“Randy was the only guard working last night.”
A bad feeling rolls through me, the memory of seeing the original Randy behind the desk crystal clear in my mind. “I thought there were two men named Randy on duty last night?”
“No. We only have one Randy working here.”
My throat tightens. “Okay. I must be confused. Thank you.” I hang up, a sick feeling expanding in my belly. Who was that man and how did he get into the office?
“Good morning.”
I jolt at the sound of Jessica’s voice, glancing up to find her standing in front of me. “Hi,” I say cautiously, worried this is the start of a confrontation when I’m still reeling from the Randy revelation.
“Hi,” she says, pressing her hands to the waist of her cream-colored dress. “Want to go downstairs and get coffee?”
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”
“Because of Shane?” she asks, and waves off the idea. “He’s not here.”
“Really? Okay then,” I say, welcoming a friend right now, and any hint about how Shane might react to my presence. “Coffee sounds really good right now.” I stand and reach for my purse.
“It’s on Shane,” she says. “He has an account and he’ll be happy to buy for us.”
She can’t begin to understand the many ways that feels wrong but I let it go, and we make our way to the elevator, where we end up sardines in a crowded car, a short reprieve from what I know will be her many questions. Sure enough, we step off the car and she gets right to the point of this coffee break. “Are you staying or leaving?”
“Staying,” I say as we arrive at the coffee shop and take our place in line.
“Does Shane know?” she asks.
“Shane doesn’t get to make this decision,” I say, folding my arms in front of me and preparing for the attack that may follow. “Severance won’t last forever and I have bills to pay.”
“I did think of that,” she surprises me by saying. “And you’re getting paid well. But Emily, he’s worried about you.”
I don’t even know how to reply to that and it turns out I don’t have to, at least not now. The customer in front of us leaves and I step up to the register and place my order, quickly moving to the end of the counter to wait for my coffee. And damn it, I suddenly remember I’m wearing the same lipstick I’d been wearing the day I’d met Shane.
“Emily.”
Shane’s voice radiates through me, a wicked hot reminder of what might have been and will never be, facing him, I find him nearly on top of me. “What are you doing here?” he demands, the scent of him, spicy and male, somehow adding to the anger his question ignites in me.
“I need a jolt of caffeine,” I say, cautiously containing my temper.
“Don’t play innocent,” he says, his gray eyes darkening to match the deep gray of his suit he wears too well to be such a jerk.
“I didn’t sleep last night,” I say. “I needed a jolt of caffeine.”
He attacks again. “Why are you at work?”
“Because you aren’t pushing me out. I need this job.”
“I promised you severance pay,” he reminds me, as if he’s offered me a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow he’s destroyed.
“Severance does not a career make,” I say, grabbing my coffee as it’s set on the counter. “I need to get back to work.” I try to step around him.
He is quickly in front of me again. “You aren’t staying, Emily.”
“Yes,” I reply firmly. “I am.”
His eyes glint, and I see the obstinate determination in his stare even before he declares, “You have until the end of day and then I will ensure you’re gone.” He turns and leaves, and anger surges through me. He will ensure I’m gone? He is being so unfair and I can’t believe I thought I could love that man.
“Wow,” Jessica says, joining me. “You’re trembling, honey.” She reaches for my cup. “Let me hold that. What happened?”
“I’ll let you know when it’s over,” I say, taking off after Shane, my steps fast, but not fast enough. I round the corner to the bank of elevators at the same moment he steps into a car. I will never make before it leaves.
Another elevator opens and I step inside, facing forward. Jessica joins me. “What are you about to do? And is it smart?” she demands, punching the button to our floor.
“Very and don’t even think about taking his side right now.”
“Easy, honey,” she says, holding up her hands, and she obviously she opted to leave our coffees behind. “I just think you should know that he was protecting you. There’s something nasty going on in this company.”
“You have no idea what has happened between us, so please don’t try to make this about whatever is happening in the company.”