Like many modern offices, the cubicles were gone and the space was filled with desks and chairs arranged in clusters. She had lucked out that the desk given to her was in the corner near a large window. Craving natural light, she felt energized by her view while the angle of her desk placement kept others from staring over her shoulder constantly.
“‘Morning, Kimberly.”
“Hey, Sophia. Janine. Hey, Mikey,” she called out. Plopping her purse onto her desk, she leaned over and fired up her computer before heading to the break room. Her travel mug of coffee was empty, and she was ready for a recharge.
“Late night?”
Stifling a yawn, she nodded toward Janine. “Does it show?”
“Throw a little more concealer under your eyes and get another cup of caffeine in you. That ought to do the trick.” Cocking her head to the side, Janine smiled. “Tell me it was worth it?”
“Oh, yeah. It was worth it.” Walking back to her desk with the sound of Janine’s laughter ringing in her ears, she lost the battle to not smile as well. She had no plans to spill the beans on her night with the handsome detective. Even though it was only a one-night wonder, it still felt special, and she didn’t want to cheapen it.
Settling into her chair, she opened the digital brochure she’d been working on. While her background had not been in marketing, her job was not difficult. She helped design the Kilton Pharmaceuticals informational materials. Some were more technical, destined for physicians. Others were more educational, destined for schools and potential patients.
She enjoyed the creative aspect of the design, found the technical brochures to be mind-numbing, and particularly liked the information for school-aged children. Looking to the side, she smiled as Marcus settled at the desk closest to hers.
“What are you working on today?” he asked, turning on his computer as he sipped his coffee.
“I’m finishing the work on the STEM brochure.”
“What age group?”
“This one’s pretty basic. I think they’re going to use it for upper elementary and middle school. When I finish this, I have another one for high school.” Hope City Public Schools had asked Kilton for information for their Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics program. She had been excited to work on the project, hoping to reach some of the inner-city kids who might not know what study and employment opportunities were out there for them. “I just need to get John to approve it.”
“He will… he likes your shit. Mine? He always looks it over twice.”
Soon, the room was humming with low voices, soft music, and the constant tapping of fingers on keyboards. By lunchtime, she’d finished the brochure and sent it to the proofreader.
“I’m heading to the cafeteria, Marcus. You going?”
“The cafeteria? You didn’t pack like usual?”
“No. I… um, slept late and didn’t get to fix anything.”
“I’ve got a deadline to meet. Looks like I’ll skip lunch today.”
After grabbing a sandwich, chips, and a soda, she walked past the tables already occupied with several of her friends, choosing to go outside and sit on a bench. As the other voices droned on around her, her mind slipped to thoughts of Kyle. What did he think when he awoke this morning? Was he relieved that I was gone? Or, perhaps, a little disappointed. Second-guessing her decision to not leave her full name and number, she shook her head. It’s too late now. And anyway, if our paths ever cross again, then maybe I can call it fate.
After eating, she knew her afternoon would be spent battling the desire to lay her head on her desk and sleep. Approaching her desk, she halted as her name was called. Turning, she saw John heading her way. John Bennett, her direct supervisor, was in his late forties, his hair still dark although grey was creeping in at his temples and beard. The deep crinkles radiating from his eyes gave proof to lots of time in the sun. Plus, he often smiled, and she wondered if the creases were not smile lines as much as from squinting outdoors.
“Hey, John. If you’re looking for my STEM brochure, I sent it to the proofer before lunch.”
He nodded but waved his hand dismissively. “No, no, that’s fine. I needed to let you know that Sally Gleason has requested a meeting with you.”
Eyes widening, her stomach lurched. Sally Gleason was the Vice President of the entire Marketing and Sales division. Kimberly had never met her but, like most of the company’s upper echelon, had only seen her from a distance. “Me? She wants to talk to me?” Her mind raced to remember what she’d screwed up but came up empty. And if I screwed up on something, John would be the one talking to me, not the VP.
“Don’t worry. It’ll be fine.”
“Uh… okay. When?”
“Now.”
“Now?” Eyes jerking open wide again, she stared in disbelief as her hand lifted to smooth over her hair. “I need two minutes.” Not giving John a chance to object, she grabbed her purse and hurried down the hall, slamming open the door of the ladies’ room. Racing to the sink, she stared into the mirror. Shit.
Digging through her purse, she snagged her brush and ran it through her long hair before taming it with a clip into a low ponytail. She quickly swiped powder over her face before applying her rose lipstick. With a dab of lipstick on each cheek, she gently rubbed to add a bit of blush to her face. Glad she hadn’t worn jeans, she twisted back and forth in the mirror to ascertain her pants weren’t wrinkled. Washing her hands, she hurried back out to find John waiting on her by the elevator door.
Before her nerves had a chance to explode, she and John were greeted by Sally’s assistant and ushered into the VP’s fourth-floor corner office, just down the hall from the president’s. The walls were painted a pale gray and one was lined with built-in bookcases. Their footsteps were softened by the burgundy carpet, and she stubbed her toe on the thick pile. Shooting John an apologetic look, she hoped no one noticed but him.
Sally’s highly-polished, oversized wooden desk sat to one side, giving her a perfect view out the windows. A quick glance outside gave evidence that Sally’s view was simply more Kilton Pharmaceuticals buildings but, even without a magnificent view, she could appreciate the opulent office. Her gaze shot back to the woman rising from behind her desk, her smile welcoming while her tone was efficient. Sally’s dark skin was flawless, her short hair styled perfectly. Her makeup was elegant, and her power suit managed to be as beautiful as it was professional.
Kimberly, feeling completely underdressed, offered what she hoped was a confident smile.
“John, good to see you.” Waving to the two chairs in front of her desk, she said, “You must be Kimberly. It’s nice to meet you. I’m Sally Gleason.”
“It’s nice to meet you, too, Ms. Gleason.”
Sitting in the chair, she perched near the edge with her ankles crossed, shooting a glance toward John. His elbows rested on the arms of the chair, his fingers lightly linked over his stomach. His body language appeared relaxed, and she hoped it was for good reason. Being called to the VP’s office had her stomach still flip-flopping… much like being sent to the Mother Superior’s office for passing notes in sixth grade. Swallowing deeply, she clasped her fingers together in her lap and adopted what she hoped was an interested and composed expression on her face.
“I’m sure you’re curious why I’ve called you here, Kimberly, so I’ll get right to the point. Kilton Pharmaceuticals took a severe hit in the press several months ago when one of our low-level pharmaceutical representatives was arrested and convicted for the illegal distribution of drugs. It illuminated a security breach as well as a pipeline into the illegal supply and distribution of opioids. While this unfortunate incident only involved two people in a company with over eight hundred employees, the press had a heyday at our expense. Our PR representatives had to work around the clock to try to mitigate the negative image that clouded the work that this company does.”
With Sally’s gaze pinned on her during her speech, Kimberly had no recourse but to maintai
n eye contact and nod at what she hoped were the appropriate times. As Sally paused, Kimberly was uncertain if she was expected to respond, breathing easier when the VP continued.
“While most of the initial negative press has died down, President Kilton has requested that we do more to push a positive image out to the public. He gave this task to me and I’ve come up with what I think is a viable concept.”
Mind racing with Sally’s rapid-fire speech, Kimberly almost missed the next statement.
“That, Kimberly, is where you come in.”
She jolted at the sound of her name. Blinking, her eyes widened. Shooting a glance to the side, John remained calm, so she drew strength from that. “Yes… um… what would you need me to do?”
“Almost everyone in John’s department has a marketing background—except you. Your background is journalism, and John tells me that you have a particular proclivity for human-interest stories.”
Sally paused again, but Kimberly had no idea what response should be given. Wishing she’d had another cup of coffee to sharpen her mind, she fell back on a simple nod, hoping that would suffice.
“The news is full of opioid addiction. No one is denying that it’s a serious problem and needs attention. But, in the world of pharmaceuticals, there is much more good being produced than harm. Antibiotics, biologics, pain relievers, cancer treatments… just to name a few and, as you know, the list goes on. Yes, I know that part of your job is to work on the brochures that are distributed to doctors, hospitals, patients, and schools that tout the benefits of our world-class pharmaceuticals. But, perhaps, what’s missing is the human interest here at Kilton Pharmaceuticals.”
Sally had snagged Kimberly’s attention, and her grip loosened as she realized she was being asked to help on a new assignment, not reprimanded for some gregarious mistake. “What type of publication are you thinking of?”
“We would like to begin distributing stories among our other publications. Stories of employees that place us in a better light. In some of our publications, it might be nothing more than a few quotes from someone but, initially, we’d like you to develop short but in-depth articles. These could be shared with newspapers, magazines, online publications as well as go out in any other Kilton press releases.”
“So, you’d like me to interview employees of Kilton Pharmaceuticals?”
“Exactly. We’d like you to have the opportunity to talk with the other VPs and some department supervisors. Also, include some of our many lower-level employees. While John has to approve what gets printed, you’d be given free rein to develop the article ideas. We think this would utilize your talents but, quite frankly, assist us as well as we attempt to alter the public’s perception of our company.”
Her mind began to race with possibilities, and her shoulders relaxed at the idea of her new assignment. Lifting her gaze, she saw that Sally was continuing to stare intently toward her. Nodding, she quickly assured, “Ms. Gleason, I’m very interested in this. I’d like to thank you for this opportunity.”
Inclining her head toward John, Sally said, “You can thank John. When I brought the concept to him, you were the first person he thought of. When he told me of your education, background, and interests, I agreed that you’d be the best person for tackling this assignment.” She stood and reached her hand over the desk.
Kimberly leapt to her feet, clasping Sally’s hand in her own. Stepping back, she allowed John to do the same before following him out of the office. Barely able to contain her excitement until they entered the elevator, he laughed as she squealed.
“John, thank you so much! This is exactly what I would like to be doing!”
“She was right when she said you were the first person I thought of. You’re wasting away in marketing, although I’m glad to have you on my team. That'll give you a chance to showcase your talents as a writer as well as showcase our company.”
“And I can choose who I want to interview?”
“I’m going to give you a day or so to draw up a list of who you’d like to talk to and how you’d like to proceed. You and I will meet and go over your initial ideas. Once approved, you’ll be able to begin.”
Hurrying back to her desk, she shared her new assignment with Marcus and began to brainstorm. Pulling up the company’s organizational chart, she started a list. Vice presidents, of course. Supervisors. Product line workers. The list grew longer.
Her landlord and neighbor, Bob, worked in one of the warehouses and she decided she would talk to him. He was also the reason she first interviewed with Kilton Pharmaceuticals. She had just moved in, desperately looking for employment, and he mentioned that his company was always looking for fresh blood. She hadn’t been able to find a job in journalism, and he convinced her to apply to their marketing department. Using him as a reference, she’d snagged the job in the marketing department after interviewing with John.
When the news broke that the pharmaceutical rep had been sleeping with someone who worked in the warehouses, therefore getting extra drugs to distribute, she had never asked Bob about the stories. As low level as she was, she cringed telling others who she worked for… it had been embarrassing to admit she worked for the same company as the woman in the news. But now? I’ve got a chance to bring dignity back to Kilton Pharmaceuticals.
A few hours later, she said her goodbyes and walked out to her car. The afternoon had reinvigorated her but, now that the day was over, she was exhausted. Driving home, her mind slid from her new assignment and back to the night before and the memories of the tall, handsome detective. I wonder if he thought of me?
5
Kyle spent his day pretending to work on his cases while his mind was filled with the beautiful, elusive writer from the night before. She left. She got up and fuckin’ left, and I didn’t even hear her leave.
Uncertain if he was more frustrated with himself for falling into a deep sleep or with her for slipping away, he had searched the room that morning but came up empty-handed, unable to believe that she didn’t leave her full name or phone number.
After growling at Alex three times in the past half-hour about the squeak his chair wheels made on the tile floor, Alex finally threw his hands up into the air and barked, “What the hell is your problem today?”
“Sorry.” Mumbling, he slumped back into his seat.
“Don’t need a fuckin’ apology. What I need is to know what’s going on with my partner.”
Hefting his shoulders, he avoided looking at Alex. “Nothing. Didn’t sleep well last night.”
“So, all this is from not getting enough beauty sleep? Jesus, get the man a tiara.”
He remained silent but flipped Alex off. Not hearing a response, he looked over and saw him fighting a grin. “What?”
“You didn’t sleep well or didn’t sleep at all? The last I saw, you were slipping out of the Celtic Cock with a blonde. Haven’t seen that in a while.”
The retort died on his lips, knowing Alex would see right through him. He hefted his shoulders in a shrug and sighed. “She was something else. Yeah, we burned up the sheets most of the night, but she was… I don’t know. Funny. Kinda quirky. Real.”
“So, give her a call and ask her out. Nothing says she has to be a one and done.”
He remained quiet, his lips pinched in irritation.
“Oh, fuck. You didn’t get her number.”
Shooting a glare toward Alex, he had no choice but to admit his partner was right. “I didn’t even get a fuckin’ last name.”
“No shit?” Alex shook his head, his lips quirking upward again. “So, what do you know about this woman?”
“I know I’d like to see her again, but as far as how to find her, not much. I know her name is Kimberly. She’s a writer. That’s it. I’ve got no fuckin’ idea about her full name, phone number, address, or place of employment. She was at the Celtic Cock with friends, but they’d already left by the time I met her, so I don’t even know if we have common acquaintances.”
“Well, if she’s got friends she met at the Celtic Cock, then she’ll be there again.”
Snorting, he asked, “What do you suggest? I go to the bar every night and stay for hours hoping to see her again?”
“You’re losing your touch, man. Stop by the Celtic Cock and ask Torin or Maeve if they know who she is.”
“Fuck, I can’t believe I didn’t think of that!”
“Yeah, just call me the precinct’s Cupid. Now, pull your shit together because we’ve got a meeting with the captain.”
As Alex stood, Kyle scrubbed his hand over his face before slurping down more of his lukewarm caffeinated sludge. He much preferred the coffee from the shop down the street, not embarrassed that he liked it strong but with cream added. But, in a pinch, the bullpen brew would do.
Grabbing the files off his desk, he followed Alex into Captain Hollister’s crowded office, seeing two fellow detectives already at the table. Carter Fiske was now his brother-in-law, married to his older sister, Tara. Carter was a good detective but, more importantly, he was a good husband and father to Tara’s six-year-old daughter. Carter’s partner, Evan Barlow, was also at the table. Offering nods to both, he slid into a seat next to Alex.
“What have you got?” Captain Hollister asked.
“Beth Washington refused to roll over on anyone higher up at Kilton Pharmaceuticals. I’ve said all along that I think she’s covering up something much deeper. All we got was the one man that worked in the warehouse that she was sleeping with to get her extra drugs. We know Dr. Tiller was pushing the drugs at his clinic and taking the kickback from sales, but there’s more. I fuckin’ know there is.”
Carter’s face was tight, and Kyle knew the mention of the woman who had held the gun to Tara’s head made it hard for him to keep from going ballistic. Hell, he was right there with him.
Evan said, “You two weren’t allowed to interview Beth but watched me. I pushed and pushed, but she wasn’t giving up anything.”
Kyle (Hope City Book 4) Page 4