Safe Words

by Magnolia Robbins

  “She’d do anything to ruin me,” Scarlett managed to say. As soon as she did, I knew exactly how. Diana had been in the condo on Friday stealing the footage.

  “Andrea must have said something,” I realized aloud, feeling a wave of anger rush through me. “I swear to God I am going to kill her.” When I got to my feet, Scarlett’s hand wrapped around my wrist. We met eyes, and she shook her head at me.

  “You’re going to stay here while I go sort this out,” Scarlett said.

  “I am not just going to sit here and do nothing!”

  “It wasn’t a question, Natalia.” There was that demanding voice again. This time I did not hear the affectionate undertones. It was an order. I was meant to do as I was told. I glared at her as she got to her feet.

  “Scarlett, I’m not staying here,” I said. “Your life isn’t the only one that’s affected by this. God knows what it’s going to do to me.”

  Scarlett still looked distracted but her stern demeanor had softened. “We’ll go together then.”

  The ride from the condo to the Baker Publishing building was the longest of my life. After Scarlett made a quick phone call, the two of us sat in an anxious silence as Henry drove us. When we reached the building, I took hold of her hand for a moment before we made our way outside. There was a mess of reporters waiting. My heart erupted in my chest as they swarmed towards us. Henry came to help us inside, doing his best to keep the reporters at bay. There was so much commotion I couldn’t make out what they were saying. All I could hear was shouts of my name.

  Once we’d made it to the elevator, Henry left us to return to the town car. There were only a few people inside with us, none of whom gave us any mind. Scarlett punched the thirty-second floor, a whole ten stories above the Stitch office, which surprised me. I didn’t ask any questions, only waited beside her. When the doors opened, a tall blonde haired man was waiting for us. He had a sharp jawline and stern look to face. If I hadn’t been a nervous wreck, I would have smiled at the sight of his attire. A Brunello Cucinelli suit. Scarlett wore it better, of course.

  “Scarlett,” he said, ushering us off the elevator. She didn’t reply. The two of us followed him into a lush office, adorned with wood and marble, much like the ground level of the building. It made even Scarlett’s office look average by comparison. Scarlett and I sat in a pair of seats on the opposite end of an expensive looking wood desk. Once the man sat, he studied both of us for a long moment.

  “I’d ask you to explain yourself, but that’s already been done,” he said, looking at Scarlett then. “You’re on every local news station, I hope you know. Likely national by now.”

  For the first time in my history of knowing her, Scarlett looked embarrassed and at a loss for words. She cleared her throat and looked back up at him. “This was my personal business, Jonathan,” she argued. Then she looked to me for a moment. “Our, personal business.” When she said his name, I realized who he was. The man who had offered me my journalism job. Jonathan Parker. The CEO of Baker Publishing.

  “We have policies regarding employee relations,” he said. While his gaze was not as stern as Scarlett’s could be, he still looked deathly serious. “Not to mention you’ve been giving her preference over your other employees.”

  My mind flashed to Andrea. An unusual wave of anger rolled through me. I’d hoped I never saw her again, that was for sure. “She hasn’t been giving me preference,” I argued.

  Scarlett reached out to touch my hand. “I realize I gave her the opportunity to write for the blog, but she has a background in journalism.”

  “So do other interns and staff in your office, most of which have been working for you far longer than Ms. Ross. I have had several complaints.” Jonathan sat back in his seat. When he met eyes with me, I turned away. I wondered for a moment who else had complained about me. “Scarlett, this doesn’t just look bad on you. It looks bad on us too. On me, specifically. I offered Ms. Ross the position.”

  The office went silent for a moment. I looked to Scarlett, who seemed lost in thought. Finally I couldn’t take it anymore and I turned back to Jonathan. Asking the question I didn’t want the answer to. “So what happens, then?”

  “I’m afraid I have to ask you to resign,” Jonathan said, looking at me, his face emotionless. “I realize you got caught in the crossfires of this whole situation, but there’s no other way around it.” Scarlett perked up and I watched as she sat up in her seat.

  “You will not fire Natalia,” Scarlett said. “Especially for something she was not responsible for. This was my decision. I’ll take the consequences.”

  “Scarlett,” Jonathan turned towards her then. “You’ll be reprimanded, of course. But something has to be done.” He turned his attention back to me. “Ms. Ross, you have to understand that you are expendable under these circumstances.” The word hurt a little when he said it, but I somewhat understood. “I will however, make phone calls for you. I’ll help you find another position somewhere. It won’t be here. Or any Baker Publishing affiliate.”

  When I looked to Scarlett, she looked infuriated. I paused for a moment before I nodded. “I’ll do it.” Scarlett started to answer, and I reached out to take her hand in mine. Jonathan gave it no notice, his gaze still on me.

  “It’s settled then. I’ll send out a press release and this will be over soon. I’ll be in touch, Ms. Ross. Thank you for cooperating.” All I could do was nod. “Scarlett, I expect to see you here tomorrow to resume your duties at Stitch.” While she didn’t answer, it looked as if Scarlett understood.

  The conversation seemed to have ended there. After I got up from my seat, Scarlett followed suit. While I shook Jonathan’s hand, Scarlett didn’t bother, looking back towards the door. The two of us left, neither of us speaking until we’d reached the elevator and were alone. My hand reached out to graze hers. “It’s going to be okay,” I said, though I wasn’t quite convinced myself. “I’m still going to have a job. You still have a job. We’ll make this work.”

  Most of the reporters had left by the time we made our way back out to Henry. Those who still remained followed us to the town car, but neither of us acknowledge them. As we got inside, Scarlett’s phone rang. She ignored it while we settled, but once it rang again, she pulled it from her purse and answered. While she talked, I looked outside at the city, lost in thought. Henry waited for Scarlett to instruct him on what to do. Now and then I’d phase into the conversation Scarlett was having, realizing that she was likely talking to James Reed, her lawyer. By the sound of it, it was more bad news.

  The minute she hung up the phone, Scarlett threw it angrily onto the floor. She cursed, to no one in particular and then fell back against the seat, looking out the window. From my vantage point, I couldn’t tell, but it looked as if she was holding back tears. My concern grew.

  “What’s going on?” I asked, leaning in towards her. At first she didn’t answer. “Scarlett?”

  “That woman can go straight to hell!” Scarlett said. She still didn’t look at me. “Straight to hell!” As soon as she’d said it, I watched her climb out the door and back out onto the street. Panicked, I told Henry to wait for us and trailed off after her.

  “Scarlett, where are you going?” I called to her, doing my best to keep up. While I’d grown accustomed to the death traps on my feet, I still couldn’t run very gracefully. I managed to get to her side.

  “I needed a walk,” Scarlett said, huffing along at a rather rapid pace. How she managed in those heels, I had no idea. Somehow I kept alongside her as difficult as it was to concentrate on two things at once.

  “Is it Diana?” I asked her, and her gaze turned towards me. She didn’t answer at first and instead we walked side by side quietly for a while. I felt her eyes on me again and she took pause.

  “Every breath of my being has gone into that company. And all of it is about to be taken down by a diabolical lunatic that I made the horrendous mistake of marrying.”

  “It’s not over yet,
” I argued, reaching out to take her hand.

  Scarlett turned to face me. We’d stepped out of the way on the sidewalk. “Natalia, Diana has everything she needs. James said outside of a miracle, there’s nothing that can be done at this point. She spent years weaving her way into my work, enough that it would take an army to stop her now.”

  There was a long silence after she spoke. I didn’t know what to say. Finally I felt a wave of determination overcome me. “You’ve worked too hard to let her win. We’ll figure out a way.” A small smile drew on her lips and my heart fluttered. Then the thought entered my mind. One that had risen during our conversation with Jonathan and now was becoming clearer.

  “I think we have to stay away from one another,” I said, my gaze still on hers. Scarlett looked puzzled, so I continued my thought. “If you have any chance against Diana, I can’t be seen with you. At least not for a while. Life needs to go back to normal. You need to make peace at the office. Diana can’t win if you don’t give her the ammunition against you.”

  “Natalia,” Scarlett almost looked as though she wanted to laugh. “That is the most terrible idea I have ever heard. Nothing you could say could convince me otherwise.”

  “You’re going to lose your life’s work,” I told her, my tone having grown serious. “She’s going to take away something you’ve spent the last twenty years doing. Are you really going to accept that?” It was the thing Scarlett needed to hear. The one thing that made my idea worth considering. Scarlett lived and breathed her work. As much as I loved her, I couldn’t take it away from her. Not without a fight.

  We stood in silence for a long while, people passing us on the street. For a moment I felt guilty for leaving Henry for so long, but I was distracted by the ever increasing sadness filling Scarlett’s eyes. I realized she was drawing the same conclusions I was. My idea, as terrible as it was, was likely the right thing to do at this point.

  “It won’t be for long,” she assured me. “As soon as this all gets settled. Not a second longer.”

  “Not a second longer,” I agreed, even though I worried. My mind shook free of the thoughts, giving her my undivided attention. Scarlett’s hand reached up to cup my cheek, her thumb stroking against my skin. Like every other time, I leaned into it. When she moved away, a pain shot through my chest.

  “Can Henry take you home?” Scarlett asked me.

  “I’ll get a cab,” I replied, trying my best to maintain my composure. “I think it would be best.” Scarlett hesitated for a long while and I wasn’t sure if she’d argue with me or not.

  “Take care of yourself, Natalia,” she said, and the words sent a chill through me. They’d been the exact words Megan had said the last time I’d seen her. The words that had felt so finite. This was different, I convinced myself. It was only temporary.

  “You too,” I replied, offering as best of a smile as I could muster. Just as she began to walk away from me, I reached out to grasp her wrist. When she turned back, I fell into her and our lips collided. I breathed her in for a moment, my entire being concentrating on every sensation. Remembering everything. Finally I let her go. She turned away from me, and I watched her walk gracefully down the sidewalk, while every part of me ached.

  Chapter Eleven

  JONATHAN KEPT HIS WORD. Scarlett had Henry deliver my things from the office the next day and by that afternoon I’d received a phone call from The New York Post. While it wasn’t the Times, the idea of working for a news publication was so exciting, I took the offer for an interview almost immediately.

  The next morning, I woke bright and early, full of nerves. I studied my phone for a long time, so used to the conversations with Andrea. Every time I thought about her, a wave of anger rushed through me. I fought it down by distracting myself getting ready.

  Before I headed to the interview, I dropped by Jason’s for my usual breakfast. When I walked in, it was clear by his expression he was pleased to see me. He fetched me a sandwich and filled my thermos before we stood and chatted for a moment. I was surprised when he didn’t ask me anything regarding the news that had aired yesterday. I’d expected everyone in New York to have known me, but he seemed to have little idea. Instead, we talked about my interview.

  “The New York Post? What about your fancy job? Weren’t things going well? It seemed like you were starting to like the place.” Jason looked at me as I picked up my breakfast.

  “I’ve always wanted to write for the news.” I shrugged, taking a sip of the hot coffee. What he said resonated in me for a moment. The truth was, I really had grown fond of Stitch. Realizing that sent a wave of sadness through me.

  “Well good for you, kiddo. I’m sure you’re going to kill it.” Jason gave me another smile, and I waved a sandwich stuffed hand in his general direction before I took off out the building. Once I’d made it outside, I decided to trek the few blocks over to the building instead of taking a cab. By the time I got there, I was right on time. I disposed of the remnants of my breakfast and made my way up to the Post’s Office.

  Steve Davison, one of the managers, met me at the front when I arrived. Unlike Jason, it was clear he recognized who I was from the news. It made my stomach churn the way he looked at me. The awkwardness faded when he offered a smile and waved me back to a nearby office.

  “Glad you could come in on such short notice,” he said as he shut the door behind me. I sunk into the chair across from his desk while he got situated. When we met glances again, I set out my portfolio in front of me. “Jon had a lot of great things to say about you. He sent me some of your articles and I have got to say, I was impressed.” A wave of happiness overcame me when he complimented me.

  “You’ll have to forgive me though,” he continued and I watched his face grow more serious. “We were concerned given the recent developments with your prior supervisor.”

  “That’s over now,” I assured him. Even when I said it, it hurt. It was a terrible lie. “We both realized that it was a mistake and have gone our separate ways.” I was about to ramble on further when Steve raised a hand.

  “Natalia,” he laughed. “We didn’t just bring you in for no reason. Despite all that, we think you have a lot of talent. We’d like to offer you a job.”

  “I’ll take it!” I said, interrupting him. My body jumped in my seat I’d gotten so excited. Steve let out another chuckle and sat back.

  “It’s just an internship. Doesn’t pay much. But it’s a start. If you want it. Though I do have to warn you, the supervisor is a little high strung.”

  “I want it,” I reassured him, nodding. They couldn’t be any more high strung than Scarlett had been when I first met her. My heart was thumping in my chest. “I really do. I’ll take it. I won’t let you down.”

  Steve seemed to enjoy my enthusiasm. “Well that was easy enough,” he admitted, getting up from his seat. I followed him, and he came around to meet me, extending his hand. We shook and then he led me towards the door. “Can you start tomorrow?”

  “As soon as you need me,” I replied, hardly able to believe it.

  Before I left, Steve caught me one final time. When I looked at him, he was smiling. “My wife has that same blouse.” I looked at the blue at white polka dots and couldn’t help but offer a smile in return. “She loves polka dots.”

  “It’s my lucky blouse,” I admitted, unable to keep myself from thinking of Scarlett. “You should tell her it’s a real fashionable thing to wear. It inspired the Pointillism movement.” Steve looked surprised at my tidbit of knowledge. “You learn a thing or two working at a fashion blog.”

  That afternoon, I spent the day out, trying my best to keep myself busy. Even with a new job already lined up for me, every moment I wasn’t distracted, my mind was on Scarlett. By the time I’d gotten home that evening, I wanted so desperately to go to her. Instead, I was surprised by a phone call. I raced to pick it up, hoping it was Scarlett. When I saw it was Justine, a wave of happiness swept through me.

  We only spoke for
a moment before she agreed to come over. As usual, there was takeout involved. She lived right down the street so she came in a matter of minutes. I’d never been more excited to see someone in my life. The moment the door opened, I burst into tears.

  “Oh my God, Natalia!” Justine laughed, wrapping her arms around me. I hugged her as hard as I ever had, sobbing into her shoulder. It took a good few minutes before I settled and let her inside. All the while I was still sniffling. Justine fixed us plates to eat while I sat at the kitchen table, watching her in disbelief.

  “I didn’t think you’d ever speak to me again,” I admitted as food was sat in front of me. Justine joined me on the opposite side of the table, settling into the chair. We met glances and she smiled.

  “Really? After over four years? You must not know me at all,” Justine took a bite of food, shaking her head at me. I didn’t have any idea what to say in response, so I just ate for a minute, enjoying her company. Finally she cleared her throat and looked at me again. “How are you doing?”

  It didn’t take any explaining for me to know what she was referring to. I sighed while I continued to eat, shaking my head. Justine listened as I reiterated the details of the past two days. When I’d gotten to the part about the new job at the Post, she looked pleased. It faded however, and her attention turned back to Scarlett and me.

  “What is she going to do? About her ex-wife?”

  “I don’t know,” I admitted. “I thought it was best we don’t add more fuel to the fire.”

  Justine seemed to agree. We were silent again. When we met eyes, Justine spoke. “Well, if it’s any consolation, I’m proud of you. You did the right thing.”

  While I’d agreed with her, it still didn’t make me feel any better.

  Justine stayed the night, both of us watching movies together and chatting till late. Finally she fell asleep on the couch and I made my way to the bed, collapsing in a tired puddle.