Page 51 of A Break in Communications

“Hence why I’m telling you this. She’s doing this because she knows your family has money, and she’s just trying to get you to spoil her with money and have fun with you before she leaves.”

She puffed out her cheek, scrunching her face at me. “But she said I was really cute.”

Well, didn’t that just solve the whole thing? Fool I was for doubting them. With that level of commitment, I had to plan some time off work or I’d miss their wedding. “Yes, she told me you’re cute, too. Also that you’re dumb and that she’s not interested in anything serious with you.”

She put her hands on her hips. “I’m not dumb.”

If she was actually a clever thinker somewhere deep down, she was a master at hiding it. “Take it up with Veronica, not me,” I said, turning back to the computer. “Or better yet, don’t. Have enough self-respect to leave that whole thing alone. Now, do you think you want to go get to your work?”

She hunched her shoulders. “What doesn’t she like about me?”

Because when I went into work in the mornings, the number one thing I wanted to do was talk to my coworker about her budding romance with my sister. That was a dream come true. I was so happy I could cry. “That you’re dumb. And a woman.”

“I’m notdumb.”

“Kelcey, you kept refilling the coffee machine when it was overflowing onto the floor. Speaking of, did we get it replaced yet?”

“I wouldn’t have gotten the job if I were dumb.”

Poor girl had never heard of nepotism. Did she really have no conception that she’d been hired so that her grandfather would give us more contracts? She thought she was here for her clever mindset and diligent work ethic? I didn’t want to be the one to have to crush her dreams. “You were… probably… hired for your charm,” I said. “You know, not everyone’s a master… clever… strategist. We’ve all got our strengths.”

“Yeah?” She lit up so bright I regretted throwing her a bone. “So I should just lean into that and win over Veronica that way?”

“No—” I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Kelcey, you can do what you like, but I’m just warning you right now that it’s going to suck for you if you get involved with Veronica.”

“She’ssocool though. And she’s so smart and so pretty…”

This girl was the definition of down bad. Would write a blank check for Veronica. And then I’d have to hear her crying about Veronica dumping her and asking if I could convince Veronica to give her another chance…

All because of that damn holiday party. And my damnmomrefusing to understand she wasn’t supposed tobethere.

“As long as you’re fine with dating a woman who talks to her sister about how dumb you are and how she’s not interested,” I said, waving her off, “then have at it, Kelce.”

“I can win her over. I’ll show her I can be pretty smart. And charming.” She puffed out her chest, spinning on her heel, and she strode away, looking for all the world like she’d just had a great interaction that had confirmed all her previous beliefs. I’d have better luck convincing a wall to move out of the way. Jesus Christ.

I got back to my computer for about fifteen seconds before Rickety Rick appeared at my desk, grim-faced, clutching a tablet like it was an ancient cursed Egyptian tablet instead of an iPad. I suppressed a dry smile, instead waiting for him to speak, and hestarted off with a tiny, gravelly whisper ofhey, and I pretended not to hear him. He got a bit louder, and a bit louder, until he was clutching the tablet so hard I thought he might actually break it and was almost at regular speaking volume, so I looked up, sliding my chair back a bit.

“Oh, Richard. Something I can do for you?”

He handed the tablet to me, speaking in a low rasp. “This thing needs to be unlocked.”

“Right, that seems standard. Any issues?”

He stared blankly.

“So, we’ve forgotten the password,” I said. “What’s the recovery email?”

“I don’t have one of those. I know the password. I remember it. It’s saying it’s wrong.”

So, he’d forgotten the password and didn’t want to admit it. I was so shocked I might have fallen from my chair. “Sounds like a technical problem on the tablet’s side,” I said, handing it back to him. “You’ll have to take it to IT. They’ll know what to do.”

He shifted uncomfortably, not taking the tablet. “I can’t do that.”

“I can… ask Kelcey to take it to IT.”

“It’s not the company computer. It’s mine.”

He was asking me to fix his personal device. I forced a smile. “Great to know. How about you take it to the Apple store?”

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