“You think I’m jealous of you? That’s just the most ridiculous…,” she trailed off, laughing to herself. Her face turned red, and the she took a step forward. “I don’t see what anyone sees in you. You’re not talented…at anything…you’re not that smart, definitely not that attractive, you have no fashion sense, and you have the personality of a rock.”
“Tell me how you really feel,” I said, incensed. “I don’t care what Grant sees. I’m married to the most perfect, amazing, handsome man in the universe.” Although it was the truth, I inwardly cringed at how sophomoric it sounded.
“You don’t care? Then why did you stick me in the bowels of the file room? I know you wanted me out of the way!”
I wanted to tell her that Grant was the one that cast her away, but that was more cruel than I was capable. “You can have Grant. I never wanted him,” I said. Even the thought of Grant, of me and Grant…ew.
“He’s not yours to give away!” Sasha howled. “You want to know what I can’t stand about you? That! That right there! That snooty, presumptuous, overconfident tone you have when you have zero redeeming qualities! Your father thought you hung the moon, Grant thinks you can do no wrong, your best-friend-slash-assistant treats you like a queen, and your husband should have never given you the time of day. Now, you’re pregnant and gloriously happy. I’m not jealous, Nina, I’m revolted! You don’t deserve anything you have!”
“Maybe you’re right.”
“What?” Sasha said softly, clearly caught off guard.
“I don’t have any redeeming qualities to speak of. I don’t know why Grant has that ridiculous crush on me—if that’s even what it is—and I am the first person to admit that I don’t deserve Jared. He probably just fell in love with me because it’s his job to be around me twenty-four-seven, and he didn’t have time to date. He disagrees, but I’ve always thought….”
“Well,” she cleared her throat, “you’re not…you’re not that bad. I mean, you’re not funny at all but sometimes you make Grant laugh. And I’ve seen you be sort-of kind to Beth. Once. No, you don’t have any redeeming qualities, but since when does anyone need to be extraordinary to be loved? Most people are average. Not me, of course, but it’s perfectly fine that you are.”
I took a deep breath. “I can see why you’re upset with me. I haven’t handled our situation in the best way. I should have talked to you. I didn’t realize…I mean, looking back, I knew about Grant. But I thought it was the position you wanted, not necessarily him. Now that I know, I get it. I don’t think he’s all that attractive, but I see why others do.”
“He’s very cute,” Sasha sulked. “He really does care about this company and the employees, and he’s so smart—and sweet. When he’s not trying to figure out how to keep Titan on top, he’s talking about you. It’s infuriating. You are never kind to him.”
I frowned. “I’m not. I will try to work on that.”
“No! Don’t do that!” she said, shaking her head. “I just meant that...don’t go out of your way on my account.”
“I’m sorry. I would like us to get along better,” I said. Now that I knew the source of her disdain, it was easier to understand the motives behind her hateful remarks. “You still can’t put your feet on my desk.”
“You’re right. Totally out of line. I apologize.”
I wasn’t sure what to say next. We had never been civil to each other, and now that we had come to an understanding, all that was left was an awkward silence.
“I was, er…I was just about to get some coffee. I’m going to be here all night reorganizing the file room. It’s atrocious. So…do you want some?”
“Coffee?”
“Yes,” Sasha said, trying a smile.
“Here,” I said, pulling a twenty dollar bill from my pocket. “I can’t drink coffee, especially not the sludge in the break room. I’ll grab me an apple cider and you a coffee at that place on Spruce. It’s my favorite.”
Sasha snatched the bill from my fingers. “I’ll get it. I need a break, anyway. I just need a flashlight.”
“Why?”
“I had to park four blocks down in that parking garage because of the construction, and the lighting is nonexistent.”
“Why don’t you take my….” I had to stop myself and think. Jared was surely back by now, but he couldn’t take her in the Escalade, for many reasons. My car was parked at the curb just outside. The only people I had allowed to drive it were Jared and Bex, and that was only because they had supernatural powers of precision and lightning reflexes. It was too late, now. I’d opened my mouth, and a retraction would shake our already fragile cease-fire. I would have to let Sasha drive the car my father had given me.
“Why don’t you take the Beemer?” I said, nearly choking on my words.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes,” I said, holding out the keys. “Just be careful, please.”
Sasha smiled. “What do you want?”
“I’ll have a large hot apple cider with caramel. Oh, and a slice of their Lemon Velvet cake.”
“I know it’s summer, but I can get you an iced coffee if you’d prefer.” I shook my head, and Sasha’s expression changed quickly from confusion to understanding. “Oh, right. The baby. Okay, I’ll be back in twenty.”