“Graham?”
“This is his office, isn’t it?”
I stifle a smart-ass comeback. “Yes, it is. What can I do for you?”
She gives me a cocky grin as she takes me in. There’s no denying she sees me as some sort of competition. “You can let Graham know I’m here.”
“Well,” I say, as sweet as sugar, “he isn’t here right now. Would you like to leave him a message?”
“No. When will he return?”
The door opens again and Raza walks in with her cheery smile. Once the door is closed behind her, the smile fades.
“I’m not sure when he will be back,” I say, flashing Raza a look to stay quiet. “I’d be happy to take a message for you.”
“I’m sure you would.”
“Look,” I say, standing. “I’m not sure what it is you want, but—”
“I’m sorry,” she interjects. “What was your name?”
Pointing at the name plate sitting front and center on my desk, I grin. “Mallory Sims. And who might I have the pleasure of having in my office this afternoon?”
“I’m Vanessa Shields.” As my blood runs cold, her smug grin stretches wider. “I see you’ve heard of me.”
“Yes, I have. Aren’t you the lady that overflowed the toilet in the restroom last week?”
Her eyes narrow. “No. That was not me.”
“Oh. Sorry for the mix-up.” I look at Raza. “What can I do for you?”
“I had a question about a charge to Ford’s account. Graham also said you could take a look at this note from Camilla and let me know how to proceed, but it can wait.”
I can almost see steam rising from Vanessa’s ears.
“Let me take care of this,” I say, nodding towards Vanessa, “and then we can discuss.”
“I’m not leaving until I see him,” Vanessa states.
“What do you want him for?”
She takes a deep breath and looks towards Graham’s office. “I told him I was coming to town. We talked about having dinner. I’m free tonight and wanted to see if he has plans.”
Her words punch me in the stomach. I feel like the wind has been knocked out of me. As hard as I try not to show the cracks in my veneer, she sees them.
“Yeah, honey,” she says. “I’m the love of Graham’s life. Get used to it.”
I toss the pen in my hand on my desk and start around the corner of it. My eyes locked on this bitch standing in front of me, I see red. “What you are is a manipulative, filthy whore.”
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me. I didn’t stutter.”
“You don’t even know me.”
“You’re right and you don’t know how lucky that makes you.”
She moves her head side to side in a bitchy, snotty bob. “Was that a veiled threat?”