by Kylie Walker
Just like he had.
“You’re a born criminal. Maybe you should rethink your plans after college. I can hook you up with the dark side instead.”
She laughed, but he saw how she fiddled with the strings of her hoodie. “I just want vindication, that’s all. This is stupid. I work my ass off and she... she makes it so hard. But, maybe I crossed the line.”
He held back emotions and memories he didn’t want to deal with. “Don’t second guess yourself. Just picture the look on her face tomorrow morning.”
When they wandered back into her apartment building, they were both laughing.
“Hello?” He heard an unfamiliar voice call out from the couch in the living room of the small apartment.
“Hi,” Abigail said and tossed her keys onto the counter as her laughter subsided.
Lucas stood in the hallway, feeling a little out of his element.
Abigail glanced at him and gestured for him to follow her further into the apartment.
“Have you met Meghan?” She asked, even though he couldn’t recall it.
“No,” he shook his head and looked between the two girls.
Meghan had sleek black hair that was shoulder length. She was slender too, but not as athletically toned as Abigail was.
“Hi,” Meghan said shyly and gave Lucas a smile. “I’m Meghan.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” Lucas said. “Lucas.”
“You are in that band,” Meghan said and studied him as if she were trying to place him.
“Infinity Prism,” he nodded, helping her out.
“That’s right,” she exclaimed.
“I work for his record label,” Abigail said.
“Ah, right.” Meghan looked as if the gears were clicking. “That’s awesome. I didn’t know you got to hang out with the famous people as an intern.”
“Well,” Abigail chuckled and glanced at Lucas. “Normally, you don’t. I just happened to walk into the studio one day, and Lucas was there.”
“It was her lucky day,” Lucas interjected.
“Nice.” Meghan seemed impressed and easy going, which Lucas found to be somewhat of a relief. “I’m Abigail’s roommate.”
“I see,” Lucas nodded. “What do you do for a living?”
“I’m a dental hygienist,” Meghan said. “I just finished school.”
“Good for you,” Lucas said and gave her a friendly smile.
“I’m sorry,” Abigail said. “I’m being so rude. Would you like something to drink? I think we have wine and beer...”
“No,” Lucas declined with a shake of his head. “I appreciate the offer, but I really should get going.”
He hated to disappoint Abigail, and his heart dropped when he noticed how crestfallen she looked, but he didn’t feel comfortable sticking around with her roommate home. They couldn’t have wild and loud sex while the roommate was in the house.
“Oh,” Abigail said as if her balloon of happiness was quickly deflating. “Well, thanks for today.”
It was a perfect opportunity for Lucas to invite her to a party that his bandmate was having the next night.
He lowered his voice and stepped closer. “Next weekend, I’m going to a house party here in the city for one of my bandmates. I’ll send a car for you at seven.”
Abigail’s beautiful features brightened up like a candle once again, and he allowed himself to relax.
“That sounds awesome,” she said and glanced awkwardly at Meghan who was just staring between her and Lucas.
“You’re welcomed to join Abigail if you want,” Lucas offered.
Meghan sat up straight and beamed. “Really?” She exchanged an excited and hopeful look with Abigail.
“Wow, okay,” Abigail said with a twinkle back in her eye. “Come on,” she said in a fun-loving tone. “I’ll walk you out.”
“Nice to meet you!” Meghan called out.
When he got to the door with Abigail, he stopped and turned around. She closed the door behind her. They gazed into each other’s eyes. It was erotic and magical all at once. Without thinking, he cradled the back of her head in his hands and drew her closer to him. He pressed his lips to hers and gave her a magnetically charged kiss that made his senses explode with wonder and lust.
“You are such a good kisser,” Abigail whispered as they pulled away from each other. She held his gaze. He had a hard time looking away.
“Keep me posted on your criminal activity.”
She playfully smacked him on the arm. “Stop.”
“I’ll bail you out of jail in time for the party.”
“I’ll be ready,” she said, and then gave him a seductive smile. “I can’t wait.”
“Sounds good.” He clung to her hand for an extended period of time before finally unlatching.
He glanced back to wave at her one last time before getting onto the elevator. He knew he was treading dangerous waters with her if he was already this infatuated, but he couldn’t help himself. Abigail was one in a million.
Chapter Ten
ABIGAIL WALKED INTO the office the next day with mixed emotions. On the one hand, she was excited to finally give Jaime a piece of her mind and a run for her money. On the other hand, she was nervous about how the confrontation would actually go.
She took a deep breath and pushed through the double doors leading into the lobby of the building. She tried to remind herself that Lucas would be there for her no matter what happened. She also had a trick up her sleeve if Jaime ended up giving her more trouble about the situation than expected.
She walked into the record label offices with her head held high. She glanced at Jaime’s cubicle. She was searching frantically, pushing papers around on her desk and her hands were visibly shaking. Her eyes were widened with shock and disbelief. Abigail felt some instant gratification. She wanted to approach Jaime, but she was afraid that she might make a scene. Abigail craned her neck to peer into Burt’s office.
It was empty, and the light was off. His computer wasn’t on, which gave her a sense of relief that he probably wasn’t in the bathroom or the breakroom either.
If she was going to take any opportunity for her advantage, she might as well use it while the office wasn’t as busy as the middle of the day. If Burt wasn’t there, then she needed to go ahead and get it over with in case Jaime freaked out.
Abigail’s heart was in her throat, and her pulse was pounding through her ears as she approached Jaime’s desk. She told herself to grow a set and just do it already. Rip off the band-aid. Stand up for yourself, she thought. Or else there will just be more of this bullshit from Jaime.
Abigail knew that this little prank was the only way to get Jaime to leave her alone. She took a deep breath and stood in the corner next to Jaime’s cubicle.
“Looking for something?” Abigail said with a smirk as she waved the flash drive in front of Jaime.
On the outside, she was cool and poised. On the inside, she was in panic mode, but she couldn’t allow any of her weakness to seep through because Jaime would pounce on the opportunity to make Abigail crash and burn.
Jaime stared at Abigail, completely befuddled at first. Then, when she realized what Abigail was waving in front of her, she gasped. Her mouth formed an oval shape of complete bafflement. Her eyes turned bloodshot with heated anger.
“What are you doing with my flash drive?” Jaime demanded.
“I have it,” Abigail hissed and took a step closer to Jaime so that they were only a hand length apart. “Because I need to teach you a lesson.”
Jaime looked appalled, but she scoffed. “Teach me a lesson? What the hell is that even supposed to mean?”
“You are deliberately, over the top rude to me on a daily basis. You don’t let me do anything related to the actual job I’m supposed to be interning for. I feel like your slave and your maid most of the time. You tried to get me in trouble the other day when Burt’s calendar got fucked up. You should have taken the fall yourself because you already know tha
t I don’t have real access to his calendar without your approval. And now you’re trying to blackmail me.”
Jaime pursed her lips into a pencil thin line of hostility. “What did you do to my flash drive?” Her voice was a low growl.
“Nothing yet,” Abigail said. “But things will change if you don’t stop leaving me alone.” She set her jaw and locked eyes with Jaime to let on that she wasn’t going to play games with the kiss-ass assistant any longer. It was hardball now, and Abigail never lost.
Abigail watched as Jaime narrowed her eyes and really took a moment to study her. Abigail knew what was going on. Jaime was sizing her up, to see if she was bluffing or not. But she wasn’t. Abigail was dead serious.
“Give it back,” Jaime said and eyed Abigail maliciously. “Now.”
Abigail chuckled. “It’s not going to be that easy, Jaime.”
Jaime’s eyes flickered in the direction of Burt’s still empty and silent office. She couldn’t run to her boss and tattle on Abigail like a sullen child not getting her way. There was no one else to cast blame on. Not this time. Abigail had played her cards, and her timing perfectly, and on purpose.
“You have no right to take my personal things from my desk,” Jaime said.
“I didn’t take anything off your desk,” Abigail chastised. “It was on your computer tower on the floor.”
Jaime visibly clenched her jaw. Her eyes could have lashed at Abigail with loathing. “I’ll have you fired.”
“And I’ll have you fired too,” Abigail retorted.
“What?” Jaime’s features twisted into confusion. “I didn’t do anything wrong.”
“Other than making my life as miserable as you possibly could, no, I suppose you didn’t,” Abigail said. “But you are far from a victim Jaime. You made your bed. Now it’s time to lie in it.”
“I didn’t do anything, and I don’t know what the hell you are talking about.” Jaime lowered her voice as a few other groggy looking employees began to file into the office and plop down in the chairs at their own cubicles.
Luckily for Abigail, the other people that worked there were used to Jaime always having a stern expression as she waltzed around the place barking orders and reprimanding people. Jaime didn’t have a leg to stand on. No one would take her side, and Abigail knew it just as well as Jaime did. Jaime’s eyes began to widen as if she knew that she was probably going to be backed into a corner. She was right. Abigail had all but trapped her. Now she just had to seal the deal.
“You are going to leave me alone from now on,” Abigail warned.
“Or what?” Jaime snarled.
Abigail leaned in closer. They were almost nose to nose now. “Or I will erase everything on this flash drive.”
“If you do, you’ll just be setting yourself up to get fired,” Jaime scoffed.
Abigail gave Jaime a unpleasant glare. She couldn’t wait to throw in the punch line. The kicker was the best part.
“If you fuck with me again, you will get your flash drive erased, but that’s not where it ends. I’ve already talked to Lucas about your bullying and constant demands and –”
“My bullying?” Jaime laughed as if that was the most asinine thing she had ever heard in her life, but she was so delusional she didn’t have a clue of what reality was.
“Yes,” Abigail said. “And please don’t interrupt me when I’m speaking,” she added harshly.
“Whatever.” Jaime folded her arms over her chest and gave Abigail a defiant stare.
“Lucas is on my side. He knows all about how you are trying to sabotage my internship. I worked really hard to get to this point, and I won’t let some miserable woman stand in the way of me and my dream.”
“So, what are you going to do about it?” Jaime asked.
It wasn’t lost on Abigail that Jaime’s voice sounded nervous and a little more fretful now that she knew Abigail wasn’t kidding around anymore.
“If you give me any trouble, Lucas will go to Burt and personally have you fired.”
All the color drained from Jaime’s face. Abigail had played her perfect poker hand and had hit the jackpot.
“You wouldn’t dare,” she hissed.
“Why wouldn’t I?” Abigail shrugged. After all, she had nothing to lose.
She knew that Jaime was expendable. Burt would replace her faster than she could even say the word ‘fired.’ It would make her head spin. Burt didn’t give a shit about her. He would find someone else to do his dirty work.
Jaime’s cheeks were flushed a fiery red color. She glared at Abigail with pure hatred. “You think just because you’re screwing a rock star that you can get whatever you want? I’ve got another thing coming to you. The world isn’t doesn’t last for perfect princesses like you. You can’t use Lucas as leverage to dangle over my head like bait.”
Abigail smiled. Now, she felt sorry for the poor woman who had so much spite and bitterness seeping out of her. “I’m not dangling anything over your head,” she said simply. “I’m just telling you how it is.”
“You think he cares about you, you stupid nimrod?” Jaime roared with such ferocious laughter that a few people turned around and peered over their desks to witness the commotion for themselves. “Oh, God, I can see it on your face. You do think he cares. You are even more foolish than I had initially thought. You mean nothing to a man like that. Nothing more than a few days’ worth of easy sex before he moves on to the next one like he always does.”
She felt as if she’d been slapped. Recovering before anything showed on her face, Abigail straightened her spine.
“Time to live in the real world, Princess.”
Abigail glowered back at Jaime. “I’ve been in the real world plenty long enough to know how the world works and to fend for myself. That’s how I know how to keep you from getting away with the bullshit treatment anymore.”
“You are a weak link. It won’t be long until you’re old news. Those rock stars never care about any of the girls they date,” Jaime said in a huff.
“Who says we are dating?” Abigail said. “Even if we were, it wouldn’t be any of your business.”
“Just watch your back,” Jaime warned.
“Now, I don’t have to,” Abigail said with a smile. She tossed the flash drive to Jaime. “Just remember what I said. Next time you fuck with me, it’s getting wiped clean, and I tell Lucas to get involved.”
Jaime gave Abigail a twisted smile. “So, you have to run to your little boyfriend to tell on me? You can’t take care of yourself like you say you can, I guess.”
“He’s not my boyfriend,” Abigail shot back. “If I were you, I would take my advice to heart. And Burt should watch his back too. Lucas could kick him to the curb if you both aren’t careful.” She narrowed her eyes at Jaime. “Just consider yourself warned.”
“You won’t get away with these threats,” Jaime growled.
Abigail gave her a smug smile. “We’ll see.”
She walked away feeling like she was on top of the world, but also as if her legs were made of jelly. She slinked into her chair before she passed out completely. She couldn’t believe that she had pulled off a stunt like that and gotten away with it. The plan had worked. She had foiled Jaime, and now things were going to be different, better. It didn’t matter that Jaime would probably duct tape the flash drive to her body from now on. That wasn’t the point. Standing up for herself with a show of power had been the point, and she’d actually gone through with it!
Abigail had proved herself a force to be reckoned with, even though her heart was pounding in her chest. She turned on her computer, but she couldn’t concentrate on her work. Not after that confrontation. She was glad it was over. She brushed the hair off her cheek and realized her hands were shaking.
She couldn’t wait to tell Lucas and Meghan all about her success, but it couldn’t be done here, not with so many people listening. It would have to wait. Maybe she could even enjoy a celebratory drink after she got home. She had conquered
the beast and even tamed it a little. She was floating in a cloud and hoped that no one would soon pop her bubble.
LATER THAT AFTERNOON, Abigail noticed how Jaime steered clear of her, other than emailing her assignments. So, the poor bitch was taking her threats seriously after all. Good. She glanced at the clock and realized it was almost time to go home. She grabbed her bag and shut her computer off.
She walked the long way out of the building to avoid crossing paths with Jaime again. In a perfect world, maybe they wouldn’t have to deal with each other anymore in person. Abigail hoped that email communication would do from then on.
She hopped on a subway train and rode it to her stop which was about a block or so away from her apartment building. When she unlocked the door a few minutes later, she heard the cozy hum of the television on in the living room. An audience laugh line was on in the background.
“Meghan?” Abigail asked and roped her purse over the tiny bistro table in their kitchen.
“I’m in here,” Meghan called out from her bedroom.
Abigail walked down the hallway and poked her head into Meghan’s room. “Hi.”
Meghan was sitting at her vanity, removing her makeup to settle in for the night. She grinned as soon as she saw Abigail.
“Why do you look so chipper this evening?” Meghan asked.
“Well,” Abigail said with a sigh and sagged down onto the edge of Meghan’s mattress. “Remember that bitch Jaime I work with at the record label?”
“The one you said was a brown nosing, two-faced asshole?” Meghan joked with a chuckle.
“That’s the one.” Abigail smiled and wagged her finger at Meghan.
“What about her?” Meghan asked. “Did she get hit by a bus or something, and now you’re taking over?”
Abigail laughed. “No, not quite that dramatic. I played a little prank on her with Lucas last night. She wouldn’t stop torturing me, so I had to put a stop to it.”
“Wow,” Meghan said, and her eyes broadened in surprise. “So, Lucas was in on it?”
“Yep.” Abigail nodded.