Page 8 (2/2)

I turned and saw the blonde curls and round face of Molly, another analyst She had been at the coood work, but hadn’t quite broken through yet Her voice also carried in a way I didn’t think was possible before I’d met her Not for the first time, I wondered if it could be heard on adjacent floors

"Kristen and I locked it down today," Richard said, holding up the docuer at me "Now you better make sure you don’t let hi" Molly worked under a different et aith such comments

I barely trusted rin, I shook my head "I won’t"

"Well I won’t stand for it if I hear you did"

I nodded, wanting to put an end to the conversation While we’d been talking, heads had been popping out of cubicles offering their congratulations The rest of the work day passed in a blur of e up on other work It seemed everyone was excited but me How could I have let Vincent kiss me?

I walked into my apartment emotionally drained; I wanted to collapse onone of the housewives shows and eating noodles She waved when she saw o?" she asked excitedly I’d texted her on the way to the otten about following up afterward There would definitely be ot it," I said wearily

She screaot up, and bounced over in her blue shorts and sorority t-shirt to hugand reciprocated as best I could

Riley seeo out and celebrate," she said

"I don’t know I’estlike this happen at my job"

I looked at her and my shoulders slumped "Sorry, I just need to wind doith a bath and fall asleep tonight It was a really big day"

She looked athappen?"

Maybe so myself to talk about it yet, so I shook my head "I’er for a second longer but shethis weekend and I’ no for an answer We can try that new tapas place Sangria!"

I smiled "Sounds like a deal"

Riley nodded and went to the fridge to get as probably her seventh diet coke of the day "So what actually happened in the ?"

I looked away "It’s kind of a blur We talked, and after a while he was satisfied and signed It’s hard to reht? I re"

"Yeah, I guess"

I’d lied towas no proble

I went tointo the bathrooered on Vincent The audacity he had to kiss me in his office had me stuck between upset and impressed I supposed it was to be expected from an adrenaline junkie like him Obviously most of the risks he’d taken up to that point had worked out just fine If this one failed, it was no sweat off his back I recalled the incident in Cape Town Coirl was nothing

I shrugged off my robe and poured my favorite bubble bath soap under the tap The cinnamon candle I chose was one offor the tub to fill up Once it had, I turned off the tap and stepped in, subrant scents had an immediate effect on ar, al while etting anywhere withtime since I’d even kissed sootten these things take willpower

I leaned back and closedthe bubbles pool around led a class, gradually relieving the stress from my system