Meet Me In The Pit

Chapter Six - Sh*t Just Got Real

Kiera

Score: As It Was - Harry Styles

"When she finds out, you're as good as dead, you know that, right?" Tony's face looks genuinely worried, peeking from the screen of my phone as we FaceTime. "She was looking forward to spending some time with you. You seem to be working non-stop lately, Kiki, and she needs you, you know? Now, more than ever, she needs her best friend..." Tony's voice breaks off, as an inhumane shriek comes echoing through the phone. His and Lisa's baby girl, Phoebe, has been having a particularly bad teething episode lately, and both Tony and Lisa haven't had a proper night's sleep in a week.

"I know, Tony, and I'm sorry, I really am, but this is an amazing opportunity! This is the biggest job I've ever been offered, and this is really going to open some doors for me," I say to Tony and Lisa's fridge door, as Tony bends over to pick up Phoebe from the floor. I know that his phone is propped on a stand on their dining table so that his hands are free to pick up Phoebe while we FaceTime. His head pops up into the screen once more, and Phoebe's round, pink face emerges right under his chin.

"Hi, Phoebe," I say, smiling and waving to my little Goddaughter-to-be. "Oh, my God, Tony, she's grown so much! And, she's become even cuter!"

"I know, right? Once these damn canines come out, she'd be even more adorable."

"Are you supposed to say "damn" in front of her?"

"If you don't tell Lisa I swore in front of the baby, I won't tell her that you're ditching her on her birthday. Again."

"Hey, that's not fair! There's no way she'll find out that you swore if I don't tell her, but she'll definitely notice I'm not there on her birthday, don't you think?"

"Anyway, you better think of something really special to make it up to her. She'll go mental. What is this so very important job, anyway"

"Yeah, about that. I can't tell you. It's top secret."

It's been two weeks since I took the assignment, and I feel like I've been dragged into this crazy new world, where I have to do fucking PR training, set up some new security systems on my computer, and sign non-disclosure agreements on every step of the way, and I haven't even met my new client yet. I had a couple of phone calls with Jeanine from Hologram Entertainment, and I'm still trying to figure out what exactly her role is, but what has been made clear, time and again, is that I should keep my mouth shut about what I'm doing. Even if I'm not quite sure what I'm doing yet.

"Top secret? Kiki, I love you, but, seriously? You're selling hospitality packages for a group of luxury hotels to the bourgie versions of Contiki. What can possibly be considered top secret, are you turning Buckingham Palace into one of your hotels or something?"

I bite my lower lip. He's right. I'm not working on a new nuclear power reactor, or a cure for cancer, for fuck's sake. Yet, I signed a non-disclosure agreement. Several, to be more precise.

"I'm sorry, Tony, I really can't tell right now."

"And when are you flying out?"

"On Lisa's birthday," I mumble reluctantly.

"Oh, Kiki. Kiki, Kiki, Kiki...You should really think of the fastest way to leave the country, once Lisa finds out, and when she finds out that you won't even tell what this is all about..."

I cringe at the thought of having this conversation with my best friend. She's going to fucking flip! I doubt that any birthday present in the world would appease her. She's been so stressed lately, with returning to work early from her maternity leave, planning the wedding, and looking after Phoebe, and I know that she was really looking forward to spending some time together. I was very much looking forward to spending time together, too, but, here we are.