

‘Will you make me a tea while you’re in there?’ I pleaded.

‘Seriously? You were home before me, but I’m making you tea?’ she teased.

Nora’s shoulders scrunched in the way I’d noticed each Monday when she gave a funny answer to a question. She carried the milk over to the mugs she’d filled with boiling water and loosened her tie.

‘Thanks, we’re gonna need sustenance like this because there’s serious work to do this arvo.’

‘No, no more work. I dealt with your asshole father all day and untangled some seriously tangled webs you’ve been ignoring in terms of colleagues.’

My forehead dropped to my hand. She was meant to keep out of trouble, but it sounded like she’d jumped into the lion’s den and started grooming his mane. ‘What do you mean?’

‘I mean the work culture in that office is horrendous. Have you ever looked at your staff turnover? It’s ridiculously high.’

Of course it’s high. They work hard, but the devil named Craig Flemmington works harder.

‘Would you want to work for my father? It’s hard to care when—’

‘But you should care,’ Nora huffed, making my broad shoulders slump. ‘You may not care about your father or his business, but you should care about the people unfortunate enough to be stuck working there. They don’t live in a place like this, with no personal responsibilities or problems. They’re trying to get by with a shitty paycheque and not cry at their desks while your father storms around the office.’

I frowned. ‘Wow, you like, really care.’

‘Of course I really care. I’m one of those people trying to get by with a shitty paycheque and not cry at my desk.’

I opened my mouth, but words wouldn’t come out. I’d been blind to the fact my misery contained in the walls of my office had company lurking just outside. It was scattered between desks being nurtured by mugs of warm coffee. I’d been so consumed with myself, I hadn’t noticed anyone else. I stared at the wall behind Nora, unable to meet her eye.

‘And why do you always wear that bloody hat?’ she continued. ‘Are you worried your head’s going to fall apart and your small brain will fall out?’

I twisted my cap so it sat backwards and took a deep breath. I needed to focus on tonight. ‘Yeah, yeah. Ha ha, so funny. Can we talk about everything later? You’re going to need a history lesson if we still have no ideas how to switch back.’

‘A what?’ She scrunched up her face.

I opened my laptop on the coffee table and pulled up photos on the screen.

‘Corey, I’m tired after today,’ Nora whined.

‘Tired isn’t an excuse to the Flemmingtons. Injury isn’t an excuse to the Flemmingtons. Even death isn’t an excuse to the Flemmingtons.’

‘Your family dinner,’ Nora groaned upon realisation.

‘My family dinner.’ I nodded. Nora was about to be properly christened as Corey Flemmington; mind, body, and soul.

‘We can’t be in public anymore; you saw what happened in that meeting.’

‘You’re the one who insisted we go to work to save your career. This is needed to save mine.’

‘When your father insists we be in a padded room in strait jackets, don’t say I didn’t warn you.’ She crossed her arms.

My heart clenched as she softened my grey eyes and smiled with the charm she must use at work. For the first time, I didn’t dread going to my parents’ place. Not when I knew Nora would be by my side.