Page 37 of Company Ink

Cassandra Carrington: how do you know I'm rolling my eyes?

Adrian Cavallero: I just do

Cassandra Carrington: whatever

Adrian Cavallero: I can think of a few ways to make your eyes roll

My jaw drops. I can't believe he just said that on the company chat system.

Cassandra Carrington: are these messages stored on the server?

Adrian Cavallero: not permanently. Don't worry, no one will know. It'll be our little secret

Cassandra Carrington: MR. CAVALLERO!

Adrian Cavallero: aw, what happened to the fun Cassie that was at the club...I liked her

Cassandra Carrington: the fun Cassie can't come to the phone right now. Why? Cause she's dead

I snicker to myself. God, I'm hilarious.

Adrian Cavallero: what?

Cassandra Carrington: it's Taylor Swift. God, you're old

Adrian Cavallero: I'm only five years older than you

Cassandra Carrington: doesn't feel like it, grandpa

Adrian Cavallero: if I didn't have back-to-back meetings all day, I'd come over there and teach you a lesson in respect

Cassandra Carrington: wow calm down there, Aretha

Adrian Cavallero: Cassie...

Cassandra Carrington: ok byeeeee. I have work to do. I'll be here in my tiny little cubicle if you need anything

Adrian Cavallero: We still need to finish our conversation from this morning

Lie. Lie. Lie.

Cassandra Carrington: I'm swamped for the rest of the day...raincheck?

Adrian Cavallero: Fine. Raincheck

I close the messaging system and mentally scold myself. How in the world did I get myself into this mess? This is absurd. Adrian should honestly be locked up for making me feel this way. It's unholy, unfair, and unjust!

I spend the rest of the day avoiding Adrian at all costs. He leaves his office; I duck under my desk. He turns a corner, and I run like a madwoman. I see the benefits of carpets now; my heels don't give me away with their clicking. When 5 pm hits, I dash out of the office like Roadrunner. Maybe tomorrow will be better. At least I'll be busy most of the morning taking minutes for the Wagner/Lance meeting.

Yes. Tomorrow will be better.

I'm counting on it.

fifteen

feel the burn

"Hello? Mom?" I prop my cell phone against my ear as I cross the street to the office. I woke up at an ungodly hour this morning, so I could make it to work an hour early to set up for the Wagner meeting. I'm so tired right now that I did the unthinkable and stopped for a coffee at Starbucks. I blame Monique for keeping me up past midnight looking through bridal magazines. I don't know why she even bothers to look at couture dresses, I know she's going to buy off the rack. But whatever, if she wants to fantasize about dresses neither of us can afford then that's fine.

---