Arctic Peg’s nose swings in the air at that comment, affronted. “Yes…yes, darling. I do have knowledge of you living with Mr. Jacobs. And of your recent engagement. I am his legal secretary, Ms. Brimm. How could that piece of knowledge escape me?” She won’t stop with her venom.
I’ve had enough with Cold Cruel Pegster! I’ve never been anything but warm and respectful to her, only to have her zap me with sheets of ice. There’s no way that I can continue with Azmir and have his staff regard me so rudely.
“Peg, I’m not sure where we went askew when we met. I have no idea what I’ve said or done to make our exchanges so…glacial. But I don’t want to do it anymore. Tell me what I’ve done so that I can apologize and make amends. This needs to end here.” I pluck a brow. “Today.”
Frosty Peg appears unmoved, but I definitely have her attention. She sits back in her chair and removes her glasses, placing them on the desk. Straightening her shoulders, she utters, “You lied to me the first time I encountered you. You presented yourself no differently than the droves of women who vie for his attention daily. Only, he was pursuing you as well.” Her head goes toward the right as her sight set out to the distance, recalling months ago when I lied to get a couple of minutes with Azmir to thank him for the iPhone he’d surprised me with.
“I’ve worked under wealthy business men for decades. I know the life of a man with many resources. I was the second student enrolled in the fine Long Beach City School of Legal Assistants. I’m very proud of what I do and have been doing it since your grandmother was doing The Frug. I’ve seen the dark underworld of rich men. The dives in morality they take because of their privileged statues. I’ve worked for men who would only let my Mr. Jacobs in their offices to clean their shoes.” She lets out a huff after that, I guess at the idea of someone thinking so little of Azmir.
“When I met him,” Peg refers to Azmir. She’s suddenly gained an arch in her cheeks— is that a…smile? “I’d been laid off from a job that I trained my successor to do. I had no idea they were using me only to fire me and after twenty-six years of service.” She snaps her tongue on the roof of her mouth.
“When I walked into that warehouse…into that small hole in the wall, I was broke and broken. I made my way into an even smaller room where I laid eyes on his dark skin, dressed in a button up, jeans, and construction boots while sitting over a mountain of paperwork. I knew right away that this brown boy was going to turn me away. I didn’t even know if I wanted to work for him—the place was horrendous.” Peg chuckles at the memory of it. I’m standing awkwardly, envisioning the Azmir from back when.
“He looked so disorganized, in such disarray!” She cups her mouth to muffle her mirth. I can’t believe she has a functioning sense of humor. “He was on the phone, and when he spoke, I could close my eyes and not know what his ethnicity was. He was the brightest man I’d met his age. Almost instantly, I’d decided I wanted the job. I didn’t have the description of the company, but I didn’t care. This young man was promising,” Peg’s mirth falls into a warm smile. But then her eyes find mine and her cheeks drop into a scowl.
“And I later learned he was loyal. I got the job and started that day. And despite my age, and the color of my skin, a few months later, I moved into an office park he rented out to run the company. Then he brought me here when he purchased this massive lot and built this beautiful architecture.” Her eyes gleam with pride. “He spends more time working than any of those rich bastards I’d worked decades for. He helps people, puts their needs in front of his own. He’s a workaholic, which is why it didn’t surprise me when his relationship with Ms. Harrison failed. I wasn’t happy to believe he’d be alone. A dark, handsome man with his brilliance, charm, wealth, and resources, but no wife or children?” Peg snaps her tongue again and visibly trembles at that thought. I remain silent, trying to process her perspective.
“Anyway, along with wealth and power, comes fanfare of the female persuasion.” She goes back to her paperwork, there on her desk. “You lied when I first met you. To me, you were no different. He’s a good man. One who needs an honest and pure woman on his side. Someone who will fiercely protect him—”