I scowled. "No, why should I? The skank was holding his dick while he was half-naked. What is there to explain? That she wasn't real? That I was having delusions? Please, April." I thought it was odd that April, who'd been the very one condemning Tyler, was asking if I'd given him a chance to explain his lies to me.
April studied me, understanding in her eyes. "Sometimes, Vicky, things aren't what they seem."
I glowered. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
Instead of answering, April turned toward the window. "It sure is a beautiful view at dusk," she murmured appreciatively.
Doesn’t beat the view from Tyler's office, I thought.
"It is," I admitted, wondering what April’s deal was. "A beautiful view and an ugly day."
"It wasn't that bad."
Are you kidding me?
I turned away and walked over to Christine's desk, ready to go home. April was suddenly acting too weird for me. "It's time to get out of here.” I paused, looking around the desk to make sure Christine’s things were exactly how she liked them.
"Hey, April."
"What's up?"
"Can you tell Gabe to bring Christine's White Book before you go? He came by here a bit ago, asking to borrow it. I want everything to be where it’s supposed to be when Christine gets here. She'll have a fit if it isn't here in the morning," I said.
April turned to regard me, a twinkle in her eye. "Sure. I'll send him up as soon as I track him down." She walked toward the office doorway but stopped to ask, "Do you need anything?"
Okay, now I really know she's acting weird.
I crossed my arms. "No. Just that book. Now,” I said with my best Christine impression.
April saluted me with a laugh. "Right on it, Boss."
I gagged. “Gross.”
Leaving a peal of laughter in her wake, April left the office, practically skipping out.
"Weirdo," I muttered when she was gone.
While killing time for Gabe, I went about tidying up Christine's office, making sure nothing was out of place. Christine was a neat freak, and if she came back with so much as a pen out of place, I was sure I'd never hear the end of it.
I still couldn't believe that she'd let me run her office for a day. Me, the girl she'd practically tortured since coming to work for her. Me, the girl who thought she was doomed to be a slave for Christine for most of her adult life, only to be tossed to the wayside when she wasn't needed.
But things were beginning to change. Christine started treating me with at least a hint of respect, and she obviously had enough faith in me to give me this opportunity.
All in all, I thought I did a good job if not for the disaster in the audition room, even if I was practically an answering machine.
"C'mon, Gabe, where are you?" I muttered, glancing at Christine's antique clock on the wall. I was already here later than normal. The sun had sunk behind the horizon, leaving a darkened skyline twinkling with lights.
Sighing in frustration, I sat down at Christine's desk and called Gabe's extension. I didn't know why he was taking so damn long. He worked several floors below me, but he still should've been burning wheels to get that book back to me. He was usually the first one out the door every day.
The phone rang several times before his answering machine picked up. "This is Gabriel, your fashion divanista. I'll get back to you guys whenever I feel like it . . . BITCHES!"
Beep.
I swear to God, he only had that message somehow specifically for me. There’s no way he’d survived working for Christine that long with a voicemail like that. “Gabe, what the hell are you doing?" I demanded. "I'm ready to go home. Why aren't you here yet? You know who’s going to be killed when Christine comes back in tomorrow morning looking for . . .”
"This?" asked a deep voice at the doorway.
I looked up and my heart jumped in my chest.
Tyler.
Again.
He was standing in the doorway, this time with clothes on, a tux, no less, holding Christine's White Book in his hands. Five o’clock shadow shaded his jaw as he grinned at me with his enigmatic eyes.
I swear on my life, he never looked more hot and sexy than in that moment. What the hell did he do between now and the last time I saw him? I wondered, awed that he would show up looking so formal just for me.
"What—" I began.
"Am I doing here?" Tyler finished for me.
It felt like the cat had my tongue. I nodded.
"I've come to see you, what else?” He said, as if it was plainly obvious. "And to bring you this book." Keeping his eyes on me, he swaggered over to Christine's desk and set the book down before me.
April must have known about this . . . that’s why she was acting so differently.
"At your service, Madame," Tyler said dutifully, treating me to a majestic bow. His charm was powerful; it always had been.
Don’t fall for his antics and let him prey on your emotions, that annoying voice urged. Get him out of here.
Gathering all the mental strength that I had at my command, I shot to my feet, stabbing a finger at the door. "Get out!" I shouted. Though I tried to sound as threatening as possible, I actually sounded frightened.
Tyler didn't budge, his eyes still twinkling, unfazed by my barely-there wrath. "You sure about that?"