Flawless Prize

“You’ll be all right?” he asks.

I manage a casual nod. This was my idea, and from the look in his eye, he’s still against it. The last thing I need to do is make him think I’m having second thoughts. He might tell me to call off the whole thing.

And I can’t. This is the only way.

Weneed to do this.

He murmurs something that sounds like, Good luck, then retreats to his office, glancing at me before closing the door for his nine o’clock meeting.

I’m about to go to my desk and start my daily work—not that I’ll ever be able to concentrate on it—when my phone buzzes with a text. It’s from Logan, hanging out on watch downstairs

‘Olivia is in. She’s heading to Design.’

I take a deep breath and let it out slowly.

Showtime.

I square my shoulders and head down to the design floor. As usual, the creative group is working up a storm in their studios. Mara is sitting on a stool at the light table, showing the latest designs to Olivia.

“Hi, there!” I call brightly, waving at everyone.

Olivia looks up.

“Oh, hi, Olivia. I didn’t know you were here,” I say with a smile.

“Hello, Juliet.” Her voice is stiff. “I do come in every so often to check out the new designs, you know. Because after all, it is my company.”

Somehow, I keep smiling at her. “Mara’s latest earring designs are killer.”

Mara beams proudly and says, “You’re early, Jules. What brings you here?”

“I just wanted to give you these back.” I hand her the set of keys she loaned me for her apartment.

Thank goodness Mara never handles surprise quietly. She gasps loudly as I hold the keys up. “You’re moving in with Caleb?”

I watch Olivia edge closer to listen. “Kind of,” I say.

“Caleb’s set me up in a company apartment on Fifth Avenue, right across from the Cathedral! It’s really nice. Six-forty-one Fifth. Sixth floor. It’s amazing! It’s so luxurious! You have to come see it.”

I make sure my voice carries. In fact, I do everything but draw Olivia a map.

“Midtown? Nice.” Mara says. “Of course I’ll have to come over and check it out. I’m sure it beats my sofa. But why aren’t you moving into Caleb’s penthouse?”

I let out a little sigh. “Oh, you know Caleb. He needs his space. And I kind of need mine, too.”

“You do?” She seems confused, with good reason, since Caleb and I have been attached at the hip for weeks.

“In fact, I can’t wait to get off work today. Caleb’s meeting with his lawyers, so I’m going to go straight to the new place, have a bath, open a bottle of wine, and watch some awesome chick flicks on the big television. Alone.” I add, for emphasis.

Mara lets out a little sigh. “That sounds lovely.”

“I know, right?” I say, “Can’t wait. Sometimes you just need some me-time.”

There. I’m not sure what else I can do to drive the point home, short of renting a billboard in Times Square: ‘Attention Olivia: Juliet will be alone tonight, at the aforementioned address!’

I turn and find the bitch herself watching us. “Yes?” I ask.

“I want to see the rose gold in this one,” Olivia demands, glaring.