Page 5 of Doll Face

“You got it.” Kelly nods. “Get all of them in one spot, and I’ll get in contact with that other company.”

“Why would a sex toy company be called ‘Up, Up, Away’ anyway?” I ask, confused, and that’s when the man starts laughing uncontrollably.

“It’s actually called Up, Up, & Anal, ma’am,” he says after he gets himself under control.

“Well, that makes a lot more sense. Just make sure it doesn’t happen again,” I instruct. Kelly begins asking for the company’s number, and I leave her to fix the rest.

Midge follows me back to the office. For the rest of the day, there aren’t any other issues, thankfully. I do my budgeting and paperwork in my office alone before heading home for the night. It’s just after five when I’m headed out of the building. Midge is cleaning up her desk when I say goodnight. I head for the elevator and text Kelly about the dildo issue. I hope she’s figured out a solution to our big, pink problem. It isn’t like we can just put them on the shelves next to the toy bears and stuffed Disney toys.

There’s no service in the elevator so I slip my phone in my bag and wait to get to the lobby. Maybe I’ll grab sushi on the way home from work. I can even pick up a bottle of champagne. I know it’s usually saved for celebrations but I want to pop a bottle, slip into the tub, and call it a day.

I’m walking out the front steps of the building when my phone starts ringing. It could be work calling me back in. It wouldn’t be the first time that’s happened. Or, it could be Kelly. I decide to search through my bag as I walk, just in case it’s important.

“Whoa!” I bump into someone, almost dropping my bag and its contents all over the ground. I look up and shock runs through my body.

“Barbie.” Kenzie smiles at me. Her brunette hair is pulled into a tight ponytail, and she’s wearing a black dress that hugs her curves. My eyes trail all the way down her body and I note a pair of heels that put mine to shame.

“Kenzie? W-what are you doing here?” I ask, confused. A shiver runs down my spine, and I’m hit with a wave of nostalgia as the former love of my life stands only inches away from me.

Chapter 3

Kenzie

I got off the plane, and despite the list of places I was supposed to go to, I stop at Up, Up, Away toy company headquarters. The only person I want to see is about a million floors away from me, and I’m pretty sure I still remember which one she’s on. She’s head of the company, and I don’t know how hard it’ll be to get to the top floor, but I’m prepared for anything. Just as I’m about to run inside and try and find Barbie, I see her walking out of the elevator. She’s in an all pink suit, her shiny, pink purse reflects on the doors, and her bright pink heels clack as she walks. She’s as beautiful as ever—a true doll.

I’m about to make my move when I realize she’s not looking where she’s going, and she ends up bumping into me.

“Barbie.” I smile, steadying her.

“Kenzie? W-what are you doing here?” she asks.

“I’m in town, and I had to find you,” I explain.

“Why?” She looks around like she’s on a prank show or something. Like someone’s about to pop out of a fake cake.

“I’ve missed you,” I say simply. I know it can’t possibly be enough, but it has to be a start.

“Kenzie …” she starts but doesn’t finish.

“Can I take you out to dinner? We can catch up, talk about things, maybe see where we both are in life?” I suggest with a smile.

“No,” she says sharply. I should’ve expected that but her refusal slices through me.

“Oh.” I sigh.

“I better go.” She tries to sidestep me but I hold out an arm to stop her.

“Barbie—”

She shakes her head and looks at me, holding up her palm as her blue eyes stare into mine.

“I-I can’t, Kenzie. I just can’t.” She takes off, hailing a cab and leaving without another word or look in my direction.

I stand on the steps of her building feeling defeated, but only for a moment. Barbie has no idea I’ve got an entire week left in this city. I have another six days to convince her to sit down with me. My main goal is to talk everything out, but maybe I’ll even get her to agree to start slowly incorporating me back into her life. I know she isn’t seeing anyone, at least not according to her Instagram …

I may have been stalking her social media over the last few weeks.

Conceding defeat for the night, I retreat to my hotel across town. I had opted for a hotel closer to Barbie’s job, but my booking got cancelled at the last minute. I know, I know, anyone else might look at that as a sign, but not me. I know what Barbie and I had, and although it might be over for now, it was years in the making. I refuse to let it go. I know I wasn’t around the last few years but I never forgot about her or what we had together.

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