The Whole Package

“Do you have an appointment? He’s in a meeting right now.” She clicks on the computer and I’m guessing it’s to pull up his schedule.

“But the food will get cold,” Hazel says from beside me.

“No, but we can wait,” I tell the woman.

“I’m going to text him,” Hazel cuts in. She digs in my purse and finds my phone.

“That would ruin the surprise, though,” I remind her.

“Can I get your name, miss?” the receptionist asks.

“I’m Bailey and this is Hazel.”

“Oh.” The woman sits up straighter. “I didn’t know. I’m sorry, Ms. Webb, go on in. His office is at the very end. You can’t miss the double doors. You can wait for him there if you’d like.”

“Thank you,” I say and take Hazel’s hand.

“How does she know our last name?” Hazel asks in a loud whisper.

“You’re on Mr. Reed’s approved list. You can go right into his office,” the woman answers.

“Are there lots of people on that list?” Hazel asks.

“Just you two, and of course, his mother.”

Hazel raises her chin haughtily. I have to fight a laugh, but I kind of want to do the same thing. But I control myself as we walk down an aisle flanked by cubicles. The people working here are typing away on computers or talking on the phone. Some of them turn to look at us as we pass. When we reach the double doors, Hazel doesn’t pause as she walks right in like it’s her own office.

I pause when I glance to my left to a glass wall that looks into a conference room. People are around a long table as Shawn stands at the end, talking. As if sensing me he turns to look and when he sees me he smiles. He turns back to the group and I can tell he’s dismissing them.

I can’t help but notice Kim sitting at the table and glaring at me. Still a bitch even without Mason. Those two really should be together. It’s nice having her gone and I haven’t had to deal with Mason because Shawn is always around. Mason is so fake when Shawn is there. He’s always overly nice to me in front of him and I’ve had to bite my tongue from calling him out on it.

I pull my eyes from Kim as Shawn closes the distance between us. He kisses me right in front of everyone and I swear the whole room goes quiet. No typing can be heard and the phone chatter quiets. When he pulls back I know my cheeks are probably tinted pink. I’m sure they’re all looking at us because of what Kyle told me about everyone calling Shawn a monk.

“Sorry. I couldn’t help myself.” Shawn stares down at me.

I might have been a tad shy about him kissing me and everyone watching, but that disappears when I look into his eyes and see how happy he is to see me. But that moment is broken when we hear shouting.

“I’m the boss now!”

We both turn to see Hazel sitting behind Shawn’s desk with a giant smile on her face. She’s got his phone up to her ear and we both bust out laughing.

Then her face scrunches and her eyes focus on something behind us. I somehow know it’s Kim before I even turn around. I’m disappointed when I’m right. She’s standing there looking even madder than she did when she was in the conference room moments ago. Her hands are on her slim hips and I don’t understand how someone can be so pretty on the outside but be so ugly on the inside.

“This is bullshit,” she snaps.

“Kim?” Shawn asks, turning to look at her. “Is there a problem?”

“Yeah, there is. First, she sets her sights on Mason. Then she moves on to you,” she grits out the last part.

“Kim, I’ve never been with Mason,” I defend myself. “Not in any way.” I don’t want anyone to think that ever happened.

“Don’t lie. He told me. It’s why he broke up with me,” she throws back.

“Kim, I’m going to have to ask you to take a step back and lower your voice.” Shawn looks over his shoulder at Hazel, who’s getting up from the chair.

“Just a moment, Hazel. We’ll be right there,” Shawn tells her as he shuts the doors to his office. He turns back to face Kim and the soft look he had for Hazel a moment ago is gone. Now he looks pissed, but Kim must not see it, because she keeps going.

“I can’t believe you fell for her little goodie act. She’s only trying to sleep her way to the top,” Kim whisper-yells. I think it’s Kim who’s trying to sleep her way to the top, but I keep that thought to myself. She’s digging her own grave and I don’t have a need to be nasty.