Page 28 of Strings
“Oh, it’ll happen. You know he kissed me in Detroit. I think he’s biding his time with the tramp and playing hard to get so as not to spread rumors here at work. Can you imagine what a power couple we’ll be?”
She pauses and there’s no sound. Probably because her friends are too scared to tell her what they really think. Good thing I’m here.
“And have you seen how he looks at me? Everyone can see how much he wants me.”
I can’t take any more. I flush the toilet even though I didn’t use it, and walk out of the stall, right up to the sink where they’re standing. “Yes, I’ve seen how he looks at you.” I turn on the water and start washing my hands as their mouths drop. “It’s kind of a cross between disgust, hatred, and pity. Maybe you need to get your eyes checked. Seems like you aren’t reading anything right lately, including the music. Ladies…”
“Don’t you walk away from me!”
I hear Bella yell after me, but I stomp out through the bathroom doors and into the hall. Bitch better leave me alone. I’m feeling a fight coming on. I turn to face her as she exits the bathroom with her groupies and see Sebastian walking down the hall.
“Who do you think you are?” Bella asks.
Sebastian sees me and smiles. Then he sees Bella and frowns. This is one of those moments when I truly feel actions will speak louder than words. I rush past Bella and right up to Sebastian where I grab his face in my hands and kiss him.
At first, he doesn’t respond, but then he kisses me back and it’s… it’s…wait. It’s good. I pull away and I think we’re both shocked. I have to think about why I kissed himandwhy I stopped.
I hear Bella moan and I remember. Composing myself, I say, “I was looking for you. Are we still on for dinner tonight?”
His eyes narrow. “Yes. Of course. Right after work?”
“Perfect. Bye, babe.” I turn on my heel, wipe my lip with a smile, and blow Bella a kiss as I strut past her. I keep walking even though I have no idea where I’m going. That felt good in more ways than one.
The show must go on, even if it sucks and you hate it.
Thank God I have Amy’s number in my phone. I call her to come find me. How embarrassing. She thinks it’s cute. I’m mortified by my lack of direction. But, being determined to not have to look lost in front of anyone, much less Bella or Sebastian, should I run into them again, I stay put until Amy finds me.
In the middle of my meeting with the vendor, my phone vibrates with a text. Amy is sitting next to me, so who else could it be? I remember there is one other person who knows my number besides HR. Oh Lord. Before I answer, I put his name into contacts.
Bash: About that dinner...
I shake my head and type quickly.
Me:You aren’t taking me anywhere. I was putting on a show. That’s what we’re paid to do here, right?
Bash:Well, you put me in a pickle. After you sped off, you missed Bella reminding me we have rehearsal dinner tonight. We work late. You also missed my quick response telling her I knew that and had invited you to meet the orchestra. See you at seven. BABE.
“No way!”
All eyes turn to gaze at me and I realize I spoke out loud. Placing my phone on the table in front of me, I almost panic when I have no clue what I said no way to. Amy chimes in to save me.
“I think what she means is that there’s no way we’re willing to pay that commission. We’ll stick with the twenty percent, and that’s our final offer.”
Amy is my favorite person on the planet. I know I’ve only been here two days, but if I could, I’d double her salary. I mouth,Thank you, to her and she winks on the sly.
After the meeting with the vendors, I spend thirty minutes on the phone with my boss and it appears I’m finally done for the day.
“Ready to head back to the office?” Amy asks.
Head back? Are we not done for the day yet?“Do we have to?”
“No. I mean, it’s up to you. Do you want to work from here for a while?”
“What else needs to be done?”
She taps her pen on the table and flips through her notes. I eye her pen. It’s green and says “L.A. Sym” on it. It’s different from the one that was on my desk yesterday. I wonder if there are more colors. Ooh, I wonder if I can find a Round Theater pen.
“We should review the schedule for the concert tomorrow, don’t you think?”
