“Come in.”
When Remi saw who was entering her office, she rolled her eyes. “I’m kind of busy right now.” She turned to her computer and started to type.
“Can we just talk for a minute or two? Or can I come back in a little bit when you’re less busy?”
“Who said I’d be less busy in a little bit? I work all day, I don’t take time off for extra curricular activities.”
Nicole folded her arms. “Is that a dig at me?”
Remi sighed. “I really don’t have time for this, Nicole.”
“Well, I’m not going to be bullied into quitting or moving to a different department. I’m staying on at this position.”
The older woman finally turned her gaze to Nicole. “Fine. You want to work hard—you want to earn your way in this business? I’ll make sure you earn every last red cent we pay you with blood, sweat and tears.”
Nicole smiled a little. In her heart, she knew she was a fighter. None of these people—except Red—truly understood that about her. “Bring it on.”
“Can do, Miss Masters. Can do, and will do. Ta ta now.” Remi wiggled her fingers at Nicole, and the younger girl turned on her heel and left the office.
***
When Nicole returned home to her own apartment that night, it was well after eight o’clock at night. She and Red had gone out to dinner after work, to a tiny little Thai Restaurant on the Upper West Side.
He’d wanted her to come back to his house (their house) in Connecticut afterwards, but Nicole explained that first she needed to speak to her old roommate. Danielle may have been a jerk, and perhaps the friendship had run its course, but Nicole didn’t feel right just disappearing without an explanation.
Red had been understanding of her wishes, if disappointed. “Have your heart-to-heart with Danielle and then come back with me. I can wait in the car. I’m patient,” he’d told her.
But it just felt wrong to do that. The changes taking place were massive, and Nicole needed to try and take some control back of her life. Setting things to rights with Danielle was part of it. Besides, there would be plenty of nights to share her new home with Red, but this might be her last night in her old apartment, her old life.
When Nicole opened the door, Danielle was sitting on her laptop at the kitchen table. She looked up and saw Nicole and her jaw dropped open. Danielle was so surprised—she looked as if she were about to dispense Pez from her mouth. It was so comical that for a brief moment, Nicole had to hold back a burst of laughter.
She didn’t want to start things off by laughing in her former roommate’s face, not after everything else that had gone on between them lately.
“I didn’t expect to see you tonight,” Danielle said, quickly closing her laptop. This made Nicole wonder exactly what she’d been doing—maybe reading The Rag, or one of the Internet forums, trying to get the dirt about Nicole and Red? Surely all the housewives would be saying how gross it was that Red had chosen to be with such an ugly, plain girl when he could have had supermodels and actresses?
“Sorry I haven’t been in touch,” Nicole said, dropping her purse on the kitchen counter and leaning against it.
Danielle nodded. “I understand. You’ve been busy…”
“Listen,” Nicole said. She took a deep breath, knowing she had to just say it and get it over with. “I came back tonight to talk to you about the apartment situation.”
“Okay.” Danielle’s eyes narrowed. “I didn’t realize there was a ‘situation’ to talk about.”
“Well, there kind of is.” She was dreading this conversation so much that she was having trouble getting the words out. Finally she forced herself to pull the trigger. “I’m moving out.”
Danielle’s expression didn’t really change outwardly, and yet there was a subtle shift. The set of her jaw tightened under the surface of her skin, her eyes hardened. “You’re moving out because I told your parents about Red?”
Nicole shook her head emphatically. “No. Not because of that.”
“Then why? Have I been that bad of a roommate? Am I messy, obnoxious, what is it?”
“I’m moving in with Red. He proposed to me on Sunday and we’re engaged.” Just saying the words felt so bizarre, and from the look on Danielle’s face, it sounded as bizarre to her as it did to Nicole.
“Engaged.”
“Yes. I know it sounds funny.”
“Funny? Not the word I’d use.” Danielle stood up and started to put her hair into a ponytail. “You’ve been seeing him, what—a few weeks?”
“I’m not going to defend my choices to you, Danielle. I came here to tell you I’m moving out, and to give you notice so you can find a new roommate.”
“You’re on the lease too, Nic. You’re the one who’s got to find a replacement.”
“Fine, I can do that. Still, I thought—“