Page 12 of Timeless Pages
“Would you like to do this here, or would you prefer to go to the restroom?” she asked gently, compassion filling her light blue eyes.
“Umm, I think I would prefer the bathroom if you don’t mind,” I replied.
“Not at all! I think the neutral walls will be better for the photos anyway. Follow me, Isa.” She led me down the hall, past her reception desk, and into the restroom. “Ok. Daniel said there were recent injuries?”
I nodded and rolled up the sleeves of my light hoodie, showing her the scabbed-over cuts. Brandy snapped pictures of each arm, then lowered the camera.
“Can you take the hoodie off?”
I nodded and pulled it over my head. Underneath, I wore a plain white T-shirt, so more of my arms were visible. Brandy took more pictures and then paused again. I knew what was coming next. They needed to see all of them. So it was time for me to woman up and strip more than my clothes. I pulled the T-shirt over my head and let it fall to the floor with my hoodie.
As I reached for the button on my jeans, Brandy said, “We can take it slow if you want to. There’s no need to push yourself too far.”
My lips turned up in a half smile. “I can do this. It’s important.”
“Ok,” Brandy replied, returning a better version of my smile. I’m not sure I’ve ever smiled as genuinely as she does. I idly wondered what it would be like to feel that happy just for no reason. I pushed my jeans off my hips and stepped out of them.
Brandy gasped quietly when she saw the full scope of my scars. “Daniel will make him pay,” she growled as she lifted the camera again to take pictures.
Needing to distract myself from the moment, I did something I don’t usually do with strangers. I asked a personal question. “Is something going on with you and Daniel?”
Brandy froze and turned about fourteen shades of red before continuing to take pictures. “Why? Did he say something to you?” She asked as she circled me slowly.
“No,” I replied. “It’s more in the way he reacts to you. He enjoys pushing your buttons.”
“Don’t I know it,” Brandy mumbled. “I got out of a pretty crappy relationship at the start of the year, so it’s complicated. There isn’t anything going on between us exactly, but there isn’t nothing going on either, if that makes sense. ”
I nodded. “I understand.”
“What about you?” Brandy asked. “Do you have any boyfriends?”
“No,” I replied, “but I have complicated… sort of.”
“Do tell!”
“Well, they’re real estate moguls trying to buy my bookstore, but they’ve also offered to help me keep it, so I don’t know what to think,” I replied.
“I think I have all of the pictures we need. You can get dressed,” Brandy said.” Wait, you aren’t talking about DEN Tower Corporation, are you?”
“You know them?”
“They’re clients! Great guys. You could do worse than one of them or all of them if you’re into that,” Brandy teased.
A wisp of suspicion rose, but I quickly waved it away. It was just a coincidence. “I doubt they’d be interested in me like that,” I replied as I promptly redressed.
Brandy placed her hand on my arm. “I didn’t see anything that wouldn’t interest them, Isa. You’re beautiful, scars and all. I hope it’s not too weird to say that, but it’s true.”
I shook my head at her. “You’re sweet for saying that, but I don’t think anyone’s dream girl is covered in scars and loaded down with emotional damage.”
“You aren’t your scars, Isa. I hope you can see that for yourself one day,” Brandy said softly. In the next second, her tone changed back to aggressively cheerful. “Also, in case you didn’t realize, I’ve decided you’ll be my new best friend. I don’t know anyone here all that well yet. And no, this isn’t optional.”
She took my hand and pulled me from the bathroom and back to Daniel’s office. “Do you need anything else from Isa?” Brandy asked.
“No. That should be it. I’ll run the paperwork to the courthouse today and let you know how it goes. If all goes well, we can have your father served by tonight,” Daniel replied.
“Good. Then I’m taking an early lunch with my new friend. I’ll be back in an hour.” Brandy grabbed my purse and handed it to me before tugging me out of the office without giving Daniel a chance to respond.
When she said we were going to be friends, she meant it.
