Long Time, No See

Chapter 1

"Miss Swift."

"Yes?"

"You have a visitor."

"Who is it?"

"She says she's a childhood friend. She won't give a name."

"Well, for God's sake, Sam, you don't just send in people who won't give their identity. You'd practically be allowing a potential bomber into my office. I don't think your insurance covers that."

"No, ma'am. It doesn't. I'll send her away."

"If she insists on seeing me, tell her to make an appointment with Ella, like every other goddamn person."

"Yes, ma'am."

"And stop calling me ma'am like I'm an old woman who can't find her dentures."

"Yes, ma-Miss Swift."

Her assistant turned and exited as she set a folder of papers down on her desk, heaving a sigh and taking a seat at the black leather chair. She would have to go through all of the documents on the surface before her, she knew, but it could wait. Hopefully. She was the boss of the place, after all. If those beneath her didn't like her pace, perhaps they didn't deserve their jobs.

"Miss Swift."

Another exasperated sigh.

"Yes, Sam?"

"The visitor says she has news for you, and it's urgent."

"Can she not give you the news to give to me?"

"No, Miss. She absolutely refuses to leave without seeing you."

A third sigh.

"Oh, hell. Fine. Send her in. Make sure security does a pat-down and check first."

"Yes, Miss."

She was alone in her office again, half thankful for and half annoyed with the distraction. At least now she could put off completing the paperwork, and even get a blast from the past from a supposed childhood friend.

"Miss?"

"Sam, I told you to send her in. You don't need to ask again."

"Yes, Miss."

The wait had made her nervous, but only slightly; she had learned to calm her jitters after years of being in the music industry, performing and retiring to a head position at her own record label at the age of 35. She had employed her closest friends to help, and the business shot off better than any of the experts had predicted. It almost didn't matter that most of her friendships had been destroyed because of it. Almost.

"Taylor. Long time, no see."

She nearly choked on her own oxygen.

A thin but muscular woman entered her office, dressed in business attire, her blonde hair pulled back in a sleek ponytail. It was longer than she remembered, and cut differently, her old bangs and bob eliminated. Her red lips were too familiar, and the sound of her high heels on the tile made Taylor's stomach lurch. She had grown, too, and was more than likely over six feet tall.

Taylor cursed under her breath as the other girl approached the desk, unable to take her eyes off of her. She had become absolutely beautiful over the years-not that she hadn't been beyond stunning when they were once friends-and her facial structure was more prominent, her cheekbones jutting out like they had been carved into marble. She looked just as she had 20 years ago, except with more makeup and protuberant features.

"What, you won't even say hi to me? It's been so long," she teased, her lips curling into a smile as she looked down upon the music producer. Taylor stood up quickly, bumping her knee against a handle of a desk drawer. Another curse.

"I-I'm sorry. Hi. It's...nice to see you."

"Doesn't seem nice. Not exactly the greeting I was hoping for, although I did change a lot since you last saw me."

"Please. Sit. Do you need a drink or snack or something?" Taylor hurriedly gestured to the chair opposite her own and began moving towards the call button to alert Sam to bring in refreshments.

"No, it's alright. Thank you, though. I just wanted to talk." She sunk down into the guest chair, looking far more calm than Taylor could manage. She took her seat at her desk chair once again, smoothing out her pencil skirt as she did.

"Of course. Sam said you had news."

"I was hoping he'd leave that part out when he came to talk to you. I do have news. Important news, as I'm sure he also told you."

Shit, Taylor thought, giving the girl a onceover as the possibilities raced through her mind. The only things she could think of didn't really involve her, or she had already been aware of them. What news could a friend from the past possibly bring?

"I'm getting married."

Shit.

"Wow."

"His name is Josh. We've been together for a few years, and, well-you know, he decided to propose a few weeks ago."

"That's great. Congratulations."

"Thank you."

"Not to be rude, but-can I ask, what does this have to do with me?"

The visitor let out a chuckle as if she had been waiting for that question.

"I was thinking of my wedding party after he proposed, and the first person that popped into my head was you. I know we haven't spoken in, like, years, but you were my best friend for so long. I think choosing anyone else to be my maid of honor would be blasphemous."

Shit. Shit, shit, shit. The word repeated itself in Taylor's mind as she spoke.

"Yeah. Yeah, I mean-that would be nice. To be your maid of honor. But I'm sure you have newer friends that could easily take that title."

"I do. Have newer friends, I mean. No one could take your place."

Taylor's cheeks filled with pink, her eyes darting around the room to avoid the girl's gaze.

"Thank you. This is very thoughtful of you."

"Don't thank me. Thank you for accepting it. I-think you accepted it."

"I did. I'd love to be your maid of honor."

"Great. Thank you. Maybe we could get lunch sometime to catch up. We're practically strangers now."

"Then I hope you can see why I'm so surprised about you asking me to be such an important part of your wedding."

"I'd just really like you to be there, okay? Next to the groom, the maid of honor is the most important person in the bride's life."

"Are you suggesting I'm the most important person in your life? Besides this Josh man."

"Yeah. I mean, you were at one point. I haven't found anyone to replace you. So, yeah, you are."

The color reappeared in Taylor's cheeks. She prayed to every god in existence that the room was too poorly lit to allow the other girl to see it.

"We can get lunch on Friday at noon."

"Aren't you busy, like all the time, Miss Fancy Music Producer?"

"Yes, I am. Usually. But I think I can make a little room for lunch."

"Great. Friday at noon it is. I'll come here first, and we'll figure it out from there."

"It's a date."

Shit.

"-I'll see you Friday."

The girl rushed out of the room as if embarrassed, and Taylor knew she had screwed up. Damn it.

"Miss?"

"Jesus Christ, Sam. What is it?"

"May I ask who that was? Ella would like to put her in the guest book."

"The girl? Oh, she's...an old friend. Karlie Kloss."