“Carly! Cab’s outside. He’s been here five minutes. You still in bed? Wake up!”
“Ally? Oh fuck. I’ll grab another cab. I’ll be there soon.”
“I’ll go and send Ash back. I’ll cover for you,” she assures.
“Okay, okay. Shit. Thanks, Ally.”
I get a text ten minutes later from her. I’ve fallen back asleep.
Damn it, Carly!
“I’m here @ work. I sent him back. I paid him so don’t worry about the company charge account. You can pay the cab home when we go clubbing on the weekend we get paid. If you head down in ten, he’ll be there and you should only be ten or fifteen minutes late. I’ll pour you a coffee and put it on your desk so you can slip in and maybe not be noticed. See you soon, bestie.”
Thank God for new besties.
I grab the fastest shower ever and as I’m rushing out of the front door of the building, Seth the security guard is trying to make small talk.
“Runnin’ late?”
“Sorry. Gotta go. Late for work. Bye!” I rush out the door and Ash’s cab is sitting there. He has a smile on his face.
“Sorry for making you wait earlier,” I tell him.
“This is okay.” He smiles big and drives super-fast to get me to work. I get there at 8:58. I’m supposed to start at 8:30.
I try to tip him, but he won’t take the money, tells me Ally already paid.
I wave bye to him and rush inside.
***
“Good afternoon, Miss Adler. My office, please,” Aiden is at the opening into my cubicle, looking down at me.
I had just gotten my bottom into my chair, but he’s seen me sneak in and he’s looking at me with a look on his face that makes me uneasy.
Fuck. Damn it. Late on my third day. And he knows why.
Aiden goes back into his office, looking fresh in black pants with a wine-colored shirt, no tie today. He’s in there with his father.
Double Fuck. I don’t like that Aiden saw me come in late, but Mr. Carmichael? Ugh.
I take a big sip of my lukewarm coffee, courtesy of Ally, and grab a notebook and pen and go into his office and sit down in the chair beside Mr. C.
My hair was
a little wild after sleeping on it, so I washed it fast and tied it up wet into a bun. It’s still wet.
I’m wearing black dress pants and a white button-down blouse with a pair of high-heeled sandals.
I’m also wearing my eyeglasses as my contacts were driving me nuts and I’ve put on zero make-up. I had planned to get in and then slip into the bathroom and get my face finished, but no such luck.
Thankfully, I’m not hung over. Just a bit fuzzy and frazzled.
“Good morning, Mr. C.” I adjust my glasses on my face and open my notebook and wait.
Mr. C is smiling at me.
“How are you settling in so far, Carly?”