Double Dare

"I figured it must be something like that."

"Oh yes, right, it's easy to be wise after the event." It was as if she focused on him then, rather than the situation, because her expression changed. "You know, I really thought we had something good. I thought we were building something strong here."

"We do have something good, this isn't about us." He gestured with hands outstretched. "Please, Suz, try to understand. I told you because I care about you, because I didn't want you to find out by chance."

She shook her head vigorously. "Oh no, don't even try with me, Nathan, right now the important thing is I get to my friend," her voice had lifted several decibels, "and apologize to her for bringing this to her door."

She stomped over to the wardrobe and started rooting around, hauling things out and throwing them on the floor behind her.

Dynamite comes in small packages, he reminded himself, miserably, and this one had exploded big time. The fall out could be disastrous, especially if she got to Abby before Zac told her himself.

* * * *

In her kitchen, Abby ran through her plans whilst pouring a bowl of cereal and humming along to the morning jingle on the radio. The sun was shining, she was happy. It was going to be a momentous day. She felt calm and well prepared.

Once she got to the office, she'd have time to look through her presentation notes again before the meeting. It was really a recap, an opener for discussion on future management with Roberson and potential growth areas for the portfolio. But she wanted it to go well. She wanted to end her time at Robertson's on a high note.

The night before, on her return from Paris, she had typed and printed her resignation. After the meeting, she would see Tom and give him her formal notice. At the end of her day, Zac was her reward. Okay, so she had to take it slowly, get to know him. But she wanted to live dangerously. It was a new life, an exciting life. One filled with possibility. Eating her cereal absent-mindedly, she counted the hours until she sealed her destiny.

While she dressed, she took a moment to enjoy her

own decadent smile in the mirror. How her life had changed, how much pleasure she had encountered by following her desires and being brave. Not reckless, no, but brave. She knew that now.

She opted for a classic black dress, cut long, sleeveless and simple. She wasn't much in the mood for power dressing, her power came from within. She tied her hair in a thick plait and slung it over her shoulder. After she put on her make up, she picked up the necklace that Zac had given her. She drew it over her lips, then slid it around her throat and let it kiss her skin slowly, before it nestled into place.

The office was in chaos when she arrived. There was no sign of Suzanne at her desk, which probably accounted for it. That unsettled her. Apart from being unusual, she'd planned to ask Suzanne to schedule her resignation meeting with Tom. She strode down the corridor, avoiding Ed who got up as if to speak to her when she passed his office.

She closed the door behind her. Within a few moments, there was a knock. She sighed. She didn't really want to speak to him until she had the meeting out of the way.

Surprisingly, it was Penny that came in and clicked her stiletto heels over to the desk. She folded her arms, her tight-fitting suit riding up, her shoulders looking like evil twin humps as she stood staring at Abby with those strange gray eyes.

Abby smiled unreservedly at the spectacle of the badly fitting suit. "I'm rather busy, Penny. What is it that you want?"

Penny's mouth twitched with annoyance. "Tom has asked Eddy and I to be at this meeting because of our earlier work on the account. I wanted to make sure you aren't going to cause any problems for us."

Abby couldn't restrain a chuckle. "Me, cause problems for you?" She swung her chair back and forth, amused by the other woman's fear of public reprisal. "Now, Penny, you shouldn't judge other people on your own standards. That's much more the sort of thing you'd do, not I."

Penny glared at her.

"Incidentally, you're more than welcome to enjoy Ed, if that's what you're worrying about. I'm happy for you both."

Rivets of ice formed in Penny's eyes. She didn't like being called to order.

"What, were you expecting me to be upset?" Abby looked at her earnestly. "Do you really think I'd ever let you steal anything that I wanted to keep, you silly girl?"

"It wasn't like that..." Penny muttered, looking flustered, her voice trailing nowhere.

"Of course it wasn't...but if you're still trying to steal my job..." Abby smiled at the other woman's frozen stare. "Well, you're welcome to go for that too, I'm handing in my resignation later today then I'm out of here."

Penny did a fair impression of a fish swallowing air.

"Why don't you run along now." Abby directed her toward the door with a wave of her hand.

Penny's lips tightened to a pinch. She turned on her spiky heels and stomped out of the room, slamming the door behind her.

Abby spun her chair to the window and allowed herself a brief moment of gratification, before returning to the papers on the desk.

Within a couple of minutes there was another knock and before she had time to answer it, Ed opened the door and walked in. He looked confused, rather sheepish and truly embarrassed.