Page 40 of Meet Me at Midnight

I stare at her message for a long moment before I decide to stop beating around the bush.

ThunderStruck: And your name isn’t Bethany?

Her response is instant.

ElizaBeth: HA. No. My name is NOT Bethany, but now I understand why you’re so worked up. That would definitely be some real shady shit. But hey, I guess she’s already done some shady stuff in the past, so why not this? I get why you’d be on edge.

I breathe a sigh of relief. And more than that, I actually believe her.

ThunderStruck: Well, thank fuck for that. I’m driving myself crazy. I didn’t think you could be her, but once the intrusive thought struck, I couldn’t get rid of it.

ElizaBeth: But doesn’t that make this kind of fun, though? The not knowing?

ThunderStruck: Is it fun that I’m messaging with a mystery woman who works at my dad’s company? I mean, I guess it is if I ignore the fact that it’s pretty fucking reckless on my part.

ElizaBeth: LOL. I know it seems risky, but I promise you that whatever is said in this chat stays between us. For both of our sakes.

ThunderStruck: It also helps that you can’t take screenshots in it.

ElizaBeth: Very true. Five stars and a unicorn sticker for that idea on Hughes International’s design team.

ThunderStruck: A unicorn sticker?

ElizaBeth: The ultimate prize, obviously. And, I guess you could also consider these little chats of ours as, like, research, you know? You are spearheading a campaign for it after all…

ThunderStruck: Haha.

ElizaBeth: What? Why’s that funny?

ThunderStruck: It’s like you’re giving me a free pass, even though we both know this isn’t exactly a good idea for me.

ElizaBeth: Well, I know I’m anonymous, but I CAN share that I’m not a domestic terrorist, an active deployment in corporate espionage, or a member of any of the alphabet agencies…at this time. Can’t predict the future, of course.

Man, she’s funny. I came into this conversation like a Grade A asshole, and still, she’s managed to turn the whole thing around in the blink of an eye.

ThunderStruck: And your age?

ElizaBeth: Somewhere between 23-34. I’m out of school, but I’m not your grandma either. Though, wouldn’t that make for a fun little diddy at Christmastime?

ThunderStruck: Anything else I should know about you?

ElizaBeth: Well…this one is actually hard for me to say…

ThunderStruck: What is it?

ElizaBeth: I got way too curious about Donny’s balloon fetish. The things I found on Google were DISTURBING. I should probably hate you for putting that into my head.

ThunderStruck: Technically, I didn’t tell you to research it. If anything, I spared you from all the freaky details.

ElizaBeth: Wait…so…you’re not even going to offer an apology?

ThunderStruck: It’s not my fault your curiosity got the best of you.

ElizaBeth: You’re evil. I’m totally pouting right now.

ThunderStruck: And I’m sitting here thinking about how your pouting is really fucking adorable right now. If only I could see it in person…

ElizaBeth: Nice try. LOL.

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