My mouth falls to the floor. Asher? She can’t possibly think something is happening between the two of us. It is a purely professional relationship. She knows that. Doesn’t she?
“Why do you ask?”
“Kat, I’ve been watching the two of you since you started. He has paid more attention to you than he has anyone in the three years I’ve been here. Yesterday, he was in the conference room with the maintenance crew hanging up that ridiculous poster.” She is looking me square in the eye. Her words are direct, yet I can hear the approval in her voice. Malory has mastered the art of swaying a conversation. I’ve seen her do it a thousand times and, right now, it feels like she’s swinging me toward Asher.
I press my lips together, trying to keep my bottom lip from quivering. “I actually came here to talk to you about Gabriel. Yesterday, when he was here… I thought everything was good, but then last night I tried… and he…” Words fail me.
“So what does this mean? Are you leaving him?”
Leaving Gabriel? “No.”
Malory leans back in her seat and crosses her arms. Her eyes squint in observation, looking at me, as if I’m a criminal under the heated light of an interrogation office.
“Why wouldn’t you?” She asks. “If he’s having an affair, why would you stay with him?”
“You think he’s having an affair?” My head falls into my hands.
“Don’t you?” Her words are curt.
“I haven’t even spoken to him about it. I mean…” Leave my husband? I haven’t ever thought of that.
“I think you have to ask your husband about the woman in the park. If you think something is going on, then it probably is.”
“You mean follow my heart?” Is that what Asher’s advice really was?
Malory stands and makes her way toward the door.
“Your heart, your brain, your gut, your vagina… whatever. You can’t play the ‘poor me and my marriage’ card every day. It’s getting old.”
I raise my head and look at her in utter confusion. “I don’t complain about my marriage.”
Using a mocking tone, she recites my words. “He works a lot. We have sex, but it’s not the same. He used to take me sailing. He used to play games with me. He used to this and he used to that.” Her words cut at me like a knife.
I don’t even know how to respond. I stare at her in bewilderment as I watch her get up from her desk. “Shit or get off the pot, Kat. It should be easy since you have a golden god kissing your goddamned feet.” With that, she leaves the office.
I walk back toward my office in disgust. How dare she? My sounding board. My best friend. Of all the…
First, it was don’t say anything to Gabriel; now, it’s confront him. And that Asher nonsense?
I bet she’s jealous of my friendship with Asher. I saw her moves on him at the bar. She thinks I’m after her man, when it couldn’t be further from the truth. Heather wasn’t the one I had to watch out for. It was Malory. And if she has the hots for Asher, why doesn’t she just go for him? She’s stunning and totally his type.
I feel like I’m lost in a head-trip. Poor me? Getting old? Leave your husband. What the hell is going on with my life?
Breathe, Kat. Just breathe.
I head back to my office intent on getting back to work. I power up my computer, grab the phone, and start placing calls I’ve been neglecting. Three weeks left and this event has to be perfect.
And it will be… after I call Gabriel. I just need to hear his voice and I’ll know. Know what I’m not sure.
“Hey.” He picks up sounding his usual self. My stomach is in knots, torn between my brain and my heart. Just hearing him on the other end reminds me I’m crazy and this is all a misunderstanding.
“You left early this morning.” My voice breaks. Gabriel can hear it on the other end.
“Is everything okay?” he asks, sounding distracted. I can imagine him sitting at his desk with his sleeves rolled up and going through a thousand-page deposition in front of him.
“I miss you, Gabriel. I really miss you.” Tears threaten to escape my eyes.
“Miss me? Kat, what’s going on?” He’s worried.
“Yes. I need to talk to you. Tonight. Promise we’ll talk?” I plead.
“Of course.” He promises. “Are you sure everything’s okay?”
Just hearing his voice quiets the irrational voice inside my head that’s making me go crazy.
“It’s better now.” It is. “I love you.”
“I love you too.” His voice is sincere.
I hang up feeling much better.
A knock on the door interrupts my thoughts. I swallow my insecurities and gain my composure. Wiping under my eyes to make sure they’re not smudged, I turn my head to the doorway to see Erik standing there clad in his signature black. “What can I do for you?”
“I came by to pick up the final production notes.” He’s holding a black leather satchel and an iPhone in hand.
“I’m still finalizing my packet for the event.” Was I supposed to have it ready? We just had a meeting yesterday. He knows where I am in production.
Erik looks displeased. It’s an odd reaction from someone who has been over-the-top welcoming to me.
“Kat, we have to talk about your performance here. You are constantly behind, and with the tight deadline we’re on, it makes me question whether you’re able to handle the job on your own.” His eyes are laced with disappointment.
“I didn’t know I was behind,” I nervously reply. I’ve been working really hard and am on top of all of my work.
I shuffle through the files on my desk, eager to show Erik the progress I’ve made, substantial progress. Haven’t I? The vendors have been contacted and contracts written up. I still haven’t finalized a few things, but that can be done next week.
My rundown is still in flux, but Gretchen has added some sequencing issues as per the talents’ time requirements in their contracts. So, I still have a lot of work to do there.
Malory has been reviewing the elements in the broadcast and the sponsorship inserts. I don’t have those complete either.
There is still a back-and-forth going on about the set. The site survey was great. That woman… Oh, what was her name…? Claudia! Yes, Claudia. We were going over logistics and she was answering my questions, but then I… left… with Asher.
Harvey and I have gone over the speeches and I still have to write a few more inserts in the copy.
I pause at the thought. I am really far behind. I immediately feel deflated. The roller coaster of emotions I’ve been feeling the past few weeks is really taking a toll on me. How can I go from high to low so fast? It makes the lows feel even… lower.
“Erik,” I say. He’s patiently waiting for me. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know my notes were due already. There are still another three weeks.”
I bite my lip and wait for a response. I can’t stand the look of disappointment on his face. Please, don’t let him fire me.
“Richard and I are heading over to Lincoln Center to discuss camera placement and lighting. I expect those reports finalized and on my desk by end of day Friday.” He turns to leave and then stops and sighs.
“I have high hopes for you. Friday.” It’s a command more than a compliment. With two taps on the door, he leaves.
I look around at the papers on my desk, trying to figure out how I let so much get by me. It wasn’t that long ago I was the go-to gal, the one you could rely on, who picked up everyone else’s pieces. I came here two months ago with that same attitude and fresh ideas. Then I got distracted letting my head get away from me.
And, I know exactly where it’s been.
The house is quiet when I get home. Gwen is still here so she can spend time with Jackson. It’s sweet of her, though part of me can’t wait until she goes home. She meddles. I want to talk to Gabriel about Becca again but can’t with Gwen around. She will either take his side, or worse, take mine. I don’t know if I’m ready for that… yet.