Page 2 of Keep Your Friends Close and Your… Work Enemy Closer?

"Thank you, Mona. Have I told you lately how much I adore you?"

She beamed at me. "And have I told you lately how glad I am that you work here now?"

Other employees came over to wish me a happy birthday, and I was lost in a haze for a few minutes, telling them about my weekend plans. Once I finally settled into my chair, ready to tackle my work, I noticed the empty desk next to me had a stack of papers on it, plus a shiny new laptop.

No way. That couldn't mean what I thought it meant, could it?

I turned to Mona who was now standing at the far end of the room, but something else caught my eye instead...

Veronica coming out of her office with that jerk face from the elevator walking behind her, a big old stupid smirk on his face, dark eyes staring right at me. Actually, they were both staring right at me as they made a beeline straight toward me.

What the hell? No, no, no. This couldn't be happening.

My heart stuttered as I realized itwashappening. This jackass was not only my new co-worker, but he'd be sitting right beside me? Like only a few feet away?

Before my brain could fully process this new horror, they were on me, Veronica smiling at me like something good was about to happen while moron just stood there, his eyes gleaming like it was the world's funniest joke to him.

"Cordelia," she said, "I'd like you to meet Jared Jensen. And Jared, this is Cordelia, who will be training you and showing you everything you need to know. You two will be working very closely together for a long time to come."

What? Did she really just say that?

"I know we've dumped a ton of work on you lately, Cordelia," she went on. "And Jared here is going to help lighten your load so you can get your life back."

"But I..." I started, not quite sure how to finish my thought that I liked not having a life, that I loved my work, that I certainly didn't needthisguy's help. But her eyes narrowed, and I remembered how scary this woman could be when she was crossed. "Thank you," I said quietly.

I glanced over at Jared, or up at Jared because the guy was ridiculously tall, and I could have sworn he could see right through me, like every thought in my head was fully on display, and all of it was highly amusing to him.

"So before you start, Jared, you just need to get through that stack of paperwork," she gestured to his desk, "and then you're all Cordelia's and she'll tell you everything she knows and tell you where she needs your help."

And with that dagger straight to my heart, she walked away, like she hadn't just blown up my entire existence in one seemingly tiny little interaction.

He smiled at me, the most disingenuous smile I'd ever witnessed. "So Cordelia, we meet again. It's a pleasure."

I smiled right back, the most sarcastic smile I could muster. "Pleasure's all mine."

His shit-eating grin grew. "So do you have a nickname or something? Because Cordelia is kind of a long name to have to say."

What an asinine question. "No. I don't. Everyone else actually takes the less than one second it takes to say my name."

"Nah, I don't like it. How about Cord?"

"No. God, no. Not that."

"Okay. Lia."

"Nope."

"Cor."

This might be the most ridiculous conversation I'd ever had. "Nope."

"Del."

"Del? Excuse me? What?"

"No. Del's too long. I'm just gonna call you Dee."

"How is Dee shorter than Del?" I asked against my better judgment. "You know what? Never mind. And I'd really appreciate it if you called me by my full name.Cordelia."

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