Page 2 of Playing Pretend

THE FOLLOWING DAY, I buzzed myself through the glass doors that separated the top floor offices from the bank of elevators. The morning sunlight illuminated the tiled floors as it gleamed through the windows overlooking midtown Manhattan, the streets below already filled with street vendors, yellow cabs and pedestrians. Rather than risk the remaining life span of my historic Honda Civic, I purchased a Metro card, and took the subway, gauging the amount of time it would take me to get to work every day. I was glad when I timed it at no longer than thirty-five minutes, adding a few extra minutes for the walk from Grand Central to Park Avenue.

I powered up my work-issued MacBook, and put my purse in my desk-side drawer. I sat directly outside Macy’s office, and despite the lack of privacy, I was grateful to have my own workspace.

After brushing my hands down my black lace crew neck dress with short sleeves – another thrift store find – I ventured into the small kitchenette next door to the boardroom and made a fresh cup of coffee. I was tempted to stop at Starbucks, but reconsidered when I realized the coffee at the office was free. Until I could save enough to buy small luxuries, free coffee would have to do.

The office was unusually quiet, and as I wandered around, familiarizing myself with the space, I noted the names on the doors. They were of little consequence to me, until I reached the double doors at the end of the hallway.

‘Caleb Callahan, CEO’ was written in bold, masculine letters, and I silently wondered what his office looked like. I had no reason to believe I would see much of him, considering he wasn’t my immediate boss, but that didn’t stop the onslaught of memories that had kept me awake the night before. Five years had done little to fade them, or make their effect on me any less beguiling. All night I’d thought of nothing but his smile…The mischievous gleam in his eye…The soft, yet powerful way he kissed...

“Who the hell are you?”

I turned quickly, almost spilling the hot liquid in my mug, and found a tall, leggy brunette scowling at me. Her abstract print silk blouse was tucked into the front of white pleated wide leg pants, and the look was completed with nude peep-toe Louboutins. Long, brown waves cascaded over her shoulders, and her make-up was flawless. Her eyes scrutinized me as she said, “Interns aren’t allowed up here.”

“I’m not an intern,” I replied. My voice was too soft, and gave away just how intimidated I was by the young woman in front of me. Her red lips thinned as she folded her arms across her chest.

“Then what are you doing here?”

I chastised myself for being tyrannized by a complete stranger. “I’m Kadence. The new Assistant Publicist.”

I stuck my hand out, expecting Miss Hoity-Toity to take it, except she looked at it like it was diseased. I dropped it quickly.

“Did you just make that up? I didn’t know we were hiring an ‘Assistant Publicist’.” She said the last part with air quotes, and I bristled. It wasn’t in my nature to be rude, my pedigreed upbringing didn’t allow it, but it wouldn’t prevent me from defending myself.

“Macy Weatherford hired me,” I replied, refusing to explain myself to someone I didn’t know. “You should really check with her.”

I moved past the stranger and walked back towards my desk when I noticed that Aaliyah, the affable receptionist from the day before, had finally arrived. Her timing couldn’t have been more perfect.

“Good Morning, Kadence!” she greeted enthusiastically. Her smile was bright, and filled with a rare genuity, until she saw the woman behind me.

“Oh, Jennifer. You’re in today.” Aaliyah’s tone – suddenly false, and sarcastic – made me want to snicker. I had a feeling we were going to get along just fine.

“Is Macy suffering from pregnancy brain?” asked Jennifer. “She didn’t tell me we were hiring, and I doubt Caleb would have approved it. It must be a mistake.”

I stiffened, feeling a tight ball of nerves unfurl in my stomach. It was my first day and I was already involved in ‘office politics’ that I knew nothing about.

Talk about a great way to start a new job.

“News Flash, you’re not the boss around here, and last I checked, neither Macy nor Caleb report to you. You’re just being pissy because you have your eye on Macy’s position.”

Jennifer straightened her stance in defense, and glared at Aaliyah. “When Macy makes me her protégé, the first thing I’m going to do is find a new receptionist. So if I were you, I’d watch your step.”

Aaliyah simply rolled her pretty brown eyes. “Please. I might be a lowly receptionist but I’m damn good at my job, and in case you’d forgotten, Caleb is the one who hired me. I highly doubt spreading your legs for him a second time would get him to fire me.”

Jennifer’s mouth dropped open, as did mine. “How dare you!”

Aaliyah flicked her wrist, and shoo’d Jennifer away before turning to face me. I saw the telltale sign of victory in her eyes, and made a mental note not to get on her bad side.

“Ignore her,” she told me, disregarding the fact that Jennifer was still standing beside us. “I need to make sure you’re all set for your first day. Macy asked me to have your laptop set up with all the necessary software, and give you a copy of both her schedule, and the event calendar for the company. You’re going to be a busy bee, so I hope you’re not too fond of sleep.”

“O-okay,” I stuttered, turning just in time to see Jennifer storm off. I stared at her back, replaying Aaliyah’s comment in my mind. Spreading your legs for him a second time. It shouldn’t have bothered me, but it was like a pinprick to the ridiculous fantasies I’d been having about Caleb from the time I was seventeen. Shaking the irrational thoughts from my head, and berating their existence in the first place, I looked back at Aaliyah, and forced a smile.

“Lead the way,” I said, ready to forget the way my day had started.

The remainder of my morning was a torrent of activity. Once my laptop and work email were set-up, Macy caught me up on the major events we would be overseeing over the next few months, the first of which was the Annual Shareholders Gala in just two weeks. It was the official kick-off to the event season at Callahan Industries, and from what I’d been told, it was quite a grand affair.

I absorbed as much as I could, and by the time my lunch break came around, I was in need of a breather.

At a quarter after the hour, Macy came out of her office, dressed in a navy blue ruched Maternity tank dress, and black peep-toe heels. Her red hair was clipped out of her face, showing off her pregnancy glow.