“And?”
“And it not only wasn’t my handwriting, this was the Monday after we got married.”
“So we were in Vegas when this happened,” he says.
“Yep. And Tennille gave me a copy of the paper trail. There’s a digital trail at work, I’m sure, but I no longer have access to that.”
“But others will if the whistle gets blown.”
“Exactly. Tennille also told me word on the street is that Shara had a torrid affair with Frank, her boss, for the last month but that it ended recently because Frank’s wife found out and delivered an ultimatum. Frank wouldn’t leave his wife, much to Shara’s chagrin. Rumor has it that Shara has grand plans to be in a position to take Frank’s job from him, then get her ex-fiancé fired after she does her best to make his life miserable. Surprise, surprise, he’s the senior buyer there and the guy you said is the bonehead doing my role that I was initially going to replace. But Shara was overheard by Tara, our receptionist, you met her at McHop’s. Tara heard her saying she’s looking forward to being his boss for long enough to make him hate his life. I found this out because Tara turned up at the restaurant and joined me and Tennille. They planned that ahead of time when they were talking. Tara tells me she thinks I should either sue the company or take my information to Peter, our CEO. She thinks if I take my evidence to Peter, he’ll listen.”
“Wow.”
“There’s more. This is all fascinating stuff. I’m feeling like I’m in the middle of a corporate crime drama and it’s got my heart not only pumping, but I’m feeling kind of powerful. And that’s not a feeling I’m used to, you know?”
“It feels good to take control and line up ducks to fuck someone who fucked you first, doesn’t it, Dimples?”
I laugh nervously. “You’re hilarious. I’m not quite ready to rain hellfire on them, not Killian-Style, but anyway, Shara is on a power trip and decided she no longer likes me for some reason, probably jealousy because I have a hot as fuck husband and she has a couple exes who are not remotely hot.”
He laughs.
“Anyway, we’re eating lunch and we’ve moved beyond the topic of my job and we’re talking about my pregnancy and guess who walks in and sees me, Tennille, and Tara having lunch? Guess!”
“Shara.”
“Bingo! She gets this panicked look on her face, spins, nearly colliding with the wall and leaves. Like she knows I’m digging in and getting information on her. It was amazing. I looked her right in the face and smiled at her before she fumbled and… I repeat… nearly walked into a wall. Tara knew she was planning to eat lunch there that day with a vendor and told Tennille and staged it all.”
“Good, baby. That’s great. What now?”
“I’m thinking about contacting Peter, the big boss and asking to meet with him. Tara thinks I should. Tara’s even threatening to tell him herself.”
“You thinkin’ of going back?”
“I think that ship has sailed for me. Tennille wants to offer me a job, too at her work, but I like the idea of doing something on my own. Or with you. But I might also want to stay home with our baby the first year. I like that I have choices. For the first time in a long time I feel like I actually have choices. So, I’m gonna think about it.”
“Good plan.”
“Yeah. It’s nice to have options. But I’d love it if my name got cleared and if Shara got what was coming to her.”
“Revenge can be satisfying,” he says.
I snicker. “I never wanted it before. But the way she targeted me, like she just thought she could and that I’d just deal with it, for that reason, I’m gonna show her I’m not the meek, weak person she thought I was. I think she liked me best when she thought I was no competition for her, one of her minions, you know?”
“I agree. Good, baby. Listen, Craig just came in. I’m gonna have to go here, but I’m proud of you. We’ll celebrate tomorrow night. I got tickets to a show for us.”
“You did?”
“I did.”
“To see what?”
“It’s a surprise.”
“Oh, okay. Yippee. I love you. Talk to you in a while.”
“Love you, baby. So much. Good job. Talk soon.”
He ends the call and I turn the ignition and hear Wesley turn his, too. He’s behind me. I told him I’d be a minute making a phone call.
But then my phone rings. It’s my old office calling.
I answer, then turn my car off, looking over my shoulder, seeing Wes has turned his car off, too.
“Hello?” I answer, thinking it’s probably Tara or Cammy.
“Violet Gates?” A man inquires.
“Yes? I mean, Violet Coulter now, but yeah, it’s me.”