Liar Liar

‘Oh, I think you are, though perhaps your rates have risen now that you no longer work at the Pink Pussy Cat.’ My stomach sinks at the utterance, a sudden flash of strobe lighting turning his features demonic. ‘I might not have found you, but I found your file. I also discovered that when you noted you had worked for Highland Holdings, you were actually working at a strip club.’

‘Gentleman’s club,’ I find myself countering ridiculously.

‘There are no gentlemen in a place like that.’

‘Something you’d know all about?’ As his fingers tighten, I try not to wince.

‘Clever of you to name the company rather than the name of the place.’

‘So you found my resumé.’ I’m almost surprised my voice sounds so normal because inside, I’m quaking. I haven’t lied on my resumé. Not exactly. Anyone who cared to dig a little would’ve found what he has. ‘I worked as a waitress. I served drinks. I don’t see how that’s the same as selling sex.’

‘While dressed as a schoolgirl, you sold watered down, overpriced drinks to men who wanted to fuck you. Such moral high ground,’ he taunts. ‘But I do wonder if that’s the only thing you sold.’

I find myself leaning forward, peeling his fingers from mine. ‘Fuck you.’

‘I thought we’d already established I’d like to. Just name your price.’

‘Fuck you and the deaf, dumb, and blind horse you rode in on. If you don’t let go of my hand—’

‘You’ll what? Cause a scene? Go ahead. I think my reputation can survive it.’

‘I’m sorry to interrupt.’ Fee’s voice is like sweet relief. It seems his reputation might survive a run-in with me, but not in front of another of Wolf Industries employees, and that fact would be kind of interesting if I could gather my thoughts. But I can’t right now. I’m too shaken up.

That’s kind of interesting. ‘Rose, our cab is here.’ She turns to Ben almost apologetically. ‘It was pre-ordered. You see I have a spinning class at some ungodly hour in the morning, and Rose is helping me.’

‘Well, I guess we’d better get going.’ As I stand, I find I can pull my hand from his now. I don’t spare him a glance as I tuck my arm into Fee’s as we hurry to our phantom cab.

24

Remy

Are you joining me for lunch?

Monday, eleven in the morning, and I’ve yet to hear from Rose. It’s not a huge concern but rather an irritating niggle, especially as it’s become our usual manner to have exchanged at least a couple of texts by nine. It should seem a little hypocritical to be suspicious, considering I’m the one keeping secrets, but nevertheless, there it is.

When I don’t receive a response, suspicion turns to concern, concern that I brush aside as I decide if anything untoward has happened, I’d already know. Whether I think I’d know instinctually or from the position as her boss, I don’t care to examine as I pull up the Wolf Tower concierge app on my phone and place a request. Or rather, an order. An order that’s denied immediately.

I go directly to the instant message function.

Rose, my request for lunch was returned with an error code. Any idea why?

Restart the app. That’s what we usually advise, comes her immediate response. It’s hardly flattering that she’ll ignore my texts but answer my questions regarding the app. I consider the fact that I’d intervened with her line manager, who seemed hell-bent on catering to me herself. Catering for me in kind like she did my father, no doubt. I told the woman in no uncertain terms that I wanted the newest member of staff to attend to my app requests, the implication being that the least experienced member would be the weakest link. She took the bait, insisting that all members of her team were trained to the highest level. That I would find no fault.

But it was just a way to get her off my back, perhaps getting Rose onto hers. The thought makes me smile because that has yet to happen in my office. Rose is particularly conscientious of what occurs during her hours of work. But back to the app, all enquiries are time-critical and monitored, response times part of the staff key performance indicators. Poor response times to initial enquires count against both the team and the individual and count towards a financial bonus scheme. The result? Rose might not answer my texts this morning, but she’d protect her colleagues.

Restarting the app is not something I have in mind.

Perhaps you should come and show me how to do that.

Sure. I mean, it’s not like I have anything more pressing to do among the other hundred requests that have come through this morning. Whoever said words on a screen come without emotion never took part in this kind of exchange. You’re not the only resident I attend to.