The Meeting

Chapter 14 - Lessons to be learned

It’s a clip from this morning. Damien and I are sitting on the edge of the fountain. My voice is clear and loud, even though I was whispering it to him. ‘M’ was obviously there. My legs feel weak and I turn away from the computer to lean against the desk. I think back to the text.Keep my secret queen, because traitors with big mouths will find their dirty laundry aired on the big screen. No doubt this ‘M’ person has a video of Damien and I doing a little more than talking. Damien turns it off and comes around the desk to me.

“Don’t worry about it, babe. You haven’t done anything wrong. The only person who can fire you is me, and trust me, I’m not going to fire you.” He runs his hands up my arms and I smile weakly at him. My indiscretions with Damien aren’t the only things I’m worried about.  There is a video tape out there from a few years back, which I would prefer to stay private. I bite on my lower lip, wondering if I should say anything about it to him, but decide against it. If ‘M’ didn’t know about it, he or she would after I announce it. No need to add fuel to the fire.

“Well, I guess it’s safe to assume that it’s a woman, going by the lipstick mark on the CD,” I conclude. His lips press together into a small line.

“I’ll find out who it is. You’re mine. And, I’m keeping you,” he adds, squeezing my shoulders. He leans into me, pressing his lips firmly against mine. “I'll cancel lunch with Hyde. You have enough to deal with today. You should get back out there or Ashlee will be wondering what’s keeping you.”

I nod and leave his office. I glance back at him as I close the door and see his confused face staring at the screen of his computer. He wants me now, but maybe not if the other video is discovered. I need to call Aria.

I clatter noisily back to my desk. Ashlee watches me with narrowed eyes as I pull my cell phone from my bag and scuttle away. I duck inside the supply closet, which seems to be one of the only people-free places in this office. I dial Aria’s number with trembling fingers. I hear her answer, her voice thick with sleep still.

“Aria, I need you to check for the chip in my room,” I hiss into the phone.

“What? Chips?” She yawns into the receiver.

“No, not chips, the chip. The memory card hidden in my room. I need you to make sure it’s still there,” I explain, poking my head out the door to make sure no one is around. The hallway looks deserted.

“Oh, okay, but why? What’s up?” Aria asks with worry in her voice.

“Trust me, the least you know right now, the better,” I say back. I can hear her rooting through the box of books. I had taped it to the inside cover of a book, a book that is too boring for anyone to want to pick up and read. Aria is the only one who even knows where I hid it.

“Found it. It’s still here hun, but seriously, what’s going on?”

“Just a nobody, who thinks she has something on me. I just wanted to make sure that it wasn’t that kind of something,” I respond with a sigh of relief. “Look, I’ll be home later. We’ll talk more then.”

“Well, actually, we won’t be able to talk then. My mom isn’t doing so well. She’s been admitted into hospital, so I was thinking of staying with my dad for a bit. He needs a bit of support right now.”

“Oh no, the cancer-“

“Yep, it’s come back,” she finishes for me, “but, don’t worry about me. God knows I should be used to this by now. I’ll be fine hun, I’ll text you. I should only be gone a few days.”

“Alright, drive safe and stay in touch!”

“For sure. Bye Zoe.” I hear the phone click as she hangs up. Now I know why she sounds so tired; she must have been up all night worrying. Aria’s mom is tough and has beaten cancer three times now. I just hope this time will be for good. I have been friends with Aria for a good part of 12 years, so I have witnessed all of her mom’s battles. I will have to send her some flowers to let her know I will be thinking of her.